Viroqua, Wisconsin
| Viroqua | |
|---|---|
| City | |
| Viroqua, Wisconsin | |
Viroqua Downtown Historic District
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 Location in Vernon County and the state of Wisconsin. |
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| Coordinates: 43°33′24″N 90°53′16″W / 43.55667°N 90.88778°WCoordinates: 43°33′24″N 90°53′16″W / 43.55667°N 90.88778°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Vernon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.80 sq mi (9.84 km2) |
| • Land | 3.80 sq mi (9.84 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 4,362 |
| • Estimate (2014) | 4,369 |
| • Density | 1,147.9/sq mi (443.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 54665 |
| Area code(s) | 608 |
| Website | www.viroqua-wisconsin.com |
Viroqua is the county seat of Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,362 at the 2010 census. The city is in the town of Viroqua.
The Native American Ho-Chunk inhabited the area now known as Vernon County and the area of Viroqua. The Ho-Chunk, formerly known as the Winnebago, are a Siouan-speaking people who lived in the western Great Lakes region for thousands of years. The Ho-Chunk were removed westward beginning in the 1820s.
There was a sharp rivalry between Viroqua and Springville to be named the county seat of Vernon County. A deed for 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land was promised by pioneer Moses Decker, on condition that Viroqua be chosen as the county seat. The land constituted what became known as the County Addition to the city of Viroqua.
Decker was one of the early settlers in the area. He arrived in 1847 and laid out the village of Viroqua. He died in 1860. Earlier settlers arrived in 1844 and built lumber mills on the Kickapoo River. Farmers began arriving in 1846, some of whom were John Graham, T.J. Defreese and William C. McMichael.
The town was originally named “Farwell” after Leonard J. Farwell, second Governor of Wisconsin, but was renamed “Viroqua” in 1854. It is unclear why the name was changed, and the origins of the name are unclear. One story states that Viroqua was the name of the daughter of Black Hawk. She may have been a character from a novel or the name of a Mohawk Indian actress who performed in a theater on the East Coast or in Brantford, Canada.
In early 1851, the act authorizing the organization of Bad Axe, now Vernon County, was approved by Governor Nelson Dewey. Viroqua was awarded the county seat, pending a permanent location to be determined by a vote. In May 1852, residents voted in favor of Viroqua.
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Wikipedia