Editing Eau Claire, Wisconsin

{{short description|City and county seat of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Eau Claire
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Wisconsin|City]]
| nickname           =
| motto              = "Voici l'eau claire!"<br />("Here is the clear water!")
| image_skyline      = File:Day Downtown Eau Claire.jpg
| imagesize          =
| image_caption      = Downtown Eau Claire
| image_map          = File:Eau Claire County Wisconsin Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Eau Claire Highlighted.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Eau Claire in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties, Wisconsin.
| pushpin_map        = Wisconsin#USA
| pushpin_map_caption             = Location in Wisconsin##Location in the United States
| pushpin_label      = Eau Claire
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Wisconsin}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Wisconsin|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Eau Claire County, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]], [[Chippewa County, Wisconsin|Chippewa]]
| government_footnotes =
| government_type    = [[Council–manager]]
| leader_title       = [[City manager]]
| leader_name        = Stephanie Hirsch<ref>{{cite web | title =City Manager | publisher =City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin | year =2022 | url =https://www.weau.com/2022/03/03/hirsch-named-new-eau-claire-city-manager/ | access-date =March 8, 2022}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[Wisconsin State Assembly|State Assembly]]
| leader_name1       = [[Jodi Emerson]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])<br />[[Christian Phelps]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title2      = [[Wisconsin State Senate|State Senate]]
| leader_name2       = [[Jeff Smith (Wisconsin politician)|Jeff Smith]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title3      = [[U.S. House]]
| leader_name3       = [[Derrick Van Orden]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   =
| established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2  =
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  = 1856
| area_magnitude     =
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_55.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 90.53
| area_land_km2      = 85.10
| area_water_km2     = 5.42
| area_total_sq_mi   = 34.95
| area_land_sq_mi    = 32.86
| area_water_sq_mi   = 2.09
| area_water_percent = 6.15
| area_metro_km2     =
| area_metro_sq_mi   = <!-- Population -->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2020-census-5522300" />
| population_total   = 69,421
| population_density_km2 =
| population_density_sq_mi = 2112.8
| population_est     = 73,011<ref>{{cite web |title=Demographic Services Center's 2024 Population Estimates: Wisconsin's Population Increases Modestly |url=https://doa.wi.gov/DIR/Final_Ests_Muni_2024.pdf |website=State of Wisconsin |publisher=Wisconsin Department of Administration |access-date=October 10, 2024}}</ref>
| pop_est_as_of      = 2024
| population_note    =
| population_metro   = 161,151
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| population_rank    = WI: [[List of cities in Wisconsin|8th]]
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = −6
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −5
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|49|N|91|30|W|region:US-WI_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 240
| elevation_ft       = 787
| postal_code_type   = [[Zip code]]
| postal_code        = 54701-54703
| area_code          = [[Area codes 715 and 534|715 & 534]]
| website            = http://www.eauclairewi.gov
| blank_name         = [[FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 55-22300<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1583124<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=October 28, 2014|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=August 28, 2014}}</ref>
| footnotes          = Page text.<ref name="U.S. 2010 census">[http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_1YR_B01003&prodType=table]  {{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
| name               =
}}

'''Eau Claire''' ({{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|k|l|ɛər|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Eau Claire.wav}} {{respell|oh|KLAIR}};<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://misspronouncer.com/cities/|title=Cities -|accessdate=September 9, 2023}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|o klɛʁ|lang}} lit. "clear water") is a city in [[Eau Claire County, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]] and [[Chippewa County, Wisconsin|Chippewa]] counties in the U.S. state of [[Wisconsin]]. It is the [[county seat|seat]] of [[Eau Claire County]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref> It had a population of 69,421 in [[2020 United States census|2020]],<ref name="2020-census-5522300" /> making it the state's [[List of cities in Wisconsin|eighth-most populous city]]. It is the principal city of the [[Eau Claire–Chippewa Falls metropolitan area|Eau Claire metropolitan area]], known locally as the [[Chippewa Valley]], which had 172,007 residents in 2020.

Eau Claire is at the confluence of the [[Eau Claire River (Chippewa River)|Eau Claire]] and [[Chippewa River (Wisconsin)|Chippewa]] rivers on traditional [[Ojibwe]], [[Dakota people|Dakota]], and [[Ho-Chunk]] land.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eau Claire, Wisconsin - A Brief History|url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2420|website=wisconsinhistory.org |date=July 27, 2012|access-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref><ref name="treaty01">{{cite web |title=Treaty with The Sioux etc - 1825 |url=https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Treaties/TreatyWithTheSiouxetc1825.html |website=www.firstpeople.us |access-date=June 12, 2020 |archive-date=June 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612205126/https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Treaties/TreatyWithTheSiouxetc1825.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="t winn">{{cite web |title=Treaties with the Winnebago |url=https://www.nps.gov/efmo/learn/historyculture/upload/Appendix-E-1.pdf |website=nps.gov |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> The area's first permanent European American settlers arrived in 1845, and Eau Claire was incorporated as a city in 1872.<ref name="eauclairewi.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eauclairewi.gov/our-city/history-and-general-information|title=History and General Information {{!}} City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin|website=www.eauclairewi.gov|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref> 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 [[college town|educational center]] with the opening of the [[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire]] in 1916.<ref>{{cite web |title=Eau Claire, Wisconsin - A Brief History|url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2420|website=Wisconsin Historical Society |date=July 27, 2012|access-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref> Eau Claire is also a regional commercial and business center and home to the headquarters of home improvement store chain [[Menards]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Menards Corporate Careers|url=https://www.menards.com/main/corporate-careers/c-14018.htm|website=Menards |access-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref>

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|Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival]].<ref>{{cite news |title=How Bon Iver Saved Eau Claire|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-25/inside-the-cultural-revival-of-eau-claire-wisconsin|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=August 25, 2017 |access-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref> Eau Claire is the second-fastest growing major city in Wisconsin after [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], with 5.4% population growth between 2010 and 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Census: E.C. Growing Faster Than Most Big Wisco Cities|url=https://volumeone.org/articles/2021/08/12/281370-census-ec-growing-faster-than-most-big-wisco|website=VolumeOne |date=August 12, 2021 |access-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Eau Claire took its name from Eau Claire County.<ref>{{cite book|author=Chicago and North Western Railway Company|title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA161|year=1908|page=161}}</ref> "Eau Claire" is the singular form of the original French name, "Eaux Claires", meaning "Clear Waters", for the [[Eau Claire River (Chippewa River)|Eau Claire River]]. According to local legend, the river was so named because early French explorers journeying down the rain-muddied [[Chippewa River (Wisconsin)|Chippewa River]], came upon the [[confluence]] with the Eau Claire River, and excitedly exclaimed the contrast: ''"Voici l'eau claire!"''  ("Here is the clear water!"). Now the city motto, this appears on the city seal.
<!--FOR HISTORY: (Prior to 1856, Eau Claire County was Chippewa County's "Town of Clearwater". The name "Eau Claire" was taken when the county was separated from Chippewa County.){{Citation needed|date=October 2007}}-->

