Little Falls, Minnesota facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Little Falls, Minnesota
City
Aerial view of Little Falls
Motto(s): "A Place to Call Home"
Location in Morrison County and the state of Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Morrison
Area
• Total	8.95 sq mi (23.18 km²)
• Land	8.04 sq mi (20.82 km²)
• Water	0.91 sq mi (2.36 km²)
Elevation	1,106 ft (337 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	9,140
• Density	1,137.24/sq mi (439.11/km²)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56345
Area code(s)	320
FIPS code	27-37556
GNIS feature ID	2395734

Downtown Little Falls

Little Falls is a city in Minnesota, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Morrison County, Minnesota. The city is located near the middle of the state. In 2020, about 9,140 people lived there.

Little Falls is famous as the childhood home of Charles Lindbergh. He was a very famous aviator who flew solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Near his old home is Charles A. Lindbergh State Park. This park is named after his father, Charles August Lindbergh, who was a lawyer and a U.S. Congressman.

History of Little Falls
Geography of Little Falls
- Main Roads in Little Falls
- City Landscape
Population of Little Falls
- 2020 Census Information
- 2010 Census Information
Transportation in Little Falls
Education in Little Falls
Attractions in Little Falls
Events in Little Falls
Media in Little Falls
Notable People from Little Falls
Sister Cities
Images for kids
See also

History of Little Falls

The city of Little Falls grew up around some waterfalls on the Mississippi River. This is how the town got its name. Over the years, different dams were built on these falls. In the 1800s, these dams helped power sawmills. Today, the Little Falls Dam creates electricity for the area.

In 1862, during a time of conflict, the people of Little Falls asked the Ojibwe tribe for help. The Ojibwe sent 150 warriors to protect the town.

Geography of Little Falls

Little Falls is located in the middle of Morrison County. It sits on both sides of the Mississippi River. The main downtown area is on the east side of the river. The city is about 33 miles (53 km) north of St. Cloud. It is also about 31 miles (50 km) south of Brainerd.

Main Roads in Little Falls

Several important roads pass through Little Falls. These include U.S. Highway 10 and Minnesota State Highways 27 and 371.

US 10 goes south to St. Cloud. It also goes northwest to Motley.
Highway 27 goes east to Pierz and west to Long Prairie.
Highway 371 goes north towards the Brainerd area.

Other nearby highways include Minnesota Highway 28 and State Highway 238. Highway 28 starts in Little Falls and goes all the way to the South Dakota border. Highway 238 connects Little Falls to Interstate 94 in Albany.

City Landscape

Little Falls covers an area of about 8.95 square miles (23.18 km²). Most of this is land, but about 0.91 square miles (2.36 km²) is water from the Mississippi River.

A large valley used to run through the east side of the city. It was filled in between the 1880s and 1950s. This allowed the city to grow and build more buildings.

Population of Little Falls

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	508	—
1890	2,354	363.4%
1900	5,774	145.3%
1910	6,078	5.3%
1920	5,500	−9.5%
1930	5,014	−8.8%
1940	6,047	20.6%
1950	6,717	11.1%
1960	7,551	12.4%
1970	7,467	−1.1%
1980	7,250	−2.9%
1990	7,232	−0.2%
2000	7,719	6.7%
2010	8,343	8.1%
2020	9,140	9.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

Downtown Little Falls

2020 Census Information

In 2020, Little Falls had 9,140 people living in 3,951 households. This means there were about 1,137 people per square mile (439 per km²). Most of the people (95.2%) were White. About 2.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 21.3% of the people were under 18 years old. Also, 24.5% were 65 years or older. The city had slightly more females (52.6%) than males (47.4%).

2010 Census Information

In 2010, there were 8,343 people in Little Falls. They lived in 3,608 households. About 27.2% of households had children under 18. Many households (38.1%) were married couples.

The average age in the city was 40.9 years. About 22.2% of residents were under 18. And 20.6% were 65 or older.

Transportation in Little Falls

The Empire Builder train, run by Amtrak, goes through Little Falls. This train travels between Seattle/Portland and Chicago. However, it does not stop in Little Falls. The closest train station is in St. Cloud, about 34 miles (55 km) south.

Education in Little Falls

Lindbergh Elementary

Little Falls has several schools for students of all ages.

Little Falls Community Schools (public school system):
- Lindbergh Elementary
- Lincoln Elementary
- Dr. S. G. Knight Elementary (a satellite school)
- Little Falls Community Middle School
- Little Falls Community High School
- Little Falls Continuing Education School
Other Schools:
- Mary of Lourdes School (a Catholic school for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade)

Attractions in Little Falls

Little Falls has many interesting places to visit and things to do.

Charles A. Lindbergh State Park

Entrance sign at Charles A. Lindbergh State Park

This park is located on the Mississippi River. It covers about 436 acres (1.76 km²). The park was created in 1931 to honor Charles A. Lindbergh, Sr.. He was the father of the famous aviator, Charles Lindbergh.

The historical site includes the home where Charles Lindbergh spent his summers. There is also a visitor's center. It tells the story of the Lindbergh family. You can even see a full-size copy of the cockpit from The Spirit of St. Louis airplane. You can take tours of the Lindbergh home to see its original furniture.

Public Murals and Frescoes

Little Falls has beautiful artwork on its buildings.

