La Crosse County in 1878 from the Historical Atlas of Wisconsin (Milwaukee : Snyder, Van Vechten & Co.), p.64.

La Crosse County encompasses 481 square miles, equaling 307,840 acres of land. It is bounded by Trempealeau County and the Black River to the northwest; Jackson County to the north; Monroe County to the east; Vernon County to the south; and the Mississippi River along its western border. The La Crosse River and its adjacent valley dissect the county from east to west, in a line from Sparta (Monroe County) to the city of La Crosse.

The following geographic descriptions of places in La Crosse County are taken from the Wisconsin State Gazetteer and Business Directory 1886 Volume V (Chicago & Detroit: R. L. Polk & Co.), 1886. Material in brackets [ ] was added by Archives staff for clarification purposes.

Accompanying scanned map images for 1878 are from the Historical Atlas of Wisconsin, 1878 (Milwaukee: Snyder, Van Vechten & Co.), 1878, p. 64. The atlas includes maps of the sixty counties in the state in 1878 and has 59 plat maps of select cities (including La Crosse) with street names and ward numbers. Accompanying scanned map images for 1906 are from the Standard Atlas of La Crosse County, Wisconsin...(Chicago: Geo. A. Ogle), 1906, p. 7.

LA CROSSE COUNTY. Located in the western portion of the State, and separated from Minnesota by the Mississippi River, comprises an area of 450 square miles, and had, according to the 1885 census, 34,791 inhabitants. The surface is undulating, diversified with prairie and woodland; the soil is fertile and produces large quantities of wheat, oats, corn, barley, rye, potatoes, butter, wool, hay, hops, etc. The manufacturers include boats, carriages, castings, malt liquors, farm implements, lumber, metallic wares, sashes, saddlery and woolen goods. Stock raising is an important industry. La Crosse is the county seat.

BANGOR. A flourishing village on the Chicago, Dubuque & Minnesota line of the Chicago & North Western Railway, and on the Chicago, St. Paul & Minneapolis short line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, in La Crosse County, 15 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat, and 10 southwest of Sparta, the nearest banking point. It contains Baptist, Congregational and Methodist churches, flour and woolen mills, a brewery and a machine shop. Population, 500. Tel., W. U. Exp., Am. Mail, daily. John Kupp, postmaster.

Baebler Lark, saloon Bangor Cheese Co.,     F. Wolf, G. Boshart, A. Boshart and C. Buol     proprs, mnfrs. Swiss cheese Bangor Flour Mills, John Bosshard propr. Bangor House, Abner Darling propr. Bangor Woolen Mill, Otto Bodmer propr. Bowe John, tailor Cassidy J. H., railroad agent Chase Henry, farm implements and hides Chase Herman, carpenter Dove Henry, tailor Evans Rev John P. (Congregational) Evans Miss Libbie E., milliner Evans Richard D., druggist Fritz Henry, meat market Fox John, saloon Gilboe Berger, saloon Holden P. M., railroad agent Hussa Joseph, brewer Jenkins John G., machinist	Kupp John, postmaster and confectioner Kupp Lewis, saloon Matheson S. & Co. (Samuel Matheson,     Richard Baily, Thomas Thomson)     general store Mengel & Bosshard (Alfred Mengel,     J. C. Bosshard), general store Miller H., principal of public school Morf Henry, lumber Newton A. B., physician Pugh Rev. H. M. (Methodist) Robert E. R., grain dealer and live stock Rosmunson Christian, blacksmith Shankland Dr. John, druggist Shoemaker George, shoemaker Smith W & A, hardware Stensey Joseph, carpenter and wagon maker Stevens Valentine, harness. Vaughan Edward W., carpenter Wheldon John, notary and justice Wolf Andrew, harness

BARRE MILLS. On Bostwick Creek, in La Crosse County, 10 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat and nearest banking point. It contains 2 water power flouring mills, a church and a district school. Population, 160.

Barlow O. S., flour mill Filter William, blacksmith Huxsahl Henry, wagon maker Ritchie George, shoemaker	Roornd C., tailor Rucks William, flour mill Runge William, general store

BOHEMIA. A post office on Coon Creek, in La Crosse County, 22 miles southeast of La Crosse, the county seat, and 12 south of Bangor, the nearest railroad station. La Crosse is the nearest banking point. Settled in 1852, it contains 2 churches, a water power flouring mill and a common school. Stages weekly to La Crosse. Population, 25. Mail by special supply. J. W. Nedvidek, postmaster.

