Willmar, Minnesota
From Free net encyclopedia
Willmar is a city located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,351. It is the county seat of Kandiyohi County6 Willmar has been assigned ZIP code 56201 by the USPS.
Contents |
History
Agricultural expansion and the establishment of Willmar as a division point on the Great Northern Railway (US) determined the growth of the community. The first settlers arrived during the 1850’s attracted to the fertile land and an abundance of timber and game. The Sioux Uprising of 1862 left the township abandoned for several years. The advent of the railroad in Kandiyohi County in 1869 brought new settlers. Many were of Swedish and Norwegian origins; hence the predominance today of residents of Scandinavian heritage. In 1870, Leon Willmar – a Belgian acting as a European bondholder of St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company – purchased the title to Section 1 of Willmar Township. Willmar was established as the county seat in 1871 and was incorporated as a village in 1874 and as a city in 1901. Willmar was the site of "The Great Willmar, Minnesota Raid", a famous bank robbery which took place on July 15, 1930. Willmar was named an "All American City" in 2005.
Geography
Image:MNMap-doton-Willmar.png According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.2 km² (13.6 mi²). 30.7 km² (11.8 mi²) of it is land and 4.6 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.94% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 598.4/km² (1,549.9/mi²). There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 254.0/km² (657.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.12% White, 0.90% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 8.52% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 15.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 7,302 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,455, and the median income for a family was $45,415. Males had a median income of $31,575 versus $22,158 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,515. 13.1% of the population and 8.4% of families were below the poverty line. 16.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
External links
- City of Willmar, Minnesota official city website.
- The Willmar 8 California Newsreel documentary on a 1980 bank strike in Willmar.
- Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota.io:Willmar, Minnesota