Chippewa County, Wisconsin

Chippewa County (/ˈtʃɪpəwɔː/ ^ⓘ) 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.

Chippewa County
County
Chippewa County Courthouse, February 2015
Location within the U.S. state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°04′N 91°17′W
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
Founded	1853
Named after	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
• Estimate  (2023)	66,970
• Density	64/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	3rd, 7th
Website	www.co.chippewa.wi.us

Geography

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

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

Major highways

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

• Union Pacific
• Wisconsin Northern Railroad
• Canadian National

Buses

• Eau Claire Transit

Airports

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

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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

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

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

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

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

A farm in Chippewa County

Cities

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

Villages

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

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

Census-designated places

• Holcombe
• Jim Falls
• Lake Wissota

Other 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

Politics

United States presidential election results for Chippewa County, Wisconsin^[20]

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 in the county since Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952.

See also

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