State Trunk Highway 56 (often called Highway 56, STH-56 or WIS 56) is a
state highway
A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either ''numbered'' or ''maintained'' by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered by a ...
in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
. It runs east–west in southwest Wisconsin from just north of
Richland Center to
Genoa
Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the List of cities in Italy, sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian ce ...
. On some maps, it is listed as ending inside Richland Center, instead of just north of it.
Route description
![Wisconsin Highway 56 west terminus from WIS35](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Wisconsin_Highway_56_west_terminus_from_WIS35.jpg)
In
Genoa, Wisconsin
Genoa is a village in Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 232 at the 2020 census. The village is within the Town of Genoa.
History
Originally named Bad Axe for the river, the present-day Genoa name came in 1868.
Geogr ...
, 56 begins at a non-signaled intersection with
Wisconsin Highway 35
State Trunk Highway 35 (STH-35, WIS 35) is a Wisconsin state highway running north–south across western Wisconsin. It is 412.15 miles in length, and is the longest state highway in Wisconsin. Portions of WIS 35 are part of the ...
, going northerly through town, before climbing the hill on the west side of town, not far from
La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor
La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor (LACBWR) is a retired Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) nuclear power plant located near La Crosse, Wisconsin in the small village of Genoa, in Vernon County, Wisconsin, approximately 17 miles south of La Crosse along the ...
. It winds its way and down several ridges, passing through the hamlet of Romance. Highway 56 then climbs onto a ridge, that takes it into
Viroqua, Wisconsin
Viroqua is the county seat of Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,504 at the 2020 census. The city is in the town of Viroqua.
Etymology
The town was originally named “Farwell” after Leonard J. Farwell, second Go ...
. 56 enters Viroqua on Broadway Street, makes a right onto Hillyer Street, and rounds a corner onto Decker Street. At
US Highway 14
U.S. Route 14 (abbreviated U.S. 14 or US 14), an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles (2,250 km), but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles (2,300 km). For ...
,
US Highway 61
U.S. Route 61 or U.S. Highway 61 (U.S. 61) is a major United States highway that extends between New Orleans, Louisiana and the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway generally follows the course of the Mississippi River and is designated ...
,
Wisconsin Highway 27
State Trunk Highway 27 (often called Highway 27, STH-27 or WIS 27) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The highway spans a length of and is generally two-lane local road with the exception of urban multilane arterials within some ...
, and
Wisconsin Highway 82
State Trunk Highway 82 (often called Highway 82, STH-82 or WIS 82) is a state highway in Wisconsin, United States. It runs east–west in southwest and south central Wisconsin from the Iowa border near Lansing, IA to Oxford.
This highway is ...
, Wisconsin Highway 56 encounters its only signalized intersection.
After crossing the highways,
Wisconsin Highway 82
State Trunk Highway 82 (often called Highway 82, STH-82 or WIS 82) is a state highway in Wisconsin, United States. It runs east–west in southwest and south central Wisconsin from the Iowa border near Lansing, IA to Oxford.
This highway is ...
is at a concurrency with 56. This concurrency lasts for four more miles. When this concurrency ends, Wisconsin Highway 56 continues straight along the road to
Viola, Wisconsin
Viola is a village in Richland (mostly) and Vernon Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, United States. The population was 699 at the 2010 census. Of this, 477 were in Richland County, and 222 were in Vernon County.
Geography
Viola is locate ...
.
Wisconsin Highway 82
State Trunk Highway 82 (often called Highway 82, STH-82 or WIS 82) is a state highway in Wisconsin, United States. It runs east–west in southwest and south central Wisconsin from the Iowa border near Lansing, IA to Oxford.
This highway is ...
makes a ninety degree turn to the north.
After leaving Wisconsin Highway 82, 56 climbs up, and then down Pea Vine Hill. It then traverses the hamlet of Liberty. About later, it enters the village of
Viola, Wisconsin
Viola is a village in Richland (mostly) and Vernon Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, United States. The population was 699 at the 2010 census. Of this, 477 were in Richland County, and 222 were in Vernon County.
Geography
Viola is locate ...
. 56 then meets up with
Wisconsin Highway 131
State Trunk Highway 131 (also called Highway 131, STH-131 or WIS 131) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The highway is located in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, passing through Crawford, Vernon, Richland, and Monroe counti ...
, another concurrency. In downtown Viola,
Wisconsin Highway 131
State Trunk Highway 131 (also called Highway 131, STH-131 or WIS 131) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The highway is located in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, passing through Crawford, Vernon, Richland, and Monroe counti ...
and Highway 56 cross the Vernon County line for Wisconsin Highway 56's first time. Wisconsin Highway 56 then continues straight, while 131 turns northerly. Wisconsin Highway 56 continues south-south-easterly until its end at
Wisconsin Highway 80
State Trunk Highway 80 (abbreviated as Highway 80, STH-80 or WIS 80) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It runs north–south in southwest and west central Wisconsin from just south of Marshfield, near the geographic center o ...
.
Major intersections
See also
*
References
External links
*{{Commons category-inline, Wisconsin Highway 56
056 56 may refer to:
* 56 (number)
* one of the years 56 BC, AD 56, 1856
Events
January–March
* January 8 – Borax deposits are discovered in large quantities by John Veatch in California.
* January 23 – American paddle steame ...
Transportation in Vernon County, Wisconsin
Transportation in Richland County, Wisconsin