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°WCoordinates: 44°48′15″N 91°26′32″W / 44.80417°N 91.44222°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Eau Claire |
| Area | |
| • 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 | 896 ft (273 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 6,706 |
| • Estimate (2014) | 7,155 |
| • Density | 1,540/sq mi (594.5/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 54720 |
| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-01550 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1560807 |
| Website | www |
Altoona is a city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6,706 at the 2010 census, with an estimated population in 2014 of 7,155. The city is a railroad terminal on the Union Pacific Railroad.
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.
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.
Altoona is located at 44°48′15″N 91°26′32″W / 44.80417°N 91.44222°W (44.804110, -91.442183).
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Wikipedia