Annexation of the Town of Campbell into the City of La Crosse

History

The Town of Campbell was created at the time La Crosse County was organized in 1851. Campbell lost land mass when dams were constructed on the Mississippi River in the 1930s.  By 1954, the Town of Campbell had been split in two by the southern growth of the city of Onalaska and the northern growth of the city of La Crosse.   As a result, the town of Medary was formed west of Oak St., leaving the borders of the Town of Campbell largely to French Island and its environs.

About These Materials

This grouping of articles highlights the ongoing discussion between the Town of Campbell and the City of La Crosse regarding annexation, boundaries, efforts to cooperate, and public services such as water.   Since 1983, the city has tried to actively encourage Campbell residents to annex to the city. A court decision in 2002 over annexation led to a split: the city of La Crosse gained some properties on Hiawatha Island, a small island east of French Island, while ruling that annexation into French Island itself was invalid.  Also, several moves to incorporate as a village began as early as 1966, with the most recent effort as late as 2002.