It’s no big secret that downtown Eau Claire has been evolving – mostly for the better – in recent years. Redevelopment has brought new dining, entertainment, and recreation options, and these changes have gone hand in hand with an increase in the downtown population. People have always lived downtown, of course, but the past decade’s growth has increased housing options with the construction and renovation of numerous apartments, particularly in the Phoenix Park area. In the near future, we may even see condominiums in the mix.

Here’s a rundown of enlightening downtown stats:

3,477

population of downtown Eau Claire (2018 estimate)

7.2%

population growth downtown since the 2010 census

49%

estimated share of downtown population that is 24 and younger

518

estimated number of  businesses in downtown Eau Claire

10,009

number of workers employed by those 518 businesses

21%

estimated share of city’s workforce that works downtown

Source: Downtown Eau Claire Inc.