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 bordering the Mississippi River in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States.
The population was 859 at the 2010 census.
Fountain City is also known for where Northwest Airlines Flight 421 crashed.
Contents
History
Fountain City was originally called Holmes' Landing, after Thomas A. Holmes, who settled there in 1839. Boats would stop at the landing to take on firewood, as well as water from springs not far from the river, leading to the name of Fountain City.
Geography
Fountain City is located at 44°7′28″N 91°42′34″W / 44.12444°N 91.70944°W (44.124506, -91.709470), at the intersection of highways 35 and 95.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.57 square miles (14.43 km2), of which, 4.29 square miles (11.11 km2) are land and 1.28 square miles (3.32 km2) are covered by water.
The city is located on a bend in the Mississippi River, where the river flows right at the base of the bluffs on the east side of the valley. Because of this, at some points, the city is only two houses wide; one on each side of Wisconsin Highway 35. Eagle Creek and Waumandee Creek flow into Fountain City Bay northwest of the city limits. Eagle Creek flows around the base of Eagle Bluff, one of the tallest bluffs along the Mississippi.
The steep bluffs are characteristic of the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, a region that was not smoothed over by glacier like much of the rest of the Midwest, but rather deeply cut by runoff from the rapidly melting glaciers.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, 859 people, 410 households, and 215 families resided in the city. The population density was 200.2 inhabitants per square mile (77.3/km2). The 467 housing unitsaveraged of 108.9 per square mile (42.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.1% African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.0% of the population.
Of the 410 households, 19.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.6% were not families. About34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.74.
The median age in the city was 42.3 years; 16.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.1% male and 46.9% female.
Economy
The economy has depended on agriculture and tourism. Tourists are drawn to the river bluffs and the Mississippi River itself; the Great River Road runs through the city. Merrick State Park is a short distance up Fountain City Bay, a slough of the river.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers maintains a base on the north side of town. It was the long-time home of the dredge William A. Thompson, which the Corps used to maintain the 9-foot (2.7 m) shipping depth of the Mississippi's main channel. The dredge Goetz, which replaced the Thompson, now uses the base as its home port.
Education
Fountain City is part of the Cochrane-Fountain City School District.
Transportation
Fountain City is located on Wisconsin Highway 35. The west termininses of Wisconsin Highway 95 and Wisconsin Highway 88 are also located near the city.
Notable people
- Fred J. Bohri, Wisconsin State Representative, was born in Fountain City.
- Augustus F. Finkelnburg, Wisconsin legislator and judge, lived in Fountain City.
- Henry Roettiger, Wisconsin State Representative, was born in Fountain City.
- John J. Senn, Wisconsin State Representative, lived in Fountain City.
- Mark Wunderlich, 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
