River Falls, Wisconsin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids River Falls, Wisconsin
City
City hall
Location of River Falls in Pierce County and St. Croix County, Wisconsin.
River Falls, Wisconsin Location in Wisconsin
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Pierce and St. Croix
Incorporated	1885
Government
• Type	Mayor – Council
Area
• Total	7.27 sq mi (18.83 km2)
• Land	7.19 sq mi (18.61 km2)
• Water	0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,182
• Density	2,230.00/sq mi (861.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-68275
Website	http://www.rfcity.org

South Hall, on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls campus, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

River Falls is a city in Wisconsin, located in two counties: Pierce and St. Croix. It's mostly within the town of River Falls and next to the town of Kinnickinnic. River Falls is the biggest city in Pierce County.

In 2020, about 16,182 people lived there. Most of the population, 12,546 people, lived in Pierce County, and 3,636 lived in St. Croix County. The city is about 30 miles east of the big cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. River Falls is also home to the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.

History of River Falls

The first settlers in the area arrived in 1848. They were Joel Foster and his helper, Dick. The village began in 1854. It was started by brothers Nathaniel N. and Oliver S. Powell. They came from New York.

The village was first called Kinnickinnic. It was also known as Greenwood for a time. But there was already another Greenwood, Wisconsin in the state. So, the name was changed. The city's current name comes from the fast-moving water, or rapids, of the Kinnickinnic River.

Geography of River Falls

River Falls covers about 6.60 square miles (17.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 6.52 square miles (16.89 square kilometers). A small part, 0.08 square miles (0.21 square kilometers), is water.

The Kinnickinnic River

River Falls is located on the banks of the Kinnickinnic River. This river is known as a top-quality trout stream. The South Fork of the Kinnickinnic River flows right through the city. It even divides the University of Wisconsin–River Falls campus into two parts.

Major Roads and Highways

Several important Wisconsin highways pass through River Falls. These include Highway 29, Highway 35, and Highway 65. Other main roads in the city are Main Street, Cascade Avenue, and Division Street, which is also County Road M.

River Falls Climate

Population of River Falls

Kinnickinnic River, downtown River Falls.

Outline map of River Falls

In 2010, there were 15,000 people living in River Falls. There were 5,150 households and 2,812 families. The city had about 2,300 people per square mile. There were 5,449 housing units in total.

Most of the people in River Falls were White (94.8%). Other groups included African American (1.2%), Native American (0.4%), and Asian (1.5%). About 1.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 28.2% of homes, children under 18 lived there. About 40.6% of homes had married couples. The average household had 2.42 people. The average family had 2.89 people.

The average age in River Falls was 24.2 years old. Many residents were young adults. About 17.2% were under 18. A large group, 34.5%, were between 18 and 24. About 8.2% of residents were 65 or older. There were slightly more females (53.2%) than males (46.8%) in the city.

In 2020, the population of River Falls grew to 16,182 people. There were 5,521 households in the city.

Education in River Falls

The School District of River Falls runs the public schools. Students attend River Falls High School for their high school years. Meyer Middle School serves as the middle school. There are also five public elementary schools in the district.

CVTC in River Falls

River Falls is also a center for higher education. It is home to the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. A branch of the Chippewa Valley Technical College is also located here.

Fun Things to Do in River Falls

The Kinnickinnic River flows through the city center. It's a popular spot for outdoor fun. People enjoy fly fishing and kayaking on the river.

Glen Park

Glen Park is a large park, 41 acres, located on the bluffs of the Kinnickinnic River. It was created in 1898. The park has many things to do, including playgrounds and a swimming pool. There are also soccer fields, a softball diamond, and basketball courts. You can find horseshoe pits and a gazebo there too. The park has several miles of walking trails for exploring.

The Glen Park Pool was built in 1937. It was updated in 2012 for its 75th birthday. Glen Park's Swinging Bridge gives a great view of the South Fork rapids. This bridge is a replica of an older one from 1925. It's a suspension bridge that crosses the South Fork Rapids. Below the bridge, you can find spots for fishing, swimming, and picnics.

Hoffman Park

Hoffman Park is another large park, about 53 acres, located northeast of downtown. It has baseball fields and a nine-hole disc golf course. There's also a campsite, a skate park, and volleyball courts.

A special part of Hoffman Park is the Tri-Angels Playground. This playground was built in 2015 by volunteers. It cost $550,000 to build. The playground is designed to be accessible for children with disabilities.

The Falls Theater

Another fun place to visit in River Falls is The Falls Theater. It's a local movie theater where you can watch the latest films.

Notable People from River Falls

Images for kids

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  City hall

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  Location of River Falls in Pierce County and St. Croix County, Wisconsin.

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  River Falls, Wisconsin

See also

In Spanish: River Falls (Wisconsin) para niños