La Crosse Drownings: The Smiley Face Killer Theory and Wisconsin's Disturbing Unsolved Mystery
The city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, nestled along the Mississippi River, is unfortunately gaining notoriety for a troubling pattern of alcohol-related drownings. With a population exceeding 50,000 residents, including approximately 20,000 students from three local institutions of higher learning, this riverside community faces unique public safety challenges. Originally settled by fur trader Nathan Myrick on what was previously Ho-Chunk territory, La Crosse has a complex history that intertwines with broader patterns of American expansion.
The Ho-Chunk people, sometimes historically referred to as Winnebago by European explorers, have deep roots in the Wisconsin region. Their society was organized around a sophisticated clan system divided between sky and earth orientations, with specific civic responsibilities assigned to each group. Despite facing significant population decline following European contact in the 1600s and territorial pressures from American settlement in the 1800s, the Ho-Chunk nation has demonstrated remarkable resilience, rebuilding their population to approximately 12,000 members across the United States and Canada today.
Key Takeaways
La Crosse, Wisconsin has developed a concerning reputation for alcohol-related drownings along its Mississippi River waterfront.
The area was originally Ho-Chunk territory before American settlement, representing part of a larger pattern of territorial displacement.
Despite historical population decimation following European contact, the Ho-Chunk people have rebuilt their numbers and maintained their cultural identity.
The United States and Its Notable Urban Centers
New York: The City That Never Sleeps
New York stands as one of America's most iconic metropolitan areas, commonly referred to as "The Big Apple" among locals and visitors alike. This nickname has become synonymous with the city's reputation for opportunity and excitement. The city serves as a major cultural and economic hub within the United States, drawing millions of tourists annually.
Home to landmarks like the Empire State Building and Central Park, New York represents American urban life at its most vibrant and diverse. The city's distinctive neighborhoods, from Manhattan to Brooklyn, each offer unique experiences and cultural flavors that contribute to its global reputation.
Philadelphia: Where American Liberty Took Root
Philadelphia holds special significance in American history as the birthplace of the nation's founding documents. Often called the "Cradle of Liberty," this historic city hosted the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The city's rich historical landscape includes Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, physical reminders of America's revolutionary beginnings. Philadelphia's cobblestone streets and colonial architecture preserve the atmosphere of early American governance and idealism.
Beyond its historical significance, Philadelphia has evolved into a modern urban center with distinctive neighborhoods and cultural institutions. The city maintains its connection to American identity while embracing contemporary development.
Chicago: Midwestern Metropolis with Unique Cuisine
Chicago stands proud along Lake Michigan as one of America's premier midwestern cities. Known for its distinctive approach to pizza—a deep-dish style that locals defend passionately—Chicago has developed its own culinary identity.
The city's unique pizza offerings feature thick, almost casserole-like crusts that differentiate them from the thin-crust varieties found elsewhere in the country. This distinctive food has become emblematic of Chicago's tendency to develop its own cultural variations.
Chicago's architectural innovations, including some of the nation's first skyscrapers, complement its culinary contributions. The city combines midwestern practicality with metropolitan sophistication, creating an urban experience unlike those found on either coast.
La Crosse, Wisconsin: Where Tragedy Meets the Mississippi
La Crosse, Wisconsin presents a troubling paradox. The picturesque city of 50,000 residents, including 20,000 students from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College, has gained an unfortunate reputation for drowning incidents along its Mississippi River waterfront.
The city's history begins with fur trader Nathan Myrick, who established a settlement on what was previously Ho-Chunk territory. Prior to European arrival, this area was predominantly prairie land inhabited by the Ho-Chunk people, who maintained a rich cultural tradition in the region.
Police responses to missing persons cases in La Crosse have shown concerning patterns of inconsistency. Many drowning incidents have been linked to alcohol consumption, creating a disturbing trend that has become associated with the city's identity.
The Ho-Chunk people, sometimes historically referred to as Winnebago by French explorers, trace their ancestry to the Oneota culture from around 900 CE. Their society was organized into twelve clans divided between sky clans (Eagle, Hawk, Pigeon, Thunderbird) and earth clans (Bear, Wolf, Water Spirit, Deer, Elk, Buffalo, Fish, Snake).
Ho-Chunk social structure was carefully designed with specific responsibilities:
Sky clan members: Focused on spiritual leadership and governance
Earth clan members: Managed resources and practical community needs
Marriage rules: Prohibited within same clan, encouraged between sky and earth clans
The first European contact with the Ho-Chunk occurred in 1634 when French explorer Jean Nicolet encountered approximately 5,000 warriors near present-day Green Bay. This suggests a total population of 15,000-20,000 people before diseases and warfare reduced their numbers dramatically to perhaps 500 by the 1650s.
