On the banks of the Black River, Black River Falls is the administrative center of the Ho Chunk nation. The Ho Chunk that called the area home had been forcibly removed to Nebraska in the 1870s.
Settlers built a lumber mill on the river which powered the growth of the city. The location has also meant the city has faced catastrophic flooding. In fact, in October of 1911 most of the business district of Black River Falls was washed away by flood waters.