Thompson George W., flour mill

BURNS. A post office on Burns Creek, in La Crosse County, 20 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat, 4.5 north of Bangor, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, the nearest railroad station, and 9 west of Sparta, the nearest banking point. Settled in 1850. It contains saw and grist mills, a cheese factory and several stores. Population, 75. Mail, by special supply. Edward Tritton, postmaster.

Bowen L. R., flour mill Burns Cheese Factory Tritton E. & Son, General Store	Tritton C. H., wagon maker Vaughan D., flour mill

BURR OAK. A post village on Burr Oak Creek, in La Crosse County, 26 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat and bank location, and 13 north of West Salem, the nearest railroad station. Settled in 1854, it contains 2 churches, a district school and several stores. Stages tri-weekly to West Salem; fare 75 cents. Population, 100. Mail, tri-weekly. F. J. Willard, postmaster.

Goodenough Theodore, well builder Kremmer William, blacksmith McIntosh D., mason Newland Charles, hotel Rhym A., carpenter	Springling Rev. Phillip (Lutheran) Willard J. H., justice of peace Willard J. H. & Co.,     General Store, Grain, Stock and     Sewing Machine Agent

HALF WAY [Halfway]. A post office on Half Way [Halfway] Creek, in La Crosse County 14 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat, and 8 north of Onalaska, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, the nearest railroad station. La Crosse is the nearest banking point. Settled in 1850, it contains a steam feed mill and a steam grub pin factory, a church and a district school. Stages to Onalaska and North Bend; fares 60 cents and 75 cents respectively. Population, 25. Mail, tri-weekly.

Anderson Andrew, blacksmith Hosffel R., hotel	Solie Bros., general store

HOLMEN. A village in La Crosse County, 12 miles north of La Crosse, the county seat, and 2 north of Midway, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, the nearest railroad station. La Crosse is the nearest banking point. Halfway Creek furnishes power for a flouring mill, and a rafting pin factory. Stages semi-weekly to Midway. Population, 75. Mail, semi-weekly. C. A. Sjolander, postmaster.

Christiansen C. & Bro., Flour Mill Dahly H. H., carpenter Hammer O. O., blacksmith Monson Math T., hotel and saloon Pflueger J. H., physician	Sjolander C. A.,     General Store and Farm Implements Sjolander & Hammer,     feed mill and rafting pin factory Wall Oulf, hotel and saloon

