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Regional Context Resident Profile Retail Market Evaluation Retail Market Opportunities
To identify Black River Falls’ strategic market position it is important to first evaluate the City’s existing marketplace - both in the local economy as well as the County as a whole. The results of this analysis will supply the markets and businesses in which Black River Falls shows a competitive advantage. Tourists, commuters, and local residents all impact Black River Falls’ economy.
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Figure 2.1: Regional Context Source: ESRI Business Analyst
Twin Cites
The City of Black River Falls is located in Jackson County, in west-central Wisconsin. It is the most populous municipality (3,606 person in 2018) and is Jackson County’s county seat. Over the last two decades the City has maintained, but not grown, in population (with 3,622 persons back in 2000). Yet, the city continues to be the primary employment center for the County (see Figure 2.2 on the next page for more details). Outside of being Jackson County’s primary employment center, Black River Falls also beneďŹ ts from its location along the Interstate 94 corridor (carrying an average of 24,000-26,000 vehicles per day). Black River Falls has convenient access to two interchanges along the northern and eastern edges of city. This convenient access to the regional highway system provides a good stopping point for travelers heading to and from Madison (128 mi.), Minneapolis/St. Paul (142 mi.), Milwaukee, (196 mi.) and all areas between. The City is also bisected north/south by WIS 27, which carries an average of 8,000-10,000 vehicles a day. This strong regional connectivity has a positive impact on the retail marketplace in Black River Falls.
Wausau Eau Claire
Black River Falls
Stevens Point
La Crosse
Madison
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Another major draw to Black River Falls is the variety of entertainment and recreational amenities found in the region, including:
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Ho-Chunk Casino providing entertainment.
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Black River providing paddleboat and ďŹ shing recreation opportunities.
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Wazee Lake, which is Wisconsin’s deepest lake, provides one of the best diving lakes in the Midwest.
Retail Market Strategic Plan
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