Flood ravaged Wisconsin town considers moving to higher ground.

Within 50 years, this uninhabited valley had grown into a bustling city. Many other businesses would come and go in Soldiers Grove throughout the next half-century, but in July 1951 the town suffered devastating loss when the Kickapoo River, which at the time wound it's way directly through the downtown area, overflowed her banks.

Much damage was done to the town during that flood, yet she would pick herself up, clean herself off, and start all over again. A dike was built along the river throughout the downtown area, and though other minor flooding would follow, there was no damage to rival the flood of '51... until the spring of 1978.

The 1978 flood was even larger than the flood of 1951, and could have spelled the demise of the sleepy little town in the Kickapoo Valley, but for a few who wouldn't let it die.

Rather than rebuild in the flood-prone business area, the decision was made to move the entire village to higher ground about a half-mile east along US Hwy 61. Plans were also put into action to make Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin the nation's first solar-powered village. Taking on the nickname "Solartown," all buildings constructed within the new business district had to be at least 70% solar powered.