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Perham, Minnesota facts for kids

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Perham
Perham Village Hall
Perham Village Hall
Location of Perham, Minnesota
Location of Perham, Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Otter Tail
Area
 • Total 3.58 sq mi (9.27 km2)
 • Land 3.58 sq mi (9.27 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,368 ft (417 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 3,512
 • Estimate 
(2021)
3,572
 • Density 981.83/sq mi (379.04/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
56573
Area code(s) 218
FIPS code 27-50470
GNIS feature ID 2396181

Perham (pronounced PURM) is a city located in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. In 2020, about 3,512 people lived there. It is a friendly community in the United States.

History of Perham

Perham was first planned out in 1873. It was named after Josiah Perham, who was the very first president of the Northern Pacific Railway. This railway helped the town grow.

As Perham became more important for business, the area around it was also renamed. In 1877, the surrounding township became Perham Township. Perham officially became an incorporated city in 1881. This means it got its own local government.

Geography of Perham

Perham is located in Minnesota. The city covers an area of about 3.58 square miles (9.27 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Several important roads pass through Perham. These include U.S. Route 10 and Minnesota State Highways 78 and 108. These roads help people travel to and from the city.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 269
1890 761 182.9%
1900 1,182 55.3%
1910 1,376 16.4%
1920 1,370 −0.4%
1930 1,411 3.0%
1940 1,534 8.7%
1950 1,926 25.6%
1960 2,019 4.8%
1970 1,933 −4.3%
1980 2,086 7.9%
1990 2,075 −0.5%
2000 2,559 23.3%
2010 2,985 16.6%
2020 3,512 17.7%
2021 (est.) 3,572 19.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
2020 Census

In 2010, there were 2,985 people living in Perham. These people lived in 1,304 homes. About 722 of these homes were families.

The city has a mix of age groups. About 22.6% of the people were under 18 years old. Around 23.4% of the people were 65 years old or older. The average age in Perham was about 41.5 years old.

Local Media

Perham has its own local newspaper called the Perham Focus. This newspaper shares news with people in Otter Tail County and nearby areas. You can read it in print or online.

Transportation in Perham

The Empire Builder train, run by Amtrak, goes through Perham. This train travels between cities like Seattle, Portland, and Chicago. However, the train does not stop in Perham.

If you want to catch the train, the closest station is in Detroit Lakes. This city is about 21 miles (34 kilometers) northwest of Perham.

Famous People from Perham

Many interesting people have come from Perham. Here are a few:

  • Colvin G. Butler: A church leader, farmer, and politician.
  • Gabriele Grunewald: A U.S. champion runner. She was known for her middle-distance running.
  • Fritz Hanson: A famous player in the Canadian Football League.
  • John Anthony Kaiser: A Roman Catholic priest.
  • Roger Molander: A government official and activist.
  • Dean Simpson: A businessman and politician.
  • Ray Taylor: A film director.
  • Larry N. Vanderhoef: The fifth chancellor of the University of California-Davis.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Perham (Minnesota) para niños

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