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Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Coordinates: 44°49′N 91°30′W / 44.817°N 91.500°W / 44.817; -91.500
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Eau Claire, Wisconsin
City
Downtown Eau Claire
Downtown Eau Claire
Motto(s): 
"Voici l'eau claire!"
("Here is the clear water!")
Location of Eau Claire in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties, Wisconsin.
Location of Eau Claire in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties, Wisconsin.
Eau Claire is located in Wisconsin
Eau Claire
Eau Claire
Location in Wisconsin
Eau Claire is located in the United States
Eau Claire
Eau Claire
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 44°49′N 91°30′W / 44.817°N 91.500°W / 44.817; -91.500
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountiesEau Claire, Chippewa
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • City managerStephanie Hirsch[1]
 • WI AssemblyJodi Emerson (D)
Jesse James (R)
Warren Petryk (R)
 • State SenateJeff Smith (D)
Kathy Bernier (R)
 • U.S. HouseDerrick Van Orden (R)
Area
[2]
 • City
34.95 sq mi (90.53 km2)
 • Land32.86 sq mi (85.10 km2)
 • Water2.09 sq mi (5.42 km2)  6.15%
Elevation
787 ft (240 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • City
69,421
 • Estimate 
(2024)[5]
73,011[3]
 • RankWI: 8th
 • Density2,112.8/sq mi (815.8/km2)
 • Metro
161,151
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Zip code
54701-54703
Area code(s)715 & 534
FIPS code55-22300[6]
GNIS feature ID1583124[7]
Websitehttp://www.eauclairewi.gov
Page text.[8]

Eau Claire (/oʊˈklɛər/ ⓘ oh-KLAIR;[9] French: [o klɛʁ] lit. "clear water") is a city in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the seat of Eau Claire County.[10] It had a population of 69,421 in 2020,[4] making it the state's eighth-most populous city. It is the principal city of the Eau Claire metropolitan area, locally known as the Chippewa Valley, which had 172,007 residents in 2020.

Eau Claire is at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers on traditional Ojibwe, Dakota, and Ho-Chunk land.[11][12][13] The area's first permanent European American settlers arrived in 1845, and Eau Claire was incorporated as a city in 1872.[14] The city's early growth came from its extensive logging and timber industries. After Eau Claire's lumber industry declined in the early 20th century, the city's economy diversified to encompass manufacturing and Eau Claire became an educational center with the opening of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 1916.[15] Eau Claire is also a regional commercial and business center and home to the headquarters of home improvement store chain Menards.[16]

Eau Claire is known regionally for its arts and music scenes and is the hometown of indie folk band Bon Iver, whose lead singer Justin Vernon co-curated the city's annual Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival.[17] Eau Claire is the second fastest-growing major city in Wisconsin after Madison, with 5.4% population growth between 2010 and 2020.[18]

Etymology

[edit]

Eau Claire took its name from Eau Claire County.[19] "Eau Claire" is the singular form of the original French name, "Eaux Claires", meaning "Clear Waters", for the Eau Claire River. According to local legend, the river was so named because early French explorers journeying down the rain-muddied Chippewa River, came upon the confluence with the Eau Claire River, and excitedly exclaimed "Voici l'eau claire!" ("Here is the clear water!"). Now the city motto, this appears on the city seal.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin downtown. Confluence of the Chippewa River and Eau Claire River
Eau Claire, Wisconsin downtown. Confluence of the Chippewa River and Eau Claire River.

History

[edit]

The Eau Claire area was first visited by Europeans in the late 17th century. It had been occupied for thousands of years before European fur traders began settling there for trade with local Native American tribes.

The First Treaty of Prairie du Chien, signed in 1825, established the Chippewa River "half a day's march below the falls" as the boundary between the Sioux and Chippewa, and the "Clear Water River, a branch of the Chippewa" as the boundary between the Chippewa and Winnebago.[12][13]

The first permanent European-American settlers arrived in 1845, and the city was officially incorporated in 1872.[14] Extensive timber was harvested and logging was the major industry during this time; many sawmills were built as part of the lumber industry. Sawmills and other manufacturing made Eau Claire an industrial city by the late 19th century.

