Altoona is a city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,292 at the 2020 census taking into consideration an estimated population in 2021 of 8,817. The city is a railroad terminal on the Union Pacific Railroad.

The pact of Altoona began in 1881 later than the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway chosen the site for a further terminal to replace the overcrowded existing terminal in Eau Claire. The railroad had originally planned to put the further terminal in drop 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 gratifying site. When the location of present-day Altoona – approximately three miles east of the existing Eau Claire terminal – was found to have ample flat estate and access to water (via the Eau Claire River), the railroad began construction of the supplementary terminal and the community of “East Eau Claire” was platted in October.

Residents began disturbing into the community in at the forefront 1882 and the railroad terminal became in force 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. The name Altoona was based upon Altoona, Pennsylvania, which in turn was named after Allatoona, Georgia. The name another may along with have been influenced by the presence of immigrants from Altona, Germany. Altoona was incorporated as a city upon April 5, 1887.

Continued deposit in both Altoona and Eau Claire beyond the when century has left the two cities against one another, with Fairfax St. and Bus. 53 providing a general boundary amongst 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.