Introduction & Overview

Southwest Wisconsin is rich in scenic beauty where picturesque ravines and valleys separate steep, wooded bluffs. Centuries ago the landscape was not leveled by the masses of glacial ice that covered and flattened most of Wisconsin’s terrain – it is the “driftless region.”

The present City of Prairie du Chien is built on an elongated valley deposit, which is about 10 miles long and up to 1.5 miles wide. The valley deposit was formed by sand and silt dropped in the Mississippi River trench when melting waters from the glaciers flowed southward. At the south end of this prairie, the Wisconsin River empties into the great Mississippi River. Elevations vary from 611-650 miles above sea level. The city is bordered by the majestic Mississippi River on one side and high bluffs that rise to 500-600 feet on the other side.

The city generally receives ample moisture throughout the year in the form of warm rains in the spring and summer. Colder months produce moderate snowfall. The normal annual precipitation is about 33 inches, 62 percent of which occurs from May to September. The monthly mean temperatures vary from 75 degrees Fahrenheit in July to 21 degrees Fahrenheit in January.

Prairie du Chien has a population of 6,047 and serves as the county seat for Crawford County, which has a population of 16,704. The county courthouse is located at 220 North Beaumont Road with the Crawford County Administration Building across the street at 225 North Beaumont Road.