Lake City, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake City
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Historic wing of the Lake City City Hall, built in 1899
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| Nickname(s):
"The Birthplace of Waterskiing"
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| Motto(s):
"What You Need When You Need It"
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| Counties | Wabasha, Goodhue |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.50 sq mi (11.64 km2) |
| • Land | 4.48 sq mi (11.60 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 690 ft (210 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,252 |
| • Density | 1,172.58/sq mi (452.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
55041
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| Area code(s) | 651 |
| FIPS code | 27-34172 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0646338 |
Lake City is a city in Minnesota, a state in the United States. It's located in both Goodhue and Wabasha counties. Most of the city is in Wabasha County. Lake City sits right along Lake Pepin, which is a wide part of the famous Mississippi River. In 2020, about 5,252 people lived here. Lake City is also known as "The Birthplace of Water Skiing" because water skiing was invented here!
Contents
History of Lake City
Lake City is about 65 miles (105 km) southeast of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul). It's found where U.S. Highways 61 and 63 meet the Mississippi River at Lake Pepin.
Early Days and Names
In 1680, a man named Father Louis Hennepin camped by Lake Pepin. He called it "Lac de Pleurs," which means "Lake of Tears." He saw his Sioux captors crying near the lake because a chief's son had died. They had captured Hennepin and his friends further south along the Mississippi River.
The first known settler in this area was Jacob Boody, who arrived in 1853. Over the next few years, many explorers came through. The town was officially planned out in 1855.
A Busy Port Town
Lake Pepin's waters are deep enough for boats, making it a good spot for a port. In 1864, the state government gave Lake City special permission to create a market for grain. Soon, Lake City became a very successful place for trading grain. By 1866, the trade brought in over a million and a half dollars!
Lake City officially became a city in 1872. It quickly became known for its beautiful surroundings and great fishing.
The Sea Wing Disaster
On July 13, 1890, a sad event happened near Lake City. A strong storm overturned a boat called the Sea Wing on Lake Pepin. More than 200 people were on the boat, and 98 people drowned.
The Birthplace of Water Skiing
Did you know water skiing was invented in Lake City? A local resident named Ralph Samuelson first performed water skiing on Lake Pepin in the summer of 1922. To remember this special event, Lake City is called "The Birthplace of Water Skiing."
Every year, the city holds a festival called Water Ski Days. This festival usually lasts three days and includes water skiing shows, live music, a street carnival, sports games, and a big parade. It's held during the last full weekend in June. The festival was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19, so the 2021 festival was the 49th, not the 50th.
Historic Buildings
Lake City has three buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are special places that are important to history. They include the 1872 James C. and Agnes M. Stout House, the 1899 Lake City City Hall, and the 1910 Williamson–Russell–Rahilly House.
Geography of Lake City
Lake City covers about 4.56 square miles (11.81 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The main roads that go through the city are U.S. Highways 61 and 63.
People of Lake City
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 2,596 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,128 | −18.0% | |
| 1900 | 2,744 | 28.9% | |
| 1910 | 3,142 | 14.5% | |
| 1920 | 2,846 | −9.4% | |
| 1930 | 3,210 | 12.8% | |
| 1940 | 3,204 | −0.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,457 | 7.9% | |
| 1960 | 3,494 | 1.1% | |
| 1970 | 3,594 | 2.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,505 | 25.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,391 | −2.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,950 | 12.7% | |
| 2010 | 5,063 | 2.3% | |
| 2020 | 5,252 | 3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 112 | — | |
| U.S. Census for Central Point | |||
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 5,063 people living in Lake City. There were 2,238 households, which are groups of people living together. The average age of people in the city was about 46 years old.
- About 20% of the residents were under 18 years old.
- About 24% were 65 years old or older.
- The city had slightly more females (51.9%) than males (48.1%).
Education in Lake City
Lake City has several schools for students:
- Bluffview Elementary: This is a public school for students in kindergarten through 6th grade.
- Lincoln High School: This is a public school for students in 7th through 12th grades.
- St. John's Lutheran School: This is a private Lutheran school for students in kindergarten through 8th grade.
There used to be a Catholic school called St. Mary's in the town as well.
Transportation
The Empire Builder train, run by Amtrak, passes through Lake City. This train travels between Seattle/Portland and Chicago. However, the train does not stop in Lake City. The closest train station is about 17 miles (27 km) away in Red Wing.
City Services
Lake City Public Library
The Lake City Public Library is located at 201 South High Street. It's part of a group called Southeastern Libraries Cooperating. This group helps provide services and support to libraries in 11 counties in southeastern Minnesota.
Media
Radio Stations
| FM radio stations | ||||
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| Frequency | Call sign | Name | Format | Owner |
| 94.9 | KLCH | Lake Hits 95 | Oldies | Q Media Group, LLC. |
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Lake City, including:
- Randy Breuer: An NBA basketball player.
- Fritz Cronin: An NFL football player.
- Mary Pat Gleason: An actress.
- Taylor Heise: An ice hockey player.
- Lester Alexander Howatt: A businessman and Minnesota State Legislator.
- John Kobs: A college coach.
- Richard R. Lemke: A farmer and Minnesota State Legislator.
- Mark McKenzie: A movie composer.
- Carl S. Nygren: A farmer and Minnesota State Legislator.
- Ralph Samuelson: The inventor of water skiing!
- Dylan Rumley: A Division 1 All-American football player for Michigan State.
See also
In Spanish: Lake City (Minnesota) para niños
