West Salem, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
West Salem is a village in La Crosse County, Wisconsin
, United States
, along the La Crosse River
. It is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan Area
. The population was 4,799 at the 2010 census.
The donation of approximately ten acres of land to a railway company led to the creation of West Salem. A train 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.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.42% is water.
of 2000, there were 4,541 people, 1,706 households, and 1,230 families residing 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.
The private schools are:
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along the La Crosse River
La Crosse River
The La Crosse River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 50 mi long, in southwestern Wisconsin in the United States.-Course:...
. It is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan Area
La Crosse Metropolitan Area
The La Crosse Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of La Crosse and Houston counties in Wisconsin and Minnesota, anchored by the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin...
. The population was 4,799 at the 2010 census.
History
West Salem was platted in 1856. It was named Salem by a Baptist minister named Elder Card because the word meant "peace". The word West was added to the name when mail was confused with another town in the state named Salem.The donation of approximately ten acres of land to a railway company led to the creation of West Salem. A train 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.
Geography
West Salem is located at 43°53′59"N 91°5′12"W (43.899795, -91.086614).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) of it is land and 0.42% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,541 people, 1,706 households, and 1,230 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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
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:- West Salem Elementary School
- West Salem Middle School
- West Salem High SchoolWest Salem High School (Wisconsin)West Salem High School is a high school located in West Salem, Wisconsin, part of the West Salem School District. As of 2011-2012, 550 students were enrolled at West Salem High. The school employs a faculty of 70 individuals, 79% of whom have a masters degree or higher...
The private schools are:
- Coulee Region Christian School
- Christ Saint John's Lutheran School
Parks and recreation
- Veterans Memorial Park
- Lake Neshonoc
- La Crosse Fairgrounds SpeedwayLa Crosse Fairgrounds SpeedwayThe La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway is a semi-banked asphalt oval racetrack in West Salem, Wisconsin. The outer track is 5/8 mile and the inner track is a 1/4 mile. The track was built on at the fairgrounds for La Crosse County. It used to host an event on the American Speed Association before the...
Notable people
- Charles S. BentonCharles S. BentonCharles Swan Benton was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:...
, U.S. Representative from New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... - Tom Black, NBA player, graduated from high school in West Salem.
- George G. BinghamGeorge G. BinghamGeorge Greenwood Bingham was an American judge and legal educator in the state of Oregon. A native of Wisconsin, his family immigrated to Oregon in his teens, though he returned to the Midwest for his legal education...
, OregonOregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
jurist - Frank P. CoburnFrank P. CoburnFrank Potter Coburn was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin.Born on a farm near West Salem, Wisconsin, Coburn attended the public schools.He engaged in agricultural pursuits near West Salem....
, United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... - Hamlin GarlandHamlin GarlandHannibal Hamlin Garland was an American novelist, poet, essayist, and short story writer. He is best known for his fiction involving hard-working Midwestern farmers.- Biography :...
, writer - West Salem was his summer house, but he was born here. - Harry W. GriswoldHarry W. GriswoldHarry Wilbur Griswold . Griswold was in the agriculture profession. He served on the West Salem Board of Education and was in the Wisconsin State Senate 1933-1937. Griswold was a member of the United States House of Representatives in 1939 until he died in office.-External links:...
, United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution... - Michael HuebschMichael HuebschMichael "Mike" Huebsch is a Wisconsin Republican Party politician and former legislator.Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Huebsch graduated from Onalaska High School and attended Oral Roberts University. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1995 through 2011. From 2007-2009, he served as...
, Wisconsin State AssemblyWisconsin State AssemblyThe Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.... - Jay L. JohnsonJay L. JohnsonAdmiral Jay L. Johnson, USN, is a retired United States Navy officer who served from 1996-2000 as 26th Chief of Naval Operations . He succeeded to the position following the death of Admiral Jeremy M. Boorda...
, United States admiral - Damian MillerDamian MillerDamian Donald Miller is a former Major League Baseball catcher who last played for the Milwaukee Brewers.-High school years:...
, major league baseball player - Norbert NuttelmanNorbert NuttelmanNorbert Nuttelman was an American Republican politician and farmer from Wisconsin.Born in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, Nuttelman was educated in the public schools in West Salem, Wisconsin. Nuttelman was a farmer and worked with the Farmers Home Administration. He served in the Wisconsin State...
, Wisconsin legislator and farmer - Arthur H. ParmeleeArthur H. ParmeleeDr. Arthur Hawley Parmelee was an American physician and football coach.-Early life:Parmelee was born on September 25, 1883 in Redfield, South Dakota. In 1891, he moved with his family to West Salem, Wisconsin where he graduated from West Salem High School in 1900...
, football coach and physician