West Salem, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Salem, Wisconsin
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Village
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Downtown
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Location of West Salem in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
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Village limits
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | La Crosse |
| Government | |
| • Type | President - board of trustees |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.40 sq mi (8.82 km2) |
| • Land | 3.35 sq mi (8.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2) |
| Elevation | 741 ft (226 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,277 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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5,289  |
| • Density | 1,498.80/sq mi (578.68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 608 |
| FIPS code | 55-86275 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1576552 |
West Salem is a village located in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, in the United States. It sits along the La Crosse River. West Salem is part of the larger La Crosse-Onalaska metropolitan area, which includes parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota. In 2020, about 5,277 people lived here.
Contents
History of West Salem
West Salem was officially planned and started in 1856. A Baptist minister named Elder Card gave it the name "Salem." He chose this name because "Salem" means "peace" in both Arabic and Hebrew. Later, the word "West" was added to its name. This happened because mail often got mixed up with another town in Wisconsin that was also called Salem.
The village grew thanks to a railway company. About ten acres of land were given to the Milwaukee and La Crosse Railway. This company built a train station and tracks in West Salem. The railway helped the town connect with other places, making it an important stop. This railway later became known as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad.
Geography and Location
West Salem is located at specific coordinates: 43.899795 degrees North and -91.086614 degrees West.
The United States Census Bureau reports that the village covers a total area of about 3.44 square miles (8.91 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.42 square miles (8.86 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.
Population Changes in West Salem
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 432 | — | |
| 1890 | 542 | 25.5% | |
| 1900 | 725 | 33.8% | |
| 1910 | 840 | 15.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,027 | 22.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,011 | −1.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,254 | 24.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,376 | 9.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,707 | 24.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,180 | 27.7% | |
| 1980 | 3,276 | 50.3% | |
| 1990 | 3,611 | 10.2% | |
| 2000 | 4,540 | 25.7% | |
| 2010 | 4,799 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,277 | 10.0% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 5,289 | 10.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
West Salem's Population in 2010
According to the census from 2010, West Salem had 4,799 people living in the village. There were 1,831 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. Out of these, 1,259 were families.
The village had about 1,403 people per square mile (542 people per square kilometer). Most of the people living in West Salem were White (96.7%). A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in the village was 39.2 years old. About 26% of the residents were under 18 years old. Around 15.9% were 65 years old or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (47.4%) and females (52.6%).
Schools in West Salem
West Salem has a public school district that includes schools for different age groups. There are also private schools in the area.
- West Salem Elementary School
- West Salem Middle School
- West Salem High School
The private schools in West Salem are:
- Coulee Region Christian School
- Christ Saint John's Lutheran School
Transportation Options
Bus service is available in West Salem. Buses travel towards La Crosse or Tomah. This service is provided by Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit and runs three times a day in each direction.
Historic Places to Visit
West Salem is home to a few interesting historic sites:
- The Hamlin Garland House
- The Palmer Brother's Octagons
Parks and Recreation Areas
West Salem offers many parks and recreational spots for residents and visitors to enjoy.
- Bike Depot Park
- Caryn Modawell Memorial Dog Park
- Corral Park
- Greene Park
- Jim Zanter Park
- Lewis Point Park
- Neshonoc South Park and Boat Landing (La Crosse County)
- Neshonoc-Swarthout Park (La Crosse County)
- Pineview Park
- Riverview Park
- Swarthout Pool
- Veterans Memorial Park and Campground (La Crosse County)
- Village Park
- Lake Neshonoc
- La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway (La Crosse County)
Famous People from West Salem
Several notable individuals have connections to West Salem:
- Charles S. Benton, a U.S. Representative from New York.
- Tom Black, an NBA player who graduated from high school in West Salem.
- George G. Bingham, an Oregon judge.
- Frank P. Coburn, a member of the United States House of Representatives.
- Hamlin Garland, a famous writer who was born in West Salem and had a summer house there.
- Harry W. Griswold, a member of the United States House of Representatives.
- Jay L. Johnson, a United States admiral.
- Mabel Johnson Leland, a lecturer and translator.
- Damian Miller, a major league baseball player.
- William F. Miller, a Wisconsin legislator.
- Norbert Nuttelman, a Wisconsin legislator and farmer.
- Arthur H. Parmelee, a football coach and physician.
See also
In Spanish: West Salem (Wisconsin) para niños
