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Florence, Wisconsin facts for kids

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Florence, Wisconsin can mean two different places in the state of Wisconsin, USA. It's important to know which one people are talking about!

What is Florence, Wisconsin?

When someone says "Florence, Wisconsin," they might be talking about a small community or a larger area around it. These two places are both in Florence County, Wisconsin.

Florence (CDP), Wisconsin

One meaning of Florence, Wisconsin, is a place called a census-designated place (CDP). A CDP is like a small town or village that doesn't have its own local government. It's an area that the United States Census Bureau defines for gathering information about people living there.

  • Location: This Florence CDP is located inside the larger Florence (town) area.
  • Population: CDPs are defined to count how many people live in a specific area.
  • Purpose: It helps the government understand population trends and needs, even for places without official town boundaries.

Florence (town), Wisconsin

The other meaning of Florence, Wisconsin, is a town. In Wisconsin, a "town" is a type of local government area, similar to a township in other states. It's a larger area that includes rural lands and sometimes smaller communities within it.

  • Government: This town has its own local government, which makes decisions about roads, services, and other local matters for the people living there.
  • Area: The town of Florence covers a much larger area of land compared to the Florence CDP.
  • County Seat: The Florence CDP is actually the county seat of Florence County, Wisconsin. This means it's where the main government offices for the county are located.

Why are there two?

Having both a "town" and a "CDP" with the same name can be a bit confusing! It happens because of how different types of areas are defined for government and for counting people. The town is a unit of local government, while the CDP is just for statistics.

So, if you hear "Florence, Wisconsin," it's good to ask if they mean the small community (the CDP) or the larger government area (the town)!

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