Brice Prairie, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Brice Prairie is a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...

 (CDP) in La Crosse County, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The population was 1,887 at the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...

.

It is also an urban reserve area of the city of Onalaska
Onalaska, Wisconsin
Onalaska is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 18,097. It is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan Area....

 as noted in that municipality's Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan.

Name

Brice Prairie is named after pioneer farmers Alexander and Lucy Brice, who settled there in 1855. Alexander was a United States veteran of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

.

Geography

Brice Prairie is located at 43°56′24"N 91°18′37"W (43.939909, -91.310356).

According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the CDP has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²), all of it land.

Brice Prairie borders Lake Onalaska
Lake Onalaska
Lake Onalaska is a reservoir located on the Mississippi River between Wisconsin, and Minnesota. It is approximately across, and is the widest point on the Mississippi River. Located in La Crosse County in the state of Wisconsin, its latitude and longitude are . The lake is and is shored by the...

 and the Black River
Black River (Wisconsin)
Black River is a river in west-central Wisconsin and tributary of the Mississippi River. The river is approximately 160 miles long. The river begins in central Wisconsin, rising in Taylor County at approximately west of the village of Rib Lake....

 to the south and west. Halfway Creek empties into Lake Onalaska
Lake Onalaska
Lake Onalaska is a reservoir located on the Mississippi River between Wisconsin, and Minnesota. It is approximately across, and is the widest point on the Mississippi River. Located in La Crosse County in the state of Wisconsin, its latitude and longitude are . The lake is and is shored by the...

 at the southeastern corner of Brice Prairie. This CDP also borders the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is a . 261 river mile long National Wildlife Refuge located in and along the Upper Mississippi River. It runs from Wabasha, Minnesota in the north to Rock Island, Illinois in the south....

, La Crosse District.

Historically, the area has been divided into Lower Brice Prairie and Upper Brice Prairie.

Brice Prairie is part of the Town of Onalaska
Onalaska (town), Wisconsin
Onalaska is a town in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,658 at the 2010 census. The City of Onalaska borders the town, as does the village of Holmen. The CDP of Brice Prairie is located in the western part of the Town of Onalaska...

.

Demographics

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there are 1,804 people, 654 households, and 516 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 is 398.0 people per square mile (153.8/km²). There are 691 housing units at an average density of 152.4/sq mi (58.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP is 96.29% White, 0.28% African American, 1.50% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.22% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 1.00% from two or more races. 1.05% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 654 households out of which 41.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% are married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 5.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% are non-families. 15.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.76 and the average family size is 3.08.

In the CDP the population is spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 106.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 102.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP is $49,303, and the median income for a family is $49,952. Males have a median income of $31,766 versus $23,472 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the CDP is $19,295. 3.8% of the population and 2.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.0% of those under the age of 18 and 11.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Industry/ Commerce/ Business

ATK
ATK
ATK may refer to:*America's Test Kitchen, a cooking show on PBS*Alliant Techsystems, a mid-level United States aerospace and defense contractor*Accessibility Toolkit, a GNOME software development toolkit*ATK motorcycles, an off-road motorcycle manufacturer...

 (Fmr. Blount , Fmr. Outers Labs) and Metallics are medium size factory operations, along with numerous smaller manufacturing sites. There are two bar/ restaurants located on Brice Prairie, Red Pines Bar & Grill and the Brice Prairie Pub and Eatery each offer a full menu, and bar service. Cozy Corner Cottages and Clearwater Cabins are both small rental/ resort areas. There are also several small retail outlets, including Warming Trends and Schafer's Boats & Bait.

Recreation

The Upper Brice Prairie Landing, and Mosey Landing both offer access to Lake Onalaska and the Mississippi River, Lytles Landing is a canoe landing offering access to the Black River. The Great River State Bike Trail runs along Brice Prairie, and the Midway Railroad Prairie State Natural Area encompasses the eastern entrance to the prairie. Numerous neighborhood parks in the residential areas, and Swarthout Park are also available.

Public safety

Brice Prairie is served by the Holmen Fire Department, and the Brice Prairie First Responders. Law Enforcement coverage is provided by the La Crosse County Sheriff's Department, with mutual aid provided by both the Onalaska Police Department, and Holmen Police Department.

The Baron of Brice Prairie

Brice Prairie's most famous former resident and landowner was industrialist and philanthropist Vern Dale, who was known as "The Baron of Brice Prairie." Dale, a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 veteran, was born in Galesville, Wisconsin
Galesville, Wisconsin
Galesville is a city in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,481 at the 2010 census.Galesville is located where Beaver Creek flows into a wide area of the Mississippi River valley...

. Former La Crosse County Sheriff Karl "Butch" Halverson once referred to Dale as "The Patriarch of Onalaska and Brice Prairie." Prior to his death, Vern Dale, president of Outers Laboratories, owned homes in both the City of Onalaska, Wisconsin
Onalaska, Wisconsin
Onalaska is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 18,097. It is part of the La Crosse Metropolitan Area....

, and Brice Prairie.

External links

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