Living in River Falls

River Falls, Wisconsin is a small community of 12,560 located near the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is 30 minutes from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, which offers an international airport, the largest shopping mall in the U.S. (Mall of America), professional sports teams (Twins baseball, Timberwolves basketball, Wild hockey), theatres, museums, and other cultural opportunities.

Set near the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic Rivers, the area provides many opportunities for outdoor activities such as canoeing, fishing, boating, etc.

Weather

River Falls has four distinct seasons, and dressing appropriately is important. If you arrive in September, as many students do, you will find temperatures ranging from 50 to 80 degrees (F). Leaves on the trees will begin to change colors and drop. By the end of November there may be snow on the ground, and temperatures can be between 20 and 40 degrees (F).

Winters can be very cold and temperatures can go below 0 degrees (F). Dressing appropriately is important for your health and well being. Dress in layers, with a good winter coat on the outside. Also, wearing mittens or gloves (waterproof is best), boots, hats, and scarf will help protect exposed skin from the cold, and possibly frostbite. Although “winter” is a distinct season, the cold weather can last from November through April.

April to June brings Spring with mild to moderate temperatures and rain. There can be wide ranges of temperature from day to day.

Summer can be hot and humid. Loose, cotton clothing will feel the most comfortable. Many buildings are air conditioned and will feel cooler and more comfortable than outside. Most residence hall rooms are not air conditioned.

On Campus Housing

The Office of Residential Life, located in the Involvement Center in the University Center, is responsible for maintaining the on-campus residence halls.

Although located in different part of the campus, the 10 residence halls are within a convenient walking distance of classrooms. A total of 200-500 students live in each residence hall. In general, two students share a room. Every room is equipped with a bed, desk and chair, dresser, bookshelf, mirror and closet for each student. Also provided is a small refrigerator, a place to plug in a telephone, Internet access and the option of cable television. You must pay for your own long distance telephone service, but cable television is provided. Sheets, blankets and pillow are not provided. Each residence hall also has a kitchen, lounge and bathroom facilities. Laundry facilities are located in the basement of each residence hall.

For more information on on-campus housing, visit the Residence Life website:

http://sa.uwrf.edu/sa/res-life