Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The most recent census from 2010 shows that the population is 13,661. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County.[7]

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
City
Chippewa Falls Chamber Building Downtown
Chippewa Falls logo
Location of Chippewa Falls in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.
Coordinates: 44°56′N 91°24′W
Country United States
State Wisconsin
CountyChippewa
Government
 • MayorGreg Hoffman[1]
Area
 • Total11.86 sq mi (30.72 km2)
 • Land11.32 sq mi (29.31 km2)
 • Water0.54 sq mi (1.41 km2)
Elevation840 ft (256 m)
Population
 • Total13,661
 • Estimate 
(2019)[5]
14,366
 • Density1,269.42/sq mi (490.12/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip code
54729, 54774 (companies/organisations)
Area code(s)715 & 534
FIPS code55-14575[6]
GNIS feature ID1563041[3]
Websiteci.chippewa-falls.wi.us

The city's name originated from its location on the Chippewa River, which is named after the Ojibwe Native Americans. Chippewa is an alternative rendition of Ojibwe.

Chippewa Falls is the birthplace of Seymour Cray, known as the "father of supercomputing", and the headquarters for the original Cray Research. It is also the home of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, the Heyde Center for the Arts, a showcase venue for artists and performers; Irvine Park, and the annual Northern Wisconsin State Fair. Chippewa Falls is 15 miles from the annual four-day music festivals Country Fest and Rock Fest.

History
The original Spring House.

Chippewa Falls was originally developed by European Americans to exploit area lumber resources. It later became a railroad town, though the main railroad line of the 1870s ran about 10 miles south of Eau Claire. In 1870, the West Wisconsin Railway built a line from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Milwaukee, running right through Eau Claire.

Following this, the Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls Railway established a line extending from Eau Claire to Chippewa Falls. In 1880, the CF&W was joined by the Wisconsin and Minnesota Railway pushing its way west from Abbotsford. This was followed in 1881 by the Chippewa Falls & Northern Railroad, which built a line north from Chippewa Falls to Bloomer, eventually extending it to Superior.

Around 1700, French explorer Pierre-Charles Le Sueur discovered the Chippewa Spring near the river. The Ojibwe had long enjoyed its waters.

Such natural springs gained renewed attention in the late 19th century. Politician Thaddeus C. Pound founded the Chippewa Springs Health Club in 1887, and at one point oversaw the company that bottled the spring water for sale. A Spring House was built over the original spring in 1893. It remains today, across from the modern water bottling plant on Park Ave.[8]

Geography

Chippewa Falls is located at 44.9341, -91.3932.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.92 square miles (30.87 km2), of which 11.37 square miles (29.45 km2) is land and 0.55 square miles (1.42 km2) is water.[9]

Climate
Chippewa Falls
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
39
 
 
−11
−16
 
 
58
 
 
−6
−15
 
 
62
 
 
1
−8
 
 
133
 
 
17
2
 
 
180
 
 
22
8
 
 
189
 
 
26
14
 
 
63
 
 
27
17
 
 
101
 
 
25
17
 
 
78
 
 
21
13
 
 
111
 
 
14
4
 
 
47
 
 
7
−2
 
 
46
 
 
−9
−13
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [10]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18702,507—
18803,98258.8%
18908,670117.7%
19008,094−6.6%
19108,8939.9%
19209,1302.7%
19309,5394.5%
194010,3688.7%
195011,0886.9%
196011,7085.6%
197012,3515.5%
198012,270−0.7%
199012,7273.7%
200012,9251.6%
201013,6615.7%
2019 (est.)14,366[5]5.2%
WI Counties 1900-1990

2010 census

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 13,661 people, 5,896 households, and 3,275 families living in the city. The population density was 1,201.5 inhabitants per square mile (463.9/km2). There were 6,304 housing units at an average density of 554.4 per square mile (214.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 1.7% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 5,896 households, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.5% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 38 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[6] there were 12,925 people, 5,638 households and 3,247 families living in the city. The population density was 1,191.2 per square mile (459.9/km2). There were 5,905 housing units at an average density of 544.2 per square mile (210.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.62% White, 0.30% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.

There were 5,638 households, of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.89.

Age distribution was 24.2% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median household income was $32,744, and the median family income was $43,519. Males had a median income of $32,016 versus $22,655 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,366. About 8.7% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Renovated Chippewa Shoe Factory facing the Chippewa River in Chippewa Falls

As of 2011, the largest employers in the city were:[11]

1TTM Advanced Circuits
2Chippewa Falls Public Schools
3Saint Joseph's Hospital
4Wal-Mart
5Mason Companies Inc
6Chippewa County
7Silicon Graphics International
8Cooperative Educational Service Agency #10
9Cray Inc
10Wissota Healthcare Regional Vent CT

Infrastructure

Chippewa Falls is along U.S. Highway 53, Wisconsin Highways 124 and 178, and Bus. WIS 29. Other routes include Wisconsin Highway 29; and County Highways J, Q, S, and X.

Education
The original McDonell High School is now a public arts center.

The Chippewa Falls Area School District (CFSD) serves the city of Chippewa Falls. It has two high schools: Chippewa Falls Senior High and Chippewa Falls Alternate High School; two middle schools: Chippewa Falls Middle School, and Chippewa Falls Alternate Middle School; and six elementary schools: Parkview, Hillcrest, Southview, Stillson, Halmstad, and Jim Falls Elementary.

In addition there are several parochial schools: McDonell Central Catholic High School, Notre Dame Middle School, Holy Ghost, St. Charles, and St. Peter Elementary Schools, all of which are part of the McDonell Area Catholic Schools (MACS).

The original McDonell High School building, constructed at a prominent location above downtown Chippewa Falls, is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. The structure was built in 1907. After the high school was relocated to a new building in a more suburban location, this structure was vacant for several years. It was taken over by the Chippewa Valley Cultural Association and converted into the Heyde Center for the Arts in 2000.

Notable people

Important structures

In the Oscar-winning film Annie Hall, the title character, portrayed by Diane Keaton, originates from Chippewa Falls.

In the Oscar-winning film Titanic, Jack Dawson, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio says that his family is from Chippewa Falls.

Notes
  1. "Mayor and City Council Members | City of Chippewa Falls, WI". www.chippewafalls-wi.gov.
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2015-05-10. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. Chippewa Springs Archived 2008-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Chippewa County Tourism Council, Accessed July 19, 2009.
  9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-11-18.
  10. "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  11. "Home Page - WisConomy". jobcenterofwisconsin.com.
  12. "Gene Ellenson at www.pro-football-reference.com". Retrieved 2009-05-06.
  13. "Horace Ellis - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor". valor.militarytimes.com.
  14. "Wisconsin History". Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  15. "Wisconsin Legislative Spotlight". Archived from the original on 2005-09-12. Retrieved 2010-06-01.


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