Fountain City, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fountain City, Wisconsin
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WIS-35 through town
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Location of Fountain City in Buffalo County, Wisconsin.
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Buffalo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.52 sq mi (14.30 km2) |
| • Land | 4.38 sq mi (11.33 km2) |
| • Water | 1.15 sq mi (2.97 km2) |
| Elevation | 669 ft (204 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 859 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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861 |
| • Density | 196.80/sq mi (75.98/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Zip code |
54629
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| Area code(s) | 608 |
| FIPS code | 55-26850 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1565171 |
Fountain City is a small city located in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States. It sits right next to the famous Mississippi River.
According to the 2010 census, about 859 people lived in Fountain City. This city is also known for being the site of the Northwest Airlines Flight 421 crash.
Contents
History of Fountain City
Fountain City was first settled in 1839 by Thomas A. Holmes. Because of him, the area was originally called Holmes' Landing.
Boats would often stop here. They needed to pick up firewood and fresh water from springs near the river. This is how the name Fountain City came to be!
Geography of Fountain City
Fountain City is located at 44°7′28″N 91°42′34″W / 44.12444°N 91.70944°W. This is where highways 35 and 95 meet.
The city covers about 5.57 square miles (14.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but 1.28 square miles (3.32 square kilometers) is covered by water.
The Mississippi River and Bluffs
The city is built on a bend in the Mississippi River. The river flows right at the bottom of tall cliffs called bluffs. These bluffs are on the east side of the valley.
Because of this, some parts of Fountain City are very narrow. Sometimes, the city is only two houses wide! One house is on each side of Wisconsin Highway 35.
Eagle Creek and Waumandee Creek flow into Fountain City Bay. This bay is a part of the river, located northwest of the city. Eagle Creek flows around the base of Eagle Bluff. This is one of the tallest bluffs along the Mississippi River.
The Driftless Area
The steep bluffs are a key feature of the Driftless Area. This special region includes parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.
Unlike much of the Midwest, this area was not flattened by glaciers. Instead, it was deeply carved by water from melting glaciers. This created the unique hills and valleys you see today.
Population of Fountain City
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 867 | — | |
| 1880 | 963 | 11.1% | |
| 1890 | 972 | 0.9% | |
| 1900 | 1,031 | 6.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,031 | 0.0% | |
| 1920 | 880 | −14.6% | |
| 1930 | 880 | 0.0% | |
| 1940 | 985 | 11.9% | |
| 1950 | 934 | −5.2% | |
| 1960 | 934 | 0.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,017 | 8.9% | |
| 1980 | 963 | −5.3% | |
| 1990 | 938 | −2.6% | |
| 2000 | 983 | 4.8% | |
| 2010 | 859 | −12.6% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 861 | 0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the census in 2010, Fountain City had 859 people living there. There were 410 households in the city.
Most of the people living in Fountain City were White (97.0%). About 1.4% were Native American.
The average age of people in the city was 42.3 years. About 16.9% of residents were under 18 years old. Also, 17.8% were 65 years or older.
Economy of Fountain City
The economy of Fountain City relies on two main things: farming and tourism.
Tourists love to visit the river bluffs and the Mississippi River itself. The famous Great River Road also runs through the city, bringing many visitors. Merrick State Park is a short distance away, located on Fountain City Bay.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers has a base on the north side of town. This base is important for keeping the Mississippi River's main channel deep enough for shipping. The dredge Goetz is currently based here. A dredge is a special boat used to dig up mud and sand from the bottom of a river.
Education in Fountain City
Students in Fountain City attend schools that are part of the Cochrane-Fountain City School District.
Transportation in Fountain City
Fountain City is located on Wisconsin Highway 35. The starting points of Wisconsin Highway 95 and Wisconsin Highway 88 are also found near the city.
Notable People from Fountain City
Many interesting people have connections to Fountain City:
- Fred J. Bohri, a Wisconsin State Representative, was born here.
- Augustus F. Finkelnburg, a Wisconsin legislator and judge, lived in Fountain City.
- Henry Roettiger, another Wisconsin State Representative, was born in the city.
- John J. Senn, a Wisconsin State Representative, also lived here.
- Mark Wunderlich, a well-known poet, grew up in Fountain City.
Images for kids
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Historical marker
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Bluffs overlooking the city
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Downtown
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Catholic Church
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Post office
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Sign
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Fountain City Hall and Police Department
See also
In Spanish: Fountain City (Wisconsin) para niños
