Afton, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Afton, Minnesota
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Downtown Afton
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Location of the city of Afton
within Washington County, Minnesota |
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 Afton, Minnesota
Location in Minnesota
Afton, Minnesota
Location in the United States
Afton, Minnesota
Location in North America
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Washington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 26.48 sq mi (68.59 km2) |
| • Land | 25.09 sq mi (64.99 km2) |
| • Water | 1.39 sq mi (3.60 km2) |
| Elevation | 974 ft (297 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,955 |
| • Density | 117.77/sq mi (45.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
55001
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| Area code(s) | 651 |
| FIPS code | 27-00316 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2393887 |
| Website | ci.afton.mn.us |
Afton (pronounced AF-tən) is a small city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. It is located on a pretty bay where Valley Creek flows into the St. Croix River. This spot is just a few miles north of where the St. Croix River joins the big Mississippi River.
Afton is famous for Afton Alps, which is the biggest place to ski and snowboard in the Twin Cities area. It's also home to Afton State Park, a beautiful park along the St. Croix River. Because of these fun places and its charming small-town feel, Afton is a popular spot for day trips. Afton is also where Jessie Diggins, a gold medalist in cross-country skiing from the 2018 US Winter Olympics, grew up!
Contents
Afton's History
The first people to settle in the Afton area arrived in 1837. The town of Afton was officially planned and mapped out in 1855. Its name comes from a poem called "Sweet Afton" by the famous poet Robert Burns. A post office has been open in Afton since 1857.
The city has three historic buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Erastus Bolles House (built in 1856), the Newington Gilbert House (built in 1864), and the Cushing Hotel (built in 1867).
Where is Afton? (Geography)
Afton covers a total area of about 26.42 square miles (68.43 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 25.05 square miles (64.88 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.37 square miles (3.55 square kilometers), is water.
Some of the main roads that go through Afton include Hudson Road, County Roads 18, 21, and 71, and Minnesota Highway 95. Afton shares its borders with several other towns. To the east, it borders Lake St. Croix Beach, Lakeland, and St. Mary's Point. To the north, it borders West Lakeland Township. Denmark Township is to the south, and Woodbury is to the west.
People of Afton (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 130 | — | |
| 1920 | 183 | — | |
| 1930 | 148 | −19.1% | |
| 1940 | 132 | −10.8% | |
| 1950 | 142 | 7.6% | |
| 1960 | 158 | 11.3% | |
| 1970 | 248 | 57.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,550 | 928.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,645 | 3.7% | |
| 2000 | 2,839 | 7.3% | |
| 2010 | 2,886 | 1.7% | |
| 2020 | 2,955 | 2.4% | |
| US Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2010 United States Census, there were 2,886 people living in Afton. The city had 1,081 households, with 863 of them being families. The population density was about 115 people per square mile (44.4 people per square kilometer).
The average household in Afton had about 2.67 people. The average family size was about 2.98 people. The median age in the city was 48.2 years old. About 21.4% of the people living in Afton were under 18 years old.
Famous People from Afton
- Jacob Fahlstöm: He was the first Swedish settler in Minnesota. He was also a Methodist lay preacher, which means he was a religious leader who was not officially ordained.
- Margaret Bonga Fahlstrom: She was a Black-Ojibwe woman who played a very important role in Jacob Fahlstöm's fur trading business.
- Jessie Diggins: A famous Olympian cross-country skier.
See Also
In Spanish: Afton (Minnesota) para niños