{{wide image|Eau Claire, Wisconsin downtown.jpg|475px|Eau Claire, Wisconsin downtown. [[Confluence]] of the [[Chippewa River (Wisconsin)|Chippewa River]] and [[Eau Claire River (Chippewa River)|Eau Claire River]].||center
|alt=Eau Claire, Wisconsin downtown. Confluence of the Chippewa River and Eau Claire River}}

== History ==
{{Expand section|date=June 2021}}
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 [[Hochunk|Winnebago]].<ref name="treaty01"/><ref name="t winn"/>

The first permanent European-American settlers arrived in 1845, and the city was officially incorporated in 1872.<ref name="eauclairewi.gov"/> 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 River (Chippewa River)|Eau Claire]] and [[Chippewa River (Wisconsin)|Chippewa]] rivers as three separate settlements. The main section of downtown is on the site of the original European-American village, where [[McCann brothers#Stephen Smith McCann|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.<ref name="HOME">{{cite book | last1 = Bailey | first1 = William F. | title = History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin, 1914, Past and Present | chapter =Hotels of Eau Claire: The Hart House | publisher = C. F. Cooper & Co | year = 1914 | location = Chicago, Illinois | pages = 540–552 | url = http://eauclaire.wigenweb.org/histories/1914ecco/chapter40/harthouse.htm | access-date = October 24, 2012 |via=WIGenWeb}}</ref>

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 (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Water Street historic district]]. Shawtown was annexed to the city of Eau Claire by the 1930s.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} By the 1950s, the entire city had spread far enough to the east to adjoin [[Altoona, Wisconsin|Altoona]].
<!-- the fact template above is to ascertain the exact date, so we can copy-edit the clumsy "by the 1930s" to "in the 19x0s" /Xavexgoem  -->

In 1916, the [[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire]] was founded, which marked the turn from a mostly [[Wood production|lumber production]] based economy into one centered around manufacturing, education, and healthcare.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS7315|title=Eau Claire|date=January 5, 2017|website=Wisconsin Historical Society|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

In 1917, Gillette Safety Tire Company built a large factory in Eau Claire along the [[Eau Claire River (Chippewa River tributary)|Eau Claire River]] less than a mile where the rivers meet. The factory mainly created rubber tires and [[Inner tube|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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://volumeone.org/sites/150/articles/2022/03/01/292134-it-never-tired-whether-known-as-gillette-us | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104134501/https://volumeone.org/sites/150/articles/2022/03/01/292134-it-never-tired-whether-known-as-gillette-us | archive-date=November 4, 2022 | title=It Never Tired: E.C. Plant Was Where Rubber Met the Road | date=March 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.weau.com/content/news/The-Shutdown-25-Years-Later-425534064.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021061931/https://www.weau.com/content/news/The-Shutdown-25-Years-Later-425534064.html | archive-date=October 21, 2021 | title=The Shutdown: 25 Years Later | date=May 31, 2017 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uniroyal, Inc. Records, 1917–1990 |url=https://www.uwec.edu/kb/article/uniroyal-inc-records-1917--1990/ |access-date=November 3, 2022 |website=University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire |date=April 20, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite journal |id={{ProQuest|197615376}} |last1=Fettig |first1=David |title=Amid the noise of its prominent closures, Eau Claire quietly continues to grow |journal=Fedgazette |location=Minneapolis |volume=5 |issue=2 |date=April 1993 |page=6 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.banbury.com/about.phtml | title=About Banbury Place &#124; Banbury Place }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:2012-09-27_Water_Street_Historic_District.jpg|thumb|[[Water Street Historic District (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Water Street historic district]] ]]
Eau Claire is about {{convert|90|mi|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} 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 {{convert|34.14|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|32.04|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|2.10|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>

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 (Wisconsin)|Chippewa River]].

