Balsam Lake, Wisconsin

About Balsam Lake

Balsam Lake is a tiny community in northwestern Wisconsin counting 954 people who proudly call it home.

Officially, Balsam Lake is an incorporated village, one of the most intimate forms of local government in America. The community covers 2.23 square miles, giving it wide-open spaces and a spread-out, rural feel at roughly 428 residents per square mile.

📰 Balsam Lake News Today

• Balsam Lake Air Quality Index (AQI) and USA Air Pollution IQAir · Jun 25
• Child drowns at Balsam Lake, Wisconsin kare11.com · Jul 1
• Closure set for section of WIS 46 south of Balsam Lake theameryfreepress.com · Jun 18
• Balsam Lake Man Found Dead After Going Missing During Fishing Trip in Chippewa County DrydenWire.com · Apr 10
• Fire at church in Balsam Lake causes hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage WEAU · Nov 24

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Balsam Lake Unique

• The only place in America named Balsam Lake — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• Positioned in northwestern Wisconsin, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of Wisconsin — one of 808 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• Small-town pace of life: less traffic, more community, and neighbors who wave.
• Housing dollars stretch further here than in the nearest metro.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 8 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Balsam Lake

• HOPSACK — coffee shop (café)

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Polk County Museum · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Balsam Lake

• Ahlgren Wildlife Preserve · Nature reserve reviews ★
• DD Kennedy County Park reviews ★
• DD Kennedy Park reviews ★
• First Island · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Garfield Recreation Area · Nature reserve reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Balsam Lake

• Unity Elementary
• Unity High
• Unity Middle

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Balsam Lake

🏘️ Nearby Communities