Black Creek, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Black Creek, Wisconsin
Village
Village gateway sign (Pre-2017)
Nickname(s):  "Crossroads to the Northwoods" "Birthplace of the First Organized Baseball Team"
Location of Black Creek in Outagamie County, Wisconsin.
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Outagamie
Settled	1862
Incorporated	1904
Government
• Type	President – Trustees
Area
• Total	1.00 sq mi (2.59 km2)
• Land	0.99 sq mi (2.58 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	804 ft (245 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,357
• Density	1,357/sq mi (523.94/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	54106
Area code(s)	(920)
FIPS code	55-07750
GNIS feature ID	1582819

Black Creek is a small village in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States. About 1,357 people lived here in 2020. The village is inside the Town of Black Creek, but it has its own government.

The community started in 1862. It was settled by Thomas J. Burdick and his son, Abraham. They were veterans of the American Civil War. At first, the village was called Middleburg. This was because it was in the middle of Green Bay, Shawano, and Appleton. In 1904, the name changed to "Black Creek." This name comes from the dark-colored creek near the village.

Today, Black Creek holds fun community events. One popular event is the yearly Family Daze celebration.

History of Black Creek

Main Street looking south around 1907

Long ago, the land where Black Creek is now was home to different Native American groups. The Menominee people called this area Enāēnohnyah. This means "Little Walks Plainly" and is a man's name. The Menominee gave up this land in a treaty in 1836. The Ho-Chunk people also had to sell their land.

Main Street looking north around 1917

The village of Black Creek was settled in 1862. Thomas J. Burdick and his son, Abraham L. Burdick, were the first settlers. They were veterans from the American Civil War. The community was first called Middleburg. This was because it was located between larger towns like Green Bay, Shawano, and Appleton. In 1904, the village officially became a town. It was then renamed "Black Creek" after the dark creek nearby. Charles J. Hagen, a politician and businessman, was Black Creek's first village president.

In 1869, the first organized baseball team in the country was formed here. L.J. Cook started the team. Because of this, Black Creek is known as the birthplace of Wisconsin baseball. The team played at North Park. They were part of the Dairyland League. The team stopped playing in the mid-1990s. Their main rivals were the Navarino Rangers and the Nichols Nitros. To remember this history, a "Grudge Match" softball game is played every year.

When the Green Bay and Lake Pepin Railroad arrived in 1871, Black Creek grew. It became a center for trading and shipping local farm and dairy items. The Black Creek Creamery started in 1894. Borden's Condensery opened in 1917.

The village library opened in 1901. In 1902, a big fire damaged part of the town. This led to the building of the village fire department in 1904. Telephone service came to residents in 1910. Electricity arrived in 1915. A new railroad line, the Soo Line Railroad, was built through the village in 1917.

The Black Creek area was once a top producer of sauerkraut in the nation. Many sauerkraut factories operated here from the late 1880s. However, the last ones, Frank Pure Food Company and Wolf River Kraut, closed in the mid-1990s.

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  Original Green Bay & Western Railyards along Railroad Street around 1909

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  St. Mary's Roman Catholic Parish from E. Burdick Street around 1910

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  Brandt Bros. Hardware & Auto Co. at 301 and 303 N. Main Street around 1917

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  Hotel Arlington, Auditorium, and Village Hall/Fire Dept. along Maple Street around 1917

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  Former SOO Line train depot at the end of W. Forest Street around 1970

Geography and Climate

Where Black Creek Is Located

An aerial photo of Black Creek looking south

Black Creek is in northeastern Wisconsin. It is located where WIS-47 and WIS-54 meet. It is about 20 miles (40 km) west of Green Bay. It is also about 15 miles (24 km) north of the Fox Cities. The village is part of the Central Plains and Eastern Ridges and Lowlands regions of Wisconsin.

The village covers about 1.04 square miles (2.69 square kilometers). Most of this area is land.

Black Creek's Weather

Black Creek has a climate with four clear seasons. Summers are warm and often humid. Winters are long, cold, and snowy. The weather can change a lot between seasons.

The Black Creek along the village's northern edge

Temperatures in Black Creek

The average temperature in January is about 15°F (-9°C). In July, the warmest month, it's about 70°F (21°C). The average high in July is 81°F (27°C). Temperatures can reach 90°F (32°C) or higher about 8 days a year. From December to February, the temperature often stays at or below freezing. The coldest it has ever been is -31°F (-35°C). The hottest was 99°F (37°C).