LA CROSSE (City). Was first surveyed for a town site in 1842, from which time until 1856 its progress was slow. In 1857 the spirit of western enterprise seems to have fallen on the inhabitants, who at that time numbered only 3,000; they secured its incorporation as a city, and its growth since then has been almost phenomenal. It is the judicial seat of county of same name and is located at the confluence of the La Crosse and Black rivers with the Mississippi. It owes much of its success to its geographical position, all the lumber of the Black River valley and adjacent territory being its natural tribute, and annually supplying 500,000,000 feet of logs to be manufactured within the city into building lumber, shingles, lath, sash, doors and other kindred staples. These are supplemented by several large flouring mills, seven cooperages, foundries, agricultural implement factories, boiler works, furniture and soap factories, six large breweries, cracker factories, knitting works, and numerous other industries. The products of these and a large amount of goods handled by the jobbing merchants of the city and markets in Western Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota, access to which is furnished by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway through its various divisions and acquired lines, the Chicago & Northwestern Railway and the Green Bay, St. Paul & Minneapolis Railway. These are all in active operation, and in addition the Chicago, Burlington & North Railway (practically the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy), is laying its tracks within the city limits, and by the summer of 1886 that system will also add its advantages to the facilities for transportation already enjoyed by the city. The W., D. & W. Railway Co. [Editor's note: We're not sure what line this was but thought Winona, Dubuque & Western??] is also surveying to and through La Crosse, and the Chicago, La Crosse & Southern Wisconsin Railway Co. have nearly completed their survey from St. Joseph, Mo., to the Sault Ste. Marie. These various lines when completed will with its river advantages make the city as a distributing point second to none in the Northwest. The present population is over 23,000 and value of goods manufactured and sold during the year 1885 was about $25,000,000. As a place of residence it also possesses superior advantages, sheltered in a valley protected from the west and northeast by beautiful and commanding bluffs, it enjoys comparative immunity from storms and climatic extremes. The streets are well paved, shaded by trees and lighted by electricity, and it has an excellent system of water works. Among its social advantages may be named 30 churches, 3 opera houses, a public library and several large halls. Its common and high schools are objects of peculiar pride to its people, and no pains are spared to maintain their efficiency. To these may be added several private educational institutions, foremost among which stands the business college of J. L. Wallace, which furnishes all the essentials of a thorough mercantile education, and possesses more than a merely local reputation. There are 6 newspapers published in the city, viz: the Republican and Leader (Rep.), the Morning Chronicle (Dem.) and the Evening Star (Ind., daily) (the two former also weekly), the Nord Stern (Rep., German), the Faederlandet og Emigranten (Rep., Norwegian), and the La Crosse News (Ind., weekly). The astonishing growth of La Crosse during the past five years, has been such as to surprise even the most sanguine, and the nature of the improvements, as well as the conservative spirit of its people, are guaranteed that the growth is substantial, and affords justifiable anticipation of still more rapid progress in the future. Tel., W. U. Exp., Am. Mails, six per day, with free delivery three times daily. [Editor's note: because of the length of the business section, those are not repeated here. The Archives has city directories going back to 1866 which can be consulted for a more comprehensive list].

LYTLE'S. A station on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway in La Crosse County, 12 miles north of La Crosse, the seat of justice, to which point mail should be sent.

MIDDLE RIDGE. A post office in La Crosse County, 20 miles east of La Crosse, the county seat, and 8.5 southeast of Bangor, the nearest railroad station. La Crosse is the nearest banking point. Population, 50. Mail, semi-weekly. [Editor's note: Middle Ridge is sometimes referred to as St. Peter].

Becker John, wagon maker Brown Frank, blacksmith	Schomers John, general store

MIDWAY. A village on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, in La Crosse County, 9 miles north of La Crosse, the county seat and nearest banking point. It contains a hotel, a flour mill and a few stores. Population, 200. Tel., W. U. Exp., Am. Mail, daily. O. W. Olson, postmaster.

Canterbury J. B., produce, railroad agent Grams A., flour mill Grew J. E., general store Lincoln E. F., physician Livingstone T. B., live stock	Lockman E. M., Blacksmith Nutting C. W., hotel Olson O. W., shoemaker, general store Sander A. J., wagon maker Sweet William, wagon maker

MINDORO. A village on the Flemming's [Fleming] Creek, in La Crosse County, 21 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat, and 9.5 miles north of West Salem, the nearest railroad station. La Crosse is the nearest banking point. Settled in 1849, it contains water power feed and flour mills, 3 churches and a district school. Stages tri-weekly to West Salem and Burr Oak. Population, 150. Telephone connections. Mail, tri-weekly. Andrew Hanson, postmaster.

Barber G. G., hotel Bickwart Henry, farmer Evenson Christian, blacksmith Fowler J. T., wagon maker Hanson A. C., General Store Hodge James, live stock	Lamphere H., blacksmith Olson Ole U., carpenter Slyes H. H., feed mill Willey A. F., physician Young & Conrad, millers

NESHONOC. In La Crosse County, 1 mile northwest of West Salem, to which point mail should be sent.

NEW AMSTERDAM. A village on the Black River, in La Crosse County, 12 miles north of La Crosse, the county seat, and 4.5 miles northeast of Midway, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, the nearest railroad station. La Crosse is the nearest banking point. Settled in 1850. It contains a steam feed mill, a church and a district school. Population, 150. Mail, semi-weekly. Byron Mulder, postmaster.