===Climate===
In the [[Köppen climate classification]], Eau Claire is classified as a [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfb'' bordering on ''Dfa''), 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 {{convert|46|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. Although the extremes exceed {{convert|110|°F|°C|abbr=on}} upwards and −40&nbsp;°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]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/location/5667/|title=Climate Milwaukee: Temperature, Climograph, Climate table for Milwaukee - Climate-Data.org|website=en.climate-data.org|access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> and [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/america-do-norte/estados-unidos-da-america/wisconsin/madison-616/|title=Madison climate: Average Temperatures, weather by month, Madison weather averages - Climate-Data.org|website=en.climate-data.org|access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> July has an average temperature of {{convert|71.6|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and January an average of {{convert|14.4|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, where temperatures below [[freezing point]] can remain for a long duration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/location/134764/|title=Eau Claire climate: Average Temperatures, weather by month, Eau Claire weather averages - Climate-Data.org|website=en.climate-data.org|access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/eau-claire/wisconsin/united-states/uswi0204/2018/1|title=Climate Eau Claire – Wisconsin and Weather averages Eau Claire – Weather history – January 2018|publisher=US Climate Data|website=usclimatedata.com|access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=59037&cityname=Eau+Claire,+Wisconsin,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Eau Claire, Wisconsin Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = [[Eau Claire Regional Airport]], Wisconsin (1991–2020 normals,<ref>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.</ref> extremes 1893–present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 55
|Feb record high F = 63
|Mar record high F = 84
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 107
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 111
|Aug record high F = 104
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 89
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 64
|year record high F = 111
|Jan avg record high F = 42
|Feb avg record high F = 47
|Mar avg record high F = 64
|Apr avg record high F = 80
|May avg record high F = 88
|Jun avg record high F = 92
|Jul avg record high F = 93
|Aug avg record high F = 91
|Sep avg record high F = 87
|Oct avg record high F = 79
|Nov avg record high F = 62
|Dec avg record high F = 47
|year avg record high F = 95
|Jan high F = 23.4
|Feb high F = 28.4
|Mar high F = 41.3
|Apr high F = 56.5
|May high F = 69.6
|Jun high F = 78.7
|Jul high F = 82.8
|Aug high F = 80.4
|Sep high F = 72.3
|Oct high F = 58.0
|Nov high F = 42.0
|Dec high F = 28.7
|year high F = 55.2
|Jan mean F = 14.6
|Feb mean F = 18.8
|Mar mean F = 31.2
|Apr mean F = 44.8
|May mean F = 57.4
|Jun mean F = 67.1
|Jul mean F = 71.3
|Aug mean F = 69.1
|Sep mean F = 60.8
|Oct mean F = 47.5
|Nov mean F = 33.4
|Dec mean F = 20.6
|year mean F = 44.7
|Jan low F = 5.8
|Feb low F = 9.1
|Mar low F = 21.2
|Apr low F = 33.2
|May low F = 45.1
|Jun low F = 55.5
|Jul low F = 59.8
|Aug low F = 57.7
|Sep low F = 49.3
|Oct low F = 36.9
|Nov low F = 24.7
|Dec low F = 12.6
|year low F = 34.2
|Jan avg record low F = −17
|Feb avg record low F = −13
|Mar avg record low F = -1
|Apr avg record low F = 18
|May avg record low F = 30
|Jun avg record low F = 42
|Jul avg record low F = 49
|Aug avg record low F = 46
|Sep avg record low F = 34
|Oct avg record low F = 22
|Nov avg record low F = 7
|Dec avg record low F = −11
|year avg record low F = -20
|Jan record low F = −45
|Feb record low F = −40
|Mar record low F = −35
|Apr record low F = 0
|May record low F = 20
|Jun record low F = 25
|Jul record low F = 41
|Aug record low F = 36
|Sep record low F = 22
|Oct record low F = 7
|Nov record low F = −18
|Dec record low F = −32
|year record low F = -45
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.03
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.10
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.97
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.08
|May precipitation inch = 3.91
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.83
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.61
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.18
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.65
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.49
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.79
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.35
|year precipitation inch = 32.99
|Jan snow inch = 13.5
|Feb snow inch = 11.2
|Mar snow inch = 9.6
|Apr snow inch = 4.3
|May snow inch = 0.4
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.7
|Nov snow inch = 4.7
|Dec snow inch = 11.0
|year snow inch = 55.4
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.7
|Feb precipitation days = 8.2
|Mar precipitation days = 9.6
|Apr precipitation days = 11.8
|May precipitation days = 13.3
|Jun precipitation days = 12.3
|Jul precipitation days = 11.3
|Aug precipitation days = 10.4
|Sep precipitation days = 10.9
|Oct precipitation days = 10.1
|Nov precipitation days = 8.9
|Dec precipitation days = 10.1
|year precipitation days = 127.6
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 10.9
|Feb snow days = 8.3
|Mar snow days = 5.8
|Apr snow days = 2.9
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.7
|Nov snow days = 4.7
|Dec snow days = 9.0
|year snow days = 42.4

|Jan snow depth inch = 10.1
|Feb snow depth inch = 11.7
|Mar snow depth inch = 9.4
|Apr snow depth inch = 2.2
|May snow depth inch = 0.3
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
|Oct snow depth inch = 0.4
|Nov snow depth inch = 2.5
|Dec snow depth inch = 7.5
|year snow depth inch = 14.4

|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = "NOWData MPX">
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=mpx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 14, 2021}}</ref><ref name = "NCDC txt">
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014991&format=pdf
| title = Station: Eau Claire RGNL Ap, WI
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 14, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Downtown Eau Claire looking north.jpg|thumb|Graham Avenue]]
{{US Census population
| 1870 = 2293
| 1880 = 10119
| 1890 = 17415
| 1900 = 17517
| 1910 = 18310
| 1920 = 20906
| 1930 = 26287
| 1940 = 30745
| 1950 = 36058
| 1960 = 37987
| 1970 = 44619
| 1980 = 51509
| 1990 = 56856
| 2000 = 61704
| 2010 = 65883
| 2020 = 69421
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 73011
| align-fn = center
| footnote = [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|census of 2020]],<ref name="2020-census-5522300">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Eau Claire city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5522300&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=July 13, 2022}}</ref> the population was 69,421. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2,112.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 29,987 housing units at an average density of {{convert|912.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.5% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.1% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 5.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 3.3% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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.<ref name="2020-P5-5522300">{{cite web|title=Group Quarters Population, 2020 Census: Eau Claire city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5522300&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P5 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 10, 2022}}</ref>

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.<ref name="2020-EconChar-5522300">{{cite web|title=Selected Economic Characteristics, 2020 American Community Survey: Eau Claire city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5522300&y=2020&d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Data%20Profiles&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP03 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 10, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref name="2020-SocChar-5522300">{{cite web|title=Selected Social Characteristics, 2020 American Community Survey: Eau Claire city, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US5522300&y=2020&d=ACS%205-Year%20Estimates%20Data%20Profiles&tid=ACSDP5Y2020.DP02 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 10, 2022}}</ref>

Of the 69,421 people living in the city, 67,238 were living in [[Eau Claire County, Wisconsin|Eau Claire County]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Eau Claire city, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Eau%20Claire%20city,%20Eau%20Claire%20County,%20Wisconsin |access-date=November 5, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> and 2,183 were living in [[Chippewa County, Wisconsin|Chippewa County]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2023 |title=Census Bureau profile: Eau Claire city, Chippewa County, Wisconsin |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Eau%20Claire%20city,%20Chippewa%20County,%20Wisconsin |access-date=November 5, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2010 census===
[[File:Eau Claire - Free Masons Building 2005.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Eau Claire Masonic Center]] is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].]]

