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History · French Island

Half of French Island’s homes were built after 1975

Most of French Island was built recently: 10% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1975. Below: maps from 1956 on.

0on the National Register
10%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory

What stands out about French Island’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of French Island are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start French Island’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how French Island’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How French Island came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of French Island.

Read it all →

On October 1, 2025, the Town of Campbell submitted a request to incorporate as the Village of French Island.

On May 19, 2026, residents of the Town of Campbell voted in favor of incorporating as the Village of French Island by a margin of 1493 votes for a village and 30 against a village.

On May 21, 2026, the Village of French Island was officially incorporated by the Wisconsin Department of Administration.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

French Island, decade by decade

Today1 recent
French Island map2023French Island mapMap
On the map

French Island on the map, 1956 to 1991

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of French Island. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

French Island on the 1956 USGS mapFrench Island on the 1973 USGS mapFrench Island on the 1991 USGS map1956La Crescent sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of French Island.

Famous people

Famous people close to French Island

Nobody well known was born in French Island itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Joseph LoseyAmerican filmmaker and theatre director · b. 1909
Charles DierkopAmerican actor · b. 1936
Ford SterlingAmerican comedian · b. 1882
Hamlin GarlandAmerican novelist, poet, essayist, short story … · b. 1860
John TolandAmerican writer · b. 1912
William HauberActor · b. 1891
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

CampbellIts storyCLa Crosse42 historic placesA+

Questions about French Island’s history

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (1), Wikipedia and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.