Welcome from Mayor Don Richards
I hope you find our city to be a great place, whether you are here to visit or to make it your home. I have lived in River Falls for more than 60 years. My wife, Ellie, and I have raised four children, now adults, in this city. It would be hard to find a better place to raise children.
River Falls is not the same place it was when I was a kid in the 1940s when the population was 2,806. Though the City's population has increased to over 14,000, we retain many of the small town advantages we've always had, among them, friendliness and a willingness to embrace visitors.
Education is very important in River Falls. In addition to primary and secondary schools of high quality, we boast the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Chippewa Valley Technical College as institutions of higher eduction. We're also proud of our River Falls Public Library, one of the finest you'll find in a city our size.
Recreational opportunities abound here. We have a designated Class A trout stream in the Kinnickinnic River, four golf courses within 10 miles, a growing number of biking/walking/jogging trails and many tennis courts, softball field and parks.
River Falls offers many opportunities for those interested in the arts or athletics. UW-RF hosts the St. Croix Valley Summer Theatre, a variety of concerts, and a very competitive athletic schedule at the Division III level, all of which provide ample changes for enjoyment. In addition, the River Falls Community Theatre is very active throughout the year. And except for Green Bay, what other town in Wisconsin can claim to host a professional football training camp each summer? None other than River Falls! The Kansas City Chiefs call River Falls their home for approximately a month each summer as they prepare for the NFL season.
Overall, River Falls is a great place to raise a family, to visit, and get away from big city traffic, big pollution and big city atmosphere. Still, we're only a 30 minutes drive from the Twin Cities. You'd have to look long and hard to beat what we have here.
Once again, welcome! I hope your stay is enjoyable!
Article taken from the 2008-2009 River Falls Community Guide published by the River Falls Journal