As of the census<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 18, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 65,883 people, 26,803 households, and 14,293 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2056.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 28,134 housing units at an average density of {{convert|878.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legis.wisconsin.gov/ltsb/gisdocs/data2010/wi_pop_counts_2010.pdf |title=2010 Wisconsin Census Population Counts |website=Legis.wisconsin.gov |access-date=December 6, 2017}}</ref>

===Metropolitan area===
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).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2017_2018/200_population_and_political_subdivisions.pdf|title=Wisconsin Blue Book}}</ref> Together with the [[Menomonie, Wisconsin|Menomonie]] [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]] (which includes all of [[Dunn County, Wisconsin|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.<ref name=":0" /><ref>[http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/bb/05bb/744-779.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419083545/http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/bb/05bb/744-779.pdf|date=April 19, 2009}}</ref>

===Religion===
[[File:ChristChurchCathedralEauClaireWI.jpg|thumb|[[Christ Church Cathedral, Eau Claire|Christ Church Cathedral]] in Eau Claire]]

The [[Episcopal Diocese of Eau Claire]] was based in the city from 1928 until it reintegrated into the [[Diocese of Wisconsin]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 6, 2024 |title=Dioceses of Milwaukee, Fond du Lac, Eau Claire vote to combine as Diocese of Wisconsin |url=https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2024/05/06/dioceses-of-milwaukee-fond-du-lac-eau-claire-vote-to-combine-as-diocese-of-wisconsin/ |access-date=June 24, 2024 |website=Episcopal News Service |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Christ Church Cathedral (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Christ Church Cathedral]] is one of three mother churches of the Diocese of Wisconsin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christchurcheauclaire.org/ |title=Christ Church Cathedral – Home |website=Christchurcheauclaire.org |access-date=December 12, 2015}}</ref> The city is also within the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse]] and is home to [[Sacred Heart Church (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Sacred Heart Church]]<ref>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=83003391}} |format=PDF |title=Eau Claire : Intensive Survey Form: Historic Preservation Division |website=Pdfhost.focua.nps.gov |access-date=December 12, 2015}}</ref> and [[St. Patrick's Church (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|St. Patrick's Church]]. Additionally, [[Community House, First Congregational Church]], [[First Methodist Episcopal Church (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|First Methodist Episcopal Church]] and the [[Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goodshepherd-ec.org/index.php |title=Home |website=Goodshepherd-ec.org |access-date=December 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103012310/http://www.goodshepherd-ec.org/index.php |archive-date=January 3, 2016 }}</ref> are in Eau Claire.

===Ethnic communities===
{{see also|Hmong in Wisconsin}}
As of 2017, [[Hmong Americans]] were Eau Claire's largest ethnic minority and have been described as the city's "most visible ethnic group".<ref name=ChristianMouaVogelerp1>Christian, Moua, and Vogeler, p. 1 (internal document page number)</ref> Per the 2022 [[American Community Survey]] five-year estimates, the Hmong population was 2,868, comprising over 90% of the Asian population.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2022.B02018?q=B02018&g=160XX00US5522300|title=B02018 Total Asian Alone or in Any Combination Population – 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates – Eau Claire, Wisconsin|date=July 1, 2022|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 17, 2024}}</ref> 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 are more prominent in the smaller Eau Claire metropolitan area.<ref name=ChristianMouaVogelerp3>Christian, Moua, and Vogeler, p. 3 (internal document page number)</ref> In some Eau Claire neighborhoods, up to 30% of the residents are Hmong.<ref name=ChristianMouaVogelerp1/>

Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the [[German American]] population was 25,676, comprising roughly 30% of the population.<ref name=B04006-2022>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2022.B04006?t=Ancestry&g=160XX00US5522300|title=B04006 People Reporting Ancestry – Eau Claire, Wisconsin – 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|date=July 1, 2022|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 17, 2024}}</ref>

Per the 2022 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the [[Norwegian American]] population was 11,672, comprising roughly 16% of the population.<ref name=B04006-2022>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2022.B04006?t=Ancestry&g=160XX00US5522300|title=B04006 People Reporting Ancestry – Eau Claire, Wisconsin – 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|date=July 1, 2022|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 17, 2024}}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Expand section|date=June 2021}}
[[File:Menards Headquarters.jpg|thumb|[[Menards]] headquarters]]
Eau Claire styles itself as the "horseradish capital of the world",<ref name=":1" /> due to the presence of [[Silver Spring Foods]], the world's largest grower and producer of [[horseradish]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Silver Spring Foods|url=https://www.silverspringfoods.com/connect/press/3/silver-spring-foods-adds-1-million-pounds-of-horseradish-with-brede-foods-acquisition/|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=www.silverspringfoods.com|date=March 18, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> The climate, with its cold winters, is conducive to the horseradish crop. Other significant crops grown in the area are apples, pumpkins and plums.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Agritourism|url=https://www.visiteauclaire.com/things-to-do/agritourism/|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=www.visiteauclaire.com|language=en-us}}</ref>

[[Menards]], a [[Midwestern]] chain of [[home improvement]] stores owned by Wisconsin native [[John Menard Jr.]], is headquartered in Eau Claire. The city is home to Menards General Offices, 2 stores, and the flagship distribution center.

Other companies based in Eau Claire include [[National Presto Industries]].

[[Oakwood Mall (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visiteauclaire.com/things-to-do/downtown/shopping/?skip=24&sort=qualityScore|title=Downtown Eau Claire & Water Street Shopping & Boutiques|website=www.visiteauclaire.com|language=en-us|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
[[File:SargeBoydBandshellInOwenPark.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Sarge Boyd Bandshell]] in [[Owen Park (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Owen Park]] is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places#Types of properties|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===
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)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cvtg.org/index.php/about|title=ABOUT :: Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild|website=www.cvtg.org|access-date=October 31, 2019}}</ref> and the Eau Claire Children's Theatre (ECCT).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ecct.org/|title=Home|website=Eau Claire Children's Theatre|language=en-US|access-date=October 31, 2019}}</ref> 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<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pablocenter.org/learn/uwec/|title=UW-Eau Claire {{!}} Pablo Center at the Confluence|website=pablocenter.org|access-date=October 31, 2019}}</ref> and Haas Fine Arts Center<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uwec.edu/academics/college-arts-sciences/departments-programs/music-theatre-arts/|title=Music + Theatre Arts|website=University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire|language=en|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uwec.edu/facilities-projects/pablo-center-confluence/|title=The Pablo Center at the Confluence|website=University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire|language=en|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730210258/https://www.uwec.edu/facilities-projects/pablo-center-confluence/}}</ref>

===Music===
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver fame was born and lives in the city.

