Chippewa County, Wisconsin

County in Wisconsin, United States

U.S. county in Wisconsin

Chippewa County

U.S. county

Chippewa County Courthouse, February 2015

Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin

Wisconsin's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Wisconsin
Founded| 1853
Named for| Ojibwa
Seat| Chippewa Falls
Largest city| Chippewa Falls
Area

• Total| 1,041 sq mi (2,700 km2)
• Land| 1,008 sq mi (2,610 km2)
• Water| 33 sq mi (90 km2)  3.2%
Population

(2020)[1]

• Total| 66,297
• Density| 65.7/sq mi (25.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts| 3rd, 7th
Website| www.co.chippewa.wi.us

Chippewa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is named for the historic Chippewa people, also known as the Ojibwe, who long controlled this territory. As of the 2020 census, the population was 66,297.[1] Its county seat is Chippewa Falls.[2] The county was founded in 1845 from Crawford County,[3] then in the Wisconsin Territory, and organized in 1853.[4][5][6]

Chippewa County is included in the Eau Claire, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Eau Claire-Menomonie, WI Combined Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 Geography
* 1.1 Adjacent counties
* 1.2 Major highways
* 1.3 Railroads
* 1.4 Buses
* 1.5 Airports
* 2 Demographics
* 2.1 2020 census
* 2.2 2000 census
* 3 Economy
* 4 Library
* 5 Communities
* 5.1 Cities
* 5.2 Villages
* 5.3 Towns
* 5.4 Census-designated places
* 5.5 Other unincorporated communities
* 6 Politics
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Further reading
* 10 External links

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,041 square miles (2,700 km2), of which 1,008 square miles (2,610 km2) is land and 33 square miles (85 km2) (3.2%) is water.[7]

October view of Picnic Lake from the Ice Age Trail west of Cornell

Parts of northern Chippewa county are covered with choppy hills dimpled by kettle lakes and bogs--the terminal moraine left by the last glacier.[8] The Ice Age Trail threads through some of this country, providing public foot-access to these unusual landforms.[9]

### Adjacent counties

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* Rusk County – north
* Taylor County – east
* Clark County – southeast
* Eau Claire County – south
* Dunn County – west
* Barron County – northwest

### Major highways

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* U.S. Highway 12
* U.S. Highway 53
* Highway 27 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 29 (Wisconsin)

* Highway 40 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 64 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 124 (Wisconsin)
* Highway 178 (Wisconsin)

|

### Railroads

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* Union Pacific
* Wisconsin Northern Railroad
* Canadian National

### Buses

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* Eau Claire Transit
* List of intercity bus stops in Wisconsin

### Airports

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* KEAU - Chippewa Valley Regional Airport
* 4WI9 - Cornell Municipal Airport

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1850| 615| | —
1860| 1,895| | 208.1%
1870| 8,311| | 338.6%
1880| 15,491| | 86.4%
1890| 25,143| | 62.3%
1900| 33,037| | 31.4%
1910| 32,103| | −2.8%
1920| 36,482| | 13.6%
1930| 37,342| | 2.4%
1940| 40,703| | 9.0%
1950| 42,839| | 5.2%
1960| 45,096| | 5.3%
1970| 47,717| | 5.8%
1980| 52,127| | 9.2%
1990| 52,360| | 0.4%
2000| 55,195| | 5.4%
2010| 62,415| | 13.1%
2020| 66,297| | 6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[1]

### 2020 census

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As of the census of 2020,[1] the population was 66,297. The population density was 65.7 inhabitants per square mile (25.4/km2). There were 28,688 housing units at an average density of 28.5 per square mile (11.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.8% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 1.5% Asian, 0.5% Native American, 0.6% from other races, and 4.0% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

### 2000 census

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2000 Census Age Pyramid for Chippewa County

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 55,195 people, 21,356 households, and 15,013 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile (21/km2). There were 22,821 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.85% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.1% were of German, 15.8% Norwegian and 5.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 21,356 households, out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 24.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

