An ancient Native American site with earthwork mounds, also known as Trempealeau, has been studied near the village through archeological excavations in the 21st century. It is theorized as a possible mission site or colony of Cahokia, the major center of Mississippian culture from 1000CE to 1450CE located 500 miles to the south in present-day Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri. Studies have been done through the Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center associated with the University of Wisconsin Madison. Archeologists Danielle Benden and Robert “Ernie” Boszhardt said they have found some evidence of Mississippian settlement about 1050E. The newcomers are believed to have introduced corn culture to the area. The archeology site is slightly downriver of the prominent landmark, Trempealeau Mountain. In 2013 evidence was found of several former structures that exhibited characteristics of Mississippian style. There is some evidence that a religious group came here from Cahokia, perhaps fleeing persecution. European-American settlement did not take place here until the mid-19th century, although French and English fur traders interacted with Native Americans of the area from the colonial period and into the 19th century. A post office called Trempealeau was first established in 1852. The village was named after a nearby island in the Mississippi River, that named by a French explorer.
Geography
Trempealeau is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of, of which, of it is land and is water.
Demographics
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the village was $36,422, and the median income for a family was $44,792. Males had a median income of $30,881 versus $22,708 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,465. About 3.8% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,529 people, 704 households, and 426 families residing in the village. The population density was. There were 835 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the village was 97.8% White, 0.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population. There were 704 households of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couplesliving together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.5% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.74. The median age in the village was 42.7 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 28.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the village was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.