Eau Claire is home to several annual music festivals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visiteauclaire.com/events-and-festivals/eaux-claires/|title=Eaux Claires Festival {{!}} Music, Camping, & Hotels|website=www.visiteauclaire.com|language=en-us|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blugold Marching Band grows to 400 members, largest in Midwest |url=https://www.uwec.edu/news/news/blugold-marching-band-grows-to-400-members-largest-in-midwest-3188/ |access-date=March 9, 2022 |website=University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire |language=en}}</ref> The band has gone on multiple tours across the Midwest, and had many performances on the world stage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blugoldmarchingband.com/|title=Blugold Marching Band|website=Blugold Marching Band|language=en-US|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

===Sculpture tour===
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sculpturetour.org/|title=Sculpture Tour Eau Claire|website=www.sculpturetour.org|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

===Farmers market===
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecdowntownfarmersmarket.com/whats-ready-when/|title=What's Ready When – Eau Claire Downtown Farmers Market|language=en-US|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Sports==
===Baseball===
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 (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Carson Park]]. The Eau Claire Cavaliers also play home games at Carson Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eauclairecavaliers.org/ |title=Home |publisher=Eau Claire Cavaliers |access-date=December 12, 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 State Spring Baseball Tournament|url=http://www.wiaawi.org/index.php?id=612|publisher=Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association|access-date=October 19, 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[North High School (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unpage.com/wisconsin/|title=Wisconsin State Little League® Tournament Historical Results|website=Unpage.com|access-date=July 1, 2018}}</ref> 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===
The Chippewa Valley Predators [[American football|football]] team competes in the Northern Elite Football League and plays its home games at [[Carson Park (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Carson Park]]. The team was established in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northernelitefootball.com/page/show/2950024-predators|title=Predators|website=Northern Elite Football League|access-date=July 1, 2018}}</ref> The Northern Lights Cowboys compete in the Champions Amateur Football League and play their home games at Carson Park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://volumeone.org/articles/2019/04/02/28803_time_to_saddle_up|title=Time to Saddle Up|last=Anthony|first=Luc|website=volumeone.org|date=April 2, 2019 |language=en|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

As of 2023, the Eau Claire Cowboys [[American football|football]] team competes in the Northern Lights Football League and plays its home games at [[Carson Park (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Carson Park]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Home of the Eau Claire Cowboys |url=https://www.eauclairecowboys.com|website=Eau Claire Cowboys |language=en|access-date=March 3, 2023}}</ref> It is also home to the two high school football teams along with the university.

=== Horseshoes ===
Eau Claire hosted the 2003 World [[Horseshoes (game)|Horseshoe]] Championship and the 2019 Wisconsin State Horseshoe Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.horseshoepitching.com/|title=NHPA (National Horseshoe Pitching Association)|website=NHPA|language=en-US|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weau.com/content/news/Eau-Claire-hosts-2019--558976241.html|title=Eau Claire hosts 2019 Wisconsin State Horseshoe Tournament in Carson Park|last=Rogner|first=Carla|website=www.weau.com|language=en|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-date=September 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901204556/https://www.weau.com/content/news/Eau-Claire-hosts-2019--558976241.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Silvermine 04.jpg|thumb|right|Silver Mine Ski-Jump, Eau Claire]]

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:LitTennisCourtInOwenParkAB-crppd-byVernBarber.jpg|thumbnail|The lit tennis courts in [[Owen Park (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Owen Park]] are popular with university students.]]

There are several large parks in the city:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visiteauclaire.com/blog/post/eau-claire-parks-101/|title=Eau Claire Parks 101|date=January 31, 2019|website=www.visiteauclaire.com|language=en-us|access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref> [[Owen Park (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Owen Park]], along the [[Chippewa River (Wisconsin)|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 (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Carson Park]], situated in the middle of an oxbow lake (better known as Halfmoon Lake); and [[Phoenix Park (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|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 (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eauclairewi.gov/recreation/dog-parks|title=City of Eau Claire Dog Parks {{!}} City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin|website=www.eauclairewi.gov|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

The City of Eau Claire also operates Fairfax public pool<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eauclairewi.gov/recreation/fairfax-pool|title=Fairfax Municipal Pool {{!}} City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin|website=www.eauclairewi.gov|access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref> and [[Hobbs Municipal Ice Center]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eauclairewi.gov/recreation/hobbs-ice-arena|title=Hobbs Municipal Ice Arena {{!}} City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin|website=www.eauclairewi.gov|access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref> 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.
{{multiple image
 | align = center
 | direction = horizontal
 | width = 180
 | header = Many pedestrian bridges over the rivers
 | image1 = Pedestrian bridge over the Eau Claire river.jpg
 | caption1 = Over [[Eau Claire River (Chippewa River tributary)|Eau Claire River]]
 | image2 = Padestrian bridge over Chippewa River.jpg
 | caption2 = Over [[Chippewa River (Wisconsin)|Chippewa River]]
 | image3 =UW-EC Footbridge.jpg
 | caption3 = [[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire|UWEC]] footbridge
}}

Eau Claire is sometimes called the City of Bridges. There are three road bridges<ref>{{cite web |title=Bridges |url=https://www.eauclairewi.gov/government/our-divisions/planning/historic-preservation/landmarks-commission-photo-collection/bridges/-fsiteid-1 |website=City of Eau Clair |publisher=City of Eau Clair |access-date=13 March 2025}}</ref> and seven pedestrian bridges<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mennecke |first1=Rebecca |title=Check Out All Seven of Eau Claire’s Footbridges |url=https://volumeone.org/articles/2020/06/10/209511-check-out-all-seven-of-eau-claires-footbridges |website=volumeone.org |publisher=Volume One Magazine |access-date=13 March 2025}}</ref> over the Eau Claire and Chippewa Rivers. Eau Claire is also home to the Eau Claire Marathon, a Boston Marathon qualifier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eauclairemarathon.com/|title=Eau Claire Marathon|website=Eau Claire Marathon|language=en-US|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:2009-0711-EauClaire-CH.jpg|thumb|right|City Hall, designed by Eau Claire resident [[George Awsumb]] in 1915, is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].]]
{{see also|List of city managers of Eau Claire, Wisconsin}}
In November 1909 a movement to change the city government from the [[alderman]]ic 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/services/information-guides/79-eau-claire-city-government.html |title=Eau Claire City Government |publisher=Ecpubliclibrary.info |access-date=September 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929124759/http://ecpubliclibrary.info/services/information-guides/79-eau-claire-city-government.html |archive-date=September 29, 2010 }}</ref>

The council's legislative meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. [[Public hearing]]s 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.eau-claire.wi.us/government/city-council |title=City Council |publisher=Ci.eau-claire.wi.us |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date=September 8, 2010}}</ref> Meetings are televised live on [[public-access television]] channel 97 and digital cable channel 994 and simulcast on radio station WRFP 101.9 FM.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eauclairewicoc.weblinkconnect.com/CWT/External/Programs/Eau_Claire_City_Council.aspx |title=Eau Claire City Council |publisher=Eauclairewicoc.weblinkconnect.com |access-date=September 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718013022/http://eauclairewicoc.weblinkconnect.com/CWT/External/Programs/Eau_Claire_City_Council.aspx |archive-date=July 18, 2011 }}</ref>

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 (Wisconsin politician)|Jeff Smith]] represents Eau&nbsp;Claire in the [[Wisconsin Senate]], and [[Jodi Emerson]] and [[Christian Phelps]] in the [[Wisconsin State Assembly]].

