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Crawford County, Wisconsin

54 topographic sheets cover 32 settlements here, and 18 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

18 National Register listings published here, 5 of them National Historic Landmarks.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Wisconsin within the United States
Crawford County within Wisconsin

What the record shows

  • 399 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 18 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 15 buildings, 2 sites and 1 district.
  • 2 of the 18 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 32 populated places in this county; 32 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

18

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Astor Fur Warehousebuilding196666000800
Blackhawk Avenue Historic Districtdistrict2025100012253
Michael Brisbois Housebuilding196666000801
Commercial Hotelbuilding200202001342
Crawford County Courthousebuilding198282000645
Dousman Hotelbuilding196666000122
Fay, Benjamin F., and Wilhelmina Housebuilding2019100004227
Folsom, W.H.C., Housebuilding198484000692
Fort Crawford Military Hospitalsite196666000121
Old Rock Schoolbuilding198383004265
Strange Powers Housebuilding197979000067
Prairie Du Chien Post Officebuilding200000001263
Prairie du Chien City Hallbuilding200202001186
Rolette Housebuilding197272000046
St. Germain dit Gauthier Housebuilding2018100002411
St. Mary's Academy and Collegebuilding2017100001380
Francois Vertefeuille Housebuilding199393000142
Villa Louissite196666000123

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

397 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 397 of them, burning about 1,181 acres. 2 started naturally and 26 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning185
Equipment and vehicle use80
Missing data/not specified/undetermined60
Arson/incendiarism26
Smoking14
Recreation and ceremony12
Power generation/transmission/distribution9
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Other causes3
Fireworks2
Natural2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
19 October 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined189 acresWisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesONSTINE HILL
29 April 1993Debris and open burning52 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
4 April 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined49 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
30 March 2005Recreation and ceremony46 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
31 March 2002Arson/incendiarism42 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
23 March 1996Debris and open burning39 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
27 April 2013Debris and open burning32 acresWisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesHELGERSON RIDGE
17 March 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined28 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2025

