Westby, Wisconsin

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Westby, Wisconsin
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Westby, Wisconsin


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Wisconsin
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Vernon

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 6.3
area_land_km2 = 6.3
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.4
area_land_sq_mi = 2.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2045
population_density_km2 = 325.0
population_density_sq_mi = 841.9

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes = GR|3
elevation_m = 396
elevation_ft = 1299
latd = 43 |latm = 39 |lats = 14 |latNS = N
longd = 90 |longm = 51 |longs = 33 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 55-85475GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1576571GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Westby is a city in Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,045 at the 2000 census.

History

Westby is named after general store owner and Civil War Union soldier Ole T. Westby of Biri, Norway, from whence many of its original Norwegian-American settlers emigrated. Westby also is known for its cheese curds produced at the Westby Cooperative Creamery, which were, at one time, the official cheese curds of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. Westby also hosts an annual Syttende Mai festival, which is one of the largest in the United States.Fact|date=October 2007 The Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Westby was begun in 1851.

Geography

Westby is located at coor dms|43|39|14|N|90|51|33|W|city (43.653861, -90.859034)GR|1, at the headwaters of the Bad Axe River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.3 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,045 people, 840 households, and 554 families residing in the city. The population density was 841.9 people per square mile (324.9/km²). There were 906 housing units at an average density of 373.0/sq mi (144.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.12% White (mostly Norwegian-American), 0.24% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 0.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.

There were 840 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,340, and the median income for a family was $41,000. Males had a median income of $29,274 versus $21,429 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,839. About 4.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The local economy was built on agriculture, with a strong tradition of cooperative businesses. With seven cooperatives still functioning, Westby has been referred to as "Co-op City". One of the more prominent is the Westby Cooperative Creamery. Another important local business, also based on agriculture, is Accelerated Genetics, formerly Tri-State Breeders. It produces cattle semen for artificial insemination. Tobacco was formerly an important crop, Vernon County tobacco being used for the outer wrapper for cigars.

Westby is also served by a weekly newspaper, the Westby Times. The Norwegian flavor of the town is also captured in the name of a store, Uff da Mart.

The annual Syttende Mai festival

Westby's most popular yearly event is the annual Syttende Mai festival, stemming from its Norwegian roots. Syttende Mai is a Norwegian holiday on May 17 ("Syttende Mai" translates to "Seventeenth of May") which celebrates Norway's independence and the signing of the Norwegian Constitution. In May of every year, a weekend close to, or encompassing, the 17th of May is dedicated to the festival. The festival lasts for all three days of the weekend: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The festival's main attractions are the cultural shops (where mostly Norwegian, but also some Native American, gifts are sold), the food stands (where hamburgers, Hub's fries, mini-donuts, funnel cakes, and other foods are sold), and the troll hunt.

At the start of the weekend, a small troll, standing several inches tall, is hidden somewhere within the city limits. A clue is posted downtown on each of the three days until someone finds the troll. The prize for retrieving the troll is set at $50.

Westby is also known for having one of the tallest ski jumps in the United States and the Snowflake Ski Club hosts a ski jump event every year around the end of January and the beginning of February. The events held include a parade to introduce all of the countries included, a competition for "Snowflake" royalty and opportunities for local businesses to sell their fares at the jump on the days of the competition. However, rumor is there may not be a ski jump after the year of 2008 due to financial trouble stemming from the extensive damage from flooding that occurred in the summer of 2007.

References

External links

* [http://www.westbywi.com/ Westby Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.westby.20m.com Community website]
* [http://www.westbycreamery.net Westby Creamery]
* [http://www.westby.k12.wi.us Schools]
* [http://www.wisconsinstories.org/2002season/coop/video/index.cfm?doc=video3 Cooperatives]