Today, the Ho-Chunk population has rebounded to approximately 12,000 individuals across the United States and Canada. However, their ancestral connection to La Crosse remains part of the complex history of a city now known more for its tragic drownings than its natural beauty or cultural heritage.
Demographics of La Crosse, Wisconsin
Population Profile
La Crosse, Wisconsin serves as home to approximately 50,000 residents. The city has developed significantly since its early settlement by fur trader Nathan Myrick on what was previously uninhabited prairie and Ho-Chunk territory. Today, La Crosse stands as a notable population center along the Mississippi River waterfront.
The city's geographical location and waterways have shaped both its development and demographics. La Crosse has unfortunately gained recognition for alcohol-related drowning incidents in the Mississippi River that flows alongside it.
Academic Community
The student population comprises a significant portion of La Crosse's demographics, with approximately 20,000 students residing in the city. These students are distributed across three main educational institutions:
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse - The largest of the academic institutions
Viterbo University - A private Catholic university
Western Technical College - Offering technical and vocational education
This substantial student presence means that educational institutions significantly influence the city's demographic makeup, with students accounting for roughly 40% of the total population. This creates a dynamic community with seasonal population fluctuations corresponding to academic calendars.
Historical Background
The city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, now home to over 50,000 residents including approximately 20,000 students from area institutions, has origins that predate American settlement. The area has transformed significantly since its early days as an uninhabited prairie.
Nathan Myrick: Pioneer and Settler
Nathan Myrick established the first permanent European settlement in what would become La Crosse. As a fur trader, Myrick recognized the area's strategic location along the Mississippi River, which made it ideal for commerce. His trading post formed the foundation for what would eventually grow into a substantial city. The riverside location that attracted Myrick would later become both an asset and, unfortunately, a source of tragedy for the community with its frequent alcohol-related drownings.
Ho-Chunk Heritage
Prior to European settlement, the land belonged to the Ho-Chunk people, who maintained a rich cultural presence in the region. The Ho-Chunk, sometimes historically referred to as Winnebago by French explorers in the 17th century, were part of a western Siouan-speaking cultural group. Their territory once encompassed much of present-day Wisconsin.
According to oral traditions, the Ho-Chunk descended from the Oneota culture that emerged around 900 CE. Their society featured a sophisticated clan system divided between sky clans (Eagle, Hawk, Pigeon, and Thunderbird) and earth clans (Bear, Wolf, Water Spirit, Deer, Elk, Buffalo, Fish, and Snake). These clans regulated social organization and responsibilities.
By the 1630s when French explorer Jean Nicolet first encountered them near present-day Green Bay, the Ho-Chunk population included approximately 5,000 warriors, suggesting a total population of 15,000-20,000 people. However, disease and warfare soon devastated their numbers, with the population potentially falling to around 500 by the 1650s.
American encroachment on Ho-Chunk territory began in earnest by 1827, creating tensions over land ownership that would shape the region's development. Today, the Ho-Chunk nation has recovered substantially, with approximately 12,000 members across the United States and Canada.
The History of Native American Settlement in Wisconsin
The Ho-Chunk people, traditionally inhabiting much of present-day Wisconsin, have a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries. According to their oral traditions, they descended from the Oneota culture that emerged around 900 CE at the conclusion of the Late Woodland period.
European explorers initially knew them as "Winnebago," a name given to them by neighboring Potawatomi and Algonquin tribes. While Ho-Chunk oral history traces their ancestry to the Oneota, alternative theories suggest migrations from either the East Coast or southern regions.
One fascinating Ho-Chunk legend describes how a water spirit, sent by the Great Spirit, carved lakes and rivers from a frozen landscape, potentially preserving memories of the last glacial period over 10,000 years ago. This story demonstrates the depth of their historical knowledge passed through generations.
At first European contact, the Ho-Chunk lived as semi-nomadic people with a mixed subsistence strategy of hunting, gathering, and small-scale agriculture. Their society was organized around a complex clan system divided between sky clans (Eagle, Hawk, Pigeon, and Thunderbird) and earth clans (Bear, Wolf, Water Spirit, Deer, Elk, Buffalo, Fish, and Snake).
Gender roles were clearly defined within their society. Women primarily managed gathering, medicine, and domestic responsibilities, while men focused on hunting, warfare, and creating artistic works.
Marriage practices showed sophisticated understanding of genetic diversity. The Ho-Chunk strictly prohibited marriage within the same clan and encouraged unions between members of earth and sky clans.
In the 16th century, southward expansion of Ojibway tribes forced the Ho-Chunk to relocate. This territorial pressure contributed to a significant split that gave rise to several other tribes including the Iowa, Missouri, and Oto peoples.
French explorer Jean Nicolet made first European contact with the Ho-Chunk near present-day Green Bay in 1634. He documented approximately 5,000 warriors, suggesting a total population between 15,000 and 20,000 people. By the 1650s, however, disease and warfare had devastated their numbers, potentially reducing the population to merely 500 individuals.