In 2017, there were 624 births, giving a general fertility rate of 59.7 births per 1000 women aged 15–44, the 26th lowest rate out of all 72 Wisconsin counties.[16] Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Chippewa County residence in 2017.[17]

## Economy

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The largest employers in Chippewa County are:[18]

1 | TTM Advanced Circuits

|

2 | Chippewa Falls Public Schools
3 | Saint Joseph's Hospital
4 | Wisconsin Department of Corrections
5 | Wal-Mart
6 | Mason Companies Inc
7 | Chippewa County
8 | Mayo Health System
9 | Silicon Graphics International
10 | Cooperative Educational Service Agency #10

## Library

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The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Special Collections and Archives, located on the fifth floor of McIntyre Library, houses an extensive collection of public records, books and collections relating to Chippewa County. In addition to vital records (birth and marriage) dating to 1907, there are also naturalization records, census records, and civil and circuit court records. These resources are very popular with local genealogists.

Within the local history collection, there are books about immigration to the region, logging, church and cemetery records, reminiscences by local residents, and a number of histories and biographies compiled by local historians.

Special Collections and Archives also houses numerous archives files which relate to Chippewa County. There are many collections which pertain to logging, the railway industry and agriculture.

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Special Collections and Archives also includes information for Buffalo, Clark, Eau Claire, Rusk and Taylor counties.

## Communities

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A farm in Chippewa county

### Cities

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* Bloomer
* Chippewa Falls (county seat)
* Cornell
* Eau Claire (mostly in Eau Claire County)
* Stanley (partly in Clark County)

### Villages

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* Boyd
* Cadott
* Lake Hallie
* New Auburn (partly in Barron County)

### Towns

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* Anson
* Arthur
* Auburn
* Birch Creek
* Bloomer
* Cleveland
* Colburn
* Cooks Valley
* Delmar
* Eagle Point
* Edson
* Estella
* Goetz
* Hallie
* Howard
* Lafayette
* Lake Holcombe
* Ruby
* Sampson
* Sigel
* Tilden
* Wheaton
* Woodmohr

### Census-designated places

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* Holcombe
* Jim Falls
* Lake Wissota

### Other unincorporated communities

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* Albertville
* Anson
* Arnold
* Bateman
* Brownville
* Cobban
* Colburn
* Crescent
* Drywood
* Eagle Point
* Eagleton
* Edson
* Howard
* Huron
* Maple Hill
* Old Albertville
* Pine Grove
* Ruby
* Tilden

## Politics

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At the presidential level, Chippewa County leans Republican; however, Barack Obama won the county in 2008. In 2020, Donald Trump received 59.3 percent of the vote, the best result for a Republican since Dwight Eisenhower in 1956.

