The La Crosse–Onalaska Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, Vernon County, Wisconsin, and Houston County, Minnesota, anchored by the cities of La Crosse and Onalaska. The area is part of what is commonly referred to as the Coulee Region or 7 Rivers Region. As of the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 170,341, and in 2023 estimates placed the total population at 170,238. The La Crosse–Onalaska-Sparta combined statistical area has a population of 216,389 as of 2023.

Counties La Crosse County, Wisconsin Vernon County, Wisconsin Houston County, Minnesota

Communities

Places with more than 50,000 inhabitants La Crosse, WI (Principal city)

Places with 5,000 to 20,000 inhabitants Holmen, WI La Crescent, MN Onalaska, WI West Salem, WI Sparta, WI

Places with 1,000 to 5,000 inhabitants Bangor, WI Caledonia, MN Hillsboro, WI Spring Grove, MN Viroqua, WI Westby, WI Holland, WI

Places with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants Brownsville, MN Chaseburg, WI Coon Valley, WI De Soto, WI Eitzen, MN Genoa, WI Hokah, MN Houston, MN La Farge, WI Ontario, WI Readstown, WI Rockland, WI Stoddard, WI Viola, WI

Unincorporated places Barre Mills, WI Burns, WI Campbell, WI Farmington, WI French Island, WI Greenfield, WI Hamilton, WI Holland, WI Medary, WI Mindoro, WI Shelby, WI Stevenstown, WI Washington, WI

Population

Transportation

Highways Interstate Highways Interstate 90

US Highways U.S. Route 14 U.S. Highway 53 U.S. Route 61

Minnesota State Highways Minnesota State Highway 16 Minnesota State Highway 26 Minnesota State Highway 44 Minnesota State Highway 76

Wisconsin State Highways Highway 16 (Wisconsin) Highway 27 (Wisconsin) Highway 33 (Wisconsin) Highway 35 (Wisconsin) Highway 56 (Wisconsin) Highway 80 (Wisconsin) Highway 82 (Wisconsin) Highway 108 (Wisconsin) Highway 131 (Wisconsin) Highway 157 (Wisconsin) Highway 162 (Wisconsin)

Transit La Crosse MTU Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit

Railroads Amtrak BNSF Canadian Pacific La Crosse station

Public Airports Commercial La Crosse Regional Airport

General Aviation Houston County Airport Viroqua Municipal Airport

Cities

Primary Onalaska was promoted as a principal city of the MSA when the Office of Management and Budget revised the definitions of metropolitan statistical areas in 2013.

See also Wisconsin statistical areas

References

External links La Crosse County Houston County