{{Hidden begin

|titlestyle = background:#ccccff;
|title      = Presidential elections results

}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential elections results<ref>{{cite web |title=Eau Claire County Election Results |url=https://www.eauclairecounty.gov/our-government/departments-and-facilities/department-directory/county-clerk/elections/election-results |publisher=Eau Claire County |access-date=November 24, 2024}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2024 United States presidential election in Wisconsin|2024]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.0% ''15,297''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.9%''' ''24,491''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.1% ''448''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Wisconsin, 2020|2020]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.2% ''13,765''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.3%''' ''22,268''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.5% ''924''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Wisconsin, 2016|2016]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.2% ''13,526''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.1%''' ''19,648''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|8.7% ''3,162''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Wisconsin, 2012|2012]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.6% ''14,105''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.5%''' ''21,714''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.9% ''680''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Wisconsin, 2008|2008]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.8% ''12,980''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''63.5%''' ''23,701''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.7% ''634''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Wisconsin, 2004|2004]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.4% ''15,541''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.3%''' ''21,511''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.3% ''473''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in Wisconsin, 2000|2000]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.0% ''13,168''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.4%''' ''16,854''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|6.6% ''2,112''
|}
{{Hidden end}}

==Education==
[[File:Chippewa Valley Technical College.jpg|thumb|[[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 (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Memorial High School]] and [[North High School (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecasd.k12.wi.us/schools/index.cfm |title=Please update your bookmarks – Eau Claire Area School District |website=Ecasd.k12.wi.us |access-date=December 12, 2015}}</ref> In addition, there is the Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School, which follows the teaching of [[Maria Montessori]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecasd.k12.wi.us/schools/charter/montessori/ |title=Montessori Charter School – Eau Claire Area School District |website=Ecasd.k12.wi.us |access-date=December 12, 2015 |archive-date=January 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103012310/http://www.ecasd.k12.wi.us/schools/charter/montessori/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Eau Claire also has two private high schools: [[Regis High School (Eau Claire, Wisconsin)|Regis High School]] and [[Immanuel Lutheran College (Eau Claire)|Immanuel Lutheran High School]].

{{wide image|UW - Eau Claire.jpg|475px|[[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire]]||center
|alt=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)|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/|title=L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library - so much more!|language=en-US|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

==Media==
===Print===
The ''[[Eau Claire Leader-Telegram]]'' is published five days a week (the Friday edition has extra weekend content), and dates to 1881.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leadertelegram.com/contribute|title=Support Local Journalism - The Leader-Telegram – Eau Claire, WI|website=leadertelegram.com|access-date=February 16, 2022}}</ref> ''Volume One'' is a biweekly magazine with a circulation of 15,000 and an estimated readership of 45,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://volumeone.org/pages/advertise|title=Advertise with Volume One Magazine – Eau Claire, WI|website=volumeone.org|access-date=January 31, 2018}}</ref>

===Television===
Nielson Market Research lists Eau Claire/ La Crosse as the 127th largest television market area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/portal/site/Public/menuitem.3437240b94cacebc3a81e810d8a062a0/?vgnextoid=130547f8b5264010VgnVCM100000880a260aRCRD |title=What People Watch, Listen To and Buy &#124; Nielsen |website=Nielsenmedia.com |access-date=December 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523080340/http://www.nielsenmedia.com/nc/portal/site/Public/menuitem.3437240b94cacebc3a81e810d8a062a0/?vgnextoid=130547f8b5264010VgnVCM100000880a260aRCRD |archive-date=May 23, 2009 }}</ref>
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background:#ccf;"|Channel
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="2"|Callsign
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="2"|Affiliation
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="2"|Branding
! style="background:#ccf;" colspan="2"|Subchannels
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="2"|Owner
|-
! style="background:#fcc;"| (Virtual)
! style="background:#fcc;"| Channel
! style="background:#fcc;"| Programming
|-
| 8.1
| [[WKBT]]<br />[[WBDL-LD]]
| [[CBS]]
| ''News 8 Now''
| 8.2<br />8.3<br />8.4<br />8.5<br />8.6
| style="text-align:left" | [[MyNetworkTV]]<br />[[ION Television|Ion]]<br />[[Dabl]]<br />[[QVC]]<br />[[HSN]]
| style="text-align:left" | [[Morgan Murphy Media]]
|-
| 13.1
| [[WEAU]]
| [[NBC]]
| ''WEAU 13 News''
| 13.2<br />13.3<br />13.4<br />13.5<br />13.6<br />14.10
| style="text-align:left" | [[Cozi TV]]<br />[[MeTV]]<br />[[Movies!]]<br />[[Defy TV]]<br />[[Free TV Networks|Outlaw TV]]<br />[[The CW]]
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:left" | [[Gray Television]]
|-
| 14.1
| [[WEAU|WECX-LD]]<br />[[WEAU|W33DH-D]]
| [[The CW]]
| ''La Crosse Eau Claire CW''
| 14.2<br />14.3<br />14.4<br />13.10
| style="text-align:left" | [[Heroes & Icons]]<br />[[Start TV]]<br />[[MeTV]]<br />[[NBC]]
|-
| 18.1
| [[WQOW]]
| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| ''WQOW 18''
| 18.2<br />18.3<br />18.4<br />18.5
| style="text-align:left" | [[Catchy Comedy]]<br />[[This TV]]<br />[[Court TV]]<br />[[True Crime Network]]
| style="text-align:left" | [[Allen Media Broadcasting]]
|-
| 28.1
| [[PBS Wisconsin|WHWC]]
| [[PBS]]
| PBS Wisconsin
| 28.2<br />28.3<br />28.4
| style="text-align:left" | Wisconsin Channel<br />[[Create (TV network)|Create]]<br />[[PBS Kids]]
| style="text-align:left" | [[Wisconsin Educational Communications Board]]
|-
| 48.1
| [[WEUX]]
| [[FOX]]
| ''FOX 25/48''
| 48.2<br />48.3<br />48.4
| style="text-align:left" | [[Antenna TV]]<br />[[Ion Mystery]]<br />[[Bounce TV|Bounce]]
| style="text-align:left" | [[Nexstar Media Group]]
|-
| 53.1
| [[W23FC-D]]
| [[Defy TV]]
|
| 53.2<br />53.3<br />53.4
| style="text-align:left" | [[ION Television|Ion]]<br />[[Scripps News]]<br />[[Law & Crime]]
| style="text-align:left" | [[Innovate Corp.]]
|}