The Ho-Chunk population has rebounded significantly over time, with approximately 12,000 members across the United States and Canada today. Tensions emerged in 1827 when American settlers began moving into Ho-Chunk territories, creating conflicting claims over land rights that had been transferred from British control after the Revolutionary War.
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Learning History: The Ho-Chunk Nation
Ancestral Origins and Archaeological Evidence
The Ho-Chunk people trace their origins through rich oral traditions supplemented by archaeological findings. According to these traditions, they descended from the Oneota culture, which emerged around 900 CE at the conclusion of the Late Woodland period. Alternative theories suggest possible migrations from the East Coast or connections to Southern indigenous groups. One fascinating Ho-Chunk narrative describes how a water spirit, sent by the Great Spirit, carved lakes and rivers from a frozen landscape using its warmth and body. This story potentially preserves memories dating back to the last glacial period over 10,000 years ago.
Heritage of the Oneota People
While Ho-Chunk oral traditions firmly connect them to Oneota ancestors, scholars have proposed various theories about their origins. The connection to the Oneota culture, which flourished in the region from approximately 900 CE, represents the most widely accepted understanding of their ancestral roots. Archaeological evidence supports this lineage, though the complete picture of their development includes complex migrations and cultural adaptations across centuries of inhabiting the upper Midwest region.
The Name "Winnebago" and French Encounters
When French explorer Jean Nicolet first encountered the Ho-Chunk near present-day Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1634, he knew them by the name "Winnebago" - a term used by neighboring Potawatomi and Algonquin-speaking peoples. This designation stuck among European explorers and became the primary name used in colonial records. Nicolet documented approximately 5,000 warriors present during his visit, suggesting a total population between 15,000-20,000 individuals at that time.
Social Organization and Clan Structure
The Ho-Chunk maintained a sophisticated social structure organized around twelve clans divided into two groups:
Sky Clans:
Eagle
Hawk
Pigeon
Thunderbird
Earth Clans:
Bear
Wolf
Water spirit
Deer
Elk
Buffalo
Fish
Snake
Each clan held specific civic responsibilities within the community. Gender roles were clearly defined, with women managing gathering, medicine, and domestic affairs, while men engaged primarily in hunting, warfare, and artisanal crafts. Marriage customs strictly prohibited unions within the same clan, with members typically expected to marry between sky and earth clan divisions to prevent incest.
Population Movements and European Contact
In the 16th century, the Ho-Chunk experienced significant territorial shifts due to Ojibway expansion southward. This pressure forced them to relocate and contributed to a major division among their people, leading to the formation of separate tribes: the Iowa, Missouri, and Oto. The first recorded European contact occurred in 1634 when French explorer Jean Nicolet encountered the Ho-Chunk. By the 1650s, European explorers documented a dramatic population decline among the Ho-Chunk, with their numbers possibly falling as low as 500 individuals due to introduced diseases and conflicts.
Demographic Challenges and Resurgence
Following initial contact with Europeans, the Ho-Chunk population suffered devastating losses from disease and warfare, plummeting from an estimated 15,000-20,000 people to potentially as few as 500 by the mid-17th century. American encroachment on Ho-Chunk territory began in earnest around 1827, creating further challenges as settlers claimed lands based on treaties with the British following the Revolutionary War. Despite these historical adversities, the Ho-Chunk have experienced remarkable recovery over the past two centuries. Today, approximately 12,000 Ho-Chunk individuals live throughout the United States and Canada, representing a significant resurgence for this resilient nation.
American Encroachment on Ho Chunk Lands
In 1827, American settlers began to push into Ho Chunk territory in what is now Wisconsin. This territorial expansion created significant tension between the newcomers and the indigenous population. Americans claimed these lands belonged to them through British cession following the 1783 Revolutionary War treaty.
The Ho Chunk people, however, maintained their traditional claim to these ancestral lands. With a history stretching back centuries in the region, they viewed the American position as fundamentally unjust. Most Ho Chunk leaders sought peaceful resolutions to the growing conflict despite this encroachment.
The American perspective reflected the prevailing 19th-century attitude that territories granted in international treaties superseded indigenous claims. This mindset failed to recognize the Ho Chunk's deep historical connection to the land. Before European contact, the Ho Chunk had inhabited large portions of Wisconsin, living as semi-nomadic people with established cultural and civic structures.
This territorial dispute occurred during a period when the Ho Chunk population was still recovering from devastating losses. Their numbers had fallen drastically since first European contact in 1634, when French explorer Jean Nicolet encountered approximately 15,000-20,000 Ho Chunk near present-day Green Bay.
By the 1650s, disease and warfare had reduced their population to perhaps as few as 500 people. The American encroachment of 1827 thus came at a particularly vulnerable time in Ho Chunk history, though they had begun to rebuild their communities and cultural institutions.
