Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city of 70,322 people in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.
Why visit Eau Claire
Townapedia lists 39 museums and landmarks, 92 parks and trails, 185 places to eat, 28 places to stay and 16 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC CLASSIC Oakwood 12, State Theatre, Carson Park and Christ Church Cathedral.
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 Eau Claire
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Eau Claire
Eau Claire ( oh-KLAIR; French: [o klɛʁ] lit. 'clear water') is a city in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County. It is the seventh-most populous city in Wisconsin, with a population of 69,421 at the 2020 census. As of 2026 population signs show an increase to 74,309 residents.
From the Wikipedia article Eau Claire, Wisconsin (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do16
State Theatre
Cinema and theater · 0.5 mi
Theater and former movie theater in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
School · 1.4 mi
Public university in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Downtown Theater
Cinema and theater · 0.6 mi
315 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire
Micon Cinema 7 Eau Claire
Cinema and theater · 2.8 mi
3109 Mall Drive, Eau Claire
Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild
Cinema and theater · 0.7 mi
102 West Grand Avenue, Eau Claire
4 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks39
Carson Park
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Baseball stadium located in Carson Park, a park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
1 Carson Park Drive, Eau Claire
Christ Church Cathedral
Monument and historic site · Episcopal · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Episcopal cathedral in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
510 South Farwell Street, Eau Claire
Sarge Boyd Bandshell
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic place in Wisconsin, United States
Antique Emporium
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic building in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Barnes Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Commercial building in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Brady Anderson and Waldemar Ager House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
United States historic place
Cobblestone House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
House in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Confluence Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
David Drummond House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
House in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Drummond Business Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Commercial building in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
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Eau Claire Masonic Center
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Masonic temple in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States
Eau Claire Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
United States historic place
27 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds92
Riverview Park
Park · 1.8 mi
Urban park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States
Carson Park Stadium
Sports field and stadium · 1.5 mi
Carson Park Drive, Eau Claire
Hobbs Municipal Ice Center
Sports field and stadium · 1.7 mi
915 Menomonie Street, Eau Claire
80 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes185
Acoustic Cafe
Cafe · Sandwich, Soup, Salad · 0.6 mi
505 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire
Mo-Th 07:30-22:00; Fr 07:30-23:00; Sa 09:30-23:00; Su 09:30-22:00
Buffalo Wild Wings
Restaurant · Wings · 4.2 mi
4612 Keystone Crossing, Eau Claire
Mo-Tu 11:00-00:00; We-Su 11:00-01:00
Jade Garden
Restaurant · Chinese · 4.1 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
Roadside Ice Cream and Diner
Restaurant · Burger, Ice Cream · 2.0 mi
1160 Menomonie Street, Eau Claire
Mo-Tu,Th-Fr 11:00-19:00; Sa-Su 09:00-19:00
Silly Serrano Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.5 mi
329 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire
Tu-Th 11:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-20:00; Mo closed
Mr. Kitty's Cat Café & Boutique
Cafe · 0.6 mi
502 South Farwell Street, Eau Claire
Tu-Sa 07:00-13:00,15:00-19:00
Northern Taphouse
Restaurant · 4.5 mi
5020 Keystone Crossing, Eau Claire
Mo-Tu 11:00-22:00; We-Su 11:00-23:00
Randy's Family Restaurant
Restaurant · 2.4 mi
1132 West MacArthur Avenue, Eau Claire
Mo-Su closed; Tu-Th,Fr,Sa 07:00-20:00
Xavier Artisan Bistro
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Sandwich · 2.1 mi
1470 Rivers Edge Trail
Mo-Fr 07:00-18:30; Sa 08:00-15:00; Su 10:00-15:00
Casa Vallarta Mexican Restaurant
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.1 mi
2426 Seymour Road, Eau Claire
Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
173 more on the map.
History
The Eau Claire area was first visited by Europeans in the late 17th century. It had been occupied for thousands of years before European fur traders began settling there for trade with local Native American tribes.
The First Treaty of Prairie du Chien, signed in 1825, established the Chippewa River "half a day's march below the falls" as the boundary between the Sioux and Chippewa, and the "Clear Water River, a branch of the Chippewa" as the boundary between the Chippewa and Winnebago.
The first permanent European-American settlers arrived in 1845, and the city was officially incorporated in 1872. Extensive timber was harvested and logging was the major industry during this time; many sawmills were built as part of the lumber industry. Sawmills and other manufacturing made Eau Claire an industrial city by the late 19th century.
