Finlayson, Minnesota Facts for Kids

This page is about the city in Minnesota. For a district in the city center of Tampere, Finland, see Finlayson (district).

Quick facts for kids Finlayson
City
Finland Avenue
Nickname(s): Fintown
Location of the city of Finlayson within Pine County, Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Pine
Incorporated	August 24, 1905
Area
• Total	2.52 sq mi (6.51 km²)
• Land	2.41 sq mi (6.24 km²)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.27 km²)
Elevation	1,099 ft (335 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	295
• Density	122.41/sq mi (47.27/km²)
• Demonym	Finlaysonite
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	55735
Area code(s)	320
FIPS code	27-21122
GNIS feature ID	2394766

Finlayson is a small city in Pine County, Minnesota, United States. In 2020, about 295 people lived there. The city was officially formed from Finlayson Township.

You can reach Finlayson using major roads like Interstate 35 and Minnesota State Highways 18 and 23. You can learn more about the city at its official website: https://finlayson.municipalimpact.com/.

Exploring Finlayson's Location
- Lakes and Surroundings
Who Lives in Finlayson?
- Finlayson's Population in 2010
A Look at Finlayson's Past
- Early Businesses and Landmarks
Learning in Finlayson
- Finlayson Elementary School
- High School Education
Fun Events in Finlayson
Gallery
See also

Exploring Finlayson's Location

Finlayson covers an area of about 6.5 square kilometers (2.5 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Lakes and Surroundings

The city is home to several lakes, including Fish Lake, Indian Lake, Big Pine Lake, Upper Little Pine Lake, Upper Big Pine Lake, and Rhine Lake. Finlayson is located halfway between the cities of Forest Lake and Duluth. Other nearby cities include Sandstone, Hinckley, Giese, and Askov.

Who Lives in Finlayson?

The number of people living in Finlayson has changed over the years. Here's a quick look at the population from past censuses:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1910	186	—
1920	293	57.5%
1930	241	−17.7%
1940	225	−6.6%
1950	195	−13.3%
1960	213	9.2%
1970	192	−9.9%
1980	202	5.2%
1990	242	19.8%
2000	314	29.8%
2010	315	0.3%
2020	295	−6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

Finlayson's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 315 people living in Finlayson. These people lived in 134 homes, and 78 of these were families.

Diversity: Most residents (97.5%) were White. A small number were African American (1.0%), Native American (0.6%), or from two or more races (1.0%). About 1.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Households: About 30.6% of homes had children under 18. Nearly half (49.3%) were married couples. Some homes had a single parent, and 41.8% were individuals living alone or with non-family members.
Age Groups: The average age in Finlayson was 45.1 years. About 23.5% of residents were under 18, and 18.1% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.2%) and females (50.8%).

A Look at Finlayson's Past

Finlayson Township was formed in 1895. The city itself was officially created on August 24, 1905. It was named after David Finlayson, who owned a sawmill in the area.

Early Businesses and Landmarks

When it was first established, Finlayson had a station for the Northern Pacific Railroad. It also had a sawmill, a pickle factory, and two potato warehouses. The city's post office opened in 1887.

The fashion brand Askov Finlayson got its name from this city and nearby Askov, Minnesota. Both cities share an exit on I-35. The old Northern Pacific station building is still standing and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.

Learning in Finlayson

Finlayson is part of the Hinckley-Finlayson School District. This district was created in 1994 when the Hinckley and Finlayson school districts joined together.

Finlayson Elementary School

Finlayson Elementary School is known as "the School Growing in the Pines" because it's surrounded by pine trees. It's named after John W. Osborne, a former school superintendent. The school teaches students from kindergarten to 6th grade and also offers preschool. Each class has fewer than 20 students, with about 80 students in total across all grades.

Due to budget changes, teachers often teach two grades at once. For example, first and second graders might be in the same classroom with one teacher.

High School Education

The old Finlayson High School building was taken down in 2004 because it was no longer safe. The last class to graduate from that school was in 1990. Now, high school students from Finlayson travel about 30 minutes to attend Hinckley High School.

Hinckley High School changed its name to Hinckley-Finlayson High School when the districts combined. Their mascot also changed from the Vulcans to the Jaguars. Finlayson students make up about 18% of the high school's total student body.

Fun Events in Finlayson

Finlayson hosts several exciting events throughout the year.

4th of July Celebration

Every year on July 3rd and 4th, Finlayson's main street comes alive. Local churches and community groups set up food stands. There's live music and performances by local talent. On the night of July 4th, people can camp in a large field to watch the county's firework show.

St. Urho's Day

Finlayson celebrates St. Urho's Day on March 27th. This is a Finnish tradition that celebrates St. Urho, who is said to have chased away pests from Finland. Since Finlayson has Finnish roots, the city celebrates with open houses at the fire department, elementary school, and community center. People can enjoy basketball, volleyball, fried bread, and good company. The community center offers a free pancake breakfast, and the fire department serves fried bread.

Deer Hunting Season

During deer hunting season, Finlayson becomes a popular spot for hunters. The area has many fields and swamps where deer are common. The city's Municipal building hosts a gun raffle and a meat raffle during these weeks, which brings in visitors to join the fun.