Arcadia was founded in 1855 on a hill overlooking the Trempealeau River Valley. However, when the Green Bay and Western Railroad built a line in the river valley, the city developed along the line.
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,925 people, 1,114 households, and 649 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 1,207 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 73.4% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 22.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.2% of the population. There were 1,114 households of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couplesliving together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.7% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age in the city was 32.9 years. 26.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.7% were from 25 to 44; 20.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.9% male and 48.1% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,400 people, 1,038 households, and 594 families living in the city. The population density was 905.2 people per square mile. There were 1,112 housing units at an average density of 419.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 97.92% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.96% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 3.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 1,038 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90. In the city, the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $31,571, and the median income for a family was $44,063. Males had a median income of $29,133 versus $23,255 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,157. About 6.0% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Arcadia is the world headquarters of Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. It is also the home of a poultry plant, formerly called Arcadia Fryers chicken processing corporation, bought in 1993 by Gold'n Plump Inc. and recently Gold'n Plump Inc got bought by Pilgrim's Pride as of November 2016.