Two large murals by Frank Gosiak show the logging era and Main Street in the early 1900s. They are on the Hennepin Paper Co. warehouse.
A third mural by Gosiak, called Door Into the Past, shows the history of Little Falls. It is on a building at Broadway Avenue East and Second Street.

Artist Charles Kapsner created two public frescoes at Lindbergh Elementary School.

The Stewardship (1994) shows the values of Charles Lindbergh. You can see it from 9th Street SE.
Beginnings is inside the school. It shows the early history of Central Minnesota.

Linden Hill Historical Event Center

The grand homes of Charles A. Weyerhaeuser and Richard "Drew" Musser are on 1st St SE. They are next to the Mississippi River. These homes are filled with old furniture and items that belonged to the families. Together, they are known as the Linden Hill Historical Event Center. People use them for tours, events, and even overnight stays.

Pine Grove Primeval Park and Zoo

This park is on the west side of town. It has tall pine trees and covers 70 acres (28 hectares). The park features a zoo, walking trails, and picnic areas. There is also a granite "council circle" and a rustic log shelter.

The zoo is home to many animals. You can see cougars, bobcats, tigers, and timber wolves. There are also bears, bison, elk, and a petting stable with farm animals.

St. Francis Convent and Campus

On the southeast side of town is the St. Francis Convent and Campus. It was started in 1891 by a group of Catholic nuns called the Franciscan Sisters.

Morrison County Historical Society and Museum

Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum

The Morrison County Historical Society runs The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum. It is on the west side of the Mississippi River. Charles A. Weyerhaeuser was a lumberman.

The museum was built in the 1970s. It has exhibits with old objects and a collection of documents, newspapers, and photos about the county's history. The museum grounds have gardens and a gazebo overlooking the river.

Minnesota Fishing Museum

The Minnesota Fishing Museum (MFM) works to save the history of freshwater fishing in Minnesota. It has over 8,000 fishing items on display. The museum also works with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on education programs.

Paul Larson Memorial Museum

This museum is a collection of boats, motors, and trailers. It is owned by John Monahan. Paul Larson started Larson Boats, a company based in Little Falls.

Burton-Rosenmeier House

The Burton-Rosenmeier House was built in 1903 for Barney Burton. He was a successful clothing store owner. Later, in 1921, the home was bought by Christian and Linda Rosenmeier. Christian Rosenmeier was a lawyer and a state senator. He helped create Camp Ripley and Lindbergh State Park.

Today, the Burton-Rosenmeier House serves as the Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Events in Little Falls

Little Falls hosts several fun events throughout the year.

Little Falls Dam Festival

The Dam Festival started in 2005. It is an annual event held in Maple Island Park in late June. The festival has street dances, games, face painting, and food. There is also a petting zoo, pony rides, and a parade. The event usually ends with fireworks over the Mississippi River.

Little Falls Arts and Crafts Fair

This is an annual fair held the weekend after Labor Day. The Little Falls Chamber of Commerce has sponsored it since 1972. Many visitors come to this fair, and the town becomes very busy.

Rock the Park

Held every summer in June, Rock the Park is a concert event. It features local music talent. Local businesses help pay for the event. It is known as a great outdoor music event in the area.

Little Falls Antiques and Collectibles Fair

This event is also held the weekend after Labor Day. It takes place at Le Bourget Park on the west side of town.

Lone Eagle Auto Club Car Show

This car show and swap meet is held on the Sunday after Labor Day. It takes place at the Morrison County Fairgrounds.

Morrison County Fair

An annual fair is held at the Morrison County Fairgrounds, northeast of town.

Greater Minnesota Two-Cylinder Club Annual Field Days

This club hosts a show every year on the first weekend in May. It is held at the Morrison County Fairgrounds. The event includes plowing, a swap meet, and an antique tractor pull.

Media in Little Falls

Little Falls has its own local media.

Newspaper: The Morrison County Record is a weekly newspaper published in Little Falls.
Radio Stations: Little Falls Radio Corporation operates three radio stations:
- KLTF AM 960
- WYRQ FM 92.1
- KFML FM 94.1
Television: Central Minnesota Access Television runs two public access cable TV channels (Channel 6 and Channel 12). These channels share community news, school sports, concerts, and fitness programs.

Notable People from Little Falls

Frances Eliza Babbitt, a teacher and archaeologist from the 1800s.
Greg Blaine, a Minnesota state legislator and businessman.
Duane Bobick, a world champion amateur heavyweight boxer.
Joe Brinkman, an American League baseball umpire.
Louise Erdrich, a novelist who won the National Book Award.
Gordon D. Gerling, a Minnesota state legislator and businessman.
Gale Gillingham, a five-time NFL All Pro guard and two-time Super Bowl champion for the Green Bay Packers.
Ben Hanowski, a member of the 2013 Calgary Flames hockey team.
Brian Kobilka, a Nobel Prize-winning chemistry professor.
Jim Langer, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Charles A. Lindbergh, the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Christian Rosenmeier, a lawyer and state senator.
Gordon Rosenmeier, a lawyer and state senator; Christian's son.
John E. Simonett, a lawyer and Minnesota Supreme Court justice.
William Stobb, a poet.
George P. Wetzel, Sr., a Minnesota state representative and judge.
Arthur DeLacy Wood, a chairperson of the United States Parole Commission.
Fred Zollner, the person who started the Fort Wayne Pistons basketball team (now the Detroit Pistons).