The city was founded near the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers as three separate settlements. The main section of downtown is on the site of the original European-American village, where Stephen McCann, in partnership with J. C. Thomas, put up three buildings in 1845. Although these structures were erected primarily to establish a claim to the land site, the McCann family moved into one of them and became the first permanent settlers.[20]

West Eau Claire, founded in 1856, was across the river, near the site of the current county courthouse, and was incorporated in 1872. Between a mile and a half and two miles downstream, the Daniel Shaw & Co. lumber company founded Shawtown, beyond the west end of what is now the Water Street historic district. Shawtown was annexed to the city of Eau Claire by the 1930s.[citation needed] By the 1950s, the entire city had spread far enough to the east to adjoin Altoona.

In 1916, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire was founded, which marked the turn from a mostly lumber production based economy into one centered around manufacturing, education, and healthcare.[21]

In 1917, Gillette Safety Tire Company built a large factory in Eau Claire along the Eau Claire River less than a mile where the rivers meet. The factory mainly created rubber tires and tubing. It had about 1,600 workers in 1920, producing almost 500 tires and 500 rubber tubing everyday. These numbers have increased every year since it opened in 1917. In 1931, United States Rubber Company agreed to purchase Gillette, a sale not completed until 1940 owing to the Great Depression. Due to the start of World War II, the US War Department brought the facility in 1942 to use as an ammunition plant. At the height of the war effort, the plant had over 6,000 employees. Toward the end of the war, the government sold the building back to its original owners, and it was quickly converted back to manufacturing tire products. Throughout the decades after the war, the plant received multiple expansions and was renamed Uniroyal in 1967.[22][23]

In 1991, Uniroyal, one of the largest factories in Eau Claire at the time, announced it would shutter the facility, ultimately causing 1,358 workers to lose their jobs.[24] Although this factory shutdown was detrimental to Eau Claire's economy, the unemployment rate fell from 1991 to 1992. Today the complex, now named Banbury Place, is used as a small business incubator and leased to existing businesses and organizations.[25][26]

Geography

[edit]
Water Street historic district

Eau Claire is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, on the northern fringes of the Driftless Zone.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 34.14 square miles (88.42 km2), of which 32.04 square miles (82.98 km2) is land and 2.10 square miles (5.44 km2) is water.[27]

The city's terrain is characterized by the river valleys, with steep slopes leading from the center to the eastern and southern sections of the city. The lands into which the urban area is expanding are increasingly hilly.

There are two lakes in the city, Dells Pond and Half Moon Lake. Dells Pond is a reservoir created by a hydroelectric dam, and was formerly used as a holding pool for logs. Half Moon Lake is an oxbow lake created as part of the former course of the Chippewa River.

Climate

[edit]

In the Köppen climate classification, Eau Claire is classified as Dfa/Dfb borderline, usually termed as the subtype of warm, sometimes hot, summer. Its climate is due to its latitude and interior location in North America. The average annual temperature is only 46 °F (8 °C). Although the extremes exceed 110 °F (43 °C) upwards and −40 °F, which demonstrates the four well-defined seasons of the year, with severe winters generally colder than the winters of European Russia south of Moscow at a much lower latitude. The amount of annual snowfall (47") exceeds the amount of annual rainfall (31"), the total precipitation is greater than other major cities in Wisconsin such as Milwaukee[28] and Madison.[29] July has an average temperature of 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and January an average of 14.4 °F (−9.8 °C), where temperatures below freezing point can remain for a long duration.[30][31][32]

