Eau Claire (pronounced oh-KLAIR; French: [o klɛʁ], meaning "clear water") is a city located in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It serves as the county seat of Eau Claire County. Eau Claire is the seventh-largest city in Wisconsin, with a population of 69,421 according to the 2020 census, and an estimated population of 72,331 in 2024. The Eau Claire metropolitan area, often called the Chippewa Valley, has about 176,000 residents.

Eau Claire is located where the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers meet on land traditionally inhabited by the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Ho-Chunk peoples. The first permanent European American settlers arrived in 1845, and the city was officially established in 1872. Early growth was driven by logging and timber industries. After the lumber industry declined in the early 1900s, the city's economy expanded to include manufacturing. The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire opened in 1916, making the city an important educational center.

Eau Claire is known for its arts and music communities. It is the hometown of the indie folk band Bon Iver, whose lead singer, Justin Vernon, helps organize the city's annual Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival. The city also serves as a regional business hub and is home to the headquarters of Menards, a home improvement store chain. Between 2010 and 2020, Eau Claire experienced the second-fastest population growth among major cities in Wisconsin, with a 5.4% increase.

Etymology

The city of Eau Claire was named after Eau Claire County. The name "Eau Claire" comes from the French phrase "Eaux Claires," which means "Clear Waters." This name refers to the Eau Claire River. A local story says that French explorers traveling down the muddy Chippewa River saw the place where it meets the Eau Claire River and shouted, "Voici l'eau claire!" ("Here is the clear water!"). This phrase is now the city's motto and appears on its official seal.

History

The Eau Claire area was first visited by Europeans in the late 1600s. People had lived there for thousands of years before European fur traders began settling there to trade with Native American tribes.

The First Treaty of Prairie du Chien, signed in 1825, set the Chippewa River "half a day's march below the falls" as the line between the Sioux and Chippewa tribes. It also marked the Clear Water River, a branch of the Chippewa, as the boundary between the Chippewa and Winnebago tribes.

The first permanent European-American settlers arrived in 1845. The city was officially incorporated in 1872. During this time, large amounts of timber were cut down, and logging became the main industry. Many sawmills were built as part of the lumber industry. By the late 1800s, sawmills and other factories made Eau Claire an industrial city.

The city was founded near where the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers meet, as three separate settlements. The main part of downtown is on the site of the first European-American village. In 1845, Stephen McCann and J. C. Thomas built three buildings. Though these structures were mainly to claim the land, the McCann family moved into one and became the first permanent settlers.

West Eau Claire, started in 1856, was across the river near the current county courthouse and was incorporated in 1872. Between one and a half to two miles downstream, the Daniel Shaw & Co. lumber company built Shawtown, beyond the west end of the Water Street historic district. Shawtown was added to Eau Claire by the 1930s. By the 1950s, the city had expanded far enough to the east to connect with Altoona.

In 1916, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire was founded. This marked a shift from an economy based mainly on lumber production to one focused on manufacturing, education, and healthcare.

In 1917, the Gillette Safety Tire Company built a large factory along the Eau Claire River, near where the rivers meet. The factory made rubber tires and tubing. In 1920, it had about 1,600 workers who produced nearly 500 tires and 500 rubber tubes daily. These numbers grew each year after the factory opened. In 1931, the United States Rubber Company agreed to buy Gillette, but the sale was delayed until 1940 because of the Great Depression. During World War II, the U.S. War Department took over the factory in 1942 to make ammunition. At its peak, the plant employed over 6,000 people. After the war, the government sold the building back to its owners, and it was quickly changed back to making tires. Over the years, the plant expanded and was renamed Uniroyal in 1967.

In 1991, Uniroyal, one of Eau Claire’s largest factories at the time, announced it would close. This caused 1,358 workers to lose their jobs. Although the shutdown hurt the local economy, the unemployment rate dropped from 1991 to 1992. Today, the site, now called Banbury Place, is used as a small business incubator and is rented to other businesses and organizations.

Geography

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

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city covers an area of 34.14 square miles (88.42 km²), with 32.04 square miles (82.98 km²) being land and 2.10 square miles (5.44 km²) being water.

The city’s landscape includes river valleys, with steep slopes rising from the center to the eastern and southern parts of the city. The areas where the city is growing are becoming increasingly hilly.

