Park Falls

History

The city began in the late 19th century as a small river village called Muskellunge Falls. It was later renamed Park Falls for the scenic beauty surrounding the former falls on the south side of town. With a pulp and paper mill, the town grew rapidly and was incorporated as a city in 1912. At the height of the city's industrial success the city's population swelled to more than 4,000 residents. At the same time, commercial development fueled a sizeable downtown, which largely remains today. Several residential neighborhoods, particularly along 1st Avenue North, were constructed of nearly identical homes, and this affordable housing stock is one of the community's lasting assets. Recent development, which mostly began in the early 1990s, has been primarily concentrated along Wis. Highway 13, a north–south highway that is the city's main thoroughfare. Several governmental offices are located in Park Falls, including a school district, a National Forest Service office, an outpost of the Wisconsin Department of National Resources, and the northern office of the state governor.

Geography

Park Falls is located at (45.934590, -90.448538). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,639
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  1,433
• Hairy Woodpecker

  Leuconotopicus villosus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,156
• Red-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta canadensis Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  986
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  978
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  853
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  797
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  761

Largest nearby schools

• Park Falls Elementary
  Elementary · Park Falls · 280 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• Chequamegon High
  High · Park Falls · 218 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Class ACT Charter
  High · Park Falls · 11 students · 11:1 ratio