Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien is a city in Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States, and it is the county's main city. It is often called Wisconsin's second-oldest city.

The city is located near where the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers meet. This spot is important because it lies along the Fox-Wisconsin Waterway, which links the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River.

The city was first settled by French voyageurs in the late 17th century. Its settlement date of June 17, 1673, makes it the fourth colonial settlement by European settlers in the Midwestern United States, after Green Bay, Wisconsin; Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; and St. Ignace, Michigan.

When the French first arrived, the area was home to a group of Meskwaki people. In French, chien means 'dog,' so the French explorers named the place Prairie du Chien, meaning 'dog's meadow.' Over time, this name came to refer to the entire city. The city of Prairie du Chien lies between the towns of Prairie du Chien and Bridgeport.

History

The first known Europeans to reach Prairie du Chien were French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet. They arrived by canoe on June 17, 1673 and found a route to the Mississippi River. Later, French explorer Nicolas Perrot set up a trading post in 1685 as part of the fur trade.

After Great Britain took control of the area in 1763, Prairie du Chien was used by British troops during the American Revolutionary War. After the war, the area became part of the new United States. Full control wasn’t established until after the War of 1812.

During the War of 1812, the U.S. built Fort Shelby. The fort was later captured by British forces. After the war, the U.S. built Fort Crawford in 1816. The fort was important for many years and was the site where important land treaties were signed.

In the early 1800s, Prairie du Chien stayed a key spot for the fur trade. Later, the city grew with the railroad, and many important buildings and schools were built.

History of municipal government

Prairie du Chien was officially made the Borough of Prairie des Chiens on September 17, 1821, by the secretary of the Michigan Territory. It was later made a town and then a city in 1872.

Geography

Prairie du Chien is in the Mississippi River Valley. It is on a long triangular plain. The Mississippi River is to the west, and the Wisconsin River is to the south. Tall bluffs are to the east-northeast.

The city covers 6.47 square miles (16.76 km²). Of this, 5.84 square miles (15.13 km²) is land and 0.63 square miles (1.63 km²) is water.

Sometimes, extra water from the Mississippi River flows across the west side of the plain. This can create small islands. One of these islands, near downtown, was once part of the city. But a big flood in 1965 made people move to safer places. Now, the island is a park called St. Feriole Island.

Demographics

2020 census

In 2020, 5,506 people lived in the city. About 90% were White. Smaller groups were Black or African American, Native American, Asian, and people from different races. Some families lived together in houses, and others lived alone. Most people finished high school, and some went to college.

2010 census

In 2010, there were 5,911 people in the city. Most were White, with some Black or African American, Native American, and Asian people. Families lived in different ways, with some having children and others being single people.

2000 census

In 2000, the city had 6,018 people. The largest group was White, with smaller numbers of Black or African American, Native American, and Asian people. Many families lived together, but many people also lived alone. Most people had finished high school, but fewer had gone to college.

Economy

Prairie du Chien’s economy is similar to other Midwest cities its size. Many people work in retail, services, and manufacturing. Big companies such as 3M and Cabela's help provide jobs. The city also has important government jobs because it is home to the Crawford County courthouse and a state prison.

The city has one of Wisconsin’s busiest ports on the Mississippi River. It also has two railroads and a small airport with two runways, making it an important place for transportation and shipping in the area.

Arts and culture

Prairie du Chien has five special places called National Historic Landmarks and nine sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These were the first ones chosen in Wisconsin.

The city is near beautiful spots like Wyalusing State Park, Effigy Mounds National Monument, and Pikes Peak State Park. Many people visit Prairie du Chien because of its interesting history and location by the Mississippi River.

Every Father's Day weekend since 1975, the city holds an event called the Prairie Villa Rendezvous. This event tries to bring back the feeling of a fur trading camp from the 1800s.

Since 2001, the city has celebrated New Year's Eve by dropping a carp from the Mississippi River from a crane over BlackHawk Avenue at midnight. This tradition is called the "Droppin' of the Carp."

Hunting and fishing have always been popular here. In 1998, Cabela's opened its fourth store in the city.

Parks and recreation

Prairie du Chien has many fun places to visit and explore. One popular event is a big bike tour called GRABAAWR. It starts in Eagle River and ends in Prairie du Chien. The tour is 500 miles long and takes one week.

St. Feriole Island has a beautiful park by the river. There is a bike path that goes around the whole island. The park has shelters for big gatherings. Near the Villa Louis, there is a wide open space that was once a horse racing track. At the far end, there are two large soccer fields where pets can run around.

Education

See also: Old Rock School (Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin) and Campion High School

The Prairie du Chien Area School District is a public school district in Prairie du Chien. It serves the city and the village of Eastman. The district has three schools:

• B. A. Kennedy Elementary School (for early childhood to grade 1)
• Bluff View Intermediate School (grades 2 to 8)
• Prairie du Chien High School (grades 9 to 12)

The district’s offices are at B. A. Kennedy Elementary School.

There are also two private schools in Prairie du Chien: Prairie Catholic School (for grades K to 8) and Prairie Christian Academy (for grades K to 12).

Media

Prairie du Chien has a newspaper called the Courier Press, which comes out twice a week. It also has a weekly shopping guide.

The city gets its TV signals from the La Crosse and Eau Claire area, with some channels from Madison too. Some people can also pick up stations from Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Dubuque.

Prairie du Chien has its own radio station, WQPC, which broadcasts at 94.3 FM from near the Mississippi River. It also has a sister station, WPRE, on 980 AM. Other nearby stations that can be heard clearly include WHHI, WGLR, and KCTN.

Transportation

Bus service to La Crosse runs three times each day. It is provided by Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit.

The city has its own airport called the Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport (KPDC). There are also two rail lines that used to connect the city to other places. One of them is no longer in use past the Mississippi River.

Notable people

Prairie du Chien has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Matthew Antoine won a bronze medal in skeleton racing at the Winter Olympics. William Beaumont was a doctor in the 1820s who studied how the human body digests food. Barbara Bedford was an actress in early silent movies.

Other notable figures include Jefferson Davis, who later became the president of the Confederate States of America and was stationed at Fort Crawford in the 1830s, and John Muir, the famous conservationist who worked at a boarding house in Prairie du Chien before attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The city has also been home to athletes, politicians, and community leaders who have made their mark in various fields.