60 of 381 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 381 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 11 injuries and about $55,947,650 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind127
Hail94
Flood81
Flash Flood40
Heavy Rain23
Tornado14
Funnel Cloud2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 1971Tornado (F1)not stated4 hurt, $250,000no account filed
July 1979Tornado (F0)not stated3 hurt, $250no account filed
May 1964Tornado (F2)not stated2 hurt, $250,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindPrairie Du Chien1 hurt, $30,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindPrairie Du Chien1 hurt, $18,000A woman suffered a broken leg when a tree fell on the lodge she was staying in.
August 2007Flash FloodDe Soto$20,000,000Flash flooding and mudslides were reported over mainly the northern half of the county. Hardest hit areas were in the steep terrain and along Highway 35 from Lynxville to De Soto. Some roads were closed due to flood waters and in one case a large boulder fell on to Highway 35.||In Crawford County, about 415 people applied for FEMA assistance.
August 2018FloodBell Center$8,500,000Runoff from heavy rain created historic flooding along the Kickapoo River in Gays Mills. The river established a new crest of record at 22.31 feet, which was over 9 feet above the flood stage. The flooding continued into early September.
September 2016Flash FloodDe Soto$5,300,000A train derailment occurred near Ferryville when flood waters washed out the roadbed. Around 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel leaked out of one locomotive into the water. Runoff from heavy rains also washed out a portion of State Highway 35 south of Lynxville. A mudslide covered a portion of State Highways 35/82 south of De Soto. A mudslide northeast of Wauzeka sent a large boulder onto State Highway 60. State Highway 35 was closed between De Soto and Prairie du Chien due to flooding and mudslides. Roads were damaged across much of the county with the most damage occurring in the townships of Freeman, Utica, Clayton and Haney. Freeman was hit the hardest with every township road sustaining major damage. A large portion of Rush Creek Road north of Ferryville was washed out. The flooding also caused a large hole to form in State Highway 171 near Gays Mills. Two private structures were destroyed and another 67 damaged by the flooding.
June 2013Flash FloodMt Zion$4,300,000Locally heavy rain produced flash flooding across portions of Crawford County. Water covered roads in the Steuben area. Mudslides occurred that closed U.S. Highway 61 and State Highway 60 in the southeast part of the county. Other mudslides closed State Highway 35 between Lynxville and Prairie du Chien. Numerous streets and basements were flooded in Prairie du Chien. Homes and businesses were evacuated in Gays Mills and Stueben ahead of the expected flooding along the Kickapoo River.
August 2007FloodSoldiers Grove$2,200,000The Kickapoo River at Soldiers Grove established the second highest all-time crest of record when it reached 19.35 feet on August 20. Flood stage is 13 feet.||River flooding in many towns was extensive. Over 400 people applied for FEMA assistance.
June 2008FloodStar Vly$2,100,000The Kickapoo River at Gays Mills reached a record crest of 20.44 feet around 10 a.m. CDT on June 9. The previous record crest of 19.80 feet occurred on July 2, 1978. Flood stage is 13.0 feet. About 175 homes and businesses were flooded.
June 2008FloodSteuben$2,000,000The Kickapoo River at Steuben crested at a record level of 19.15 feet around 2 a.m. CDT on June 10. The previous record crest of 18.0 feet occurred on July 3, 1978. Flood stage is 12.0 feet.
June 2008FloodSoldiers Grove$2,000,000The Kickapoo River at Soldiers Grove reached the second highest crest on record of 21.21 feet around 5 a.m. CDT on June 9. The all-time record crest of 21.63 feet was established on July 22, 1951. Flood stage is 13.0 feet. About 50 to 60 homes were flooded. The village park and Highway 131 bridge was badly damaged.
August 2007FloodGays Mills$1,100,000Flooding continued along many creeks, streams and rivers. Law enforcement officials reported numerous roads and bridges were either washed out or still under water. All or portions of highways still closed included Highway 131 from Steuben to Soldiers Grove, Highway 171 at Gays Mills and Highway 179 at Steuben.
June 2000Flash FloodCountywide$1,000,000no account filed
August 2018FloodSoldiers Grove$780,000Runoff from heavy rains caused extensive flooding to occur along the Kickapoo River that resulted in numerous road closings. State Highway 131 was closed in several locations as it runs parallel to the river. Other road closures included: State Highway 179 in Steuben, State Highway 171 in Gays Mills, State Highway 60 near Wauzeka, County Highway B north of Gays Mills, County Highway C in Soldiers Grove, County Highway S south of Bell Center and County Highway W between Bell Center and Steuben. One water rescue had to be performed when a elderly man drove his vehicle into flood waters.
September 2019Flash FloodFerryville$600,000Runoff from heavy rains caused flash flooding to occur across the southern portion of Crawford County. State Highway 35 was closed between Prairie du Chien and Ferryville because of debris washed down from the nearby bluffs and onto the road. Extensive damage was done to a road construction project just north of Prairie du Chien. U.S. Highway 61 was also closed just north of the Wisconsin River because of debris from the nearby bluffside. Numerous homes in Prairie du Chien sustained damage from the flooding. Because of the large amount of mud that flowed into parts of the city, some residents were unable to leave their neighborhoods until city crews were able to clear the streets. A state of emergency was declared by the mayor. Creeks went out of their banks near Mt. Zion.
August 2018FloodSoldiers Grove$450,000Runoff from heavy rain created historic flooding along the Kickapoo River in Soldiers Grove. The river crested at its second highest level at 21.06 feet, which was over 8 feet above the flood stage. The flooding ended just after midnight on September 1st and no entry will be made in September for this site.
July 2017FloodTowerville$438,000Runoff from heavy rain caused flooding to occur over the eastern portions of Crawford County, especially along the Kickapoo River. This flooding closed State Highway 131 near Stueben and State Highway 171 near Gays Mills. The flooding waters in Stueben lifted asphalt up and off the road bed. Across the northeast part of the county, numerous bridge approaches were damaged by flood waters. Two homes in the county sustained major damage from the flooding with another two having minor damage.
June 2008Flash FloodDe Soto$320,000Flash flooding was reported in many of the steep valleys with creeks rising rapidly and water over some roads. Mudslides began along Highway 35 in far western ends of the county.
June 2021Flash FloodLynxville$305,000Several roads across the western and central sections of Crawford County were closed due to flash flooding. Radar estimates of 6 to 9 inches of rainfall that caused mudslides and sent water over roads. Four homes in the Town of Gays Mills sustained minor damage and access was cutoff to one of these until the flood waters receded.
July 2009HailEastman$300,000no account filed
June 2008FloodPrairie Du Chien$275,000Water covered secondary roads and sections of Highway 131. Some mudslides occurred along Highway 35, which resulted in closure of one lane.
