River Falls, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids River Falls, Wisconsin
City
City hall
Location of River Falls in Pierce County and St. Croix County, Wisconsin.
River Falls, Wisconsin Location in Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Pierce and St. Croix
Incorporated	1885
Government
• Type	Mayor – Council
Area
• Total	7.27 sq mi (18.83 km2)
• Land	7.19 sq mi (18.61 km2)
• Water	0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,182
• Density	2,230.00/sq mi (861.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-68275
Website	http://www.rfcity.org

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 located 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 located approximately 30 miles (48 km) east of the center of that region.

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. 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. The present name comes from the Kinnickinnic River rapids.

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.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.60 square miles (17.09 km²), of which 6.52 square miles (16.89 km²) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km²) is water.

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.

Climate

Demographics

Kinnickinnic River, downtown River Falls.

Outline map of River Falls

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 2,300.6 inhabitants per square mile (888.3/km²). There were 5,449 housing units at an average density of 835.7 per square mile (322.7/km²). 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%.

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.

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.

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. The Glen Park Pool was built in 1937 and renovated for its 75th anniversary in 2012. 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.

Hoffman Park, located northeast of downtown River Falls, is a 53-acre (21 ha) facility that contains baseball fields, a nine-hole disc golf course, a campsite, a skate park, volleyball courts, and the Tri-Angels Playground. The playground was named after Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia Schaffhausen, who were murdered by their father, Aaron Schaffhausen. The playground, accessible to handicapped children and built with designs referring to the three girls, opened in 2015. It was constructed at a cost of $550,000 by volunteers.

Another attraction is The Falls Theater, a movie theater.

Notable people

See also

In Spanish: River Falls (Wisconsin) para niños