Wausau, County seat in northern Wisconsin, United States
Wausau is the county seat of Marathon County in northern Wisconsin, spreading along both banks of the Wisconsin River. The city combines residential neighborhoods with commercial districts and several public green spaces that follow the river course.
The settlement grew after 1839 at a former rapids called Big Bull Falls, where sawmills took advantage of timber transport downriver. By the late 19th century the town shifted from lumber to paper manufacturing and other industries.
The name Wausau comes from the Ojibwe language meaning "far away place," a reference to the settlement's position along the river. Today visitors find the city center organized around restored early 20th-century commercial buildings that house local shops and restaurants.
Visitors reach the downtown area on foot through bridges connecting both riverbanks, with parking available in several public areas. The surrounding hills offer skiing in winter and hiking in summer, with trails varying in difficulty.
Rib Mountain on the city edge is among the oldest geological formations in North America, formed over a billion years ago. Hikers find an observation tower at its summit with views across the forested hills of the region.
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