Altoona, Wisconsin
Altoona is a city of 8,878 people in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, founded in 1881.
Why visit Altoona
Townapedia lists 28 museums and landmarks, 30 parks and trails, 81 places to eat, 10 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC CLASSIC Oakwood 12, State Theatre, Carson Park and Antique Emporium.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 8°F, and about 54 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Altoona
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Altoona
Altoona is a city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,292 at the 2020 census with an estimated population in 2022 of 9,149. The city is a railroad terminal on the Union Pacific Railroad.
From the Wikipedia article Altoona, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
State Theatre
Cinema and theater · 3.1 mi
Theater and former movie theater in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
School · 2.9 mi
Public university in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Micon Cinema 7 Eau Claire
Cinema and theater · 1.3 mi
3109 Mall Drive, Eau Claire
Museums and landmarks28
Carson Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Baseball stadium located in Carson Park, a park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Antique Emporium
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic building in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Barnes Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Commercial building in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Brady Anderson and Waldemar Ager House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
United States historic place
Christ Church Cathedral
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Episcopal cathedral in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Cobblestone House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
House in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Confluence Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.1 mi
Historic district in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
David Drummond House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
House in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Drummond Business Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Commercial building in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire Masonic Center
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Masonic temple in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States
Eau Claire Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
United States historic place
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Eau Claire Vocational School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
School building in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
16 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds30
Riverview Park
Park · 4.1 mi
Urban park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States
18 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes81
Buffalo Wild Wings
Restaurant · Wings · 1.9 mi
4612 Keystone Crossing, Eau Claire
Mo-Tu 11:00-00:00; We-Su 11:00-01:00
Jade Garden
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.5 mi
3620 Gateway Drive, Eau Claire
Tu-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:30; Su 11:00-21:00; Mo off
Northern Taphouse
Restaurant · 2.0 mi
5020 Keystone Crossing, Eau Claire
Mo-Tu 11:00-22:00; We-Su 11:00-23:00
Xavier Artisan Bistro
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Sandwich · 1.5 mi
1470 Rivers Edge Trail
Mo-Fr 07:00-18:30; Sa 08:00-15:00; Su 10:00-15:00
Starbucks
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.7 mi
3785 Gateway Drive, Eau Claire
Mo-Fr 05:00-18:00
Four Hundred Club
Bar and pub · 0.6 mi
1411 Spooner Avenue, Altoona
Mo-Su 09:00-02:00
69 more on the map.
History
The settlement of Altoona began in 1881 when the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway selected the site for a new terminal to replace the overcrowded existing terminal in Eau Claire. The railroad had originally planned to put the new terminal in Fall Creek, but the city of Eau Claire lobbied for a site closer to the existing one, and representatives from Eau Claire and the railroad walked the tracks from Fall Creek to Eau Claire to determine a suitable site. When the location of present-day Altoona - approximately three miles east of the existing Eau Claire terminal - was found to have sufficient flat land and access to water (via the Eau Claire River), the railroad began construction of the new terminal and the community of "East Eau Claire" was platted in October.
Residents began moving into the community in early 1882 and the railroad terminal became operational in May of that year. However, confusion between the "Eau Claire" and "East Eau Claire" stations quickly caused the railroad to rename the new terminal "Altoona" on October 14, 1882. The name Altoona was based on Altoona, Pennsylvania, which in turn was named after Allatoona, Georgia. The name choice may also have been influenced by the presence of immigrants from Altona, Germany. Altoona was incorporated as a city on April 5, 1887.
From the History section of Altoona, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay10
Staybridge Suites Eau Claire - Altoona
Motel and hotel · 1.6 mi
1515 Bluestem Boulevard
Churches and places of worship14
Community House, First Congregational Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
First Methodist Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Jane E. Putnam Memorial Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Sacred Heart Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Saint Edward's Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
St. Patrick's Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
St. Joseph's Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Temple Shalom
Place of worship · Conservative · 2.3 mi
1226 Emery Street, Eau Claire
Shopping18
Gas and EV charging17
Schools, colleges and libraries38
Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School
School · 3.7 mi
400 Cameron St, Eau Claire
Healthcare3
Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Oakwood Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.3 mi
3501 Golf Road, Eau Claire
Map of Altoona
243 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 8°F | 1.1 in | 10.0 in |
| Feb | 29°F | 12°F | 1.1 in | 13.5 in |
| Mar | 42°F | 24°F | 1.9 in | 8.3 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 36°F | 3.3 in | 4.5 in |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 4.1 in | 0.5 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 58°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 72°F | 52°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 58°F | 40°F | 2.5 in | 0.8 in |
| Nov | 42°F | 27°F | 1.8 in | 3.3 in |
| Dec | 30°F | 15°F | 1.4 in | 13.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Eau Claire 3Sw (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Eau Claire County has had 4 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2004-06-18: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 miles away.
- Seymour 1 mi north, about 2 min by car
- Eau Claire 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- Fall Creek 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Chippewa Falls 10 mi north, about 16 min by car
- Colfax 19 mi northwest, about 31 min by car
- Menomonie 24 mi west, about 38 min by car
- Cornell 29 mi northeast, about 46 min by car
- Whitehall 31 mi south, about 50 min by car
- Thorp 33 mi east, about 53 min by car
- Independence 34 mi south, about 55 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Altoona town hall, No machine-readable author provided. Autoshade~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Altoona schools athletic fields 01, Wikideas1, CC0
- Altoona WI banner, Wikideas1, CC0
- Altoona schools athletic fields 03, Wikideas1, CC0
- Altoona schools athletic fields 04, Wikideas1, CC0
- Altoona Lake and dam, Wikideas1, CC0
- City of Altoona, Wisconsin, Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- Carson Park Exterior Eau Claire Wisconsin, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Saint Edward's Chapel, Aaronharder, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 217 South Farwell Street, Eau Claire, WI, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jane E Putnam Memorial Chapel, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- SchofieldHallUWEC, Germonprez~enwiki at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2012-09-27 Steven House, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 505 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Mdaams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Soo Line RR Bridge Eau Claire, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- St Patricks Church Eau Claire, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- Sacred Heart Church, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA, Mdaams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 409-417 Galloway St, Eau Claire, WI, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- David Drummond House, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- 2012-09-27 Community House, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 421 South Farwell St, Eau Claire, WI, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Soo Line 2719 Steams from Duluth to Two Harbors, MN, Pete Markham, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 443 Roosevelt Avenue, Eau Claire, WI, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 15-21 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Debra Hinkley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ChristChurchCathedralEauClaireWI, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Confluence CHD 3, Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Eau Claire - Free Masons Building 2005, Unknown author, Public domain
- Eau Claire Vocational School, Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Emery St. Bungalow District, Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SargeBoydBandshellInOwenPark, Eau Claire, Villwock, Public domain
- FederalBldgEauClaireWI, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Waldemar Ager house, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- James Barber House, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- Salsbury Row House, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- Pearl and Eva Chambers House, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2012-09-28 Orlando Brice House, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 1011 State Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin (Cobblestone House), Mdaams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2012-09-27 Water Street Historic District, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 221 Washington Street, Eau Claire, WI, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vintage Train - Big Boy No. 4014 (48365337771), PJ Nelson from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
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