Climate data for Eau Claire Regional Airport, Wisconsin (1991–2020 normals,[33] extremes 1893–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 55
(13) 		63
(17) 		84
(29) 		91
(33) 		107
(42) 		105
(41) 		111
(44) 		104
(40) 		101
(38) 		89
(32) 		79
(26) 		64
(18) 		111
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 42
(6) 		47
(8) 		64
(18) 		80
(27) 		88
(31) 		92
(33) 		93
(34) 		91
(33) 		87
(31) 		79
(26) 		62
(17) 		47
(8) 		95
(35)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 23.4
(−4.8) 		28.4
(−2.0) 		41.3
(5.2) 		56.5
(13.6) 		69.6
(20.9) 		78.7
(25.9) 		82.8
(28.2) 		80.4
(26.9) 		72.3
(22.4) 		58.0
(14.4) 		42.0
(5.6) 		28.7
(−1.8) 		55.2
(12.9)
Daily mean °F (°C) 14.6
(−9.7) 		18.8
(−7.3) 		31.2
(−0.4) 		44.8
(7.1) 		57.4
(14.1) 		67.1
(19.5) 		71.3
(21.8) 		69.1
(20.6) 		60.8
(16.0) 		47.5
(8.6) 		33.4
(0.8) 		20.6
(−6.3) 		44.7
(7.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 5.8
(−14.6) 		9.1
(−12.7) 		21.2
(−6.0) 		33.2
(0.7) 		45.1
(7.3) 		55.5
(13.1) 		59.8
(15.4) 		57.7
(14.3) 		49.3
(9.6) 		36.9
(2.7) 		24.7
(−4.1) 		12.6
(−10.8) 		34.2
(1.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −17
(−27) 		−13
(−25) 		−1
(−18) 		18
(−8) 		30
(−1) 		42
(6) 		49
(9) 		46
(8) 		34
(1) 		22
(−6) 		7
(−14) 		−11
(−24) 		−20
(−29)
Record low °F (°C) −45
(−43) 		−40
(−40) 		−35
(−37) 		0
(−18) 		20
(−7) 		25
(−4) 		41
(5) 		36
(2) 		22
(−6) 		7
(−14) 		−18
(−28) 		−32
(−36) 		−45
(−43)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.03
(26) 		1.10
(28) 		1.97
(50) 		3.08
(78) 		3.91
(99) 		4.83
(123) 		3.61
(92) 		4.18
(106) 		3.65
(93) 		2.49
(63) 		1.79
(45) 		1.35
(34) 		32.99
(838)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 13.5
(34) 		11.2
(28) 		9.6
(24) 		4.3
(11) 		0.4
(1.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.7
(1.8) 		4.7
(12) 		11.0
(28) 		55.4
(141)
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) 10.1
(26) 		11.7
(30) 		9.4
(24) 		2.2
(5.6) 		0.3
(0.76) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.4
(1.0) 		2.5
(6.4) 		7.5
(19) 		14.4
(37)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.7 8.2 9.6 11.8 13.3 12.3 11.3 10.4 10.9 10.1 8.9 10.1 127.6
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 10.9 8.3 5.8 2.9 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 4.7 9.0 42.4
Source: NOAA[34][35]

Demographics

[edit]
Graham Avenue
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18702,293—
188010,119341.3%
189017,41572.1%
190017,5170.6%
191018,3104.5%
192020,90614.2%
193026,28725.7%
194030,74517.0%
195036,05817.3%
196037,9875.3%
197044,61917.5%
198051,50915.4%
199056,85610.4%
200061,7048.5%
201065,8836.8%
202069,4215.4%
2024 (est.)73,0115.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2020,[4] the population was 69,421. The population density was 2,112.8 inhabitants per square mile (815.8/km2). There were 29,987 housing units at an average density of 912.6 units per square mile (352.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.9% White, 5.7% Asian, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.3% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The 2020 census population of the city included 147 people incarcerated in adult correctional facilities and 3,556 people in student housing.[36]

According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016–2020, the median income for a household in the city was $59,705, and the median income for a family was $82,851. Male full-time workers had a median income of $48,978 versus $39,147 for female workers. The per capita income for the city was $31,510. About 4.9% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.[37] Of the population age 25 and over, 95.5% were high school graduates or higher and 33.9% had a bachelor's degree or higher.[38]

Of the 69,421 people living in the city, 67,238 were living in Eau Claire County,[39] and 2,183 were living in Chippewa County.[40]

2010 census

[edit]
The Eau Claire Masonic Center is on the National Register of Historic Places.

