Viroqua, Wisconsin

:"Viroqua" is also a genus of jumping spiders.

Viroqua is the county seat of Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,335 at the 2000 census. The city is located within the Town of Viroqua.

Transportation

Viroqua is located at the interchanges of US Highway 14, US Highway 61, Wisconsin Highway 27, Wisconsin Highway 56, and Wisconsin Highway 82. All these highways intersect at Decker Street. Along Main Street, there is a wrong-way concurrency.

Recently, the highways and major streets in Viroqua have been redone. Highways 14, 61, and 27 had lanes added to them to become four lanes, except for the four block section of downtown. That was kept two lanes to allow for parallel parking on the side of the road. Highway 56 and 82 west of the city are being redone also. The end of the repaving is going to end in 2008.

Gillette Street is on the West side of 14. Gillette Street is on the East side of Main Street.

Viroqua was on the new airways route between La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Rockford, Illinois, when it was established in June, 1932. The beacon light had about fifteen large thirty-six" revolving beacons of 2,000,000 candle power when it was installed. It was installed on the Mahlon Lepley farm, four miles northeast of Viroqua.

County Seat

There was a sharp rivalry between Viroqua and Springville to gain the location of County Seat of Vernon County and it was not free from bitterness in any way. A deed for 40 ac. of land was promised by pioneer, Moses Decker on condition that Viroqua would be chosen as the county seat, and was given by him to the authorities and constituted what is known as the County Addition to the city of Viroqua.

In early 1851, the act authorizing the organization of Bad Axe, now Vernon County, was approved by Gov. Dewey. Viroqua was awarded the county seat, pending a permanent location by the votes of the county. In May of 1852, it was decided by vote the county seat was to be Viroqua.

Geography

Viroqua is located at coor dms|43|33|23|N|90|53|15|W|city (43.556534, -90.887663)GR|1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²).None of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,335 people, 1,990 households, and 1,112 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,327.3 people per square mile (511.9/km²). There were 2,105 housing units at an average density of 644.5/sq mi (248.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.73% White, 0.07% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,990 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.7% 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 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,804, and the median income for a family was $35,475. Males had a median income of $29,589 versus $20,046 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,172. About 9.8% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

*Western Technical College offers classes in Viroqua.
* [http://www.driftlessfolkschool.org/ Driftless Folk School]
* [http://www.yihs.net/ Youth Initiative High School]
* [http://www.pleasantridgewaldorf.org/ Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School]
* [http://www.viroqua.k12.wi.us/es/index.html/ Viroqua Elementary School]
* [http://www.viroqua.k12.wi.us/ms/index.html/ Viroqua Middle School]
* [http://www.viroqua.k12.wi.us/high/index.html/ Viroqua High School]
* [http://www.viroqua.k12.wi.us/laurel/index.html/ Laurel High School]
* [http://betterfutures.viroqua.k12.wi.us/ Better Futures High School]

Economy and revitalization

Viroqua was dubbed "The Town That Beat Walmart" by Smithsonian Magazine in 1992 by fostering businesses that co-exist with the retail giant [http://www.npr.org/news/specials/walmart/] . The city promoted small business development through several state and federal programs. It is a Wisconsin Main Street City and its downtown is listed on the Wisconsin and National Register of Historic Places.

The Temple Theatre is an example of the town's resurgence. The US$1.6 million restoration of the 1922 Classical Revival style vaudeville and movie theatre was driven by volunteers. It serves as an arts and cultural center for the surrounding counties.

Notable natives

* Irwin Hendrick Dregne - World War II fighter ace and group commander
* Mark C. Lee - United States Astronaut
* Jeremiah McLain Rusk - Governor of Wisconsin, Secretary of Agriculture
* Butch Vig - Record producer and musician
* [http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=7993 Dr. Richard Tubb] - Personal physician to President George W. Bush
* Gerald L.K. Smith - founder of Share Our Wealth Movement grew up in Viroqua
* Chris Mulkey - Actor/Musician(Born in Viroqua) [http://www.chrismulkey.com]

References

External links

* [http://www.viroqua-wisconsin.com City of Viroqua]
* [http://www.viroquaareafoundation.org Viroqua Area Foundation]
* [http://www.temple-theatre.com/ Temple Theatre]
* [http://www.wildwestdays.info/ Wild West Days Festival]
* [http://www.vernonbroadcaster.com/ Vernon County Broadcaster]