Park Falls, Wisconsin

Park Falls is a small city in Price County, Wisconsin, United States. It had 2,410 people living there in the 2020 census.

The city is in the woods of north central Wisconsin, inside the Chequamegon National Forest. The North Fork of the Flambeau River flows through Park Falls, dividing the town. This river is liked by people who enjoy the outdoors.

Visitors and locals enjoy many fun activities in and around Park Falls. The area is great for fishing, where you can try to catch many kinds of fish. It’s also popular for canoeing, letting people paddle along calm waters. And for those who like excitement, whitewater rafting offers thrilling rides through faster parts of the river.

History

Park Falls began in the late 1800s as a small river village called Muskellunge Falls. It was later named Park Falls for the pretty scenery around an old waterfall south of the town. With a pulp and paper mill, the town grew fast and became an official city in 1912.

At its peak, Park Falls had over 4,000 people and a busy downtown area that is still there today. Many homes, especially along 1st Avenue North, were built around that time and are still affordable for families. New development since the early 1990s has mostly happened along Wis. Highway 13, the main road through the city. Important offices such as a school district, a National Forest Service office, and a state governor office are located in Park Falls.

Geography

Park Falls is a small city in Wisconsin, United States. It is located in the woods of north central Wisconsin, mostly inside the Chequamegon National Forest. The city is near the North Fork of the Flambeau River, a good place for fishing, canoeing, and whitewater rafting.

The city covers an area of about 3.83 square miles (9.92 km²), with 3.60 square miles (9.32 km²) of land and 0.23 square miles (0.60 km²) of water.

Demographics

2010 census

In 2010, Park Falls had 2,462 people. Most people, about 95%, were White. Smaller groups included African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people, as well as some from two or more races. About 1% were Hispanic or Latino.

About a quarter of households had children under 18. Almost half of the households were made up of married couples living together. The average family size was about 2.8 people.

2000 census

In 2000, there were 2,793 people in Park Falls. Nearly 98% of them were White. Other groups included small numbers of African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people, as well as some from other races or two or more races. About 1% were Hispanic or Latino.

Most households were made up of individuals, and about a fifth had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average family size was about 2.9 people.

The median income for a family was $42,930. About 5.5% of families and 10.3% of people lived below the poverty line.

Industry

Park Falls once had a large paper mill named Flambeau River Papers Corporation. This mill closed in 2006 but opened again a few months later. Today, Park Falls has other important businesses. These include St. Croix Rod, a company that makes fishing rods, and Weather Shield, a factory that makes windows.

Education

Park Falls has one of the biggest school districts in Wisconsin. In 2009–10, the Park Falls School District joined with the Glidden School District to form the Chequamegon School District.

Transportation

Bus service in Park Falls is provided by Bay Area Rural Transit.

Airport

The city is served by the Park Falls Municipal Airport (KPKF). The airport is located two miles northeast of the city. It handles many flights each year. Most of these flights are for general aviation, with a few being air taxis. The airport has a runway that helps planes land safely.

Media

• WPFP AM 980, Jack FM Simulcast
• WCQM FM 98.3, Country

Sports and recreation

Park Falls is a great place for people who love the outdoors. With many public forests and beautiful lakes, like the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, visitors and locals enjoy many activities. Popular pastimes include hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and riding ATVs. The town has many trails for off-road vehicles.

The Chequamegon Screaming Eagles, a local team, have an old rivalry with the Phillips Loggers.

Events

Park Falls has a fun community festival called Flambeau Rama every year. It happens during the first weekend in August. Many high school class reunions take place during this four-day celebration.

Notable people

Park Falls has been home to many interesting people. Some of them include Shane Frederick, a professor at MIT, and David Greenwood, who played football for the NFL. Others include Eric E. Hagedorn, a politician and engineer, and Eric Jarosinski, a writer. The town has also been home to theologians, actors, business leaders, and mathematicians like Magnus Wenninger.

Images

• Sign on WIS 13

• School

• Downtown