As of the census[41] of 2010, there were 65,883 people, 26,803 households, and 14,293 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,056.3 inhabitants per square mile (793.9/km2). There were 28,134 housing units at an average density of 878.1 units per square mile (339.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% White, 4.6% Asian, 1.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 26,803 households, of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.7% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 29.8 years. 19.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 22.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.2% were from 25 to 44; 21.7% were from 45 to 64; and 11.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

As of 2010, there were 1,981 persons within the city limits in Chippewa County and 63,902 in Eau Claire County for a total of 65,883.[42]

Metropolitan area

[edit]

The city forms the core of the United States Census Bureau's Eau Claire Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties (composite 2010 population: 161,151).[43] Together with the Menomonie Micropolitan Statistical Area (which includes all of Dunn County) to the west, the Eau Claire metropolitan area, forms the Census Bureau's Eau Claire-Menomonie Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a consolidated 2010 population of 205,008.[43][44]

Religion

[edit]
Christ Church Cathedral in Eau Claire

The Episcopal Diocese of Eau Claire is headquartered in the city. Its mother church is Christ Church Cathedral.[45] The city is also within the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse and is home to Sacred Heart Church[46] and St. Patrick's Church. Additionally, Community House, First Congregational Church, First Methodist Episcopal Church and the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd[47] are in Eau Claire.

Significant ethnic communities

[edit]

Hmong community

[edit]
See also: Hmong in Wisconsin

As of 2017, Hmong Americans were Eau Claire's largest ethnic minority. Jenna Christian, Pa Sia Low Moua, and Ingolf Vogeler, the authors of "The Cultural Landscape of the Hmong in Eau Claire, Wisconsin", write that the Hmong are also the city's "most visible ethnic group".[48]

In 2010, there were 2,181 Hmong people in Eau Claire County,[48] While the Hmong population is smaller in Eau Claire County than in Milwaukee, the Hmong are a higher percentage of the population in Eau Claire County, and Christian, Moua, and Vogeler write, "the Hmong stand out more singularly as an ethnic minority than they do in metropolitan areas like Milwaukee, which is already more racially and culturally diverse."[49] The majority of the county's Hmong live in the city of Eau Claire. In some Eau Claire neighborhoods, up to 30% of the residents are Hmong.[48]

Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the Hmong population was 2,868, comprising over 90% of the Asian population.[50]

German community

[edit]

Eau Claire is known for its large ethnic German population comprising roughly 30% of the population. Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the German American population was 25,676.[51]

Norwegian community

[edit]

Eau Claire has a large ethnic Norwegian population comprising roughly 16% of the population. Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the Norwegian American population was 11,672.[51]

Economy

[edit]
Menards headquarters

Eau Claire styles itself as the "horseradish capital of the world",[52] due to the presence of Silver Spring Foods, the world's largest grower and producer of horseradish.[53] The climate, with its cold winters, is conducive to the horseradish crop. Other significant crops grown in the area are apples, pumpkins and plums.[52] Menards, a Midwestern chain of home improvement stores owned by Wisconsin native John Menard Jr., is headquartered in Eau Claire. Other companies based in Eau Claire include National Presto Industries.

Oakwood Mall is Eau Claire's main mall. It has been open since 1986 and has 91 stores and services. Downtown Eau Claire and Water Street also include a variety of specialty shops, including bike shops, arcades, record shops, and antique stores.[54]

Arts and culture

[edit]
The Sarge Boyd Bandshell in Owen Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1938 to showcase the Eau Claire Municipal Band, it remains the city's premier outdoor performance venue.