There are two lakes within the city: Dells Pond and Half Moon Lake. Dells Pond is a reservoir formed by a hydroelectric dam and was once used to store logs. Half Moon Lake is an oxbow lake that was part of the old path of the Chippewa River.

In the Köppen climate classification, Eau Claire is categorized as a humid continental climate (Dfb bordering on Dfa), often called the warm summer subtype. This climate is influenced by the city’s latitude and its position inland in North America. The average yearly temperature is 46°F (8°C). Extreme temperatures can reach as high as 110°F (43°C) or as low as −40°F, showing the city has four distinct seasons. Annual snowfall (47 inches) is greater than annual rainfall (31 inches), and total precipitation is higher than in other major cities in Wisconsin, such as Milwaukee and Madison. July has an average temperature of 71.6°F (22.0°C), while January averages 14.4°F (−9.8°C), with freezing temperatures often lasting for long periods.

Demographics

In 2020, Eau Claire had a population of 69,421 people, with 2,112.8 people living in each square mile (815.8 per square kilometer). There were 29,987 homes, with 912.6 homes in each square mile (352.4 per square kilometer). Of these homes, 3.7% were empty. Of the empty homes, 0.8% were owned homes and 3.3% were rented homes.

The average age of residents was 32.8 years. Nineteen point three percent of people were younger than 18, and 15.5% were 65 years or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 or older, there were 91.8 males aged 18 or older.

Ninety-nine point nine percent of residents lived in cities, and 0.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 28,864 households in Eau Claire. Twenty-four point two percent of these households had children younger than 18 living in them. Thirty-eight point one percent of households were married couples, 22.6% were led by a male without a spouse or partner, and 30.0% were led by a female without a spouse or partner. Thirty-four point three percent of households had only one person living in them, and 12.1% had someone 65 or older living alone.

The 2020 census included 147 people in adult correctional facilities and 3,556 people in student housing. Of the 69,421 residents, 67,238 lived in Eau Claire County, and 2,183 lived in Chippewa County.

According to surveys from 2016 to 2020, the average household income was $59,705, and the average family income was $82,851. Male full-time workers earned $48,978 on average, while female workers earned $39,147. The average income per person was $31,510. Four point nine percent of families and 15.5% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 11.4% of those under 18 and 6.7% of those 65 or older. Of people 25 or older, 95.5% had finished high school or more, and 33.9% had a bachelor’s degree or higher.

In 2010, there were 65,883 people, 26,803 households, and 14,293 families in Eau Claire. The population density was 2,056.3 people per square mile (793.9 per square kilometer). There were 28,134 homes, with 878.1 homes per square mile (339.0 per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 91.4% White, 4.6% Asian, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. One point nine percent of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, 26,803 households existed. Twenty-five point six percent had children under 18 living with them. Thirty-nine point six percent were married couples, 9.5% were led by a female without a spouse, 4.2% were led by a male without a spouse, and 46.7% were not families. Thirty-one point seven percent of households had only one person living in them, and 10.3% had someone 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 2.29 people, and the average family size was 2.89 people.

The average age in 2010 was 29.8 years. Nineteen point three percent were under 18, 22.3% were 18 to 24, 25.2% were 25 to 44, 21.7% were 45 to 64, and 11.7% were 65 or older. The population was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

In 2010, 1,981 people lived in Chippewa County and 63,902 in Eau Claire County, totaling 65,883.

Eau Claire is the center of the Eau Claire Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties (total 2010 population: 161,151). Combined with the Menomonie Micropolitan Statistical Area (Dunn County), the area had a 2010 population of 205,008.

The Episcopal Diocese of Eau Claire was based in the city from 1928 until 2024, when it joined the Diocese of Wisconsin. Christ Church Cathedral is one of three main churches in the Diocese of Wisconsin. The city is also in the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse and includes Sacred Heart Church and St. Patrick’s Church. Other churches in Eau Claire include Community House, First Congregational Church, First Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.

In 2017, Hmong Americans were Eau Claire’s largest ethnic minority, making up over 90% of the Asian population. The Hmong population was 2,868 in 2022. Though smaller than in Milwaukee, Hmong people are a larger share of Eau Claire County’s population and are more visible in the city. In some neighborhoods, up to 30% of residents are Hmong.

