La Crosse, Kansas

La Crosse is a city in Rush County, Kansas, United States.[6] It is also the county seat of Rush County. In 2010, 1,342 people lived there.[7] La Crosse calls itself the "Barbed Wire capital of the world."[8]

Welcome Sign La Crosse Kansas 5-5-2010.jpg
Location within Rush County and Kansas
Location within Rush County and Kansas
KDOT map of Rush County (legend)
Coordinates: 38°31′55″N 99°18′31″W / 38.53194°N 99.30861°W / 38.53194; -99.30861Coordinates: 38°31′55″N 99°18′31″W / 38.53194°N 99.30861°W / 38.53194; -99.30861
CountryUnited States
StateKansas
CountyRush
Founded1876
Area
 • Total1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2)
 • Land1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
2,057 ft (627 m)
Population
 • Total1,342
 • Estimate 
(2016)[3]
1,231
 • Density1,278/sq mi (493.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
67548, 67553
FIPS code20-37500 [4]
GNIS ID0475488 [5]
Websitewww.cityoflacrosseks.com

History

La Crosse was created in 1876. It was named after the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin.[9] La Crosse subsequently became the intended county seat, and county records were transferred there from the temporary county seat, nearby Rush Center. A county seat war ensued between the two communities, lasting until La Crosse was declared the permanent county seat and the construction of the county courthouse in 1888.[10]

In the 1960s, La Crosse became a regional center of barbed wire collecting, leading to the establishment of the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum and the nicknaming of the city as "The Barbed Wire Capital of the World".[11]

Tornado of 2012

On May 25, 2012, an EF-1 tornado caused about four blocks of a lot of damage, and two businesses were destroyed. A third of the businesses had very bad damage. There were no injuries.[12]

Geography

La Crosse is at 38°31′55″N 99°18′31″W / 38.53194°N 99.30861°W / 38.53194; -99.30861 (38.532014, -99.308614). It has an elevation of 2,057 feet (627 m).[5][13] It is in the Smoky Hills region of the Great Plains. It is about 12 miles (19 km) south of the Smoky Hill River and 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Walnut Creek, which is a tributary of the Arkansas River.[14][15] Sand Creek, a tributary of Walnut Creek, goes southeast around the southwestern and southern parts of the city. Mule Creek, a small tributary of Sand Creek, flows southeast through the city.[15] It is in west-central Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 183 and K-4. La Crosse is 125 miles (201 km) northwest of Wichita, 261 miles (420 km) west-southwest of Kansas City, and 314 miles (505 km) east-southeast of Denver.[14][16]

The United States Census Bureau says that the city has a total area of 1.05 square miles (2.72 km2). All of it is land.[1]

Weather

On average in La Crosse, July is the hottest month, January is the coldest month, and May is the wettest month. The hottest temperature ever in La Crosse was 115 °F (46 °C) in 1954; the coldest temperature ever was -24 °F (-31 °C) in 1989.[17]

Climate data for La Crosse, Kansas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 81
(27.2)
86
(30)
95
(35)
103
(39.4)
107
(41.7)
112
(44.4)
115
(46.1)
114
(45.6)
112
(44.4)
100
(37.8)
89
(31.7)
83
(28.3)
115
(46.1)
Average high °F (°C) 41
(5)
47
(8.3)
57
(13.9)
67
(19.4)
76
(24.4)
87
(30.6)
94
(34.4)
92
(33.3)
83
(28.3)
72
(22.2)
55
(12.8)
44
(6.7)
67.9
(19.95)
Average low °F (°C) 15
(-9.4)
19
(-7.2)
28
(-2.2)
38
(3.3)
50
(10)
60
(15.6)
65
(18.3)
63
(17.2)
54
(12.2)
41
(5)
27
(-2.8)
19
(-7.2)
39.9
(4.4)
Record low °F (°C) −23
(-30.6)
−17
(-27.2)
−23
(-30.6)
9
(-12.8)
21
(-6.1)
36
(2.2)
43
(6.1)
42
(5.6)
23
(-5)
14
(-10)
−8
(-22.2)
−24
(-31.1)
−24
(-31.1)
Precipitation inches (mm) 0.66
(16.8)
0.83
(21.1)
2.09
(53.1)
2.27
(57.7)
3.65
(92.7)
3.35
(85.1)
3.40
(86.4)
2.55
(64.8)
1.88
(47.8)
1.42
(36.1)
1.22
(31)
0.76
(19.3)
24.08
(611.6)
Source: The Weather Channel[17]

People

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1890513
19005364.5%
191080650.4%
19208080.2%
19301,35567.7%
19401,4073.8%
19501,76925.7%
19601,767−0.1%
19701,583−10.4%
19801,6182.2%
19901,427−11.8%
20001,376−3.6%
20101,342−2.5%
Est. 20161,231[3]−10.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

The 2010 census says that there were 1,342 people, 606 households, and 350 families living in La Crosse.[2]

Education

La Crosse Public Schools (USD 395) controls three schools in the city.[18][19]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Rush County Airport is northeast of the city. It is on the north side of K-4.[15] It is publicly owned. It has one runway. It is used for general aviation.[20]

A railroad of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad goes southeast-northwest through La Crosse.[15]

Media

The Rush County News is the local newspaper. It is published once per week in La Crosse.[21]

La Crosse is in the Wichita-Hutchinson, Kansas television market.[22]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. "2010 City Population and Housing Occupancy Status". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
  8. Griffin, Pete (May 26, 2011). "What's In a Name? Slogans Can Make or Break a City, Experts Say". Fox News. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  9. "Profile for La Crosse, Kansas". ePodunk. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  10. "Welcome to Rush County, Kansas..." Rush County, Kansas. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  11. "The History of the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum". Kansas Barbed Wire Museum. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  12. La Crosse residents continue to clean up after twister ; KWCH; May 27, 2012.
  13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  14. 14.0 14.1 "2003-2004 Official Transportation Map" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. 2003. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "General Highway Map - Rush County, Kansas" (PDF). Kansas Department of Transportation. 2010-10-01. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  16. "City Distance Tool". Geobytes. Archived from the original on 2010-10-05. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  17. 17.0 17.1 "Average weather for La Crosse, KS". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on 2014-08-09. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  18. "La Crosse Public Schools". La Crosse USD 395. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  19. "La Crosse, Kansas". City-Data. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  20. "K94 - Rush County Airport". AirNav.com. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  21. "About this Newspaper: The Rush County news". Chronicling America. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
  22. "Kansas TV Markets". EchoStar Knowledge Base. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2011-06-24.

Other websites

City
Schools
Historical
Maps