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Hawley, Minnesota facts for kids

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Hawley
City
Hawley's former grain elevator (burned down)
Hawley's former grain elevator (burned down)
Motto(s): 
A Family Friendly Community
Location of Hawley, Minnesota
Location of Hawley, Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Clay
Area
 • Total 2.46 sq mi (6.38 km2)
 • Land 2.46 sq mi (6.37 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
1,145 ft (349 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,219
 • Estimate 
(2021)
2,233
 • Density 901.67/sq mi (348.13/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
56549
Area code(s) 218
FIPS code 27-27746
GNIS feature ID 2394332

Hawley is a small city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States. It is located along the Buffalo River. In 2020, about 2,219 people lived there.

Hawley's Story: A Look Back

Hawley got its name in 1872 after a few quick changes. It was named after Thomas Hawley Canfield, who worked for the Northern Pacific Railway. This railway helped plan the town.

A famous general, George Custer, visited Hawley in 1876. This visit was even featured in a short film called Incident at Hawley in 1976.

Long ago, some people from a town called Yeovil in England came to live in Hawley. One of them was Elisabeth Chant, who later became a painter.

Where is Hawley Located?

Hawley is found east of Moorhead. It sits where the Buffalo River, U.S. Route 10 (a major road), and the Burlington Northern Railroad all meet.

The city covers about 2.53 square miles (6.55 square kilometers) of land. You'll find many farms and pastures in the areas around Hawley.

People of Hawley

The number of people living in Hawley has grown steadily over the years.

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 77
1890 270 250.6%
1900 526 94.8%
1910 800 52.1%
1920 939 17.4%
1930 958 2.0%
1940 1,122 17.1%
1950 1,196 6.6%
1960 1,270 6.2%
1970 1,371 8.0%
1980 1,634 19.2%
1990 1,655 1.3%
2000 1,882 13.7%
2010 2,067 9.8%
2020 2,219 7.4%
2021 (est.) 2,233 8.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census

In 2010, there were 2,067 people living in Hawley. About 29% of the residents were under 18 years old. The average age in the city was about 35 years.

Getting Around Hawley

The Empire Builder train, run by Amtrak, goes through Hawley. This train travels between Seattle/Portland and Chicago. However, the train does not stop in Hawley.

If you want to catch the train, the closest stations are in Fargo, about 23 miles (37 km) to the west, and Detroit Lakes, also about 23 miles (37 km) to the east.

Fun Facts and Culture

Hawley, Minnesota (1916)
Bringing harvest potatoes into Hawley, fall 1916

Hawley is famous for being the place where the Viking ship Hjemkomst was built. This special ship sailed all the way from Duluth, Minnesota, to Bergen, Norway, in 1982!

A man named Robert Asp started building the ship in 1973. He built it inside an old potato warehouse in downtown Hawley. The building was taken down in 1980 to let the ship out. Today, a memorial marks the spot. The Hjemkomst ship is now on display at the Heritage Hjemkomst Center in nearby Moorhead.

Hawley also has a country club with a golf course for people to enjoy.

Learning in Hawley

The Hawley School district has two main school buildings. One building is for younger students, from kindergarten through 6th grade. The other building is for older students, covering grades 7 through 12. The school's football team has won many championships in their conference and section.

Hawley News and Radio

Hawley has its own local radio station called KNNZ. If you want to read about what's happening in town, you can check out the Hawley Herald, which is the local newspaper.

See also

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

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