Performing arts

[edit]

Eau Claire has a modest but active theater community. No professional theater groups make their home in the region, but amateur and community theaters have a significant presence; the most visible of these are the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild (CVTG)[55] and the Eau Claire Children's Theatre (ECCT).[56] In addition, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has a robust theatre program, and traveling professional shows frequently make stops in the city. The Pablo Center at the Confluence[57] and Haas Fine Arts Center[58] are the primary indoor performing arts venues, although both CVTG and ECCT have established their own independent venues, in 2006 and 2010 respectively.

The Pablo Center at the Confluence was opened in downtown Eau Claire on September 22, 2018. It was built to replace UW-Eau Claire's Kjer Theater as the primary venue for performing arts. Facilities include a 1,200-seat theatre, three rehearsal rooms, visual arts galleries, labs for sound and lighting, set and exhibit design, recording arts, multimedia production, and costume design.[59]

Music

[edit]

Eau Claire is home to several annual music festivals.[60]

The Blugold Marching Band is a notable part of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's music program, as well as a fixture of the Eau Claire community. The 475-member ensemble is the largest marching band in the Midwest.[61] The band has gone on multiple tours across the Midwest, and had many performances on the world stage.[62]

Sculpture tour

[edit]

The Sculpture Tour Eau Claire is an ongoing outdoor sculpture exhibit along the streets of downtown Eau Claire. There are 53 sculptures, making this tour the second-largest of its type in the nation.[63]

Farmers market

[edit]

The Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market is in Phoenix Park. It is open from May to October and offers a variety of produce and products.[64]

Sports

[edit]

Baseball

[edit]

Eau Claire has four amateur baseball teams. The Eau Claire Express play in the Northwoods League, an NCAA-sanctioned summer baseball league. Its home games are at Carson Park. The Eau Claire Cavaliers also play home games at Carson Park.[65] In addition to the Cavaliers, the Eau Claire Bears and the Eau Claire Rivermen play in the Chippewa River Baseball League. Three of Eau Claire's high schools have baseball teams.[66] Eau Claire North H.S. won the 2011 and 2019 state championship. Eau Claire also has a large youth baseball program, including a summer parks and recreation league, Little League (Nationals, American, Lowes Creek and Seymour). Eau Claire Little League teams have twice won the state championship (1998 Eau Claire Americans and 2012 Eau Claire Nationals) and advanced to Regional play in Indianapolis.[67] A Babe Ruth League (13- to 18-year-olds) won state tournaments at ages 13, 14 and 15 in 2012. Those teams all went on to win 3rd place at their regional tournaments.

Football

[edit]

The Chippewa Valley Predators football team competes in the Northern Elite Football League and plays its home games at Carson Park. The team was established in 2001.[68] The Northern Lights Cowboys compete in the Champions Amateur Football League and play their home games at Carson Park.[69]

As of 2023, the Eau Claire Cowboys football team competes in the Northern Lights Football League and plays its home games at Carson Park[70]

Horseshoes

[edit]

Eau Claire hosted the 2003 World Horseshoe Championship and the 2019 Wisconsin State Horseshoe Tournament.[71][72]

Silver Mine Ski-Jump, Eau Claire

Parks and recreation

[edit]
The lit tennis courts in Owen Park are popular with university students.

There are several large parks in the city:[73] Owen Park, along the Chippewa River, is home to a large bandshell, where open-air concerts are held throughout the summer; Putnam Park, which follows the course of Putnam Creek and Little Niagara Creek east from the UWEC campus; Carson Park, situated in the middle of an oxbow lake (better known as Halfmoon Lake); and Phoenix Park on the site of the old Phoenix Steel plant at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers. Phoenix Park hosts a weekly farmers market and open-air concerts during the summer. Riverview Park is a common summer swimming destination and one of the local boat landings. It has picnicking areas, grills, and public restrooms. There are also two dog parks in Eau Claire: Otter Creek Off-Leash Dog Park and Sundet Off-Leash Dog Park.[74]

The City of Eau Claire also operates Fairfax public pool[75] and Hobbs Municipal Ice Center,[76] an indoor ice center.