Bonneman O., hotel and saw mill Briggs Sewall, lawyer Gaul Joseph, mason Hoag William, meat market Kieger Nicholas, carpenter	La Fleur & Raymond, general store Mulder Byron & Co, General Store and Feed Mill Mulder John, blacksmith Van Loon John, nursery

NEWBERG'S CORNERS [Newburg Corners]. A post office in La Crosse County, 15 miles east of La Crosse, the county seat, and 11 south of Bangor, the nearest railroad station. La Crosse is the nearest banking point. Settled in 1854, it contains a water power flouring mill, a church and a district school. Stages semi-weekly to La Crosse; fare, 50 cents. Population, 30. Mail, semi-weekly. Alois Newburg, postmaster.

Arentz Peter, constable Laedeke Henry, justice of peace Newburg Alois, Hotel and Justice	Ophus Ole J., insurance and justice Sestak Wenzel, blacksmith

NORTH LA CROSSE. A post office on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, in La Crosse county, 3 miles north of La Crosse, the county seat and nearest banking point. Population, 30. Mail daily. [Editor's note: We think the "North La Crosse" referred to here may have been either "Oak Grove Park" or "Cold Springs" in the Town of Campbell since the population is noted at only 30. Neither of these two places exist on maps today. North and South La Crosse are divided by the La Crosse River and marshland that separates the two areas. The village of North La Crosse was annexed into the city of La Crosse in 1871. Even today, residents refer to the north or south side of the city.]

ONALASKA. A prosperous village on Black River, and the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, in La Crosse County, 5 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat and nearest banking point. Settled in 1854, it contains steam saw and lumber mills, 2 churches and a district school. Population, 1,100. Tel., W. U. Exp., Am. Mail, daily. R. Bailey, postmaster.

Aiken Frank, town clerk Bailey R. & Co (Richard Bailey,     Thomas Thompson), General Store Barber Brothers (Charles and William), livery Beach Allison, druggist Belser Charles, saloon Bortel William, blacksmith Buttles & Pierce (Marcus M. Buttles,     John M. Pierce), general store and grain Collins William, cooper Dunlap C. W., agent M. & St. P. Railroad Dunlap George, blacksmith Ellstrom Gustave, saloon Engelsted House, Anton Engelsted propr. Fahey James, barber Furst Leopold, Chicago & Northwestern     and Green Bay railroad and express agent Hall C., constable Himmel Jacob, grocer Hyatt George, barber Ingelsted Anton, saloon Island Mill Lumber Co., saw mill Jefferson House, Dewitt W. C. Jefferson propr. Kizer Frank, blacksmith Kjos Ole P., confectioner	Lester William, physician Medson Otto, tailor Melbright Andrew, jeweler Moore Milton G., saloon and brewery Moran Alexander, justice of peace Moulton P. G., justice of peace Nelson Daniel, shoemaker Nelson Thomas, shoemaker Nesbit Joseph, pumps and farm implements Nichols C. H. & Co (Charles H. Nichols,     Frank Pooler, Frank E. Nichols),     mnfrs and dealers in lumber Olsen Charles, saloon Onalaska House, Mrs Daniel Straus propr. Peterson Ole, saloon Rand & Moore (James Rand, Abel Moore), livery Russell & Mosher     (George Russell, Louis Mosher), saloon Shove Thomas V., confectioner Spettel Clement, photographer Stewart Henry, hotel Tookhorn Frederick, confectioner Tookhorn Mrs., notions Zimmer John, meat market

ROCKLAND. A post village on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, and on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, in La Crosse county, 20 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat, and 5.5 southwest of Sparta, the nearest banking point. Settled in 1873, it contains 2 churches. Population, 40. Exp., Am. Mail, daily. John Erickson, postmaster.

Edward R. D., railroad and exp agent Erickson John, General Store and Railroad     Agent Gaylord G. M., wagon maker	Ondel Peter, general store Pecha Mat, shoemaker Walthenser John, blacksmith

ST. JOSEPH. A post office in La Crosse county, 13 miles east of La Crosse, the county seat, nearest railroad station and banking point. Population, 80. Mail, semi-weekly. John Hammes, postmaster.

Halbach Christ, wagon maker Hammes John, General Store Hammes & Kalbach, blacksmiths	Richard John, carpenter Schlesser John, shoemaker

SHELBY. A discontinued post office in La Crosse County, 5 miles south of La Crosse, the seat of justice.

