Crookston, Minnesota
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Crookston is an American city located in the state of Minnesota. It is the county seat of Polk County6. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 8,192.
Crookston is home to the University of Minnesota - Crookston (a campus of the University of Minnesota system) and is also the site of a Roman Catholic diocese. The city is located near the larger Greater Grand Forks metropolitan area and many people live in Crookston while being employed in the Grand Forks area.
KROX 1260 AM is Crookston's only local radio station. Most of the media in Crookston comes from nearby Grand Forks.
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History
The present day site of Crookston first saw settlement by non-Indian people around 1872. The town was incorporated on April 1, 1879 as "Queen City." By the end of that year the town boasted a jail, graded streets, and a few plank sidewalks. Soon, it was decided that the town needed a new name. Two factions emerged that supported two different names. One group wished to honor the town's first mayor, Captain Ellerey C. Davis, by renaming "Queen City" to "Davis." Another group picked the name "Crookston" to honor Colonel William Crooks, a soldier and railroad builder. The present day name was reportedly chosen by means of a coin toss.
Soon, immigrants from Scandinavia and Germany begin populating Crookston. At one point, eight different railroad lines reached Crookston and the town became a center of commerce and manufacturing.
Today, Crookston is probably best known for its University. The city has not seen a major period of population growth for quite some time and the economy has suffered from increased competition from nearby Grand Forks, North Dakota. Typical of many small towns across America, many buildings in the historic downtown area of Crookston have been abandoned as local stores have closed.
The Wal-Mart corporation has announced plans to construct a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the city. Crookston currently has few national chain stores or restaurants. The construction of a Wal-Mart store could mean the shift away from local "Mom and Pop" merchants towards more popular national chains. Several national companies have reportedly expressed interest in building in Crookston if a Wal-Mart is constructed.
Geography
Image:MNMap-doton-Crookston.png Crookston sits in the fertile Red River Valley. The Valley was once a part of glacial Lake Agassiz. As Lake Agassiz receded, it left behind rich mineral deposits. This made the area around Crookston prime for agricultural uses. Grains like wheat and other crops like sugar beets and potatoes grow well in the immediate area around Crookston.
Crookston has a relatively flat landscape. The Red Lake River flows through the city and makes several twists and turns (oxbows). Crookston has experienced some erosion of the riverbank lately. A recent minor landslide has led the city to seek a permanent solution to such problems.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.8 km² (4.9 mi²). 12.8 km² (4.9 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 8,192 people, 3,078 households, and 1,819 families residing in the city. The population density was 640.3/km² (1,658.8/mi²). There were 3,382 housing units at an average density of 264.3/km² (684.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.25% White, 0.50% African American, 1.54% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.64% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 8.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,078 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 14.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,609, and the median income for a family was $44,157. Males had a median income of $30,564 versus $21,021 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,219. 12.5% of the population and 7.5% of families were below the poverty line. 14.4% of those under the age of 18 and 14.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Trivia
- Crookston is home to The Grand Theater. This facility is the oldest continuously operating movie theater in the United States. It was originally an opera house and played host to legendary entertainers like author Mark Twain and early film actress Mary Pickford.