Eau Claire is at the head of the Chippewa River State Trail, a biking and recreation trail that follows the lower course of the Chippewa River.

Many pedestrian bridges over the rivers
Over Eau Claire River
Over Chippewa River
UW-EC footbridge

Eau Claire is home to the Eau Claire Marathon, a Boston Marathon qualifier.[77]

Government

[edit]
City Hall, designed by Eau Claire resident George Awsumb in 1915, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In November 1909 a movement to change the city government from the aldermanic to the commission form was launched by the West Side Boosters, the forerunners of the Water Street, Eau Claire Business Men. The campaign that preceded the February 15 election was heated. Local rallies and mass meetings were held. The 20 members of the common council were about equally split about the change. The final vote was 1,867 for change and 995 against.

Since switching from a mayoral system in 1948, Eau Claire has had a city manager-city council form of government. The city council is a nonpartisan 11-member governing council consisting of five members elected from aldermanic districts in odd-numbered years, five members elected at large in even-numbered years, and an elected city council president, elected at large in odd-numbered years.[78]

The council's legislative meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Public hearings are held on the Monday evenings before legislative sessions. All meetings are held in the City Council Chambers at City Hall in downtown Eau Claire.[79] Meetings are televised live on public-access television channel 97 and digital cable channel 994 and simulcast on radio station WRFP 101.9 FM.[80]

Eau Claire is represented by Derrick Van Orden in the United States House of Representatives, and by Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin in the United States Senate. Jeff Smith and Jesse James represent Eau Claire in the Wisconsin State Senate, and Karen Hurd, Jodi Emerson, and Warren Petryk in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[81]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2024 38.0% 15,297 60.9% 24,491 1.1% 448
2020 37.2% 13,765 60.3% 22,268 2.5% 924
2016 37.2% 13,526 54.1% 19,648 8.7% 3,162
2012 38.6% 14,105 59.5% 21,714 1.9% 680
2008 34.8% 12,980 63.5% 23,701 1.7% 634
2004 41.4% 15,541 57.3% 21,511 1.3% 473
2000 41.0% 13,168 52.4% 16,854 6.6% 2,112

Education

[edit]
Chippewa Valley Technical College

Eau Claire schools are part of the Eau Claire Area School District. The city has two public high schools: Memorial High School and North High School; and two public charter high schools: McKinley Charter School and Technology Charter School. There are 13 elementary schools and three middle schools in the Eau Claire Area School District.[82] In addition, there is the Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School, which follows the teaching of Maria Montessori.[83] Eau Claire also has two private high schools: Regis High School and Immanuel Lutheran High School.

University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

Eau Claire is home to two public colleges (University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley Technical College) and a private college (Immanuel Lutheran College).

Eau Claire is home to two libraries: McIntyre Library on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus and L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library. L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library holds many events, such as children's storytimes, book clubs and makerspace labs.[84]

Media

[edit]

Print

[edit]

The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram is published five days a week (the Friday edition has extra weekend content), and dates to 1881.[85] Volume One is a biweekly magazine with a circulation of 15,000 and an estimated readership of 45,000.[86]

Television

[edit]

Nielson Market Research lists Eau Claire/ La Crosse as the 127th largest television market area.[87]

