West Salem, Wisconsin

West Salem is a village in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, along the La Crosse River. It is part of the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,799 as of the 2010 Census.

West Salem, Wisconsin
Village
Downtown
Location of West Salem in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
Coordinates: 43°53′59″N 91°5′12″W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountyLa Crosse
Government
 • Village PresidentDennis Manthei
 • Village AdministratorTeresa Schnitzler
Area
 • Total3.40 sq mi (8.82 km2)
 • Land3.35 sq mi (8.67 km2)
 • Water0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2)
Elevation741 ft (226 m)
Population
 • Total4,799
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
5,015
 • Density1,498.80/sq mi (578.68/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)608
FIPS code55-86275[5]
GNIS feature ID1576552[2]
Websitewww.westsalemwi.com

History

West Salem was platted in 1856. It was named Salem by a Baptist minister named Elder Card because the word meant "peace" in Arabic and Hebrew. The word West was added to the name when mail was confused with another town in the state named Salem.[6][7]

The donation of approximately ten acres of land to a railway company led to the creation of West Salem. A station was built in West Salem on the original Milwaukee and La Crosse Railway which ran to La Crosse. It was later taken over by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway (later becoming the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad). The railway used the land to build a depot and tracks.[8]

Geography

West Salem is located at 43°53′59″N 91°5′12″W (43.899795, -91.086614).[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.44 square miles (8.91 km2), of which, 3.42 square miles (8.86 km2) of it is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[10]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880432—
189054225.5%
190072533.8%
191084015.9%
19201,02722.3%
19301,011−1.6%
19401,25424.0%
19501,3769.7%
19601,70724.1%
19702,18027.7%
19803,27650.3%
19903,61110.2%
20004,54025.7%
20104,7995.7%
Est. 20195,015[4]4.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 4,799 people, 1,831 households, and 1,259 families living in the village. The population density was 1,403.2 inhabitants per square mile (541.8/km2). There were 1,869 housing units at an average density of 546.5 per square mile (211.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 96.7% White, 0.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 1,831 households of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.2% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

The median age in the village was 39.2 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 4,541 people, 1,706 households, and 1,230 families living in the village. The population density was 1,911.2 people per square mile (736.5/km²). There were 1,765 housing units at an average density of 743.0 per square mile (286.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.04% White, 0.51% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 1,706 households out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the village, the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $43,449, and the median income for a family was $50,176. Males had a median income of $34,459 versus $22,439 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,904. About 3.3% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Palmer-Gullickson Octagon

The village president is Dennis Manthei. The village administrator is Teresa Schnitzler. The village treasurer is Benjamin Heller.

Education

The public West Salem School District consists of:

The private schools are:

Coulee Region Christian School
  • Coulee Region Christian School
  • Christ Saint John's Lutheran School

Historic sites

Parks and recreation
La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway

Notable people
Hamlin Garland House

Images
  • Looking east at West Salem on WIS 16
  • Post office
  • Community Center
  • Hazel Brown Leicht Memorial Library

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. Gard, Robert and L.G. Sorden. The Romance of Wisconsin Placenames. Minocqua, WI: Heartland Press, 1988. ISBN 0-942802-88-8.
  7. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 138.
  8. "Railroad Influenced Site of West Salem; Neshonoc Was Village". La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press. April 6, 1930. Retrieved on 2009-08-04 from the Wisconsin Local History & Biography Articles at the website of the Wisconsin Historical Society .
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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