Eau Claire, located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, is a city with a rich history and vibrant cultural scene. As 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. The city is situated at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers, on land traditionally occupied by the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Ho-Chunk peoples. Eau Claire's early growth was fueled by its extensive logging and timber industries, which attracted European American settlers in the mid-19th century. Today, Eau Claire is known for its arts and music scenes, being the hometown of the indie folk band Bon Iver and the site of the annual Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival.
First Peoples & First Mentions
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 as a boundary between the Sioux and Chippewa tribes.
Explorers, Missions & Colonial Outposts
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, making Eau Claire an industrial city by the late 19th century.
From Empire to Nation: Transfers of Rule
Eau Claire 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. West Eau Claire, founded in 1856, was across the river and was incorporated in 1872.
Rails, Roads & River Landings: Corridors That Sited Eau Claire
Eau Claire's economy diversified after the decline of the lumber industry in the early 20th century. The city became an educational center with the opening of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire in 1916. The Gillette Safety Tire Company built a large factory in Eau Claire in 1917, which was later used as an ammunition plant during World War II. Today, Eau Claire is a regional commercial and business center, home to the headquarters of the home improvement store chain Menards.
