Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

Adjacent counties

• Chippewa County – north
• Clark County – east
• Jackson County – southeast
• Trempealeau County – south
• Buffalo County – southwest
• Pepin County – west
• Dunn County – west

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 105,710.^[25] The population density was 165.7 people per square mile (64.0 people/km²). There were 44,966 housing units at an average density of 70.5 units per square mile (27.2 units/km²).^[15]

The median age was 35.6 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.8 males age 18 and over.^[26]

The racial makeup of the county was 88.2% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 4.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.9% of the population.^[25]

76.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 23.7% lived in rural areas.^[27]

There were 42,880 households in the county, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.7% were married-couple households, 20.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[26]

Of those 44,966 housing units, 4.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 62.2% were owner-occupied and 37.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%.^[26]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,^[28] there were 93,142 people, 35,822 households, and 22,281 families residing in the county. The population density was 146 people per square mile (56 people/km²). There were 37,474 housing units at an average density of 59 units per square mile (23 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.96% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 0.54% Native American, 2.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.4% were of German, 21.5% Norwegian and 7.0% Irish ancestry. 94.2% spoke English, 1.6% Hmong, 1.6% Spanish and 1.0% German as their first language.

There were 35,822 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.80% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 17.10% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.60 males.

In 2017, there were 1,191 births, giving a general fertility rate of 52.8 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the tenth lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties. Of these, 99 of the births occurred at home, the third highest for Wisconsin counties.^[29]

In 2010, the largest religious groups by reported number of adherents were Catholic at 16,240 adherents, ELCA Lutheran at 15,067 adherents, Missouri Synod Lutheran at 6,953 adherents, LCMC Lutheran at 3,355 adherents, United Methodist at 2,177 adherents, non-denominational Christian at 1,557 adherents, Lutheran Brethren at 1,391 adherents, United Church of Christ at 1,046 adherents, Assemblies of God at 969 adherents, Amish at 794 adherents, Wisconsin Synod Lutheran at 757 adherents, ELS Lutheran at 708 adherents, and LDS (Mormon) at 703 adherents.^[30]

Major highways

Railroads

• Union Pacific

Buses

• Eau Claire Transit

Airport

Eau Claire county is served by the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (KEAU).

Cities

• Altoona
• Augusta
• Eau Claire (county seat; partly in Chippewa County)

Villages

• Fairchild
• Fall Creek

Towns

Census-designated places

• Seymour

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns/neighborhoods

• Hadleyville^‡
• Nelsonville^‡
• Oak Grove^‡
• Porter's Mills^‡
• Shawtown^§

Footnotes

^‡ Historical community
^§ Now part of the City of Eau Claire