===Cable===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background:#ccf;"|Channel
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="1"|Callsign
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="1"|Branding
! style="background:#ccf;" colspan="1"|Programming
! style="background:#ccf;" rowspan="1"|Owner
|-
| 993
| CVCTV
| ''CTV''
| style="text-align:left" | [[Public-access television|Local Access]]
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:left" | Valley Media Works/ City of Eau Claire
|-
| 994
| CVCTV
| ''NewsWorks''
| style="text-align:left" | [[Government-access television|Public Affairs]]
|}

===Radio===
'''FM'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="5"|'''[[FM radio]] stations'''
|-
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Name
!Format
!Owner
|-
|88.3 FM||[[WHWC (FM)|WHWC]]||Wisconsin Public Radio||[[Talk radio|Ideas Network]]||[[Wisconsin Public Radio]]
|-
|88.7 FM||[[CSN International|W204BP]]<br /><small>([[KAWZ]]-FM Translator)</small>||CSN International||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||CSN International
|-
|89.1 FM||[[Family Radio|W206AH]]<br /><small>([[Family Radio|KLOV]]-FM Translator)</small>||Family Radio||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||[[Family Radio]]
|-
|89.7 FM||[[WUEC]]||Wisconsin Public Radio||[[European classical music|News & Classical Network]]||[[Wisconsin Public Radio]]
|-
|90.5 FM||[[WVCF]]||VCY America||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||[[VCY America]]
|-
|91.3 FM||[[WHEM (FM)|WHEM]]||Moody Broadcasting Network||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||[[Moody Broadcasting Network]]
|-
|92.1 FM||[[WMEQ-FM|WMEQ]]||Classic Rock 92.1||[[Classic rock]]||[[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
|-
|92.9 FM||[[WECL]]||The X||[[Active Rock]]||rowspan=2|[[Mid-West Family Broadcasting]]
|-
|94.1 FM||[[WIAL]]||I-94||[[Hot AC]]
|-
|95.1 FM||[[WQRB]]||B95||[[Country music|Country]]||[[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
|-
|95.9 FM||[[W240DC]]<br /><small>([[WEAQ-AM]] Translator)</small>||The Farm 95.9||[[Classic country|Classic country & Ag News/Talk]]||Mid-West Family Broadcasting
|-
|96.3 FM||[[WHYS-LP|WHYS]]||Eau Claire Community Radio||[[Community radio|Community]]||Northern Thunder, Inc.
|-
|96.9 FM||[[WJLM]]||rowspan=2|3ABN||rowspan=2|[[Christian radio|Christian]]||rowspan=2|[[3ABN]]
|-
|97.3 FM||[[WHRC-LP|WHRC]]
|-
|98.1 FM||[[WISM]]||Greatest Hits 98.1||[[Classic Hits]]||[[Mid-West Family Broadcasting]]
|-
|98.7 FM||[[W254CN]]<br /><small>([[WBIZ (AM)|WBIZ-AM]] Translator)</small>||98.7 The Fan||[[Sports radio|Sports]]||[[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
|-
|99.1 FM||[[W256AE]]<br /><small>([[WCFW]]-FM Translator)</small>||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-FM|WBIZ]]||Z100||[[Contemporary hit radio|Top 40/CHR]]||[[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
|-
|101.9 FM||[[WRFP]]||Converge Radio||[[Community radio|Community-Government]]||Eau Claire Public Access Center, Inc.
|-
|102.7 FM||[[WIEC]]||WIEC Fat Free Radio||[[Community radio|Community]]||The Eau Claire Broadcasting Association
|-
|103.1 FM||[[W276CP]]<br /><small>([[WOGO|WOGO-AM]] Translator)</small>||680 WOGO||[[News/Talk]]||rowspan=2|Stewards of Sound, Inc.
|-
|103.7 FM||[[WWIB]]||103.7 WWIB||[[Christian radio|Christian]]
|-
|104.5 FM||[[WAXX]]||WAXX 104.5||[[Country music|Country]]||rowspan=2|[[Mid-West Family Broadcasting]]
|-
|105.1 FM||[[W286CK]]<br /><small>([[WAYY-AM]] Translator)</small>||Sports Radio 105.1||[[Sports radio|Sports]]
|-
|105.7 FM||[[WCFW]]||105.7 Your Variety Station||[[Adult contemporary]]||Magnum Radio
|-
|106.3 FM||[[W292EG]]<br /><small>([[WMEQ (AM)|WMEQ-AM]] Translator)</small>||880 WMEQ||[[News/Talk]]||rowspan=2|[[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
|-
|106.7 FM||[[WATQ]]||Moose Country 106.7||[[Classic country]]
|-
|107.9 FM||[[W300DB]]<br /><small>([[WDVM (AM)|WDVM-AM]] Translator)</small>||[[Relevant Radio]]||[[Catholic]]||[[Starboard Broadcasting]]
|}

'''AM'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="5"|'''[[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 radio|Sports]]||[[Mid-West Family Broadcasting]]
|-
|880 AM||[[WMEQ (AM)|WMEQ]]||880 WMEQ||[[News/Talk]]||[[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
|-
|1050 AM||[[WDVM (AM)|WDVM]]||[[Relevant Radio]]||[[Catholic]]||[[Starboard Broadcasting]]
|-
|1150 AM||[[WEAQ]]||The Farm 95.9||[[Classic country|Classic country & Ag News/Talk]]|||Mid-West Family Broadcasting
|-
|1400 AM||[[WBIZ (AM)|WBIZ]]||98.7 The Fan||[[Sports radio|Sports]]||[[iHeartMedia, Inc.]]
|}

==Transportation==
[[File:Eau Claire Transit buses.jpg|thumb|[[Eau Claire Transit]] buses at the downtown transit center in June 2023]]

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

===Mass transit===
* [[Eau Claire Transit]] bus lines

===Intercity bus===
* [[Flixbus]] (Chicago to Minneapolis via I-94)
* [[Greyhound Lines]] (Chicago to Minneapolis via I-94)
* [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]] operated by [[Wisconsin Coach Lines]] (Milwaukee to Minneapolis via Green Bay)

