Osakis, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Osakis
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Location of Osakis, Minnesota
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| Counties | Douglas, Todd |
| Founded | 1866 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.97 sq mi (5.11 km2) |
| • Land | 1.92 sq mi (4.98 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.14 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,355 ft (413 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,771 |
| • Density | 921.92/sq mi (355.91/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
56360
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| Area code(s) | 320 |
| FIPS code | 27-48796 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396090 |
Osakis (pronounced oh-SAY-kis) is a friendly city located in the state of Minnesota, United States. It is special because it sits across two different counties: Douglas County and Todd County. In 2020, about 1,771 people called Osakis home. It is a great place to live, known for its beautiful lake and interesting history.
Contents
History of Osakis
The city of Osakis got its name from the nearby Lake Osakis. This lake is a very important part of the area.
A special building in Osakis is the John B. Johnson House. This house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The NRHP is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
Geography and Location
Osakis covers a total area of about 2.07 square miles (5.36 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.95 square miles (5.05 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.12 square miles (0.31 square kilometers), is water.
One interesting fact about Lake Osakis is its "ice-out records." These records show the date when the ice on the lake completely melts each spring. People have been keeping these records since 1870. This is the longest set of ice-out records for any lake in Minnesota. It helps scientists study how the climate is changing over many years.
Most of Osakis is in Douglas County. Only a small part of the city extends into Todd County. The city is located on the southwest shore of Lake Osakis. It is also right on Minnesota State Highway 27. Osakis is about one mile (1.6 kilometers) from Interstate 94 and U.S. Highway 52. This makes it easy to get to and from the city.
Population Changes Over Time
The population of Osakis has changed quite a bit over the years. The table below shows how many people have lived in the city since 1880.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 252 | — | |
| 1890 | 472 | 87.3% | |
| 1900 | 918 | 94.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,013 | 10.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,480 | 46.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,155 | −22.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,483 | 28.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,488 | 0.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,396 | −6.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,306 | −6.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,355 | 3.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,256 | −7.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,567 | 24.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,740 | 11.0% | |
| 2020 | 1,771 | 1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2010, there were 1,740 people living in Osakis. These people lived in 743 households. The city had 942 housing units. The average number of people in each household was about 2.25.
Famous People from Osakis
Osakis has been home to some notable people who have achieved great things.
- Leif Enger: He is a well-known author. Leif Enger was born and grew up in Osakis. His famous novel is called Peace Like a River.
- Tommy Gibbons and Mike Gibbons: These two brothers were famous boxers. They are so famous that they are members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. They used to have a summer home on Osakis Lake.
- Gar Wood: He was an amazing inventor and boat designer. Gar Wood invented the hydraulic-lift dump truck. He was also a very fast boat racer and even held the world water speed record. Gar Wood was raised in Osakis.
