Spring Valley Area first saw commercial activity about 1857 with the coming of the logging crews. They followed the Eau Galle River upstream from the sawmill settlement at Eau Galle. At this time our village floor was dotted by an occasional store. Then in 1891 iron ore and other necessary ingredients for our "pig iron" industry and capital had been discovered. The massive number of men needed to construct these major projects also required another massive project - building a town to serve their everyday needs. By 1895 Spring Valley was incorporated. Since then Spring Valley has continued to grow while honoring and celebrating our historical past. Every year Spring Valley residents get together to celebrate "Dam Days".

  

Through the years major floods came in different sizes and so did the damages. The "Big One" was on the night of September 17, 1942. The village decided to get out of the valley or build a dam. The Army Corps of Engineers was asked to propose a flood control plan. The dam construction began in 1965 and was finished in 1968. We now have the Eau Galle Recreation Area (640 acres). The Corps of Engineers has developed into a park that attracts about 250,000 visitors every year. They come to picnic, swim, camp, hike, ski, fish, or just enjoy nature.