May 2004Flash FloodCountywide$200,000no account filed
May 2004Flash FloodCountywide$200,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindMt Sterling$200,000no account filed
July 2017Thunderstorm WindPrairie Du Chien Arp$150,000Several hangars and vintage World War II plane were damaged at the Prairie du Chien airport. Numerous trees and power lines were damaged or blown down across the city.
August 2007FloodGays Mills$150,000The Kickapoo River at Gays Mills established the second highest all-time crest of record when it reached 19.79 feet on August 20. Flood stage is 13 feet.
August 2007FloodSteuben$150,000The Kickapoo River at Steuben established the second highest all-time crest of record when it reached 16.89 feet on August 20. Flood stage is 12 feet.
June 2021Flash FloodCharme$110,000Runoff from storms with locally heavy rain caused standing high water, mud and rock slides that caused officials to close State Highway 35 between County Highways D and N west of Eastman. Additional county and township roads and bridges were damaged by floodwaters near Seneca.
June 2008FloodDe Soto$100,000Sandbagging was being done in Steuben. Flooding was reported on numerous township roads. There were numerous rock and mud slides on Highways 35 and 60.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindGays Mills$90,000no account filed
July 2007Flash FloodPrairie Du Chien$80,000no account filed
July 1998Thunderstorm WindMt Sterling$80,000no account filed
May 2024Thunderstorm WindCrawford$75,000The public reported 3-inch tree limbs down as well as power poles. Report relayed via mPING.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindWauzeka$75,000A mobile home was destroyed and another home sustained roof damage in Wauzeka from thunderstorm winds.
April 2011FloodPrairie Du Chien$75,000The combination of melting snow and rainfall in late March pushed the Mississippi River out of its banks at Prairie du Chien for most of the month of April. The river gage just across the river at McGregor, Iowa crested over four feet above the flood stage at 21.38 feet on the 18th. During the flood, the city of Prairie du Chien closed access to St. Feriole Island and over 16,000 sand bags were used throughout Crawford county.
July 2009HailSeneca$70,000no account filed
May 2000Flash FloodCountywide$60,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindMt Sterling$55,000no account filed
September 2018FloodStar Vly$50,000Runoff from heavy rains pushed several streams out of their banks across Crawford County. The flooding closed several roads including State Highways 171, 179 and 131 along with numerous county and township roads.
May 2017FloodDe Soto$50,000One person drowned when he unknowingly drove his vehicle into a section of washed out road south of De Soto. Persistent high flows along the Mississippi River caused a portion of State Highway 82 to wash out.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindPrairie Du Chien$50,000A couple of machine sheds were blown down north of Prairie du Chien.
June 2014Flash FloodCharme$50,000Runoff from heavy rain caused a small creek north of Prairie du Chien to go out of its banks and cause some damage along Mill Coulee Road. Private driveways were washed out along with concrete sections of the road.
August 2007Flash FloodSoldiers Grove$50,000Numerous roads and state highways closed, mostly in the northeast section of the county. Nursing home evacuated in Soldiers Grove. Numerous residents evacuated in Gays Mills and Soldiers Grove.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindMt Sterling$50,000no account filed
April 1994Thunderstorm WindMt. Sterling$50,000no account filed
May 1994Thunderstorm WindPrairie du Chien$50,000no account filed
September 2024Thunderstorm WindMt Sterling$45,000Law enforcement reported trees and power lines down between Ferryville and Mount Sterling.
July 1998HailGays Mills$45,000no account filed
August 2016Flash FloodBell Center$40,000One person had to be rescued near Steuben when an attempt to drive through flood waters caused the vehicle to be swept off the road. Runoff from heavy rain caused a mudslide to occur near Bell Center. The mudslide brought down trees and covered County Highway S. Other mudslides occurred west of Steuben and covered State Highway 179.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindWauzeka$40,000no account filed
May 2011Thunderstorm WindEastman$35,000A large tree was blown over onto a house. The house sustained substantial damage from the impact of the tree and the wind also blew out several windows.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindPrairie Du Chien$35,000no account filed
May 1999Thunderstorm WindPrairie Du Chien$35,000no account filed
May 2017Thunderstorm WindPrairie Du Chien$30,000Trees were blown down on the north side of Prairie du Chien. Some of these trees landed on houses and cars. Some roof damage also occurred in the strong winds.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindBridgeport$30,000A storage building was destroyed in Bridgeport.
July 2009Tornado (EF1)Fairview$30,000Initial reports suggested seeing debris flying in the air. The tornado formed near a ridge area but traveled into nearby valleys hitting several farms and knocking down trees and branches in a narrow path. Hail was observed before the tornado as well.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindEastman$30,000no account filed
June 2024Flash FloodDe Soto$25,000The public reported mudslides along Highway 35 near Lansing Bridge or Highway 82. Other mudslides were reported in the region as well.

Mines and quarries

31 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 31 workings inside this county. 11 still produce and 20 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken17
Stone5
Sand and Gravel, Construction5
Copper4

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Mount Sterling ProspectCopperOccurrence
Mount Sterling ProspectCopperUnknown
Plum Creek Copper MineCopperOccurrence
Plum Creek Copper MineCopperUnknown
Croell Sand & GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Dahman QuarryStoneUnknown
Judy Smith QuarryStoneUnknown
Kraemer QuarryStoneUnknown
Lakeside Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Own CrewsStoneUnknown
Own CrewsStoneUnknown
Prairie Sand and Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Pretitti PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Quality Sand & Gravel Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Achenbach QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Cain QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Ducharme QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc.Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Edward Kraemer and Sons, Inc.Stone, Crushed/BrokenPlant
Fairview QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Forte QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Hjelle QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Kraemer-Hanson QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Moran QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
O Connel QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Posey Hollow QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Turner Stone QuarriesStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Walker QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Wauzeka QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Webber QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Wetzel QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

32

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.