La Crosse is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. The population was 51,818 at the 2000 census. Together with surrounding communities, the La Crosse metropolitan area was, according to the 2000 census, home to 96,592 people. The city forms the core of the United States Census Bureau's La Crosse Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of La Crosse County in Wisconsin and Houston County, Minnesota (composite 2000 population: 126,838).

La Crosse is the county seat of La Crosse County^GR6. La Crosse is located in western Wisconsin, on the Mississippi River at the confluence of the Black and La Crosse Rivers. It was the site of an 18th century fur trading post and medical stop for traders traveling down the Mississippi River. At the time it was called Prairie La Crosse.