Akeley, Minnesota Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Akeley
City
Paul Bunyan and cradle
Motto(s): "In The Heart Of Minnesota's Vacation And Recreational Area"
Location of Akeley, Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Hubbard
Area
• Total	1.49 sq mi (3.87 km²)
• Land	1.47 sq mi (3.80 km²)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km²)
Elevation	1,430 ft (436 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	404
• Density	275.02/sq mi (106.19/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56433
Area code(s)	218
FIPS code	27-00496
GNIS feature ID	0655094

Akeley is a small city in Hubbard County, Minnesota, in the United States. In 2020, about 404 people lived there.

Akeley's History
Where Akeley Is Located
Who Lives in Akeley
- A Look at the 2010 Census
Fun Things to Do in Akeley
- Yearly Events and Festivals
- Museums and Interesting Places
Parks and Outdoor Activities
Schools in Akeley
Getting Around Akeley
- Roads and Transportation
See also

Akeley's History

The Blue Ox Market

The city of Akeley officially became a city on December 30, 1916. It grew a lot because of a partnership between a rich lumber businessman, T. B. Walker, and Healy C. Akeley. They started the Red River Lumber Company in 1893.

Thomas B. Walker first wanted to build his big lumber mill in another town, which is now called Walker, Minnesota. But he decided to build it in Akeley instead. He didn't like the many bars in the Walker area.

Because of the lumber mill and a train station built in 1899, Akeley quickly became a "boomtown." This means it grew very fast. Many lumberjacks came and went on every train. The number of people living in Akeley jumped from 2,000 to over 3,500 between 1907 and 1908. Today, the town has fewer than 500 residents.

Where Akeley Is Located

Akeley is a small city covering about 1.50 square miles (3.87 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.47 square miles (3.80 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.03 square miles (0.07 square kilometers), is water.

Who Lives in Akeley

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1920	855	—
1930	514	−39.9%
1940	566	10.1%
1950	525	−7.2%
1960	434	−17.3%
1970	468	7.8%
1980	486	3.8%
1990	393	−19.1%
2000	412	4.8%
2010	432	4.9%
2020	404	−6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

A Look at the 2010 Census

In 2010, there were 432 people living in Akeley. There were 185 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 113 of these households were families.

Most of the people in Akeley were White (94.9%). There were also small numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 1.9% of the people were from two or more races.

About 27.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.34 people. The average family had 2.85 people.

The average age of people in Akeley was 41 years old. About 23.6% of residents were under 18 years old. About 16.9% were 65 years or older.

Fun Things to Do in Akeley

Yearly Events and Festivals

Akeley has celebrated "Paul Bunyan Days" every year since 1955. This festival honors the giant lumberjack character, Paul Bunyan. The town has a huge 25-foot (7.6 meter) tall statue of Paul Bunyan. He is kneeling next to a giant cradle.

Museums and Interesting Places

You can visit the Paul Bunyan Historical Museum in Akeley. It opened in 1984. The museum has many old pictures and items that show what life was like in Akeley long ago.

Parks and Outdoor Activities

The Heartland State Trail is a great place for outdoor fun. It is 49 miles (79 kilometers) long. This trail connects Akeley with other towns like Park Rapids, Dorset, Nevis, Walker, and Cass Lake. There is also a separate trail next to the paved one. This extra trail is for horseback riding and snowmobiling.

Schools in Akeley

Akeley Public Schools are part of the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District. This district includes Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Elementary School and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School (WHA). The school districts of Walker and Akeley joined together in 1990 to form this larger district.