Black River Falls, Wisconsin
Black River Falls is a city of 3,546 people in Jackson County, Wisconsin.
Why visit Black River Falls
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 16 places to eat, 4 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Black River Falls Public Library, Union High School and Skyline Golf Course.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 4°F, and about 41 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Black River Falls
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Black River Falls
Black River Falls is a city in Jackson County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. The population was 3,523 at the 2020 census. It is located along the Black River and home to the headquarters of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin.
From the Wikipedia article Black River Falls, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks2
Black River Falls Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Library in Black River Falls, Wisconsin
222 Fillmore Street, Black River Falls
Mo-We 09:00-18:00; Th,Fr 09:00-17:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
Union High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic building in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds10
Restaurants and cafes16
Subway
Fast food · Sandwich · 0.5 mi
10 County Road A, Black River Falls
Mo-Th 08:00-21:00; Fr 08:00-09:00; Sa-Su 08:00-21:00
4 more on the map.
History
A large monument to Black River Falls' veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as to local Medal of Honor recipient Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr., was erected near the Chamber of Commerce Building at 101 S. 2nd Street. Named the "Field of Honor", the attached plaques provide accounts of the veterans' services. This site is also the start of the four-mile (6.5 km) Foundation Trail, a signed hiking and bike path that circles the eastern part of the community.
Black River Falls is the focus of Michael Lesy's book Wisconsin Death Trip (1973), which used photographs and newspaper cuttings to highlight the harshness of life in the community during the late nineteenth century and the effects it had on the psychology of the inhabitants.
From the History section of Black River Falls, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay4
Churches and places of worship2
Shopping2
Gas and EV charging7
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Western Technical College-Black River Falls
School · 0.7 mi
24 Fillmore Street, Black River Falls
Jackson Correctional Institution
School · 2.4 mi
N6500 Haiper Rd, Black River Falls
Healthcare2
Map of Black River Falls
56 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 4°F | 1.0 in | 10.0 in |
| Feb | 29°F | 8°F | 1.2 in | 8.5 in |
| Mar | 41°F | 21°F | 1.7 in | 8.9 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 32°F | 3.3 in | 2.5 in |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 55°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 59°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 56°F | 4.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 72°F | 48°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 58°F | 35°F | 2.5 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 42°F | 24°F | 1.8 in | 2.2 in |
| Dec | 29°F | 12°F | 1.2 in | 8.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Blair (19 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Jackson County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-10-07: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mud (Severe Storm)
- 2016-10-20: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2010-10-21: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport (CMY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 24 miles away.
- Whitehall 25 mi west, about 40 min by car
- Independence 29 mi west, about 46 min by car
- Bangor 29 mi south, about 47 min by car
- Holmen 31 mi southwest, about 50 min by car
- Arcadia 33 mi west, about 52 min by car
- Onalaska 34 mi southwest, about 54 min by car
- Greenwood 34 mi north, about 55 min by car
- La Crosse 38 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- La Crescent 40 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Marshfield 41 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Black River Falls dam and hydro plant, Wikideas1, CC0
- WTC Black River Falls, Wikideas1, CC0
- Black River Falls City Hall, Wikideas1, CC0
- Black River Falls water tower, Wikideas1, CC0
- Black River Falls Wisconsin Public Library Carnegie, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wisconsin, Black River Falls, Old High School, Iulus Ascanius (transferred to comons by GordonKlimm ), Public domain
- Historic Keefe House, Darrendurman, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Solar trackers, Wikideas1, CC0
- Black River Memorial Hospital-2, Wikideas1, CC0
- Black River Memorial Hospital-3, Wikideas1, CC0
- Brockway Town Hall, Wikideas1, CC0
- Food pantry car line, Wikideas1, CC0
- Brockway, Wisconsin, Wikideas1, CC0
- ISS034-E-13744 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS030-E-61801 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS016-E-10128 - View of Wisconsin, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS030-E-110173 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.