Balsam Lake, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
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Downtown Balsam Lake
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Location of Balsam Lake
in Polk County, Wisconsin |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Polk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.41 sq mi (8.83 km2) |
| • Land | 2.17 sq mi (5.61 km2) |
| • Water | 1.24 sq mi (3.21 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,089 ft (332 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,009 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
|
982 |
| • Density | 452.95/sq mi (174.91/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
54810
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| Area codes | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-04475 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1582745 |
Balsam Lake is a small village in Wisconsin, United States. It is the main town, or "county seat," of Polk County. In 2010, about 1,009 people lived here. The village is part of the larger Town of Balsam Lake.
Contents
Discovering Balsam Lake's Past
The area around Balsam Lake was first home to a large group of Chippewa Indians. They called this place "Innenehinduc." This name means "place of the evergreen." It might have been because of the many Canadian Yew plants growing there. These plants are a type of evergreen shrub.
The town of Balsam Lake officially started on January 8, 1870. It got its name from the beautiful lake nearby. Some of the first businesses included a blacksmith shop and a bank. There was also a creamery, which made dairy products. Two sawmills helped process wood. People could buy supplies at a hardware store and a general store. The town also had a courthouse and a schoolhouse made of logs.
Today, Balsam Lake is still important for the county. It is where the Polk County Government Center is located. This building handles many of the county's official tasks.
The town celebrates its history every year with the Freedom Festival. This event also honors the history of the United States. It takes place around the Fourth of July, usually from Thursday to Sunday.
Exploring Balsam Lake's Location
Balsam Lake is located at specific geographic coordinates. These are 45.45805 degrees North and -92.454872 degrees West.
The village covers a total area of about 3.39 square miles (8.83 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.16 square miles (5.61 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.23 square miles (3.21 square kilometers), is water.
Main roads in the community include Wisconsin Highway 46 and Polk County Road I. Other important highways, U.S. Highway 8 and Wisconsin Highway 65, are also close by.
Understanding Balsam Lake's Population
In 2010, a count of the population was done. This is called a census. It showed that 1,009 people lived in Balsam Lake. These people lived in 434 households, and 257 of these were families.
The village had about 467 people per square mile (175 people per square kilometer) of land. There were 732 housing units in total.
Most of the people living in Balsam Lake were White (94.2%). There were also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 0.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 22.8% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (43.8%) were married couples. Some households had a single female or male adult with no spouse. About 35.9% of all households were single individuals. About 17.3% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone.
The average age of people in the village was 45 years old. About 17.4% of residents were under 18. About 21.2% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (51.5%) and females (48.5%).
Learning and Education in Balsam Lake
Students in Balsam Lake attend schools within the Unity School District. This district provides education for children in the area.
Important Historic Places
One important historic site in Balsam Lake is the Polk County Courthouse. This building has been a key part of the county's government for many years.
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See also
In Spanish: Balsam Lake (Wisconsin) para niños Template:KIDDLE XL END