Channel Callsign Affiliation Branding Subchannels Owner
(Virtual) Channel Programming
8.1 WKBT
WBDL-LD 		CBS News 8 Now 8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6 		MyNetworkTV
Ion
Dabl
QVC
HSN 		Morgan Murphy Media
13.1 WEAU NBC WEAU 13 News 13.2
13.3
13.4
13.5
13.6
14.10 		Cozi TV
MeTV
Movies!
Defy TV
Outlaw TV
The CW 		Gray Television
14.1 WECX-LD
W33DH-D 		The CW La Crosse Eau Claire CW 14.2
14.3
14.4
13.10 		Heroes & Icons
Start TV
MeTV
NBC
18.1 WQOW ABC WQOW 18 18.2
18.3
18.4
18.5 		Catchy Comedy
This TV
Court TV
True Crime Network 		Allen Media Broadcasting
28.1 WHWC PBS PBS Wisconsin 28.2
28.3
28.4 		Wisconsin Channel
Create
PBS Kids 		Wisconsin Educational Communications Board
48.1 WEUX FOX FOX 25/48 48.2
48.3
48.4 		Antenna TV
Ion Mystery
Bounce 		Nexstar Media Group
53.1 W23FC-D Defy TV 53.2
53.3
53.4 		Ion
Scripps News
Law & Crime 		Innovate Corp.

Cable

[edit]
Channel Callsign Branding Programming Owner
993 CVCTV CTV Local Access Valley Media Works/ City of Eau Claire
994 CVCTV NewsWorks Public Affairs

Radio

[edit]

FM

FM radio stations
Frequency Call sign Name Format Owner
88.3 FM WHWC Wisconsin Public Radio Ideas Network Wisconsin Public Radio
88.7 FM W204BP
(KAWZ-FM Translator)		 CSN International Christian CSN International
89.1 FM W206AH
(KLOV-FM Translator)		 Family Radio Christian Family Radio
89.7 FM WUEC Wisconsin Public Radio News & Classical Network Wisconsin Public Radio
90.5 FM WVCF VCY America Christian VCY America
91.3 FM WHEM Moody Broadcasting Network Christian Moody Broadcasting Network
92.1 FM WMEQ Classic Rock 92.1 Classic rock iHeartMedia, Inc.
92.9 FM WECL The X Active Rock Mid-West Family Broadcasting
94.1 FM WIAL I-94 Hot AC
95.1 FM WQRB B95 Country iHeartMedia, Inc.
95.9 FM W240DC
(WEAQ-AM Translator)		 The Farm 95.9 Classic country & Ag News/Talk Mid-West Family Broadcasting
96.3 FM WHYS Eau Claire Community Radio Community Northern Thunder, Inc.
96.9 FM WJLM 3ABN Christian 3ABN
97.3 FM WHRC
98.1 FM WISM Greatest Hits 98.1 Classic Hits Mid-West Family Broadcasting
98.7 FM W254CN
(WBIZ-AM Translator)		 98.7 The Fan Sports iHeartMedia, Inc.
99.1 FM W256AE
(WCFW-FM Translator)		 105.7 Your Variety Station Adult contemporary Magnum Radio
99.9 FM WGNW The Family Contemporary Christian The Family Radio Network, Inc.
100.7 FM WBIZ Z100 Top 40/CHR iHeartMedia, Inc.
101.9 FM WRFP Converge Radio Community-Government Eau Claire Public Access Center, Inc.
102.7 FM WIEC WIEC Fat Free Radio Community The Eau Claire Broadcasting Association
103.1 FM W276CP
(WOGO-AM Translator)		 680 WOGO News/Talk Stewards of Sound, Inc.
103.7 FM WWIB 103.7 WWIB Christian
104.5 FM WAXX WAXX 104.5 Country Mid-West Family Broadcasting
105.1 FM W286CK
(WAYY-AM Translator)		 Sports Radio 105.1 Sports
105.7 FM WCFW 105.7 Your Variety Station Adult contemporary Magnum Radio
106.3 FM W292EG
(WMEQ-AM Translator)		 880 WMEQ News/Talk iHeartMedia, Inc.
106.7 FM WATQ Moose Country 106.7 Classic country
107.9 FM W300DB
(WDVM-AM Translator)		 Relevant Radio Catholic Starboard Broadcasting

AM

AM radio stations
Frequency Call sign Name Format Owner
680 AM WOGO 680 WOGO News/Talk Stewards of Sound, Inc.
790 AM WAYY Sports Radio 105.1 Sports Mid-West Family Broadcasting
880 AM WMEQ 880 WMEQ News/Talk iHeartMedia, Inc.
1050 AM WDVM Relevant Radio Catholic Starboard Broadcasting
1150 AM WEAQ The Farm 95.9 Classic country & Ag News/Talk Mid-West Family Broadcasting
1400 AM WBIZ 98.7 The Fan Sports iHeartMedia, Inc.

