Wausau (pronounce /wô'sô/) is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The city is located at 44°57'N 89°38'W with an altitude of 364.2 meters (1,195 ft). The Wisconsin River divides the city. Wausau is 180 miles (290 km) east of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The city is located adjacent to and partially surrounded by the Town of Wausau. According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people. It is the principal city of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area.