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Breckenridge, Minnesota facts for kids

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Breckenridge, Minnesota
5th Street (U.S. Route 75) in downtown Breckenridge in 2007
Wilkin County Museum
Breckenridge, Minnesota is located in Minnesota
Breckenridge, Minnesota
Breckenridge, Minnesota
Location in Minnesota
Breckenridge, Minnesota is located in the United States
Breckenridge, Minnesota
Breckenridge, Minnesota
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Wilkin
Platted 1857
Incorporated 1908
Named for John Cabell Breckinridge
Area
 • City 2.596 sq mi (6.724 km2)
 • Land 2.596 sq mi (6.724 km2)
 • Water 0.000 sq mi (0.000 km2)
Elevation
961 ft (293 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 3,430
 • Estimate 
(2023)
3,331
 • Density 1,283.08/sq mi (495.40/km2)
 • Urban
11,290
 • Metro
22,864 (US: 490th)
Time zone UTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
56520
Area code(s) 218
FIPS code 27-07462
GNIS feature ID 2393405
Highways MN 9, MN 75, MN 210
Sales tax 6.875%

Breckenridge is a city in Wilkin County, Minnesota, in the United States. It is the main city, also known as the county seat, for Wilkin County. In 2020, about 3,430 people lived there.

Breckenridge is often called the "twin city" of Wahpeton, which is right across the river in North Dakota. These two cities are part of a larger area called the Wahpeton Micropolitan Statistical Area. Two rivers, the Bois de Sioux River and the Otter Tail River, meet right in Breckenridge and Wahpeton to form the Red River of the North.

Exploring Breckenridge's Past

Breckenridge was first planned out in 1857. It was named after John Cabell Breckinridge, who was a well-known political figure from the past. He served as a U.S. senator and was the 14th Vice President of the United States.

A post office has been open in Breckenridge since 1857, helping people send and receive mail for a very long time. The city officially became an incorporated city in 1908. One important historical building in Breckenridge is the Wilkin County Courthouse, which was built in 1928. It is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Where is Breckenridge?

Breckenridge is located in Minnesota and covers an area of about 2.596 square miles (6.724 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Several important roads pass through Breckenridge. These include U.S. Route 75 and Minnesota State Highways 9 and 210. These roads help people travel in and out of the city.

Long ago, Breckenridge was a key stop on the Great Northern Railway line that connected the Twin Cities to Seattle. Many passenger trains used to stop at the Breckenridge station until 1979. Today, you can still see freight trains using this railway line, which is now operated by BNSF.

Who Lives in Breckenridge?

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 655
1900 1,282 95.7%
1910 1,840 43.5%
1920 2,401 30.5%
1930 2,261 −5.8%
1940 2,745 21.4%
1950 3,623 32.0%
1960 4,335 19.7%
1970 4,200 −3.1%
1980 3,909 −6.9%
1990 3,708 −5.1%
2000 3,559 −4.0%
2010 3,386 −4.9%
2020 3,430 1.3%
2023 (est.) 3,331 −1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census

In 2022, there were about 1,441 households in Breckenridge. On average, about 2.3 people lived in each home. The average income for a household was around $57,094.

Most people in Breckenridge have a high school diploma, with about 91.7% having one. Also, about 26.2% of the population has a college degree or higher. The city's employment rate is around 64.8%.

Many people in Breckenridge have family roots from different parts of the world. The most common backgrounds reported are German (43.1%) and Norwegian (23.0%). Other backgrounds include Polish, Irish, and English. The average age of people living in Breckenridge is about 41.3 years old.

Population Changes Over Time

According to the 2020 census, Breckenridge had a population of 3,430 people. There were about 1,551 households and 860 families living in the city. The population density was about 1,356 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Breckenridge are White, making up about 90.26% of the population. Other groups include Native American (1.98%), African American (0.90%), and Asian (0.26%). About 6.06% of the population reported having two or more racial backgrounds. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up about 3.97% of the population.

About 21.0% of the residents were under 18 years old, and 19.4% were 65 years or older.

In the 2010 census, there were 3,386 people living in Breckenridge. About 27.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.24 people, and the average family had 2.91 people. The median age was 43.3 years. About 23.3% of residents were under 18, and 21.2% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.0%) and females (51.0%).

Famous People from Breckenridge

Many interesting people have connections to Breckenridge:

  • Dick Enderle – a professional football player
  • Heidi Heitkamp – a former U.S. Senator from North Dakota
  • Chuck Klosterman – a well-known writer and novelist
  • Errol Mann – a professional football player who was part of the Oakland Raiders team that won Super Bowl XI
  • Reuben N. Nelson – a lawyer and politician
  • George Putnam – a radio newsman
  • Fritz Scholder – a famous Native American artist
  • Gerry Sikorski – a politician
  • Cheryl Tiegs – a professional model
  • Adrian P. Winkel – a High Commissioner for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Breckenridge (Minnesota) para niños

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