Lonsdale, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids City of Lonsdale
City
Downtown Lonsdale
Motto(s):  Preserving Our Heritage To Better Our Future
Location in the state of Minnesota, USA
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Rice
Incorporated	1903
Area
• Total	2.66 sq mi (6.88 km2)
• Land	2.63 sq mi (6.81 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation	1,135 ft (346 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,686
• Density	1,781.07/sq mi (687.70/km2)
Time zone	UTC-4 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CST)
ZIP code	55046
Area code(s)	507
FIPS code	27-38150
GNIS feature ID	2395762
Website	www.lonsdale.govoffice.com

Lonsdale is a city located in Rice County, Minnesota, United States. In 2020, about 4,686 people lived there. By 2024, the population was estimated to be around 5,112. Lonsdale is a quickly growing exurb (a community outside a city's main suburbs) of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. It is about 40 miles south of downtown Minneapolis.

History of Lonsdale

3-R Landmark School Museum, a former school building.

Before the American Civil War, many families from Bohemia (a region in the Czech Republic) moved to south-central Minnesota. In 1878, some Norwegian farmers built a Lutheran church southeast of where Lonsdale is now. They named the area Trondhjem, after a city in Norway.

In 1891, there were plans for a new railroad from Mankato to Farmington. However, this railroad was never built because of money problems.

The Railroad Arrives

The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway decided to extend their existing train line. This line went from Wells to Mankato, and they planned to build it northeast towards Farmington. This new train line would bring new chances for growth, more people, and jobs to towns along the way. These towns included Cleveland, Le Sueur Center, Veseli, and New Market.

In 1901, the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway bought land for their tracks. This land went through the Trondhjem settlement. At the end of 1901, a landowner named Thomas Wilby made a deal with the Milwaukee Land Company. He agreed to develop 40 acres of his land. First, he had to give land to the railway for a train depot. Then, the land company would map out the rest of his land to create a new village.

Founding of the City

By January 1902, 80 acres of land were planned for the new town. On July 16, 1902, the town of Lonsdale officially opened. Land lots were sold at an auction. A businessman named Martin Benzik bought several lots. He built the first buildings in Lonsdale: a saloon, a hotel, and a place for horses (a livery stable).

The train tracks were laid in Lonsdale on August 1, 1902. A large grain elevator, which stores grain, was opened near the tracks. Some people from nearby Veseli even moved their homes to Lonsdale. They put their houses on skids and pulled them with steam tractors to be closer to the railway!

In May 1903, Martin Benzik and other business owners asked for the land to become an official village. This was called the Village of Lonsdale. A public vote was held on July 1, 1903. Everyone voted yes (24-0) to make Lonsdale a city. The city started with 84 people.

Early Buildings and Growth

The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception was finished by the fall of 1904. A house for the priest (a rectory) was built next to the church in 1907. The Catholic school was built in 1912. Also in 1907, the city built its water tank. The public school house was built in 1908. Calvary Hill Cemetery was started south of Lonsdale in 1910.

No one is completely sure how Lonsdale got its name. One idea is that it was named after the railroad's surveyor. Another idea is that it was named after another place called Lonsdale, either in the United States or England.

Geography of Lonsdale

Lonsdale covers about 2.77 square miles (6.88 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.73 square miles (6.81 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.06 square kilometers), is water.

Minnesota State Highway 19 is an important road that goes through the city. Lonsdale is also about six miles (10 kilometers) from Interstate 35, a major highway.

Nearby Lakes

• Circle Lake
• Mazaska Lake
• Shields Lake
• Lake Pepin

Nearby Places

• Montgomery
• Veseli
• Webster
• Little Chicago

Population and People

2010 Census Information

In 2010, there were 3,674 people living in Lonsdale. There were 1,277 households (groups of people living together) and 976 families. The population density was about 1,345 people per square mile (520 people per square kilometer). This means that many people live in a small area.

Most of the people in Lonsdale (96.5%) were White. About 1.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In Lonsdale, 49.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 64.4% were married couples living together. The average household had 2.87 people, and the average family had 3.27 people.

The average age in the city was 29.5 years old.

• 34.2% of residents were under 18.
• 39.2% were between 25 and 44 years old.
• 4.9% were 65 years or older.

Slightly more than half of the population (51.1%) was male, and 48.9% was female.

Education

Students in the Lonsdale area attend schools from two public school districts and one Catholic school.

Tri-City United Public Schools - ISD # 2905

• Tri-City United High School (in Montgomery, Minnesota)
• Montgomery Middle School
• Lonsdale Elementary

New Prague Public Schools - ISD # 721

• New Prague High School
• New Prague Middle School
• Falcon Ridge Elementary School
• Eagle View Elementary School (in Elko New Market, Minnesota)

Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

• Holy Cross Catholic School (in Webster, Minnesota)

Parks and Recreation

Lonsdale has several parks and places for fun activities.

City Parks

• 8th Avenue Park
• Bastyr Park
• Jaycee Park
• Kalina Park
• Singing Hills Park
• Sticha Park
• Trenda Memorial Park

Recreation Areas

• Archery Range
• Dog Park
• Main Street Plaza
• Nature Center
• Rezac Nature Preserve
• Trail System

See also

In Spanish: Lonsdale (Minnesota) para niños