In 2022, 25,676 German Americans lived in Eau Claire, making up about 30% of the population. Eleven thousand six hundred seventy-two Norwegian Americans lived in the city, making up about 16% of the population.

Economy

Eau Claire calls itself the "horseradish capital of the world" because Silver Spring Foods, the largest grower and producer of horseradish globally, is located there. The cold winters in the area help grow horseradish well. Other important crops grown in the region include apples, pumpkins, and plums.

Menards, a home improvement store chain owned by John Menard Jr., a person from Wisconsin, has its main office in Eau Claire. The city is also home to two Menards stores and the company's main distribution center.

Other businesses based in Eau Claire include National Presto Industries and Erbert & Gerbert's.

Oakwood Mall is the largest mall in Eau Claire. It has been open since 1986 and includes 91 stores and services. Downtown Eau Claire and Water Street also have many specialty shops, such as bike shops, arcades, record stores, and antique stores.

Arts and culture

Eau Claire has a small but active theater community. There are no professional theater groups based in the area, but amateur and community theaters are important. The most well-known groups are the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild (CVTG) and the Eau Claire Children's Theatre (ECCT). The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire also has a strong theater program, and traveling professional shows often visit the city. The Pablo Center at the Confluence and Haas Fine Arts Center are the main indoor places for performing arts. Both CVTG and ECCT have their own separate venues, which opened in 2006 and 2010, respectively.

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

Justin Vernon, the songwriter and leader of the indie folk band Bon Iver, was born in Eau Claire and still lives there. Eaux Claires was a two-day music festival held in the city during the 2010s. It was started by Vernon and Aaron Dessner.

The Blugold Marching Band is an important part of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's music program and a well-known group in the Eau Claire community. With 475 members, it is the largest marching band in the Midwest. The band has toured across the Midwest and performed on international stages.

Eau Claire has a small but active group of independent filmmakers. The city hosts several annual film festivals, including Midwest Weirdfest. A 19th-century historical drama called The Lumber Baron (2019), written and directed by Wisconsin State Representative Karen Hurd, was filmed in Eau Claire in 2019. It focuses on the city's logging history. In 2025, the city supported Wisconsin’s state film tax incentives as part of efforts to help film and media production.

The Sculpture Tour Eau Claire is an outdoor sculpture exhibit in downtown Eau Claire. It features 53 sculptures, making it the second-largest outdoor sculpture tour in the United States.

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

Sports

Eau Claire has four amateur baseball teams. The Eau Claire Express play in the Northwoods League, a summer baseball league approved by the NCAA. Their home games are held at Carson Park. The Eau Claire Cavaliers also play their home games at Carson Park. In addition, the Eau Claire Bears and the Eau Claire Rivermen compete in the Chippewa River Baseball League.

Three high schools in Eau Claire have baseball teams. Eau Claire North High School won the state championship in 2011 and 2019.

Eau Claire has a large youth baseball program. This includes a summer parks and recreation league, as well as Little League teams (Nationals, American, Lowes Creek, and Seymour). Eau Claire Little League teams won the state championship twice (1998 Eau Claire Americans and 2012 Eau Claire Nationals) and reached the regional level in Indianapolis. A Babe Ruth League (for players aged 13 to 18) won state tournaments for ages 13, 14, and 15 in 2012. These teams also earned third place at their regional tournaments.

The Eau Claire Axemen are an indoor American football team in The Arena League. They started playing in 2025 as a new team. Their home games are held at the Sonnentag Event Center.

The Chippewa Valley Predators football team plays in the Northern Elite Football League. Their home games are at Carson Park. The team was founded in 2001. The Northern Lights Cowboys compete in the Champions Amateur Football League and also play their home games at Carson Park.

As of 2023, the Eau Claire Cowboys football team plays in the Northern Lights Football League. Their home games are at Carson Park. Carson Park is also where the two high school football teams and the university team play.

Eau Claire hosted the 2003 World Horseshoe Championship and the 2019 Wisconsin State Horseshoe Tournament.

