Altoona, Wisconsin

Altoona, Wisconsin
City
Nickname(s): Cinder City
Location of Altoona within Wisconsin
Location of Altoona within Eau Claire County
Coordinates: 44°48′15″N 91°26′32″W / 44.80417°N 91.44222°W / 44.80417; -91.44222Coordinates: 44°48′15″N 91°26′32″W / 44.80417°N 91.44222°W / 44.80417; -91.44222
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Eau Claire
Area[1]
• Total	4.86 sq mi (12.59 km2)
• Land	4.65 sq mi (12.04 km2)
• Water	0.21 sq mi (0.54 km2)
Elevation[2]	896 ft (273 m)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	6,706
• Estimate (2014[4])	7,155
• Density	1,442.2/sq mi (556.8/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes[5]	54720
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-01550[6]
GNIS feature ID	1560807[2]
Website	www.ci.altoona.wi.us

Altoona is a city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,056 as of July 1, 2013. The city is a railroad terminal on the Union Pacific Railroad.

History

The settlement of Altoona began in 1881 when the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway selected the site for a new terminal to replace the overcrowded existing terminal in Eau Claire. The railroad had originally planned to put the new terminal in Fall Creek, but the city of Eau Claire lobbied for a site closer to the existing one, and representatives from Eau Claire and the railroad walked the tracks from Fall Creek to Eau Claire to determine a suitable site. When the location of present-day Altoona - approximately three miles east of the existing Eau Claire terminal - was found to have sufficient flat land and access to water (via the Eau Claire River), the railroad began construction of the new terminal and the community of "East Eau Claire" was platted in October.

Residents began moving into the community in early 1882 and the railroad terminal became operational in May of that year. However, confusion between the "Eau Claire" and "East Eau Claire" stations quickly caused the railroad to rename the new terminal "Altoona" on October 14, 1882. Altoona was incorporated as a city on April 5, 1887.^[7]

Continued growth in both Altoona and Eau Claire over the past century has left the two cities adjacent to one another, with Fairfax St. and Bus. 53 providing a general boundary between the two, although the actual border is irregular. County Highway AA generally forms the eastern limits of the city. Altoona is bounded on the north by Lake Altoona and the Eau Claire River. To the south, the city limits generally follow Otter Creek.

Geography

Altoona is located at 44°48′15″N 91°26′32″W / 44.80417°N 91.44222°W / 44.80417; -91.44222 (44.804110, -91.442183).^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.86 square miles (12.59 km²), of which, 4.65 square miles (12.04 km²) is land and 0.21 square miles (0.54 km²) is water.^[1]

Altoona is situated near Lake Altoona, a man-made lake, with water provided by the Eau Claire River.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 6,706 people, 2,883 households, and 1,775 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,442.2 inhabitants per square mile (556.8/km²). There were 3,288 housing units at an average density of 707.1 per square mile (273.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White, 0.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 2,883 households of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 37.4 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 15.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 6,698 people, 2,844 households, and 1,731 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,638.6 people per square mile (632.3/km²). There were 3,063 housing units at an average density of 749.4 per square mile (289.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.89% White, 0.40% African American, 0.58% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.

The Islamic Society of Northern Wisconsin Mosque in Altoona

There were 2,844 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,394, and the median income for a family was $49,441. Males had a median income of $33,505 versus $22,200 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,236. About 4.4% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Altoona is served by the School District of Altoona. On November 4, 2014, a referendum passed approving a new energy-efficient elementary school on County Road KB.^[11]

Media

Altoona is a part of the Eau Claire media market; until early 2009, it was served by its own free weekly newspaper, the Altoona Star. Altoona is also home to the studios and offices of Mid-West Family Broadcasting stations WAYY, WEAQ, WECL, WIAL, WAXX, and WDRK-FM.

Notable people

• Leonard Haas, third president (1959–1971) and first chancellor (1973–1980) of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
• Fred "Fuzzy" Thurston, Green Bay Packers offensive lineman (1958-1967), 1975 Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame inductee, and for whom the Altoona High School football field is named.

References

External links

• City of Altoona
• Altoona Public Library
• Sanborn fire insurance map: 1894

Eau Claire–Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Core cities Eau Claire° Chippewa Falls° Surrounding communities (over 5,000) Altoona° Lafayette* Lake Hallie ‡ Washington * (under 5,000) Anson * Brunswick * Eagle Point * Hallie * Jim Falls§ Lake Wissota§ Pleasant Valley * Seymour * Seymour § Tilden * Union* Wheaton * Counties Eau Claire Chippewa * town ‡ village ° city § CDP

Municipalities and communities of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States County seat: Eau Claire Cities Altoona Augusta Eau Claire‡ Villages Fairchild Fall Creek Towns Bridge Creek Brunswick Clear Creek Drammen Fairchild Lincoln Ludington Otter Creek Pleasant Valley Seymour Union Washington Wilson CDP Seymour Unincorporated communities Allen Brackett Cleghorn Foster Hadleyville Hale Corner Hay Creek Ludington Lufkin Mount Hope Corners Nix Corner Rodell Truax Union Wilson Ghost towns Nelsonville Oak Grove Porter's Mills Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties