|
|
|
|
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
|
| |
|
| |
le="font-size: 125%;" | Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
|-
| align="center" colspan="2" |
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 12,925 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chippewa County. Chippewa Falls was incorporated as a city in 1869.
Chippewa Falls is known for being the birthplace of Seymour Cray, and the location of the headquarters for the original Cray Research.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin' Start a new discussion about 'Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
|+ style="font-size: 125%;" | Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
|-
| align="center" colspan="2" |
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 12,925 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chippewa County. Chippewa Falls was incorporated as a city in 1869.
Chippewa Falls is known for being the birthplace of Seymour Cray, and the location of the headquarters for the original Cray Research. Chippewa Falls is also the home of Leinenkugel's Beer, brewed by the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company and the Heyde Center for the Arts, a showcase venue for local, regional, national and international artists and performers. Chippewa Falls is also the home to the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, which is held annually.
The city's name is due to its location on the Chippewa River, which in turn is named after the Ojibwa Native Americans. Early settlers misheard the word "Ojibwa" as "Chippewa."
Geography
Chippewa Falls is located at (44.934110, -91.393228).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.5 km˛), of which, 10.9 square miles (28.1 km˛) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.4 km˛) of it (4.66%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2003, there were 13,294 people, 5,638 households, and 3,247 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,191.2 people per square mile (459.9/km˛). There were 5,905 housing units at an average density of 544.2/sq mi (210.1/km˛). 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 out 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.
In the city the population was spread out with 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 income for a household in the city was $32,744, and the median income for a family 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.
History
Chippewa Falls was originally a lumber town that migrated into a railroad town, being in the names of at least two railroads, even though the main railroad line of the 1870s went through Eau Claire, WI about 10 miles to the south. In 1870, the West Wisconsin Railway built a line from St. Paul, MN to Milwaukee, WI choosing to run through the area at Eau Claire. Following this the Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls Railway established a line running from the WWR track in Eau Claire to Chippewa Falls. After seven years, the CF&W was joined in 1880 by the Wisconsin and Minnesota Railway pushing its way west from Abbotsford, WI. Which was followed in 1881, by the Chippewa Falls & Northern Railroad which built a line north from Chippewa Falls to Bloomer, WI eventually being extended to Superior, WI.
Education
Chippewa Falls currently has three high schools: Chippewa Falls Senior High, McDonell Central Catholic High School, and Chippewa Falls Alternate High School. There are also three middle schools: Chippewa Falls Middle School, Notre Dame (catholic), and Chippewa Falls Alternate Middle School. In addition there are 9 elementary schools: Parkview, Hillcrest, Southview, Stillson, Halmstad, Holy Ghost, St. Charles, St. Peters, and Jim Falls Elementary.
All schools listed above are part of the Chippewa Falls Area School District (CFSD) except for McDonnell Central Catholic High School, Notre Dame Middle School, Holy Ghost Elementary School, St. Charles Primary School, and St Peter Elementary School which are part of the Chippewa Area Catholic Schools (CACS).
The CFSD webpage is .
The CACS webpage is .
Chippewa Falls in the media
- The title character played by Diane Keaton in Woody Allen's Oscar-winning film Annie Hall (1977) hails from Chippewa Falls. The sequence where Alvy Singer meets Annie's family takes place in the town.
- Chippewa Falls is also mentioned in another best-picture winner, Titanic, as the birthplace and hometown of Jack Dawson (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). During the movie, the character recalls fishing as a boy on Lake Wissota, a man-made lake that was not created until 1917 -- five years after the Titanic sank.
- In the MTV Movie Award winning Tommy Boy, Chippewa Falls is referenced in a highway sign behind the fighting traveling companions Tommy Callaghan III, played by the late Chris Farley, and Richard Hayden, played by David Spade.
- Chippewa Falls is also the hometown of Dorothy McGuire's character 'Pat Ruscomb' in the 1946 movie 'Till The End Of Time'.
- There is an instrumental rock band from Newcastle upon Tyne, England named after Chippewa Falls.
- Musical Artist Al Duvall recorded a song entitled, "When It's Ice Chopping Time (in Chippewa Falls)"
Notable natives and residents
External links
General
Tourism
Maps and photos
| |
|
|
|
