Eau Claire County, created in 1856 from Chippewa County, is named for the city of Eau Claire, which is French for "clear water." Located in northwest Wisconsin and covering 655 square miles, the county seat is Eau Claire. Eau Claire County Government comes under the general jurisdiction of an elected Board of Supervisors. The Board consists of 29 Supervisors, each representing a district of Eau Claire County. The County has 26 departments with approximately 500 employees offering over 150 services to its citizens.