EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – Eau Claire is home to people from all walks of life, and it continues to welcome more families to lay down their roots. Eau Claire is the 7th largest city in the state but could soon rise in the ranks. Community members explain how the rich tapestry of cultures and strong sense of community are just a few reasons behind a growing Eau Claire.
Eau Claire, known for its beautiful rivers and vibrant art scene, is growing.
“Folks have discovered what’s great about this community in this region. This is just a desirable location to live,” Aaron White, the city’s community development director, said.
But what makes this county a desirable place to live? For some residents, who laid down roots in Eau Claire decades ago, it was for job opportunities.
“I’ve lived in Eau Claire for 33 years,” Dale Winistorfer said. “I stayed because one for jobs, two for schools, and three just because of the community.”
“I’ve lived in Eau Claire since 1993,” Jan Lorentz said. “I got married, and the man I married had been living in Eau Claire, and his job was up here, so I moved and lived up here. It’s similar to the community I grew up in, and it’s on the rivers.”
As for the younger generations, looking for a new place to call home, it is for the education.
“There are a lot of opportunities with the university and the tech school and obviously the senior center and various churches, religious groups,” Lorentz said.
For White, it is all about the food.
“My passion is cheeseburgers, and we have some of the best places that serve some of the greatest cheeseburgers anywhere in the state,” White said.
Whether it is the love of cheeseburgers that has attracted people to Eau Claire County or something else, the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) reported the population rose 7% between 2010 and 2020. It is expected to grow even more, making it the fifth-fastest-growing of the state’s 72 counties. White said he is excited for the direction the city is moving in.
“I really enjoy the role of helping communities grow, helping solve problems, and making sure that the residents get what they need out of a community. They have a place to live, places to shop, places to work, meeting their needs to the extent that we can, and making sure that the community is successful and continues to grow successfully.”
The DOA also indicates that over the next three decades, the county’s population is projected to grow by 12%. While White is eager to see more U-Hauls crossing county lines, massive growth can present some challenges.
“We have to be able to house everybody. We have to ensure that there are jobs available for everybody, that the amenities are there, that people have access to the community through good streets.”
White said these are good challenges to have rather than the alternative.
“If a community is not growing, it’s slowly dying.”
That is the reason White said it is important to evolve and attract new businesses.
“Downtown has seen a renaissance in the last 20 years. They’ve done a great job starting in around 2004 with various organizations and previous city staff turning around what was a very blighted area.”
Growth keeps the community from becoming a ghost town.
“What happens with communities that get static? The youth don’t stay there because there’s nothing new, nothing changing, so they move to find new things. As businesses look around, if the community’s not growing, they tend not to invest in their community. So, businesses will slowly go away, and new businesses don’t come in.”
Lorentz and Winistorfer are proud to call Eau Claire home and encourage new residents to explore what the community has to offer.
“Get into the community, get involved, do whatever you can to meet people,” Winistorfer said. “That’s always the biggest thing.”
“Just a very warm and inviting community, a very diverse community,” Lorentz added.
Winistorfer said there is always room for improvement. As for Lorentz, she is hoping to see a Trader Joe’s in the near future. In 25 years, the DOA predicts that Eau Claire County will have more than 118,000 residents. White said the city will support its residents, visitors, and businesses and continue to grow Eau Claire.