Eau Claire, University city in Wisconsin, United States
Description
Eau Claire is a university city in Wisconsin that developed at the junction of two rivers, located roughly 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of Minneapolis. Downtown stretches along the waterfront while residential districts and commercial zones spread north and west, with bridges connecting different sections of the municipality across the water.
History
Loggers and sawmills built a settlement along the rivers in the 19th century, which then grew rapidly into a city. The arrival of the railroad in the 1870s opened new markets and helped diversify the economy beyond the timber industry.
Culture
The city takes its name from the French term for "clear water," which early traders used to describe the river running through what is now downtown. Local families still gather along these riverbanks in summer to fish and walk the trails that follow the water through neighborhoods and green spaces.
Practical
Streets follow a mostly grid pattern in the center, while residential areas farther out have more curved layouts. Many public buildings and shops sit within a few blocks of the water, making orientation easier.
Did you know?
Every July a multi-day music festival draws bands and visitors from across the Midwest. The university also operates a public observatory that holds regular evening sky-watching events.
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Owen Park
1.2 km
St. Patrick's Church
1.3 km
Christ Church Cathedral
686 m
State Theatre
663 m
Community House, First Congregational Church
1.5 km
Sacred Heart Church
670 m
Eau Claire Masonic Center
906 m
Sarge Boyd Bandshell
1.2 km
Saint Edward's Chapel
271 m
Emery Street Bungalow District
1.1 km
United States Post Office and Courthouse
784 m
St. Joseph's Chapel
1.4 km
Eau Claire Public Library
519 m
First Methodist Episcopal Church
582 m
Cobblestone House
1.1 km
Martin Van Buren Barron House
1.2 km
James Barber House
1.2 km
Eau Claire Vocational School
1.3 km
Children’s Museum of Eau Claire
708 m
Antique Emporium
661 m
Drummond Business Block
681 m
Barnes Block
693 m
Salsbury Row House
1.2 km
Confluence Commercial Historic District
679 m
Orlando Brice House
1.2 km
Jane E. Putnam Memorial Chapel
800 mEau Claire Children's Theatre
1.4 kmChippewa Valley Theatre Guild
1 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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