Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien is a city in Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States, and it is the county's main city. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 5,506 people. It is often called Wisconsin's second-oldest city. Prairie du Chien 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.

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. Early French missionaries and explorers used this place as their first point of access to the Mississippi River. When the French first arrived, the area was home to a group of Meskwaki people led by a chief named Alim. 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, who arrived by canoe on June 17, 1673, discovering a route to the Mississippi River. Later, French explorer Nicolas Perrot established 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. Following the war, the area became part of the new United States, but full control wasn’t established until after the War of 1812.

During the War of 1812, the U.S. built Fort Shelby, which 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 remained a key spot for the fur trade. Later, the city grew with the railroad, and many important buildings and schools were established.

History of municipal government

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

Geography

Prairie du Chien is located in the Mississippi River Valley. It sits on a long triangular plain bordered by the Mississippi River to the west, the Wisconsin River to the south, and tall bluffs to the east-northeast. The city covers an area of 6.47 square miles (16.76 km²), with 5.84 square miles (15.13 km²) of land and 0.63 square miles (1.63 km²) of water.

Sometimes, extra water from the Mississippi River flows across the west side of the plain and creates small islands. One of these islands, near downtown, used to be part of the city until a big flood in 1965. After that, people had to move to safer places, and the island is now a park called St. Feriole Island.

Demographics

2020 census

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

2010 census

Ten years earlier, in 2010, there were 5,911 people in the city. Most of them were White, with some Black or African American, Native American, and Asian people as well. Families lived in different ways, with some having children and others being single people.

2000 census

In the year 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 much like other cities in the Midwest of its size. Most people work in retail, services, and manufacturing. Big companies such as 3M and Cabela's provide many 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 a key place for transportation and shipping in the area.

Arts and culture

Prairie du Chien is home to five special places called National Historic Landmarks and nine sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These landmarks 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. Because of its interesting history and location by the Mississippi River, many people visit Prairie du Chien. Every Father's Day weekend since 1975, the city holds a special event called the Prairie Villa Rendezvous. This event tries to bring back the feeling of a fur trading camp from the 1800s and draws many visitors.

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, called the "Droppin' of the Carp," continues every year. Hunting and fishing have always been popular activities here. In 1998, Cabela's opened its fourth store in the city, making it a favorite spot for people who enjoy outdoor activities.

Parks and recreation

Prairie du Chien has many fun places to visit and explore. One popular event is a big bike tour called GRABAAWR, which starts in Eagle River and finishes in Prairie du Chien. It covers 500 miles and lasts a week.

St. Feriole Island features a beautiful park right by the river, linked to a bike path that circles the whole island. There are shelters there that can host big gatherings. Near the Villa Louis, you'll find a wide open space that used to be a horse racing track, and at the far end, there are two large soccer fields where pets are welcome to 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 nearby 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 located 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 for the area.

The city gets its TV signals from the La Crosse and Eau Claire area, with some channels from Madison as well. 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, 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, but 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.