Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-02-13
VERNON COUNTY.

Vernon county is located in the south
western part of the state, on the Miss
issippi river 1t had a population in
1905 of 20, 161 which was an increase of
80 over the census of 1900. Nearly
one-sixth Of the population is of foreign
born, of which number Norwegians are
by far the most numerous. The coun-
ty has an area of 1872 square miles, of
which All 283 acres or 80 per cent. of
the total area has been occupied for
farming. Not half of this acreage has
| been improved however, the total farm
area and the amount OF improved land
| in 1890 and 1900 was 4z.8, $40 acres and
223, ,877 acres respectively. The valua-
| tion of the farm lands, including i'm
| provements, increased during these
years from Sc, 262, ,070 to $l3, ,0l5, 04S, or
nearly l25 per cent. The topography
of the county is generally rolling or
rough. In the western part, along the
| Mississippi river, the surface is espec-
| tally rough, being a series of ridges and
| steep bluffs intersected by numerous
| deep valleys and ravines. In the CEN
| tral and eastern part the hills are not
so high nor slopes SO steep. making the
surface a successionsof fiat top ridges
and valleys. The soils in this county
are mainly light clayey and prairie
loans, except along the Mississippi and
/ tributary rivers where the soils are of
light sandy nature but very fertile
Owing to this face, together with the
very rough topography in these dis
| tricts preventing cultivation, sheep
raising has become a leading industry.
Vernon county ranking first in the state
in the number of sheep. Along the
watersheds between the leading rivers
the soil is an excellent quality of prai-
rie loans and medium clayey loans well
adapted to general farming and stock
raising.
There are 10 cheese factories, 8
creameries and skimming stations in
the county. The tobacco industry is of
comparatively recent growth and its
rapidly growing acreage means a sub
stantial increase in agricultural earn
ings. During the last year consider
I able acreage has been devoted to the
raising of sugar beets. Owing to the
topography of the county, the price of
land varies widely. Along the rivers
in the region of hills and ravines unim-
proved land ranges in price from $40 to
SIS per acre. Improved farm lands
average in price about $50 per acre,
| but there are numerous tracts where
the price is as high as 500 per acre.
Viroqua is the largest city and county
seat.
! HILLSBORO.
The village is supplied with bank,
drug stores, lumber yard, groceries,
a general store, l hardware, brewery,
handle factory, stave and saw mills.
planning mill, a creamery, weekly news
paper, Touring mill, physicians,
lawyers, free library, high school
employing teachers, hotel and boa rd-
ing house Such raw materials as
fruit, vegetables, clay, sand, stone and
timber can be supplied and l25 laborers
engaged. A canning or woodworking
establishment is best suited for the
place and it would be good location
for an electric light plant. Hillsboro
is located in an excellent farming dis
trict, the soil bei'.g a clayey loan; the
land somewhat rolling but most of il
capable of being improved.
LA FARCE.
This place is provided with bank,
dry goods store, groceries. 2 hard
wares, general stores, shoe store,
harness shop, 2 restaurants, 2 millinery
stores, lumber yards, 2hotels, 4 black
smith shops, photographer, a news
paper, A physicians, 2dentists, lawyer,
creamery, a grist mill, an arm and
pin factory and high school, electric
lights, sewerage and water systems.