Parks and recreation

The city has several large parks. Owen Park is located along the Chippewa River and has a large bandshell where concerts are held during the summer. Putnam Park runs along Putnam Creek and Little Niagara Creek, starting from the UWEC campus and going east. Carson Park is located in the middle of an oxbow lake, which is also called Halfmoon Lake. Phoenix Park is built on the old Phoenix Steel plant site where the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers meet. Phoenix Park has a weekly farmers market and summer concerts. Riverview Park is a popular place for swimming in the summer and has a boat landing. It also includes picnic areas, grills, and public restrooms. There are two dog parks in Eau Claire: Otter Creek Off-Leash Dog Park and Sundet Off-Leash Dog Park.

The city also manages Fairfax public pool and Hobbs Municipal Ice Center, which is an indoor ice facility.

Eau Claire is at the beginning of the Chippewa River State Trail, a path for biking and recreation that follows the lower part of the Chippewa River.

Eau Claire is sometimes called the City of Bridges because there are fourteen road bridges and seven pedestrian bridges over the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers. The city also hosts the Eau Claire Marathon, which is a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon.

Government

In November 1909, a group called the West Side Boosters, who were the earlier version of the Water Street and Eau Claire Business Men, started a movement to change the city government from the aldermanic system to the commission system. The campaign before the February 15 election was intense. People held local rallies and large meetings. The 20 members of the common council were about half in favor of the change and half against. The final vote showed 1,867 people supported the change and 995 people opposed it.

Since switching to a city manager–city council system in 1948, Eau Claire has used this form of government. The city council is a group of 11 members who do not take sides in political parties. Five members are elected from aldermanic districts every odd-numbered year, five members are elected by all voters every even-numbered year, and one member, the city council president, is elected by all voters every odd-numbered year.

The council holds legislative meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Public hearings are held on the Monday evenings before these meetings. All meetings take place in the City Council Chambers at City Hall in downtown Eau Claire. These meetings are broadcast live on public-access television channel 97 and digital cable channel 994. They are also simulcast on radio station WRFP 101.9 FM.

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 represents Eau Claire in the Wisconsin Senate, and Jodi Emerson and Christian Phelps represent Eau Claire in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Education

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. It also has 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. In addition, there is the Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School, which follows the teaching methods of Maria Montessori. Eau Claire also has two private high schools: Regis High School and Immanuel Lutheran High School.

Eau Claire is home to two public colleges: University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and Chippewa Valley Technical College. It also has one private college: Immanuel Lutheran College.

Eau Claire has two libraries: McIntyre Library, which is located on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus, and L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library. L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library hosts many events, such as children's storytimes, book clubs, and makerspace labs.

Media

The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram is published five days a week, with the Friday edition including extra content for the weekend. It was first published in 1881. Volume One is a magazine that comes out every two weeks, reaching 15,000 people and estimated to be read by about 45,000 people.

Nielsen Market Research ranks the Eau Claire/La Crosse area as the 127th largest television market in the United States.

The main cable television company in Eau Claire is currently Spectrum, which is owned by Charter Communications.

TDS Telecom has the right to install new fiber optic cables in parts of the city and also provides cable television service to some areas.

Transportation

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

• Eau Claire Transit bus services
• Flixbus (Chicago to Minneapolis via I-94)
• Greyhound Lines (Chicago to Minneapolis via I-94)
• Megabus operated by Wisconsin Coach Lines (Milwaukee to Minneapolis via Green Bay)

Eau Claire is on freight rail lines owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. These lines were formerly owned by the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway (Omaha Road) and later became part of the Chicago and North Western Railway (C&NW). C&NW operated passenger trains from Chicago through Eau Claire to the Twin Cities area until 1963, when the Twin Cities 400 service ended. The Eau Claire station opened in 1893 and closed when C&NW service ended. It was demolished in 1987.

Passenger rail service to Eau Claire is considered important by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Wisconsin Department of Transportation. They plan to restore train service to the city by 2030. In March 2021, Amtrak announced plans to introduce a passenger service to Eau Claire as part of a larger route connecting Eau Claire to Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, and St. Paul.

Healthcare

The Mayo Clinic Health System's Eau Claire location is a level 2 trauma center and serves as the regional trauma center. It offers a family medicine residency program. It was named the #4 best hospital in Wisconsin and recognized as a Best Regional Hospital in northwestern Wisconsin. Eau Claire also has another hospital, Marshfield Medical Center, which is a level 3 trauma center. Both hospitals provide various specialty care units and services.