Osseo, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Osseo
|
|
|---|---|
Location of the city of Osseo
within Hennepin County, Minnesota |
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Hennepin |
| Founded | 1875 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2) |
| • Land | 0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 886 ft (270 m) |
| Population
(2010)
|
|
| • Total | 2,430 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
|
2,738 |
| • Density | 3,690.03/sq mi (1,424.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (Central) |
| ZIP Codes |
55311, 55369
|
| Area code(s) | 763 |
| FIPS code | 27-49012 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0649024 |
Osseo is a small city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 2,688.
It is said that "Osseo" derives from the Ojibwe name waaseyaa meaning "there is light" (more commonly translated as "Son of the Evening Star"). Henry Wadsworth Longfellow mentions Osseo in his poem The Song of Hiawatha.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 206 | — | |
| 1890 | 353 | 71.4% | |
| 1900 | 346 | −2.0% | |
| 1910 | 390 | 12.7% | |
| 1920 | 433 | 11.0% | |
| 1930 | 561 | 29.6% | |
| 1940 | 738 | 31.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,167 | 58.1% | |
| 1960 | 2,104 | 80.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,908 | 38.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,974 | 2.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,704 | −9.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,434 | −10.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,430 | −0.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,688 | 10.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 2,688 people in 1,273 households residing in the city. The racial majority of the city is White, with 241 residents recorded as biracial. 15.4% of the residents are under 18. 27.2% are 65 or older. 29.2% are of German ancestry. 7.2% have graduate or professional degrees. The poverty rate is 3.9%.
Annual events
There are multiple social clubs and ongoing activites in Osseo. These are some of the annual events:
Concerts in the Park
A recent effort led by a few of Osseo's very active citizens has enabled the construction of a bandshell in the northeast corner of Boerboom Park at the center of downtown. The bandshell is a popular place during the summer months of June, July and August. During those three months, each Tuesday evening, musicians perform in the bandshell followed at dusk by a movie. This activity is supported by local donations and all, except one or two events, are free to the public.
The Osseo Marching Band Festival is a street marching competition between high school bands along a performance route through the city. Popular in the northern midwestern states including Minnesota and Wisconsin, street marching band competitions are held in the late spring and early summer months of May, June and July. The Osseo Marching Band Festival is held each year on Saturday of the last full weekend in June. An awards ceremony is held afterwards in the High School Stadium and is free for the public to attend.. This activity is organized by the Osseo Band Boosters and funded with local donations, corporate sponsorship and fund raising activities.
Lions Roar
The Osseo Lions Roar, hosted by the Osseo Lions Club, is held on the Friday and Saturday following Labor Day (which usually puts this celebration in early September. This event includes a street fair with crafts, a carnival in the parking lots near Central Avenue and 3rd Street, a parade at noon on Saturday beginning at Sipe's Park and ending at the Osseo Senior High School. The parade features many local organizations such as various sports teams from the high school, girl scout and boy scout troops, and the much loved Osseo Marching Band.
Osseo Lions Kiddie Costume Parade
Osseo Lions Kiddie Costume Parade is held on Saturday at the end of October each year starting at noon. The parade starts at North Clinic on Central Avenue and ends at Boerboom Park.
Tree Lighting and Santa in the Park
Each December, usually the first Friday in December, the community celebrates the upcoming holidays by having a winter celebration including horse-drawn wagon rides, hot beverages and a chance for the kids to meet Santa and get a free goodie bag. This activity is sponsored by the Osseo Business Association. This event is free and open to the public.
History
The area of current day City of Osseo became settled prior to organized local government. It was located on what Pierre Bottineau named “Bottineau Prairie” in 1852, and the ‘town’ was referred to as “Palestine.” In 1856, part of what is now Osseo was platted as Osseo, and another part was platted as “City of Attraction.” Official Minnesota Territory surveys placed the settlement on the border of two townships. When Brooklyn Township and Maple Grove Township organized, Osseo (and City of Attraction which later merged) was governed by those two local governments. It was not until March 17, 1875, that Osseo incorporated.
The ethnic groups that moved in after Native tribes were removed, were mostly French Canadians, New Englanders, Swiss and Germans. Businesses by pioneers included blacksmiths, wagonmakers, general merchandise stores, boots & shoemakers, harness maker, tin shop, cordwood supplier, teamsters, saloons, and hotels [Niggler Hotel 1867, International Hotel 1874, Great Northern Hotel, 1907]. There was also a Catholic church (1858), a physician, school, post office, and calaboose (jail). Pioneers of Methodist and Lutheran religions were served in their homes until the twentieth century.
In 1882 the Great Northern railroad “came steaming through town” and in 1893, a telephone station. A town hall was built in 1901. The city water system and fire department began in 1915. The original Indian trail—extending from St. Paul to St. Cloud—was the town’s main street, and was paved in 1918 [Territorial Road]. The Osseo Lutheran Church was built approximately 1915; the Methodist Church was built in 1922. The first Osseo High School was built in 1924. 1928 was the peak when “Osseo had one of the largest potato markets in the Northwest.”
“The Father of Osseo” was described in a newspaper article written at the death of John Hechtman, and informs the reader of Osseo’s opportunities and social organizations of his times. See Minneapolis Tribune, October 22, 1902.
Opposite from today’s City Hall are memorials to USA military veterans from Osseo. In 1937 a large granite monument was erected in memory of Civil War soldiers. On Memorial Day 1945, another Honor Roll was constructed of granite with a bronze plate engraved with names of those that served during the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II. In 1957, the memorial area was named Father Boerboom Park, a pastor of St. Vincent Rectory and the principal of their parochial school who had served since 1917.
Education
Schools within the city limits are Osseo Middle School and Osseo Senior High School. Osseo and surrounding communities are served free public education from primary level to secondary level by the Osseo Area School District 279. The school district also provides free public education for Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Corcoran, Dayton and Hassan. The district's mission is "to inspire and prepare all students with the confidence, courage and competence to achieve their dreams; contribute to community; and engage in a lifetime of learning."
Notable people
- Brian Merritt Bergson, Minnesota state legislator
- Andy Hedlund, professional ice hockey defenseman
- Kevin Kling, award-winning storyteller and author
- James Martinez, champion wrestler
- Charles Munn, 37th Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Caleb Truax, professional middleweight boxer
Images for kids
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Osseo City Hall and Library
-
Osseo in 1869
See also
In Spanish: Osseo (Minnesota) para niños
