Madelia, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Madelia
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Madelia Theatre
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| Motto(s):
"Pride Of The Prairie" & "Pheasant Capital of Minnesota"
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Location of Madelia, Minnesota
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Watonwan |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor – Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.51 sq mi (3.92 km2) |
| • Land | 1.51 sq mi (3.92 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,004 ft (306 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,396 |
| • Density | 1,584.66/sq mi (611.69/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
56062
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| Area code(s) | 507 |
| FIPS code | 27-39230 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395804 |
| Website | www.madeliamn.com |
Madelia (pronounced mə-DEE-lee-ə) is a city in Watonwan County, Minnesota, in the United States. It is located along the Watonwan River. In 2020, about 2,396 people lived there.
Contents
History of Madelia
Madelia was started in 1857. It was named after the daughter of one of the first people to settle there. A post office has been open in Madelia since 1860. The city officially became a town in 1872.
In 1876, the famous James-Younger Gang was captured near Madelia. This happened after they tried to rob a bank in Northfield, Minnesota, but failed. Madelia used to have an event every September called Younger Brothers Day. This event included a reenactment of the bank robbery and the capture of the Younger Brothers.
From 1885 to 1890, Winfield Scott Hammond was the school superintendent in Madelia. He later became a lawyer and served in the Minnesota State Legislature. He also worked in the U.S. Congress. Eventually, he was elected as Minnesota's 18th Governor.
Madelia has two buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the 1872 Flanders' Block and the 1908 West Bridge. In 2016, a big fire caused a lot of damage downtown. It destroyed at least eight businesses.
Geography of Madelia
Madelia covers a total area of about 1.47 square miles (3.81 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Two main roads go through the city. These are Minnesota State Highway 15 and Minnesota State Highway 60.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 489 | — | |
| 1890 | 852 | 74.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,272 | 49.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,273 | 0.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,447 | 13.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,397 | −3.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,652 | 18.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,790 | 8.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,190 | 22.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,316 | 5.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,130 | −8.0% | |
| 1990 | 2,237 | 5.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,340 | 4.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,308 | −1.4% | |
| 2020 | 2,396 | 3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 2,308 people living in Madelia. There were 900 households and 572 families. The city had about 1,570 people per square mile.
Most of the people living in Madelia were White (84.0%). About 12.4% were from other races. About 26.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 33.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.47 people. The average family had 3.06 people. The median age in the city was 37.6 years old.
Education in Madelia
The Madelia Community Schools serve about 650 students. These students are in kindergarten through 12th grade. The school district has two buildings. One is for elementary school (grades K-6). The other is for junior and senior high school (grades 7-12). In 1999, the community supported building an addition to the elementary school. They also renovated other parts of the school.
The school district offers many different subjects. These include advanced mathematics and science. Students can also learn CAD and computer programming.
School Sports and Activities
High school students can join many sports teams. These include football, volleyball, and basketball. They also have cross-country, baseball, wrestling, softball, track and field, and golf. Some sports teams partner with Truman High School. When they partner, the team is called the Madelia-Truman Jayhawks. Their team colors are orange and blue. For sports that do not partner, the team is called the Madelia Blackhawks. Their colors are orange and black. The Jayhawk wrestling team went to state competitions from 2008 to 2013.
St. Mary's Catholic School
St. Mary's Catholic Church runs a small private school. St. Mary's Elementary teaches about 55 students. These students are in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The school is approved by the National Catholic Education Association.
Fun and Recreation
Madelia has several places for fun and recreation. Watona Park is a popular spot for city events. The park has a campground, playgrounds, and picnic shelters. It also has two baseball fields and one softball field. There is also a 9-hole golf course. Near Watona Park, you can find basketball and tennis courts. There is also an outdoor swimming pool in Madelia.
The Watonwan County Historical Society was started in 1935. After a break during World War II, it was restarted in 1966. This group helps to preserve the history of the county.
Notable People from Madelia
- Otto T. Bang (1931–2008) was a businessman and politician. He was born in Madelia.
- Knut Hamsun was a writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He lived in Madelia from 1883 to 1884. He wrote a story called "Fear" about his time there.
- Julius E. Haycraft (1871–1951) was a lawyer, judge, and politician.
See also
In Spanish: Madelia (Minnesota) para niños
