French Island has lakeside living and natural surroundings
The island half of French Island's name is obvious — the neighborhood is surrounded by bodies of water, including The Black River, Lake Onalaska and The Mississippi River. The French portion of the name is less clear, with two possible links still causing debate today. There were many French-Canadian settlers in the mid to late 1800s, but also a farmer named Joseph French, who owned nearly 400 acres on the island in its earliest days. French Island has changed substantially since its inception, as farms transformed into dense residential roads, industrial corridors and a regional airport. Despite its growth in population and development, French Island still has its original waterfront atmosphere, where being close to nature is a central draw.
Lakeside properties at a competitive price point with township taxes
Cape Cods, ranch-style homes and split-levels make up most of the neighborhood, selling between $125,000 and $400,000, on average. A few new traditional homes from the past two decades and recently renovated older homes are more expensive, usually ranging from $350,000 to $465,000. According to Brandon Haugen, a Realtor with Re/Max Results who has more than 20 years of experience in the area, French Island offers lakeside properties at a very competitive price point. "My clients who moved to French Island liked that house for a few reasons: The waterfront first and foremost, the price and the lower taxes," he says. French Island is in the Town of Campbell and, therefore, has lower property taxes than neighborhoods in Onalaska or the City of La Crosse.
Contaminated private wells prompt city-supplied, bottled drinking water
Investigations beginning in 2019 led to the discovery of PFAS chemicals seeping into groundwater from nearby La Crosse Regional Airport. More than 140 private wells were affected and contaminated. Since 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the City of La Crosse have provided free bottled drinking water to the community. "It's essentially kind of like Covid," Haugen says. "When it hit, it was a shock to the system for everybody, and then you just learn to live with it. It's the new norm." The City of La Crosse is developing its own water system by the end of 2027 as a long-term solution to the contamination.
Boating and fishing on Lake Onalaska and the Black River
At nearly 4 miles across and 7,700 acres large, Lake Onalaska is a major Mississippi River lake reservoir and a recreation destination in La Crosse County. Boating and fishing are favorite pastimes, and many residents around the island's perimeter have private docks for their boats. Those living off the water keep their vessels at one of a few marinas, including French Island Yacht Club, North Bay Marina and Nelson Park Boat Ramp. Small neighborhood parks with baseball diamonds and playgrounds are around the island, and Copeland Park is across the Black River in La Crosse. In addition to tennis courts, a splash pad, playground and pavilion, the park is home to the La Crosse Loggers baseball team. Since 2003, the local collegiate summer baseball team has played at the stadium nicknamed "The Lumberyard."
The local elementary school engages with the environment on campus
While not within the boundaries of the City of La Crosse, French Island schools are part of the School District of La Crosse, rated B on Niche. Children begin learning at B-rated Summit Environmental School in the neighborhood. Summit focuses on hands-on, environmental-based learning with outdoor classrooms, a natural playground and classroom garden plots on its campus. Children continue to Logan Middle School, then Logan High School, rated C-plus and B, respectively.
Interstate 90 and La Crosse Regional Airport keep the island connected
Clinton Street at the island's southern end, near the industrial corridor and marinas, is one of two ways on and off the island. The main road connecting the neighborhood to the rest of the county and beyond is Interstate 90, which goes right through the island's center. Onalaska and La Crosse are the nearest cities, less than 5 miles away. Gunderson Hospital is 5 miles south. The neighborhood shares the island with La Crosse Regional Airport, which has direct flights to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. There are only five total inbound and outbound flights daily. Route 7 of The La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility bus system stops through the neighborhood, connecting to nearby cities.
Restaurants on the water and major shopping off the interstate in Onalaska
Restaurants in the neighborhood's southern end overlook marinas and the Black River. Locals drive, walk or take their boats to River Rats Bar & Grill, Castaway's on the Island, Tom Sawyer's Bar & Grill and Huck Finn's on the Water. Quillin's Supermarket is the area's grocery store, but Interstate 90 leads east to a large shopping center in Onalaska. "A lot of people buying homes on French Island like proximity to shopping along the interstate," Haugen says. The retail area with plazas, a mall, fast-food chains and home improvement centers is 5 miles east, directly off the interstate.
Written By
Heather Haggerty
