Eau Claire

Eau Claire, which in French means "clear water," is located in Eau Claire County and it is the county seat. It lies in west central Wisconsin along Interstate 94, on the banks of the Chippewa River.

Legend says French fur traders came up the Chippewa River in the 1800s. As it flowed south, needles from tamarack trees turned the water a coffee color. When the traders arrived where a smaller river flowed into the Chippewa, they declared, "Look, the water runs clear!"

Today Eau Claire, population 62,705, is the region's major industrial, retail and medical center. The city enjoys a diverse business base with such employers as W.L. Gore & Associates, Nestle, Mayo Health System. The January high and low temperatures are 20.5 and 0.8; in July they are 83.2 and 59.8. The University of Wisconsin has a campus in Eau Claire. Outdoor recreation options are abundant. Tourists can visit tree farms, cheese factories and county fairs.

Eau Claire is part of the Eau Claire, Wisconsin metro area.