Rain and Snow

June is the wettest month, with almost 4 inches (101.6 mm) of rain. This often comes from thunderstorms. January is the driest month. It usually gets about 1 inch (25.4 mm) of snow.

Strong Storms

July 2010 flooding on Main Street

The Black Creek area has had five tornadoes. These storms have varied in strength. For example, a tornado touched down near the village in 1980. Another one hit nearby in 1982. The most recent tornado was in 2005.

In the summer of 2010, Black Creek had two big floods. On July 19, 4 inches (101.6 mm) of rain fell in just 20 minutes. On August 20, another 6 inches (152.4 mm) of rain came down.

People of Black Creek

Population in 2020

In 2020, there were 1,357 people living in Black Creek. Most residents, about 92%, were White. About 1.2% were Native American. A small number were Asian (0.3%) or from other backgrounds. About 1.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Population in 2010

In 2010, Black Creek had 1,316 people. There were 513 households. About 96% of the people were White. About 1.4% were Native American. About 2.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in the village was 32.2 years. About 29.3% of residents were under 18 years old.

Economy and Community Growth

Downtown Christmas lighting

Main Street business league signage

Gateway signage installed in 2017

Many businesses help Black Creek's economy. Here are some of the largest employers in 2010:

Making Main Street Better

In 2011, the village started the "Open for Business" Campaign. This project aims to bring new businesses to Black Creek. The goal is to make the downtown area more lively. They want to encourage new shops and improve buildings. This will help attract tourists visiting the Northwoods.

Residents shared their ideas for improving the community. They wanted a stronger sense of community. They also wished for more "mom & pop shops" and more food choices. People also suggested adding flowers and trees, making streets safer for bikes, and creating more parking. They also hoped to slow down traffic on Main Street.

There is also interest in fixing up and saving old buildings. Ideas for new projects include a community center and a Veterans park. They also want to extend walking trails and add decorative lights downtown.

Arts and Culture in Black Creek

Fun Events and Festivals

Duhm-Masch American Legion Memorial

Black Creek hosts several fun events each year:

• Village-Wide Rummage Sale (twice a year)
• Annual Family Daze Festival (used to be called "Homecoming")
  • This includes an antique vehicle show, a parade, a craft fair, and a Softball Grudge Match.
• Annual Altrusa Polkafest
• Annual 3K Bobcat Glow Run
• Annual 5K Run for the Timbers
• Annual Community Christmas Festival

The village also gives a "Citizen of the Year Award." This award celebrates residents who are very involved in the community.

Veterans Memorial

In 2013, plans were made to build a memorial for veterans in Black Creek. The memorial was officially opened in August 2017.

Historic Places to See

George Peters residence

The George Peters House is a historic home in Black Creek. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical building. It is located at 305 North Maple Street.

This area of Black Creek has many old buildings. Some are 100 to 180 years old. The historic Hotel Arlington is nearby. The Black Creek Founders Memorial is also close by, next to the Newton Blackmour State Trail. You can also find the historic Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church and the downtown business area here.

Recreation and Outdoors

Black Creek has three village parks. They are usually open from April 1 to October 15, depending on the weather.

Fallen Timbers Environmental Center signage

• Lake (Bartmann) Park is 11 acres. It has a swimming hole, playground, and places for picnics. You can also play horseshoes and disc golf here.
• North Park is six acres. It has a baseball field.
• South (Sebald) Park is nine acres. It has two baseball fields, a batting cage, a playground, and picnic areas. In winter, it has an ice skating rink.

Nature Areas Nearby

Mack State Wildlife Area observation deck

Black Creek is near the Tri-Rivers Nature Area. This area has many public lands and nature preserves. Two nature preserves near Black Creek offer great places for hiking and seeing wildlife.

• Fallen Timbers Environmental Education Center is a 456-acre nature area. It protects woodlands, meadows, and ponds. It has 8.5 miles (13.68 km) of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing.
• Mack State Wildlife Area is 1,350 acres. It protects woodlands, marshlands, and meadows. It's a great spot for bird watching. You can see Canada Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and Great Blue Herons here.

