Stillwater, Minnesota

Stillwater, Minnesota
City

The waterfront of Stillwater on the St. Croix River

Seal
Nickname(s): The Birthplace of Minnesota

Location of the city of Stillwater
within Washington County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 45°3′N 92°49′W / 45.050°N 92.817°W / 45.050; -92.817Coordinates: 45°3′N 92°49′W / 45.050°N 92.817°W / 45.050; -92.817
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Washington
Incorporated March 4, 1854
Government
 • Mayor Ted Kozlowski
Area[1]
 • Total 7.98 sq mi (20.67 km2)
 • Land 6.96 sq mi (18.03 km2)
 • Water 1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
Elevation 696 ft (212 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 18,225
 • Estimate (2015)[3] 18,924
 • Density 2,618.5/sq mi (1,011.0/km2)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes 55082, 55083
Area code(s) 651
FIPS code 27-62824
GNIS feature ID 0652642[4]
Website www.ci.stillwater.mn.us

Stillwater is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, directly across the St. Croix River from the state of Wisconsin. The population was 18,225 at the 2010 census.[5] It is the county seat.[6] Stillwater is part of the Twin Cities Metro Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.98 square miles (20.67 km2); 6.96 square miles (18.03 km2) is land and 1.02 square miles (2.64 km2) is water.[1] State Highways 36, 95, and 96 are three of the community's main routes.

Stillwater receives an average annual snowfall of 42 inches (1,100 mm). Average annual rainfall is 24 in (610 mm). Each year has an average of 14 days above 90 °F (32 °C).

History

On July 29 and September 29, 1837, treaties were signed between the US government and the local Ojibwa and Dakota nations that allowed settlement in the St. Croix Valley. The town was founded by settlers drawn by the area's then-abundant lumber and river traffic, making it one of Minnesota's oldest towns, preceding Minneapolis by several years. Stillwater was officially incorporated as a city on March 4, 1854 (the same day as St. Paul). The city was named for the calm waters of the St. Croix River.[7]

Stillwater c. 1860s
Washington County Courthouse
Across the street from the Courthouse, the Veterans' Memorial for local veterans

Stillwater is often referred to as the birthplace of Minnesota.[8] In 1848, a territorial convention that began the process of establishing Minnesota as a state was held in Stillwater, at the corner of Myrtle and Main Streets. Minnesota officially became a territory in 1849 and a state in 1858.

As more evidence of Stillwater's importance at the time, the convention selected three leading Minnesota cities as locations for three important public institutions: Minneapolis got the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul became the capital, and Stillwater chose to be the site of the territory's first prison, primarily because of the access to free prisoner labor it would provide. The Minnesota Territorial Prison was opened in 1853. The prison held two of the Younger brothers of the James–Younger Gang

Lumbering was the predominant industry in the St. Croix River Valley in the second half of the 19th century, and for many years logs were sent down the St. Croix, collected at the St. Croix Boom Site two miles upstream of Stillwater, and processed in Stillwater's many sawmills. Steamboats were used most widely from 1860 to 1890, and a few are still used for entertainment today.

Stillwater sent men of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Company B and the 8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment Company C to fight during the American Civil War.[9][10]

On October 18, 1921, Charles Strite invented the automatic pop-up bread toaster in Stillwater. By 1926, the Toastmaster Company began to market the first household toaster using a redesigned version of Strite's.[11]

Stillwater today

Stillwater is a popular day trip for tourists from the Twin Cities, who enjoy the historic downtown's used bookstores, antique shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, historical sites and the scenic St. Croix River valley.

New housing development

In recent decades, there has been a good deal of new housing development on the city's outskirts, and a substantial population commutes daily to the Twin Cities. More recently, development has focused on medium-density housing, such as condominium complexes, on the north side of downtown.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18602,380—
18704,12473.3%
18809,055119.6%
189011,26024.4%
190012,81813.8%
191010,198−20.4%
19207,735−24.2%
19307,173−7.3%
19407,013−2.2%
19507,6749.4%
19608,3108.3%
197010,19122.6%
198012,29020.6%
199013,88213.0%
200015,1439.1%
201018,22520.4%
Est. 201518,924[12]3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
2015 Estimate[3]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 18,225 people, 7,075 households, and 4,885 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,618.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,011.0/km2). There were 7,576 housing units at an average density of 1,088.5 per square mile (420.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 1.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 7,075 households, of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 40 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile (903.7/km²). There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile (353.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.0% White, 0.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

Lift Bridge

There were 5,797 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $57,154, and the median income for a family was $72,188. Males had a median income of $49,158 versus $33,680 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,163. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

Cultural references

Movies filmed entirely or partially in Stillwater

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  2. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  3. 1 2 "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  4. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  7. ↑ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 165.
  8. ↑ http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/55/v55i06p267-279.pdf
  9. ↑ From the Journal of Sgt. Sam Bloomer 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Part I
  10. ↑ Historians seek Stillwater Civil War unit's flag
  11. ↑ http://www.uspto.gov/news/pr/2001/01-46.jsp
  12. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
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