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. 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 1041 sqmi, of which 1008 sqmi is land and 33 sqmi (3.2%) is water. Parts of northern Chippewa county are covered with choppy hills dimpled by kettle lakes and bogs—the terminal moraine left by the last glacier. The Ice Age Trail threads through some of this country, providing public foot-access to these unusual landforms.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Railroads

Buses

Airports

Demographics

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 66,297. The population density was 65.7 /mi2. There were 28,688 housing units at an average density of 28.5 /mi2. 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

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 /mi2. There were 22,821 housing units at an average density of 23 /mi2. 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. Additionally, there were fewer than five reported induced abortions performed on women of Chippewa County residence in 2017.

Economy

The largest employers in Chippewa County are:

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

Cities

Villages

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Politics

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.