Viroqua, Wisconsin
Viroqua is a city of 4,471 people in Vernon County, Wisconsin, founded in 1844.
Why visit Viroqua
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 16 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Masonic Temple Building, Northern Wisconsin Co-op Tobacco Pool Warehouse, Viroqua Hills Golf Course and Vernon County Fairgrounds.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 79°F; January lows average 6°F, and about 47 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Viroqua
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Viroqua
Viroqua is the county seat of Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,504 at the 2020 census. The city is within the town of Viroqua.
From the Wikipedia article Viroqua, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks7
Masonic Temple Building
Cinema and theater · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Building in Viroqua, Wisconsin
Northern Wisconsin Co-op Tobacco Pool Warehouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Warehouse in Viroqua, Wisconsin, United States
Vernon County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Courthouse in Viroqua, Wisconsin, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Restaurants and cafes16
Driftless Cafe
Diner · American · 0.4 mi
118 West Court Street, Viroqua
We 11:00-15:00,17:00-20:00; Th-Sa 11:00-15:00,17:00-21:00
Wonderstate Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.5 mi
302 South Main Street, Viroqua
Mo-We 07:00-17:00; Th-Su 07:00-20:00
Pacifico Mexican Grill & Bar
Restaurant · Mexican
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:30; Su 11:00-20:00
Maybe Lately's
Restaurant · Breakfast
Mo 16:00-19:00; We-Su 09:00-14:00
4 more on the map.
History
The Native American Ho-Chunk people inhabited the area now known as Vernon County and the area of Viroqua. The Ho-Chunk, formerly known as the Winnebago, are a Siouan-speaking people who lived in the western Great Lakes region for thousands of years. The Ho-Chunk were removed westward beginning in the 1820s.
The town was originally named "Farwell" after Governor Leonard J. Farwell, but was renamed Viroqua in 1854. It is unclear why the name was changed, and the source of the name is uncertain. One legend states that Viroqua was the name of the daughter of Black Hawk, but this is not supported by evidence. Another story attributes the name to a Mohawk Indian actress who performed in a theater on the East Coast or in Brantford, Canada. However, the town most likely took its name from the fictional lead character of the 1848 novel Viroqua, or, the Flower of the Ottawas by Emma Carra.
Decker was one of the early settlers in the area. He arrived in 1847 and laid out the village of Viroqua. He died in 1860. Earlier settlers arrived in 1844 and built lumber mills on the Kickapoo River. Farmers began arriving in 1846, some of whom were John Graham, T.J. Defreese and William C. McMichael.
From the History section of Viroqua, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping9
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries16
Healthcare2
Map of Viroqua
66 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°F | 6°F | 1.2 in | 11.3 in |
| Feb | 28°F | 10°F | 1.1 in | 10.4 in |
| Mar | 40°F | 21°F | 2.0 in | 7.1 in |
| Apr | 54°F | 33°F | 4.0 in | 3.8 in |
| May | 66°F | 45°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 75°F | 55°F | 5.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 79°F | 59°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 77°F | 57°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 70°F | 48°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 57°F | 36°F | 2.6 in | 0.4 in |
| Nov | 41°F | 24°F | 2.0 in | 4.0 in |
| Dec | 28°F | 13°F | 1.6 in | 10.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Viroqua Hcn (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Vernon County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-08-27: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2018-10-18: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides (Flood)
- 2017-10-07: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport (CMY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 29 miles away.
- Lansing 22 mi southwest, about 35 min by car
- Bangor 24 mi north, about 38 min by car
- La Crosse 25 mi northwest, about 40 min by car
- Sparta 26 mi north, about 42 min by car
- Onalaska 28 mi northwest, about 45 min by car
- La Crescent 28 mi northwest, about 45 min by car
- French Island 28 mi northwest, about 45 min by car
- Hillsboro 28 mi east, about 46 min by car
- Richland Center 29 mi southeast, about 47 min by car
- Boscobel 30 mi south, about 48 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Viroqua City Hall, Wikideas1, CC0
- Tobacco building, The original uploader was Appraiser at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 2.5
- The Masonic Temple Building, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CourthouseVernonCountyWI, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.