Dawson, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dawson
City
Nickname(s):  Gnometown USA, Dodge
Motto(s):  "The Small City With The Bright Future"
Location of Dawson, Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Lac qui Parle
Named for	William Dawson
Area
• Total	1.44 sq mi (3.72 km2)
• Land	1.44 sq mi (3.72 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,040 ft (320 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,466
• Density	1,019.47/sq mi (393.63/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	320
FIPS code	27-14968
GNIS feature ID	2394469

Dawson is a city in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, United States. It's sometimes called "Gnometown USA" because of its unique tradition of honoring important citizens with gnome statues. In 2020, about 1,466 people lived in Dawson.

History of Dawson

Who Lived Here First?

The land where Dawson is now was once home to the Wahpekute, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, and Yanktonai people. These were three groups of the Dakota Native Americans. In 1851, the land was given to the U.S. government through an agreement called the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux.

How Dawson Started

Dawson was officially planned out in 1884. It was named after William Dawson, who used to be the mayor of St. Paul. He was also one of the people who started the Dawson Townsite Company. A post office opened in Dawson in 1884, and the city officially became a city in 1885.

Geography and Location

Where is Dawson?

Dawson is located in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota. It covers about 1.48 square miles (3.72 square kilometers) of land. The West Branch of the Lac qui Parle River flows right through the city.

Getting Around Dawson

U.S. Route 212 is a main road that goes through Dawson. The BNSF Railway also has train tracks running through the city.

People of Dawson

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 1,540 people living in Dawson. These people made up 682 households. About 23.8% of these households had children under 18 living there. The average age of people in Dawson was about 47.8 years old.

Famous People from Dawson

Dawson has been home to several notable people.

• Theodore Christianson was the 21st Governor of Minnesota. He also published the local newspaper, the Dawson Sentinel.
• James Day Hodgson served as the United States Secretary of Labor and later as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan. He was born in Dawson.
• Carrie Tollefson is an Olympian who competed in the 1500 meters race in 2004. She was also a college cross country champion.

Carrie Tollefson, an Olympian from Dawson.

Cool Places to See

Dawson has some interesting historical buildings.

• The Dawson Bank Museum is a cool place to learn about the city's past.
• There's a Carnegie Library building, which is now a law office.
• An old armory building now serves as the public library and apartments.

All three of these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning they are important historical sites.

The historic Dawson Bank Museum.

The old Armory building, now a library.

The former Carnegie Library building.

Dawson in Movies and Books

• Part of the movie Sweet Land (2005) was filmed in Dawson.
• The book Love Thy Neighbor (2019) tells the story of a Muslim doctor's experiences living in Dawson.

Town Culture and Fun Events

Riverfest: A Community Party

Riverfest is Dawson's yearly community festival. It's named after the Lac qui Parle River. This fun event happens every June. Riverfest includes:

• Live music
• Sports tournaments
• Canoe races
• The special gnome unveiling ceremony!

The Gnomes of Gnometown USA

Theodore Christianson, the first "Gnome of Dawson."

Dawson is famous for its unique tradition of honoring important citizens by turning them into 3-foot tall gnome statues. These gnomes are placed in the Dawson Public Library or Gnome Park. New gnomes are revealed each year during Riverfest. Each gnome even gets its own special story! This tradition started in 1989, and now there are more than 40 gnomes in Gnome Park.

See also

In Spanish: Dawson (Minnesota) para niños