River Falls, Wisconsin

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

File:2009-0620-UW-RiverFalls-SouthHall.jpg
South Hall, on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

River Falls is a city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is mostly within the town of River Falls, and adjacent to the town of Kinnickinnic in St. Croix County. River Falls is the most populous city in Pierce County. The population was 16,182 at the 2020 census, with 12,546 residing in Pierce County and 3,636 in St. Croix County. It is part of the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area and about Template:Convert east of the center of that region.<ref>"Maps and Lodging." University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Retrieved on January 24, 2017.</ref>

River Falls is the home of the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.

History

The city's first settlers were Joel Foster and his indentured servant, Dick, in 1848.<ref>River Falls Wisconsin. Piercecountywi.com. Retrieved 2012-07-07.</ref> The village was started as Kinnickinnic in 1854 by brothers Nathaniel N. and Oliver S. Powell, who were from St. Lawrence County, New York. At the time, the town and village were also known as Greenwood, but this was changed, as another Greenwood, Wisconsin already existed.<ref>Easton, August B. History of Saint Croix Valley, p. 485.</ref> The present name comes from the Kinnickinnic River rapids.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

On June 23, 1893, a lightning bolt hit the center circus pole at a Ringling Brothers circus performance in River Falls, injuring multiple audience members and performers and killing seven.<ref>"Circus Horror at River Falls, Seven Persons Were Killed". The Sun (Spring Valley, Minnesota), June 23, 1893, p. 1. St. Croix Valley Genealogical Society.</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

River Falls lies on the banks of the Kinnickinnic River, a class one trout stream. The South Fork of the Kinnickinnic River runs through the city, dividing the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus into two sections.

River Falls is along Wisconsin Highways 29, 35, and 65. Other routes include Main Street, Cascade Avenue, and Division Street / County Road M. Template:Wide image

Climate

Template:Weather box

Demographics

File:2009-0620-RiverFalls-river.jpg
Kinnickinnic River, downtown River Falls.
File:River-falls-wi.gif
Outline map of River Falls

Template:US Census population

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 12,560 people, 4,269 households, and 2,335 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,346 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 96.57% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95%.<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 4,269 households 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.3% were non-families. 27.7% of households were one person and 9.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 17.9% under the age of 18, 35.1% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 14.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% 65 or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.

The median household income was $41,184 and the median family income was $60,253. Males had a median income of $36,275 versus $27,345 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,667. About 4.4% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 15,000 people, 5,150 households, and 2,812 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,449 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 94.8% White, 1.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8%.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Failed verification

Of the 5,150 households 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.4% were non-families. 27.1% of households were one person and 8.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age was 24.2 years. 17.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 34.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 17% were from 45 to 64; and 8.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.

2020 census

At the 2020 census, there were 16,182 people and 5,521 households. The racial makeup of the city was 92.6% White, 0.7% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3%. Native Hawaiian was 0.1%.<ref name="QF2020">Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

School District of River Falls operates public schools. River Falls High School is the district's public high school. Meyer Middle School acts as the district's middle school. There are also 5 public elementary schools in the school district.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Chippewa Valley Technical College in River Falls, Wisconsin.jpg
CVTC in River Falls

River Falls is home to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and a branch of the Chippewa Valley Technical College.

Recreation

The Kinnickinnic River, which flows through the heart of the city and its downtown business district, is a popular recreational attraction in River Falls for fly fishers and kayakers.

On the bluffs of the Kinnickinnic River is Glen Park, a 41-acre park established in 1898. The park has playgrounds, a swimming pool, soccer fields, a softball diamond, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, a gazebo, and several miles of walking trails.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Glen Park Pool was built in 1937 and renovated for its 75th anniversary in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Glen Park's Swinging Bridge offers a view of the South Fork rapids as it enters the Kinnickinnic River. The bridge, a replica of one designed by the Minneapolis Bridge Company and constructed in 1925, is a suspension bridge that spans the South Fork Rapids at the site of the former Cascade Mill and Dam. Below the bridge are fishing, swimming, and picnic spots.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hoffman Park, northeast of downtown River Falls, is a Template:Convert facility that contains baseball fields, a nine-hole disc golf course, a campsite, a skate park, volleyball courts, and the Tri-Angels Playground.<ref>"Hoffman Park". River Falls. Retrieved January 24, 2017.</ref> The playground opened in 2015 and is named after Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia Schaffhausen, who were murdered by their father, Aaron Schaffhausen. It is accessible to disabled children and built with designs referring to the three girls.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was constructed at a cost of $550,000 by volunteers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Another attraction is The Falls Theater, a movie theater.

Notable people

Template:Alumni Template:Div col

Template:Div col end

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Commons category

Template:Pierce County, Wisconsin Template:St. Croix County, Wisconsin

Template:PHP

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=River_Falls,_Wisconsin&oldid=175409"