Location within the state of Wisconsin

Wausau is the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin. The city is located at 44°57'N 89°38'W with an altitude of 364.2 meters (1,195 feet). The Wisconsin River divides the city. Wausau is 180 miles east of Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people. The city is located adjacent to and partially surrounded by the Town of Wausau.

The Wausau metropolitan area had a 2000 census population of 78,664 and, besides the City of Wausau, includes Schofield, Rothschild, Weston, Kronenwetter, and the town of Rib Mountain. The city forms the core of the United States Census Bureau's Wausau MSA, which includes all of Marathon County (2000 population: 125,834).

The industries of Wausau include paper manufacturing, insurance, home manufacturing, and tourism.

Wausau is home to the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, famous for its "Birds in Art" collection. Wausau is also home to a world-class kayak course, having hosted numerous regional, national, and world competitions over the last two decades.