La Crosse is a city in and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

of Rush County,

Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...

, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 1,266. La Crosse proclaims itself the "Barbed Wire capital of the world.

History

La Crosse was founded in 1876, was named after the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin. 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. 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".

Tornado of 2012

On May 25, 2012, an EF-1 tornado caused about four blocks of significant damage, and two businesses were destroyed. A third of the businesses sustained major damage. No injuries were reported.

Geography

La Crosse lies in the Smoky Hills region of the

Great Plains The Great Plains is a broad expanse of plain, flatland in North America. The region stretches east of the Rocky Mountains, much of it covered in prairie, steppe, and grassland. They are the western part of the Interior Plains, which include th ...

, approximately south of the Smoky Hill River and north of Walnut Creek, a tributary of the Arkansas River. Sand Creek, a tributary of Walnut Creek, flows southeastward around the southwestern and southern portions of the city. Mule Creek, a small tributary of Sand Creek, flows southeastward through the city. Located in west-central Kansas at the intersection of U.S. Route 183 and K-4, La Crosse is northwest of Wichita, west-southwest of Kansas City, and east-southeast of

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

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

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 1,266 people, 547 households, and 318 families in La Crosse. The population density was 1,222.0 per square mile (471.8/km). There were 642 housing units at an average density of 619.7 per square mile (239.3/km). The racial makeup was 94.79% (1,200)

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

or European American (92.65% non-Hispanic white), 0.32% (4)

black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

or African-American, 0.08% (1) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.32% (4) Asian, 0.0% (0)

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

Native Hawaiian Native Hawaiians (also known as Indigenous Hawaiians, Kānaka Maoli, Aboriginal Hawaiians, or simply Hawaiians; , , , and ) are the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, Indigenous Polynesians, Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiʻi was set ...

, 0.71% (9) from other races, and 3.79% (48) from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race was 4.66% (59) of the population. Of the 547 households, 25.6% had children under the age of 18; 45.9% were married couples living together; 28.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 34.2% of households consisted of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 3.0. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 19.0% of the population. 22.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 113.0 males. The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $40,069 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,803) and the median family income was $66,750 (+/- $12,066). Males had a median income of $32,692 (+/- $11,813) versus $19,567 (+/- $3,871) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $21,816 (+/- $2,726). Approximately, 2.6% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 2.1% of those under the age of 18 and 3.4% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 1,342 people, 606 households, and 350 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 722 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.5%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.2%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 0.7% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population. There were 606 households, of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age in the city was 47.7 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.3% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 26.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 1,376 people, 585 households, and 367 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 720 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.33%

, 0.22%

, 0.44% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population. There were 585 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.81. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 27.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,435, and the median income for a family was $39,118. Males had a median income of $26,118 versus $20,600 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $17,264. About 7.1% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the

, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

La Crosse is a city of the third class, according to state statute, with a commission-manager form of government. The city commission consists of the

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

and two commissioners, and it meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.

Education

The community is served by La Crosse USD 395 public school district, and operates three schools in the city: * La Crosse High School (9-12) * La Crosse Middle School (7-8) * La Crosse Elementary School (K-6)

Transportation

U.S. Route 183 runs north-south through La Crosse, intersecting Kansas Highway 4 (K-4) which runs east-west along the northern edge of the city. Rush County Airport is located northeast of the city on the north side of K-4. Publicly owned, it has one asphalt runway and is used for general aviation. A line of the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad runs southeast-northwest through La Crosse.

Media

Print

One newspaper, ''The Rush County News'', is published weekly in La Crosse.

Radio

The following radio stations are licensed to and/or broadcast from La Crosse: FM

Television

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

Culture

Events

* Rush County Fair

Points of interest

* Kansas Barbed Wire Museum * Post Rock Museum * Historical Museum * Nekoma Bank Museum * Pleasant Point One-Room School Museum

References

External links

City of La Crosse

La Crosse - Directory of Public Officials

La Crosse Info
Legends of Kansas
La Crosse city map
KDOT {{Authority control Cities in Kansas County seats in Kansas Cities in Rush County, Kansas 1876 establishments in Kansas Populated places established in 1876