Geography of Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the seat of Eau Claire County. The name is French for “clear water.” The city is situated at the junction of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers, 65 miles (105 km) north of La Crosse and 85 miles (137 km) east of St. Paul, Minnesota. Both rivers provide hydroelectric power for factories. Eau Claire produces tires, aluminum products, and paper, and has machine shops and meat-packing plants. The city is the market outlet for the Chippewa lumber district, and is the commercial center of northwestern Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire is here. The city has the council-manager form of government.
Eau Claire was settled in 1847, incorporated as a village in 1855, and chartered as a city in 1872.
Population: 61,704.