United States presidential election results for Chippewa County, Wisconsin[19] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 21,317  | 59.32% | 13,983  | 38.91%  | 638  | 1.78%
2016 | 17,916  | 56.75% | 11,887  | 37.66%  | 1,765  | 5.59%
2012 | 15,322  | 49.53% | 15,237  | 49.26%  | 373  | 1.21%
2008 | 13,492  | 44.63%  | 16,239  | 53.72% | 500  | 1.65%
2004 | 15,450  | 50.62% | 14,751  | 48.33%  | 323  | 1.06%
2000 | 12,835  | 49.04% | 12,102  | 46.24%  | 1,236  | 4.72%
1996 | 7,520  | 35.59%  | 9,647  | 45.65% | 3,964  | 18.76%
1992 | 8,215  | 32.56%  | 10,487  | 41.57% | 6,528  | 25.87%
1988 | 9,757  | 45.69%  | 11,447  | 53.61% | 150  | 0.70%
1984 | 10,986  | 51.45% | 10,202  | 47.78%  | 163  | 0.76%
1980 | 10,531  | 48.06% | 9,836  | 44.89%  | 1,545  | 7.05%
1976 | 8,137  | 40.50%  | 11,538  | 57.42% | 418  | 2.08%
1972 | 8,451  | 49.35% | 8,210  | 47.95%  | 462  | 2.70%
1968 | 7,772  | 47.38% | 7,335  | 44.72%  | 1,296  | 7.90%
1964 | 6,277  | 36.46%  | 10,911  | 63.38% | 26  | 0.15%
1960 | 8,690  | 46.95%  | 9,793  | 52.90% | 28  | 0.15%
1956 | 9,781  | 59.42% | 6,617  | 40.20%  | 63  | 0.38%
1952 | 11,429  | 64.01% | 6,380  | 35.73%  | 45  | 0.25%
1948 | 6,146  | 43.58%  | 7,702  | 54.62% | 254  | 1.80%
1944 | 7,691  | 53.59% | 6,567  | 45.76%  | 93  | 0.65%
1940 | 8,781  | 54.30% | 7,250  | 44.83%  | 140  | 0.87%
1936 | 5,760  | 38.93%  | 7,854  | 53.08% | 1,182  | 7.99%
1932 | 4,792  | 35.71%  | 8,445  | 62.92% | 184  | 1.37%
1928 | 7,514  | 55.41% | 5,985  | 44.13%  | 62  | 0.46%
1924 | 5,135  | 41.72%  | 560  | 4.55%  | 6,613  | 53.73%
1920 | 6,750  | 82.57% | 1,103  | 13.49%  | 322  | 3.94%
1916 | 3,324  | 58.15% | 2,233  | 39.07%  | 159  | 2.78%
1912 | 1,736  | 33.93%  | 2,028  | 39.63% | 1,353  | 26.44%
1908 | 3,526  | 59.07% | 2,203  | 36.91%  | 240  | 4.02%
1904 | 3,744  | 66.49% | 1,670  | 29.66%  | 217  | 3.85%
1900 | 4,215  | 61.88% | 2,446  | 35.91%  | 151  | 2.22%
1896 | 3,601  | 54.09% | 2,929  | 44.00%  | 127  | 1.91%
1892 | 1,975  | 39.48%  | 2,530  | 50.57% | 498  | 9.95%

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Chippewa County, Wisconsin

## References

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1. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census: Chippewa County, Wisconsin". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Early Settlement of West-Central Wisconsin" (PDF). University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire McIntyre Library Special Collections. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 23, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
4. ^ Taken from Wisconsin Blue Book 1991-1992 p. 731; cited there as from "Wisconsin Historical Records, Origin and Legislative History of County Boundaries in Wisconsin, 1942."
5. ^ When Counties Originated from rootsweb.com's Oconto County, Wisconsin webpage Archived March 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
6. ^ "Wisconsin: Individual County Chronologies". Wisconsin Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2007. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
8. ^ Syverson, Kent M. (2007). Pleistocene Geology of Chippewa County, Wisconsin. Madison: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. pp. 36–46. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
9. ^ "About the Ice Age Trail". Ice Age Trail Alliance. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
12. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
16. ^ "Annual Wisconsin Birth and Infant Mortality Report, 2017 P-01161-19 (June 2019): Detailed Tables". Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
17. ^ Reported Induced Abortions in Wisconsin, Office of Health Informatics, Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Section: Trend Information, 2013-2017, Table 18, pages 17-18
18. ^ "Home Page - WisConomy". worknet.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

## Further reading

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* Forrester, George (ed.) Historical and Biographical Album of the Chippewa Valley Wisconsin. Chicago: A. Warner, 1891–2.
* Randall, Thomas E. History of the Chippewa Valley. Eau Claire, Wis.: Free Press, 1875.

