Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

Infobox U.S. County
county = Eau Claire County
state = Wisconsin

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map size = 200
founded = 1856 [Taken from Wisconsin Blue Book 1991-1992 p. 731; cited there as from "Wisconsin Historical Records, "Origin and Legislative History of County Boundaries in Wisconsin, 1942."]
seat = Eau Claire | area_total_sq_mi =645
area_water_sq_mi =8
area percentage = 1.18%
census yr = 2000
pop = 93142
density_km2 =56
web = www.co.eau-claire.wi.us/
|

Eau Claire County ("Eau Claire" is French for "Clear Water") is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 93,142. Its county seat is Eau ClaireGR|6. The United States Census Bureau's Eau Claire Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Eau Claire County (as well as Chippewa County to the north). Together with the Menomonie Micropolitan Statistical Area (which includes all of Dunn County) to the west, the Eau Claire metropolitan area, forms the Census Bureau's Eau Claire-Menomonie Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a consolidated 2000 population of 188,195.

History

Eau Claire county was originally set off as the Town of Clearwater within Chippewa County, in 1855. The name was changed to the Town of Eau Claire on 31 Mar. 1856. The entire town was separated as Eau Claire County, by an act of the Legislature, on 6 Oct. 1856. [ [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=8777&term_type_id=2&term_type_text=Places&letter=E Dictionary of Wisconsin History] accessed 1 January, 2007.] [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/%7Ewioconto/countyinfo.htm When Counties Originated] from [http://www.rootsweb.com/ rootsweb.com] 's Oconto County, Wisconsin [http://www.rootsweb.com/~wioconto/index.htm webpage] .]

Historical Collections

University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, Special Collections and Archives

UWEC's Special Collections and Archives, located on the fifth floor of McIntyre Library, houses an extensive collection of public records, books and collections relating to both the city and county of Eau Claire. In addition to vital records (birth, death and marriage) dating to 1907, there are also naturalization records, census records, and civil and circuit court records. These resources are very popular with local genealogists.

Within the local history collection, there are books about immigration to the region, logging, church and cemetery records, reminiscences by local residents, and more.

Special Collections and Archives also houses numerous archives files which relate to Eau Claire County. There are many collections which pertain to logging, the railway industry and agriculture. There are also a number of collections comprised of material concerning the Ojibwa, including the large Veda Stone Collection.

For more information on material housed at UWEC Special Collections and Archives, to search their catalogue, or to contact the department, please visit their website. A link is provided below, under External Links.

Eau Claire County Courthouse

Another place to find historical records for Eau Claire County would be the courthouse. In addition to having some of the same records as the UWEC Special Collections, they also have post-1907 vital records, land records, and assessor roles. Special Collections and the Courthouse share divorce records, with each institution housing a portion.

Chippewa Valley Museum

The Chippewa Valley Museum is a great resource for both information and entertainment. Three main centers of focus are logging, the Ojibwa and the Hmong. The museum also houses an extensive collection of photographs.

For more information about the Chippewa Valley Museum, or to contact them, the website is provided below, under External Links.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 645 square miles (1,671 km²), of which, 638 square miles (1,651 km²) of it is land and 8 square miles (20 km²) of it (1.18%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Chippewa County - north
*Clark County - east
*Jackson County - southeast
*Trempealeau County - south
*Buffalo County - southwest
*Pepin County - west
*Dunn County - west

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 31692
1910= 32721
1920= 35771
1930= 41087
1940= 46999
1950= 54187
1960= 58300
1970= 67219
1980= 78805
1990= 85183
2000= 93142
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wi190090.txt WI Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 93,142 people, 35,822 households, and 22,281 families residing in the county. The population density was 146 people per square mile (56/km²). There are 37,474 housing units at an average density of 59 per square mile (23/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.96% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 2.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.4% were of German, 21.5% Norwegian and 7.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.2% spoke English, 1.6% Hmong, 1.6% Spanish and 1.0% German as their first language.

There were 35,822 households out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.80% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 17.10% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

Cities, villages, and towns

* indicates a municipality considered part of the Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls metropolitan area.

Unincorporated communities

:"Main article: Unincorporated communities in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin"^‡ historical community
^§ now part of the city of Eau Claire

External links

* [http://www.co.eau-claire.wi.us/ Eau Claire County official website]
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/wi/county/eauclaire/history/history.html History of Eau Claire County]
* [http://www.uwec.edu/Library/archives/ University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Special Collections and Archives]
* [http://www.cvmuseum.com/ Chippewa Valley Museum]

Note