Karlstad, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Karlstad
City
Location of Karlstad, Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Kittson
Area
• Total	1.50 sq mi (3.90 km2)
• Land	1.50 sq mi (3.89 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,050 ft (320 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	710
• Density	472.39/sq mi (182.35/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56732
Area code(s)	218
FIPS code	27-32444
GNIS feature ID	0646041

Karlstad is a small city in Kittson County, Minnesota, USA. In 2020, about 710 people lived there.

Two main roads, U.S. Route 59 and Minnesota State Highway 11, run through Karlstad. The city is famous for its slogan: "The Moose Capital of the North"!

History of Karlstad

Karlstad got its name from a city in Sweden also called Karlstad. A post office opened in Karlstad, Minnesota, in 1905.

Businesses and Economy

Karlstad has some important businesses that provide jobs.

Major Employers in Karlstad

The biggest employers in Karlstad are Wikstrom Telephone Company (Wiktel) and Mattracks.

• Wiktel: This company provides internet and phone services for many towns in northwestern Minnesota. They also create the local phone book. Wiktel has been a part of Karlstad for a long time, starting in the early 1900s. The Wikstrom family founded it.
• Mattracks: This company makes and sells special track systems that can be put on vehicles instead of wheels. This helps vehicles drive on tough terrain like snow or mud. Their innovation center is located where an old furniture store used to be.

Other Businesses in Karlstad

You can also find stores, restaurants, bars, and services like insurance and accounting in Karlstad. Most of the local economy is based on farming.

From 1951 to 1995, Karlstad even had its own hospital.

Fun Events in Karlstad

Karlstad hosts two exciting annual events:

• Kick'n Up Kountry Music Festival: A big music festival for country music fans.
• Moosefest: A festival celebrating the city's nickname, "The Moose Capital of the North."

Education in Karlstad

Karlstad has two schools for students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.

• Tri-County Public Schools: This school district teams up with Marshall County Central Schools from Newfolden, Minnesota, for sports. Their combined team is called the Northern Freeze.
• Heritage Christian School: Another school serving students in Karlstad.

Northern Freeze Sports Teams

The Northern Freeze teams have been very successful! They combine with other schools for different sports:

• Girls and boys track teams also include students from Badger School and Greenbush Middle River School.
• Baseball and softball teams have also joined with the Stephen-Argyle School District.

This teamwork has helped the Northern Freeze teams reach the State Tournament three times:

• Volleyball in 2006 (they finished in sixth place).
• Baseball in 2009.
• Girls' basketball in 2010 (they finished in fourth place).

Geography of Karlstad

Karlstad covers an area of about 1.53 square miles (3.9 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Population Changes Over Time

The population of Karlstad has changed over the years. In 2010, there were 760 people living in the city. Most residents were White (99.1%).

Life in Karlstad in 2010

In 2010, there were 331 households in Karlstad. About 24.2% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in Karlstad was 47.5 years old. About 22.5% of the residents were under 18, and 27.6% were 65 or older. There were slightly more females (54.6%) than males (45.4%) living in the city.

Famous People from Karlstad

• Ned Beatty - An American actor.

See also

In Spanish: Karlstad (Minnesota) para niños