About Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Eau Claire, WI has a population of nearly 66,000 people, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern Wisconsin and the 9th largest city in the state overall. The city borders Altoona, Lake Hallie, Chippewa Falls, Elk Mound, and Fall Creek. Together, with the surrounding communities, the Eau Claire metropolitan area is home to almost 115,000 people.

Located at the intersection of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers, the city is characterized by the river valleys, with steep slopes leading from the center to the eastern and southern sections of the city. The lands into which the urban area is currently expanding are increasingly hilly.

The region supports some of Wisconsin's most beautiful rural and urban parks and pathways. The many miles of bike trails provide bikers, skaters and pedestrians with a beautiful scenic route. In addition the area provides miles and miles of groomed snowmobile and cross-country ski trails.

America's Promise named the city as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in 2007. Eau Claire was among the first Tree Cities in Wisconsin, having been recognized as such since 1980. In 2012, Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked Eau Claire seventh of the Ten Best Cities for Cheapskates. In the US Crime Rate Ranking in an annual publication from CQ Press, Eau Claire, WI USA ranks #6 in the list for lowest crime rate ranking among the 332 U.S. metropolitan areas that are ranked.

While we have metropolitan amenities, the Eau Claire area also offers the comforts and conveniences of small town life: affordable housing, low crime, friendly people, low traffic, low cost of living, civic groups, and church denominations.

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Eau Claire is home to two public colleges, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley Technical College, and two private colleges, Immanuel Lutheran College and a campus of Globe University/Minnesota School of Business.

Eau Claire has two public high schools within the Eau Claire Area School District: Memorial High School and North High School. Two public charter high schools exist in Eau Claire: McKinley Charter School, a non-traditional school serving 120 students; and Technology Charter School, a non-traditional school serving 193 students. Eau Claire also has two private high schools: Catholic Regis High School and Immanuel Lutheran High School.

Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School, a public elementary school of the Eau Claire Area School District, is located in the Lincoln School Building on Cameron Street. It follows the teaching of Maria Montessori and has grown steadily since it began in 2002.