Cataract Wisconsin Map

About Cataract, Wisconsin

Cataract is a locality in Monroe County, Wisconsin, United States. It is a small community with a population of 138. The population density is 113.1 people per km². Cataract is located at 44.0877°N, 90.8424°W. It observes the Central Time (America/Chicago) timezone. ZIP code: 54656.

Cataract rests in a valley where the land gently slopes and swells, a quiet testament to the slow artistry of glaciers and water. It lies 28.0 miles north-east of La Crosse, WI (from La Crosse, WI: bearing 45°T), and is situated 9.4 miles north-west of Fort McCoy. Rolling hills, cloaked in a verdant tapestry of deciduous trees, rise and fall with a comforting regularity, their slopes often etched with the stark lines of agricultural fields. The air here, especially in the early morning, carries a clean, damp scent, a mixture of rich soil and the cool breath of the nearby Black River. Sunlight, when it breaks through the often-clouded Wisconsin sky, falls in broad, golden swathes, illuminating the textures of weathered barns and the persistent green of summer pastures, lending a soft, almost painterly quality to the landscape. The rhythm of Cataract is one of soft breezes rustling through corn stalks and the distant, contented lowing of cattle. This region's history is deeply rooted in the fertile earth, its economy once driven by the sweat of farmers coaxing sustenance from the rich, dark soil and the quiet industry of milling grain. The Black River, a vital artery, once powered the machinery of early settlements, its waters carrying logs and goods, and its banks bearing witness to the dreams of those who sought a life away from crowded cities. Though the grand days of large-scale milling have faded, a spirit of self-sufficiency and connection to the land persists in Cataract. You can still feel the echoes of generations who understood the subtle language of the seasons, their lives intertwined with the planting and the harvest, a legacy that continues to shape the character of this peaceful corner of Monroe County.

About This Cataract Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Cataract, Wisconsin — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 44.087741, -90.842359. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Cataract and Monroe County.

Detailed location data for Cataract includes the ZIP code (54656), telephone area code (715), county seat of Monroe County (Sparta), and school district assignment (Sparta Area School District). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Cataract is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.