SIGEL. A post office on Mormon Creek, in La Crosse County, 10 miles southeast of La Crosse, the county seat, nearest railroad station and banking point. Settled in 1852, it contains 3 water power flouring mills, a steam sugar factory, 3 churches and a district school. Stages tri-weekly to La Crosse and Viroqua. Population, 75. Mail, tri-weekly. C. Pfuffin, postmaster. [Editor's note: Sigel is no longer on any modern map. It was located in the Town of Greenfield.]

Bloomer M., flour mill Egler [Eggler] Casper, carpenter Kienholz Peter, sec Mutual Ins Co Lindsay Charles, creamery, cheese and     sorghum mnfr. Linse Charles, pres Mutual Ins Co.	MacKown S & M, flour Markle John, blacksmith Oehler Frederick, flour mill Shelby Mutual Farmers' Fire Ins Co,     Charles Linse pres. Peter Kienholz sec.

STEVENSTOWN. A post office in La Crosse County, 20 miles northeast of La Crosse, the county seat, and 15 northeast of Onalaska, the nearest railroad station. La Crosse is the nearest banking point. Population, 50. Mail, tri-weekly. Peter C. Casberg, postmaster. [Editor's note: originally Stevenstown was located a bit west from where it is today. On the 1878 map, both the "old" and the "new" Stevenstowns are noted].

Barclay James, flour mill and cheese mnfr. Casberg P. C., General Store Christianson Liman, shoemaker Erekson Edward, blacksmith	Frazier John, saloon Nelson Daniel, shoemaker Wild Jacob, blacksmith

WEST SALEM. A thriving village on the Chicago, St. Paul & Minneapolis short line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and on the M. & C. D. line [Editor's note: the Chicago, Dubuque & Minnesota line??] of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, in Hamilton township, La Crosse county, 170 miles northwest of Milwaukee, and 12 northeast of La Crosse, the county seat and nearest banking point. Settled in 1855, it contains 2 flour mills, operated by power obtained from La Crosse River, 4 churches, a district school, and a number of special and general stores. Grain, hops and live stock are shipped, and land averages $45 per acre. Stages tri-weekly to Mindoro and Burr Oak; fares, 50 cents and $1 respectively. Population, 500. Tel., W. U. Exp., Am. Mail, daily.

Anderson John A., carpenter Arnesen Martin, shoemaker Ayars Albert W., blacksmith Brooks William H., wagon maker Clark Rev. A. (Congregational) Clark Mrs. John G., milliner and dry goods Clark Rev. R. A. (Presbyterian) Crandall Louis T., farm implements Cronk Myron E., live stock Daniels A. S., cooper Daniels & Cadwell (A. Sidney Daniels,     Edgar P. Caldwell), blacksmiths Dayls & Carmse     (Burt Dayls, Lou Carmse), blacksmiths Erickson Bros (Edwin and Sever), painters Gates Walter, carpenter Gilfillan Miss Lillie, dressmaker Goodrich A. D., railroad agent Graves Wyatt H., lawyer Gulikson & Manzer     (George Gulikson, Louis Manzer), livery Hemker Frederick, stonemason Heritage Isaac C., harness. Hughes W. J., principal high school Johnson Alexander, druggist	Johnson & Larson (John K. Johnson,     Ludwig Larson), general store Ladd & Smead (Martin D. Ladd,     Abner H. Smead), general store Lottridge Mrs. L., physician McClintock George F., grocer McMillan & Lang     (Alex McMillan, John Lang), Flour Mill Michaelson Lewis, saloon Palmer George A., hardware Pattengill John A., lumber and livestock Peck Tracy L., railroad agent Prusheck Joseph, painter Robinson W. M., carpenter Rublee Edward M., carpenter Schneider Harmon, meat market Sherwood House, John R. Sherwood propr. Smith Henry M., farm implements Sparling Mrs. Josephine T., milliner Steeson Stephen, flour mill Stiles Frederick W., grocer Taylor Robert M., barber Thronson Mathias, stonemason Van Water William, postmaster Wakefield S. R., physician

WINONA JUNCTION. On the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, at the junction of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, in La Crosse County, 4 miles northeast of La Crosse. Send mail to Onalaska.[Editor's note: this area became part of the Town of Medary and has been annexed into the city of La Crosse].