===Major highways===
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Image:I-94.svg|23px]] [[Interstate 94 (Wisconsin)|Interstate 94]]
* [[Image:US 12.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 12]] ("Clairemont Avenue")
* [[Image:US 53.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 53]] ("The Bypass")
* [[Image:Business plate.svg|23px]]<br>[[Image:US 53.svg|23px]] Business US-53 ("Hastings Way")
* [[Image:WIS 29.svg|23px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 29|Highway 29]] (bypasses Eau Claire to the north)
* [[Image:WIS 37.svg|23px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 37|Highway 37]] ("Hendrickson Drive")
* [[Image:WIS 85.svg|23px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 85|Highway 85]] (terminates on Wis. 37 just outside Eau Claire)
* [[Image:WIS 93.svg|23px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 93|Highway 93]]
* [[Image:WIS 124.svg|23px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 124|Highway 124]] (foreshortened in 2006, now ends in neighboring [[Lake Hallie]])
* [[Image:WIS 312.svg|23px]] [[Wisconsin Highway 312|Highway 312]] (signed as, and known locally as, the "North Crossing")
}}

===Rail===
Eau Claire is on freight rail lines owned by the [[Union Pacific Railroad]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/docs/railmap.pdf|title=Wisconsin Railroads 2009|publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation|year=2009|access-date=February 1, 2010|archive-date=August 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823225156/http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/docs/railmap.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name="400-story">{{Scribbins-400-2008}}</ref> [[Eau Claire station (Wisconsin)|Eau Claire station]] opened in 1893 and closed with the end of C&NW service. It was demolished in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Property/HI41714|title=Wisconsin Historical Society:324 Putnam St|date=January 2012 |access-date=November 12, 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/railplan/finalreport/MNRailPlanFinalReportFeb2010.pdf|title=Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan (Final Report)|date=February 2009 |author=Cambridge Systematics, Inc. |author2=Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc. |author3=TKDA, Inc.|publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation|access-date=February 11, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Giffey|first=Tom|title=Amtrak Eyes Eau Claire Service as Part of Biden's Big Infrastructure Plan|url=https://volumeone.org/articles/2021/04/01/274528-amtrak-eyes-eau-claire-service-as-part-of|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=volumeone.org|date=April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==Healthcare==
[[Mayo Clinic Health System|Mayo Clinic Health System's]] Eau Claire location, which has a level 2 [[Trauma center|trauma rating]] and serves as the regional trauma center, offers a family medicine residency program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mayo.edu/mayo-clinic-school-of-graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/family-medicine/family-medicine-residency-eau-claire-wisconsin|title=Family Medicine Residency (Eau Claire, Wisconsin) – Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education – Mayo Clinic|website=Mayo.edu|access-date=January 30, 2018}}</ref> It was also named the #4 best hospital in Wisconsin and recognized as a Best Regional Hospital in northwestern Wisconsin.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/eau-claire/about-us/accreditation-and-awards|title=Accreditation and Awards|website=mayoclinichealthsystem.org|language=en|access-date=November 18, 2019}}</ref> Eau Claire also has one other hospital which has a level 3 trauma rating,<ref>{{Cite web|title=About This Location|url=https://www.marshfieldclinic.org/Locations/Centers/Eau%20Claire%20-%20Marshfield%20Medical%20Center|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=www.marshfieldclinic.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://dhsgis.wi.gov/dhs/traumacare/|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=dhsgis.wi.gov}}</ref> [[Marshfield Medical Center]]. Both hospitals offer various specialty care units and services.

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->
{{Main|List of people from Eau Claire, Wisconsin}}

==Sister cities==
Eau Claire's [[sister cities]] are:
* {{flagdeco|AUS}} [[City of Lismore|Lismore]], Australia<ref>[http://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-TAJ-77-17-40] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407081641/http://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/page.asp?p=DOC-TAJ-77-17-40|date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|CRC}} [[Miramar District]], Costa Rica<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/8443922.html |title=Eau Claire Adds 2nd Sister City |website=Weau.com |date=July 11, 2007 |access-date=December 12, 2015 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222171144/http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/8443922.html }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls metropolitan area]]
* [[Eau Claire, Calgary]] – a neighborhood in Calgary, Alberta (Canada), whose name was derived from a relocated Eau Claire sawmill
* [[List of municipalities in Wisconsin by population]]
* [[List of Tree Cities USA]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last1=Christian |first1=Jenna |last2=Moua |first2=Pa Sia Low |last3=Vogeler |first3=Ingolf |year=2008 |title=The Cultural Landscape of the Hmong in Eau Claire, Wisconsin |journal=Wisconsin Geographer |volume=23 |pages=3–19 |s2cid=195823216 |url=https://people.uwec.edu/Ivogeler/Papers/HmongEauClaire.pdf }}
* McArthur, Charles. "[https://archive.org/stream/nationalmagazine22brayrich#page/n556/mode/1up Eau Claire, Wisconsin, A City of Opportunities]", ''National Magazine'' (July 1905)

==External links==
===General===
{{Commons category|Eau Claire, Wisconsin}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [http://www.ci.eau-claire.wi.us/ City of Eau Claire website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204170329/http://wcwrpc.org/MPO/body_mpo.html Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls Metropolitan Planning Organization website]
* [http://www.visiteauclaire.com Eau Claire Travel Bureau]

===History===
{{EB1911 poster|Eau Claire}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160124231848/http://www.eauclairehpf.org/ Eau Claire Historic Preservation Foundation]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203149/http://www.ci.eau-claire.wi.us/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.287 Eau Claire Landmarks Commission photo collection]
* [http://www.uwec.edu/Library/archives/ University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Special Collections and Archives] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811163533/http://www.uwec.edu/Library/archives/ |date=August 11, 2014 }} <!-- temporarily commenting this out because refs placed after the references sections are causing a problem<ref>UWEC's Special Collections and Archives, located on the fifth floor of McIntyre Library, houses an extensive collection of public records, books and manuscript collection relevant to Eau Claire's history. These include pre-1907 vital records (birth, death, marriage), naturalization records, court records, as well as historic diaries, letters, organizational records and business records. For more information on material housed in UWEC's Special Collections and Archives, to search the collections, or to contact the department, visit their website.</ref> -->
* [http://www.ecpubliclibrary.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=193/ L. E. Phillips Memorial Public Library Local History Resources]
* Sanborn fire insurance maps: [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/4734 1883] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/4759 1885] [http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm/ref/collection/maps/id/4618 1889]

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[[Category:Eau Claire, Wisconsin| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Cities in Chippewa County, Wisconsin]]
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[[Category:Eau Claire–Chippewa Falls metropolitan area]]