Cottage Grove, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cottage Grove
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| Nickname(s):
The "Original" Grove
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| Motto(s):
"Where Pride And Prosperity Meet"
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Location of the city of Cottage Grove
within Washington County, Minnesota |
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Minnesota | |
| County | Washington | |
| Founded | 1843 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-Council | |
| Area | ||
| • City | 37.52 sq mi (97.19 km2) | |
| • Land | 33.64 sq mi (87.13 km2) | |
| • Water | 3.88 sq mi (10.06 km2) 10.30% | |
| Elevation | 810 ft (250 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 38,839 | |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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41,033 | |
| • Density | 1,154.55/sq mi (445.77/km2) | |
| • Metro | 3,693,729 (US: 16th) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
55016
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| Area code(s) | 651 | |
| FIPS code | 27-13456 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2393644 | |
Cottage Grove is a city in Washington County, Minnesota. It is about 10 miles (16 km) south of Saint Paul. The city is located on the north bank of the Mississippi River. It is also near where the Mississippi River meets the St. Croix River.
Cottage Grove is part of the larger Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. This area is one of the biggest in the United States, with about 3.69 million people. In 2020, Cottage Grove had a population of 38,839.
The city is connected by U.S. Highways 10 and 61. This makes it easy to travel to nearby cities like Saint Paul and Bloomington. Long ago, Cottage Grove was a farming area known for its wheat and first creameries. Today, a company called 3M has had a production facility here since 1947.
Contents
History of Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove was officially planned out in 1871. Several important historical places in the city are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include:
- The Schilling Archeological District, which shows signs of people living there long before European settlers arrived.
- The 1850 Grey Cloud Lime Kiln, used to make lime.
- The 1871 John P. Furber House.
- The 1917 Cordenio Severance House.
Geography and Location
Cottage Grove is located about 11 miles (18 km) southeast of St. Paul. You can reach it using U.S. Highway 61 and Interstate 494.
The city has a total area of about 37.48 square miles (97.07 km²). Most of this is land (33.62 sq mi or 87.08 km²), and a smaller part is water (3.86 sq mi or 10.00 km²).
Cottage Grove has more land along the Mississippi River than any other city in Minnesota. It shares borders with:
- Woodbury to the north.
- Hastings to the south.
- St. Paul Park to the west.
- Newport to the northwest.
- Denmark Township to the east.
The city is also about a 30-minute drive from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The southeastern part of Cottage Grove is only five miles (8 km) from the Wisconsin border.
People of Cottage Grove
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 13,419 | — | |
| 1980 | 18,994 | 41.5% | |
| 1990 | 22,935 | 20.7% | |
| 2000 | 30,582 | 33.3% | |
| 2010 | 34,589 | 13.1% | |
| 2020 | 38,839 | 12.3% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 41,033 | 18.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2010, there were 34,589 people living in Cottage Grove. There were 11,719 households and 9,437 families. The city had about 1,028.8 people per square mile (397.2 per km²).
Most people in Cottage Grove are White (86.5%). Other groups include African American (3.9%), Asian (5.3%), Native American (0.5%), and Pacific Islander (0.1%). About 4.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 35 years old. About 29% of residents were under 18. The number of males and females was almost equal, with 49.9% male and 50.1% female.
Economy and Jobs
The company 3M has a large production facility in Cottage Grove. It has been operating there since 1947. At this facility, 3M makes things like:
- Adhesive products (sticky materials).
- Industrial polymers (materials used in many products).
- Reflective materials for road signs.
The facility also does research and development.
Fun Things to Do
Annual Events
Cottage Grove hosts an exciting annual event called the Strawberry Fest. Thousands of people come together to celebrate. This festival usually happens in the second week of June at Kingston Park.
- A parade takes place on the Saturday of the festival. Local groups and businesses have floats and hand out candy.
- After the parade, businesses set up booths at the soccer fields in Kingston Park. They share information and give out free items.
- Fireworks light up the sky on Saturday night around 10 p.m.
- The festival also has many carnival games, rides, and food stalls.
- Bands play music every night except Sunday in the Kingston parking lot.
Parks and Places to Visit
Cottage Grove has several interesting places to explore:
- Cedarhurst Mansion: A historic home.
- Ravine Regional Park: This large park has 515 acres of woods, hills, and prairie fields. It's a great place to see different kinds of plants and animals. You need a vehicle permit to enter.
- Highland Park Splash Pad: Opened in 2013, this water play area is perfect for younger children. It has many sprinklers that spray water.
- Oak Wood Park Disc Golf Course: If you like disc golf, this park has an 18-hole course. It has different length holes and special tees for women players.
Schools in Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is part of the South Washington County School District. Students living in Cottage Grove attend different schools based on their age:
- High School: Most high school students go to either Park High School or East Ridge High School. The city also has the district's Alternative Learning Center (ALC).
- Middle School: Middle school students usually attend Cottage Grove Middle School or Oltman Middle School.
- Elementary School: There are six elementary schools in the city: Armstrong Elementary, Cottage Grove Elementary, Crestview Elementary, Grey Cloud Elementary, Hillside Elementary, and Pine Hill Elementary.
Transportation
Major railway lines from the Canadian Pacific Railway and BNSF pass through Cottage Grove. These lines connect to Chicago and run between US 61 and the Mississippi River.
Famous People from Cottage Grove
- Seth Appert: A coach in the American Hockey League.
- Michael Birawer: An artist.
- Mark Doten: A novelist and writer for operas.
- Aurilla Furber: A poet.
- Joseph W. Furber: A Minnesota legislator.
- Walter R. Hanson: A Minnesota state legislator.
- Sam Jacobson: A former NBA basketball player who was born in Cottage Grove.
- Kerry Ligtenberg: A former MLB baseball pitcher who went to high school in Cottage Grove.
- Manila Luzon: An entertainer who was a runner-up on the TV show RuPaul's Drag Race.
- Sean O'Connell: A retired professional mixed martial artist.
- Seann William Scott: An actor.
See also
In Spanish: Cottage Grove (Minnesota) para niños
