Wikipedia

Chippewa County, Wisconsin

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
County
Chippewa County Courthouse, February 2015
Chippewa County Courthouse, February 2015
Map of Wisconsin highlighting Chippewa County
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Map of the United States highlighting Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°04′N 91°17′W / 45.07°N 91.28°W / 45.07; -91.28
Country United States
State Wisconsin
Founded1853
Named forOjibwa
SeatChippewa Falls
Largest cityChippewa Falls
Area
 • Total
1,041 sq mi (2,700 km2)
 • Land1,008 sq mi (2,610 km2)
 • Water33 sq mi (90 km2)  3.2%
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
66,297
 • Estimate 
(2023)
66,970 Increase
 • Density65.7/sq mi (25.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts3rd, 7th
Websitewww.co.chippewa.wi.us

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

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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Major highways

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Railroads

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Buses

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Airports

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850615—
18601,895208.1%
18708,311338.6%
188015,49186.4%
189025,14362.3%
190033,03731.4%
191032,103−2.8%
192036,48213.6%
193037,3422.4%
194040,7039.0%
195042,8395.2%
196045,0965.3%
197047,7175.8%
198052,1279.2%
199052,3600.4%
200055,1955.4%
201062,41513.1%
202066,2976.2%
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 people per square mile (25.4 people/km2). There were 28,688 housing units at an average density of 28.5 units per square mile (11.0 units/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 people/km2). There were 22,821 housing units at an average density of 23 units per square mile (8.9 units/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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Small intermodal terminal in Chippewa Falls on the Canadian National line.[18]

The largest employers in Chippewa County are:[19]

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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Villages

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Chippewa County, Wisconsin[20][21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 23,399 60.82% 14,573 37.88% 499 1.30%
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%

At the presidential level, Chippewa County leans Republican; however, Barack Obama won the county in 2008. In 2024, Donald Trump received 60.8 percent of the vote, the best result for a Republican since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952.

See also

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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. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. 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. ^ https://midamericafreight.org/index.php/rfs/network-inventory/rail/intermodal-facilities/cn-chippewa-falls-wi/
  19. ^ "Home Page - WisConomy". worknet.wisconsin.gov. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  21. ^ https://www.chippewacountywi.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/37988/638670114823330000

Further reading

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

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