Newton Blackmour State Trail

Newton Blackmour State Trailhead

The Newton Blackmour State Trail goes through Black Creek. It follows an old railroad path. The trail is 24 miles (38.62 km) long. It connects Seymour to New London. In winter, people use it for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. In summer, it's used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The trail's name comes from the four towns it passes through.

Sports and Activities

The Black Creek Youth Sports Organization runs the village's youth baseball league. They have teams for different age groups:

• tee ball (ages 5–6)
• machine pitch (ages 7–8)
• Little League (ages 9–12)
• softball (ages 9–12)

Local businesses help sponsor these teams. The older teams play against other towns. The younger teams play against other Black Creek teams.

Snowmobiling is a popular winter activity when there's enough snow. Black Creek has many snowmobile trails. The Black Creek Sportsman's Club also hosts trap shooting events.

Education and Learning

Black Creek has one public school, Black Creek Elementary & Middle School. It has been part of the Seymour Community School District since 1963. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.

The first schoolhouse in Black Creek was built in 1874. A new two-story school was built in 1900. This school was used until 1954. The current village school was built in 1954. In 1957, the school expanded. Many one-room schoolhouses nearby closed, and their students moved to this larger school. This doubled the number of students. Programs like kindergarten, art, music, and physical education were added that year. The school has expanded several times since then.

Students from Black Creek go to Seymour Community High School for high school.

The Black Creek Village Public Library is part of the Outagamie Waupaca Library System.

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  Four classroom public school along WIS 54 around 1909

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  Former auditorium used for school & community functions around 1917

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  Black Creek Grade School

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  Village Library & Community Center

Media and News

Black Creek had its first newspaper, the Black Creek Journal, in 1875. It stopped publishing in 1880. The Black Creek Times Press started in 1904 and closed in 1928.

Today, Black Creek gets its news from several papers. These include the Advertiser Community News~Times Press (from Seymour), the Appleton Post-Crescent, and the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

The village also receives TV channels like Fox 11 WLUK-TV, NBC 26 WGBA-TV, CBS 5 WFRV-TV, and ABC 2 WBAY-TV. Many radio stations from the area also serve the community.

Village Services and Transportation

Roads and Rails

About 10,100 vehicles pass through Black Creek each day. This is about 3.7 million vehicles per year. Around 8,200 vehicles drive through downtown Black Creek daily. About 6,100 vehicles use the Wisconsin Highway 47 / Wisconsin Highway 54 intersection each day.

CN Railway underpass along Wisconsin Highway 54.

	Wisconsin Highway 47, also called Main Street, goes north to Shawano. Southbound, it connects to Interstate 41 in Appleton.
	Wisconsin Highway 54, also called State Street, goes west to Shiocton and Waupaca. Eastward, it goes to Seymour and connects to Interstate 41 and Interstate 43 in Green Bay.
	County Trunk Highway B ends in the west at Wisconsin Highway 47. Its eastern end is County Trunk Highway PP.
	The Canadian National Railway goes north to Shawano. Southbound, it goes to Appleton and the Chicago area.

Airports Near Black Creek

The main airports close to Black Creek are Austin Straubel International Airport in Ashwaubenon. Another is Appleton International Airport in Greenville. The smaller, private Shiocton Airport is also nearby.

Black Creek water tower

Utilities and Services

The village provides water services to residents. WE Energies manages electricity and natural gas lines. The Outagamie County Solid Waste Department picks up recycling every two weeks. The village collects garbage weekly.

Notable People from Black Creek

• John Miller Baer, a U.S. Congressman from North Dakota.
• Charles J. Hagen, a Wisconsin State Assemblyman and businessman.
• Kenneth E. Priebe, a Wisconsin State Assemblyman.
• W. C. Zumach, a Wisconsin State Senator and American Socialist.

Images for kids

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  The WIS 47/WIS 54 "crossroads"

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  Black Creek Fire & Rescue Department

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  Looking north at downtown Black Creek

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  United States Post Office

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  Looking north at WIS DOT sign on WIS 47

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  Historic Hotel Arlington

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  Former Cargill Elevator along Maple Street

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  St. Johns United Church of Christ

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  Former Black Creek United Methodist Church

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  Former Immanuel Lutheran Church

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  Current Immanuel Lutheran worship home

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  Community Bible Church on the village's west side

See also

In Spanish: Black Creek (Wisconsin) para niños