Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

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Prairie du Chien is the county seat of Crawford County, Wisconsin. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census. It was originally settled by the Fox Indians. Marquette and Joliet were the first Europeans to visit the area, in 1673. A trading post was established here by the French in 1685. During the period of European exploration the area was controlled by a Fox chief named Alim, the Fox word for "dog," or "chien" in French: Hence the name Prairie du Chien or "dog's prairie." The British gained control of the area after the Seven Years' War. Even after the Americans were ceded the territory in 1783 British forces remained in the area. In 1814 the Americans began building Fort Shelby to protect Saint Louis from British attack. The British moved to counter the American presence and occupied the fort and settlement shortly afterward.

The town became a staging area for American forces during the Black Hawk War and other Native American wars. Later in the 19th century it became a railroad crossing point on the Mississippi River.