Introduction to Sparta, Wisconsin
Sparta, Wisconsin, in Monroe county, is 23 miles NE of La Crosse, Wisconsin and 132 miles SE of St. Paul, Minnesota.
Sparta History
The original inhabitants of this community were the Fox and Sauk Native Americans, who used the nearby forests as a hunting ground. In the 1600s and 1700s, the French explored the upper Mississippi River Basin. Nicolas Perrot, a French explorer, founded a fur trading post about 35 miles to the west of the Sparta, leading to the development and growth of the area.
Sparta and nearby Attractions
- Wildcat Mountain State Park
- Children's Museum of La Crosse
- Necedah National Wildlife Refuge
- Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum
- Great River Bluffs State Park
- Mid-Continent Railway Museum
Things To Do In Sparta
The Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum, the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve are all accessible from Sparta. Parks in the area include the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge and Castle Rock County Park. Local churches include Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church, Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The community hosts the Fall Harvest Festival every October and the Butterfest every June.
Sparta Transportation
Air transportation is available from Chippewa Valley Regional Airport.
Sparta Higher Education
Winona State University, Chippewa Valley Technical College and the University of Wisconsin -La Crosse are the local colleges and universities.