## External links

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* Chippewa County government website
* Chippewa County map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
* Chippewa County Historical Society
* University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Special Collections and Archives

Places adjacent to Chippewa County, Wisconsin

| Barron County | Rusk County |

|
|

|  |
Dunn County |

Chippewa County, Wisconsin

| Taylor County
|  |
| Eau Claire County | Clark County

* v
* t
* e

Eau Claire–Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Core cities|

* Eau Claire°
* Chippewa Falls°

Surrounding
communities|

| (over 5,000)|

* Altoona°
* Lafayette*
* Lake Hallie ‡
* Washington *

|

(under 5,000)|

* Anson *
* Brunswick *
* Eagle Point *
* Hallie *
* Jim Falls§
* Lake Wissota§
* Pleasant Valley *
* Seymour *
* Seymour §
* Tilden *
* Union*
* Wheaton *

Counties|

* Eau Claire
* Chippewa

* town ‡ village ° city § CDP

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States

County seat: Chippewa Falls

Cities|

* Bloomer
* Chippewa Falls
* Cornell
* Eau Claire‡
* Stanley‡

Villages|

* Boyd
* Cadott
* Lake Hallie
* New Auburn‡

Towns|

* Anson
* Arthur
* Auburn
* Birch Creek
* Bloomer
* Cleveland
* Colburn
* Cooks Valley
* Delmar
* Eagle Point
* Edson
* Estella
* Goetz
* Hallie
* Howard
* Lafayette
* Lake Holcombe
* Ruby
* Sampson
* Sigel
* Tilden
* Wheaton
* Woodmohr

CDPs|

* Holcombe
* Jim Falls
* Lake Wissota

Unincorporated
communities|

* Albertville
* Anson
* Arnold
* Bateman
* Brownville
* Cobban
* Colburn
* Crescent
* Drywood
* Eagle Point
* Eagleton
* Edson
* Howard
* Huron
* Maple Hill
* Old Albertville
* Pine Grove
* Ruby
* Tilden

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Wisconsin

Madison (capital)

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Society|

* Administrative divisions
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Regions|

* Apostle Islands
* Central Plain
* Chippewa Valley
* Door Peninsula
* Driftless Area
* Eastern Ridges and Lowlands
* Fox River Valley
* Great River Road
* Lake Superior Lowland
* Northern Highland
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Major metropolitan areas
(pop. over 500,000)|

* Chicago metropolitan area
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Largest cities
(pop. over 50,000)|

* Appleton
* Eau Claire
* Green Bay
* Janesville
* Kenosha
* La Crosse
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* Racine
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Smaller cities
(pop. 15,000 to 50,000)|

* Beaver Dam
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* South Milwaukee
* Stevens Point
* Sun Prairie
* Superior
* Watertown
* Wausau
* Wauwatosa
* West Bend
* Wisconsin Rapids

Largest villages
(pop. over 15,000)|

* Ashwaubenon
* Bellevue
* Caledonia
* Fox Crossing
* Germantown
* Howard
* Menomonee Falls
* Mount Pleasant
* Pleasant Prairie

Counties|

* Adams
* Ashland
* Barron
* Bayfield
* Brown
* Buffalo
* Burnett
* Calumet
* Chippewa
* Clark
* Columbia
* Crawford
* Dane
* Dodge
* Door
* Douglas
* Dunn
* Eau Claire
* Florence
* Fond du Lac
* Forest
* Grant
* Green
* Green Lake
* Iowa
* Iron
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Juneau
* Kenosha
* Kewaunee
* La Crosse
* Lafayette
* Langlade
* Lincoln
* Manitowoc
* Marathon
* Marinette
* Marquette
* Menominee
* Milwaukee
* Monroe
* Oconto
* Oneida
* Outagamie
* Ozaukee
* Pepin
* Pierce
* Polk
* Portage
* Price
* Racine
* Richland
* Rock
* Rusk
* Sauk
* Sawyer
* Shawano
* Sheboygan
* St. Croix
* Taylor
* Trempealeau
* Vernon
* Vilas
* Walworth
* Washburn
* Washington
* Waukesha
* Waupaca
* Waushara
* Winnebago
* Wood

Coordinates: 45°04′N 91°17′W﻿ / ﻿45.07°N 91.28°W﻿ / 45.07; -91.28
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