Transportation

[edit]
Eau Claire Transit buses at the downtown transit center in June 2023

Airports

[edit]

Eau Claire is served by the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (IATA: EAU, ICAO: KEAU).

Mass transit

[edit]

Intercity bus

[edit]

Major highways

[edit]

Rail

[edit]

Eau Claire is on freight rail lines owned by the Union Pacific Railroad,[88] formerly owned by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway (Omaha Road), and later part of the Chicago and North Western Railway. C&NW operated passenger trains from Chicago through Eau Claire to the Twin Cities area until 1963, when the Twin Cities 400 ended service.[89] Eau Claire station opened in 1893 and closed with the end of C&NW service. It was demolished in 1987.[90] Passenger rail service to Eau Claire is seen as critical by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and they plan to return trains to the city by 2030.[91] In March 2021, Amtrak unveiled plans to bring a passenger service to Eau Claire as part of a larger route that would connect Eau Claire to Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and Milwaukee-to-St. Paul.[92]

Healthcare

[edit]

Mayo Clinic Health System's Eau Claire location, which has a level 2 trauma rating and serves as the regional trauma center, offers a family medicine residency program.[93] It was also named the #4 best hospital in Wisconsin and recognized as a Best Regional Hospital in northwestern Wisconsin.[94] Eau Claire also has one other hospital which has a level 3 trauma rating,[95][96] Marshfield Medical Center. Both hospitals offer various specialty care units and services.

Notable people

[edit]
Main article: List of people from Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Sister cities

[edit]

Eau Claire's sister cities are:

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "City Manager". City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
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  4. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census: Eau Claire city, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  5. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
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  12. ^ a b "Treaty with The Sioux etc - 1825". www.firstpeople.us. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
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  19. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 161.
  20. ^ Bailey, William F. (1914). "Hotels of Eau Claire: The Hart House". History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin, 1914, Past and Present. Chicago, Illinois: C. F. Cooper & Co. pp. 540–552. Retrieved October 24, 2012 – via WIGenWeb.
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  33. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
  34. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
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  40. ^ "Census Bureau profile: Eau Claire city, Chippewa County, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
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  44. ^ [2] Archived April 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ "Christ Church Cathedral – Home". Christchurcheauclaire.org. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  46. ^ "Eau Claire : Intensive Survey Form: Historic Preservation Division" (PDF). Pdfhost.focua.nps.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  47. ^ "Home". Goodshepherd-ec.org. Archived from the original on January 3, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
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  49. ^ Christian, Moua, and Vogeler, p. 3 (internal document page number)
  50. ^ "B02018 Total Asian Alone or in Any Combination Population – 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates – Eau Claire, Wisconsin". United States Census Bureau. July 1, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  51. ^ a b "B04006 People Reporting Ancestry – Eau Claire, Wisconsin – 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. July 1, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
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  53. ^ "Silver Spring Foods". www.silverspringfoods.com. March 18, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
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  56. ^ "Home". Eau Claire Children's Theatre. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
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  82. ^ "Please update your bookmarks – Eau Claire Area School District". Ecasd.k12.wi.us. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
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  84. ^ "L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library - so much more!". Retrieved November 19, 2019.
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  94. ^ "Accreditation and Awards". mayoclinichealthsystem.org. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  95. ^ "About This Location". www.marshfieldclinic.org. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
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Further reading

[edit]
[edit]

General

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

History

[edit]
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Eau Claire".
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