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Chippewa County, Wisconsin facts for kids

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Chippewa 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.
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
 (2010)
 • Total 62,415
 • Estimate 
(2020)
64,737
 • Density 59.957/sq mi (23.149/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 3rd, 7th

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 2010 census, the population was 62,415. Its county seat is Chippewa Falls. The county was founded in 1845 from Crawford County, then in the Wisconsin Territory, and organized in 1853.

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

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.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • US 12.svg U.S. Highway 12
  • US 53.svg U.S. Highway 53
  • WIS 27.svg Highway 27 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 29.svg Highway 29 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 40.svg Highway 40 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 64.svg Highway 64 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 124.svg Highway 124 (Wisconsin)
  • WIS 178.svg Highway 178 (Wisconsin)

Airports

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

Demographics

USA Chippewa County, Wisconsin age pyramid
2000 Census Age Pyramid for Chippewa County
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 (est.) 64,737 3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

As of the census 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.

Library

UWEC's Special Collections and Archives, located on the fifth floor of McIntyre Library, houses an extensive collection of public records, books and collections relating 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

ChippewaFallsWI
A farm in Chippewa county

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Economy

The largest employers in Chippewa County are:

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

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Chippewa (Wisconsin) para niños

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