Eau Claire, Wisconsin

“Eau Claire” is the singular form of the original French name, “Eaux Claires”, meaning “Clear Waters”, for the Eau Claire River.

According to local legend, the river was so named because early French explorers journeying down the rain-muddied Chippewa River, happened upon the Eau Claire River, excitedly exclaiming “Voici l’eau claire!” (“Here [is] clear water!”), the city motto, which appears on the city seal. The name is pronounced as if it were spelled “O’Clare”.

City Montage