The city was founded near the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers as three separate settlements. The main section of downtown is on the site of the original European-American village, where Stephen McCann, in partnership with J. C. Thomas, put up three buildings in 1845. Although these structures were erected primarily to establish a claim to the land site, the McCann family moved into one of them and became the first permanent settlers.
From the History section of Eau Claire, Wisconsin on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay28
BEST WESTERN PLUS Eau Claire Conference Center
Motel and hotel · 2.9 mi
3340 Mondovi Road, Eau Claire
Churches and places of worship27
Community House, First Congregational Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
First Methodist Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
James Stephen Hoover and Elizabeth Borland Memorial Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Jane E. Putnam Memorial Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
St. Patrick's Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
St. Joseph's Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Shopping31
Gas and EV charging31
Schools, colleges and libraries68
Chippewa Valley Technical College
School · 1.8 mi
620 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire
Chippewa Valley Technical College-Eau Claire Gateway Campus
School · 3.0 mi
L E Phillips Memorial Public Library
Library · 0.4 mi
400 Eau Claire Street, Eau Claire
Healthcare17
Mayo Clinic Health System – Clairemont Campus Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.9 mi
733 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire
Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Cancer Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
2200 Craig Road, Eau Claire
Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Clairemont Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
1002 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire
Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Oakwood Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 4.0 mi
3501 Golf Road, Eau Claire
Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Physical Therapy Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.1 mi
1262 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire
Marshfield Clinic Eau Claire Riverview Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.9 mi
1000 Starr Avenue, Eau Claire
Marshfield Medical Center Eau Claire
Hospital · 2.0 mi
2310 Craig Road, Eau Claire
Planned Parenthood
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.1 mi
967 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire
Map of Eau Claire
250 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 (2 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
Chippewa County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-04-04: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2016-10-20: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2004-06-18: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2002-09-10: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding (Tornado)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Altoona 3 mi southeast, about 5 min by car
- Seymour 3 mi east, about 5 min by car
- Lake Hallie 6 mi northeast, about 10 min by car
- Chippewa Falls 10 mi northeast, about 15 min by car
- Elk Mound 10 mi northwest, about 16 min by car
- Fall Creek 11 mi east, about 18 min by car
- Lake Wissota 12 mi northeast, about 19 min by car
- Colfax 17 mi northwest, about 27 min by car
- Eleva 17 mi south, about 27 min by car
- Winona 54 mi south, about 1 h 30 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
- Eau Claire - Barstow street looking north 2005, No machine-readable author provided. Autoshade~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain
- Chicago St Paul Railroad Depot NRHP 85003383 Eau Claire County, WI, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sacred Heart Church, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA, Mdaams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greetings from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, South Gateway to Indian Head Country - Large Letter Postcard (8141256805), Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0
- 409-417 Galloway St, Eau Claire, WI, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Eau Claire High School, Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 217 South Farwell Street, Eau Claire, WI, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kline's Department Store, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 15-21 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Debra Hinkley, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 131 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire, WI, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Eau Claire, United States (Unsplash), Beth Teutschmann teutschmann, CC0
- Jamf Software - Eau Claire Wisconsin Office, Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- 421 South Farwell St, Eau Claire, WI, Maarten Daams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Day Downtown Eau Claire, Itrytohelp32, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Day Downtown Eau Claire (cropped), Itrytohelp32, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Phoenix Park Trail Bridge - Chippewa River State Trail, Eau Claire, Wisconsin (41062369002), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Second Ward School NRHP 99001664 Eau Claire County, WI, Jon Roanhaus, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 505 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Mdaams, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Angler Fishing on the Chippewa River - Eau Claire - Wisconsin (50991680957), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Senator Amy Klobuchar Eau Claire, Wisconsin, February 16, 2019 07, Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Carson Park Exterior Eau Claire Wisconsin, Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ChristChurchCathedralEauClaireWI, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- SargeBoydBandshellInOwenPark, Eau Claire, Villwock, Public domain
- 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
- St Patricks Church Eau Claire, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- David Drummond House, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- 2012-09-27 Community House, 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
- Oatman Filling Station, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- 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
- Hoover and Borland Memorial Chapel Eau Claire Wisc, Jeff the quiet, CC0
- FederalBldgEauClaireWI, Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
- Saint Edward's Chapel, Aaronharder, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mermaidstagepanoramic, Benjamin.jksn, CC BY-SA 4.0
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