Pine City, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pine City, Minnesota Ne-zhingwaakokaag
City
Downtown Pine City
Logo
Nickname(s):  Pine, P.C.
Motto(s):  North. Nice and close.
Location of Pine City within Pine County, Minnesota
Pine City, Minnesota Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Pine
Incorporated	February 14, 1881
Area
• Total	4.24 sq mi (10.98 km2)
• Land	3.84 sq mi (9.93 km2)
• Water	0.40 sq mi (1.04 km2)
Elevation	945 ft (288 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,130
• Estimate  (2024)	3,736
• Density	815.95/sq mi (315.07/km2)
• Demonym	Pine Citian
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	55063
Area code(s)	320
FIPS code	27-51064
GNIS feature ID	665301
For additional travel information, see Pine City Wikivoyage

Pine City is a city in east central Minnesota, United States. It is the main town of Pine County, where the county government is located. In 2020, about 3,130 people lived there. A part of Pine City is on the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation.

Pine City started as a town built around a railway. It quickly became a place known for logging, which is cutting down trees for wood. Because of the many lakes nearby, it also became a popular resort town. Today, many people who live in Pine City travel to work in the larger Minneapolis–Saint Paul area.

History of Pine City

Early Days and Treaties

The Dakota people were the first to live in the area where Pine City is now. Later, the Ojibwe people moved into the area, and it became a mix of both cultures. By the early 1800s, the Ojibwe people were the main group living there. They hunted animals and trapped them for their furs, which they traded at nearby posts.

In 1837, a special agreement called the Treaty of St. Peters was made. It was also known as the "White Pine Treaty." This treaty allowed people to start cutting down trees for wood in the area. At first, this was limited because it was hard to move the wood without good waterways.

Growth and the Railroad

In the late 1800s, people from Europe came to the Pine City area. The land was still covered with many tall white pine trees, some of the biggest in Minnesota. When the railroad arrived in Pine City, it became much easier to transport wood, and the logging business grew a lot.

Pine City became a busy and successful town. It had everything its residents, farmers, and the growing lumber industry needed. The town was officially planned out in 1869 and became an official village in 1881.

County Seat and Changes

In 1861, Buchanan County joined with Pine County. Pine City became the main town for the county government because it was already well-established. Because Pine City is on the southern edge of Pine County, people have tried to move the county government to more central towns like Hinckley or Sandstone over the years.

In 2005, Pine City became the first small town in rural America to host an annual event celebrating LGBTQ+ pride, called East-Central Minnesota Pride. A book with old photos showing Pine City's history was published in 2010. It was part of a series called Images of America.

Important Dates in Pine City's History

Geography and Climate

Winter scene with native pines in the background

Pine City covers about 4.24 square miles (10.98 square kilometers). Most of this area is land (3.84 square miles or 9.93 square kilometers), and a smaller part is water (0.40 square miles or 1.04 square kilometers).

Pine City's Weather

Pine City has a climate with cold winters and warm summers. The city has seen some very cold temperatures in its history. For example, on March 2, 1897, it was -50°F (-46°C), which is the coldest March temperature ever recorded there.

People and Population

In 2000, Pine City had 3,043 residents living in 1,222 households. About 734 of these were families. The population density was about 1,076 people per square mile (415 people per square kilometer).

Population Growth

Pine City has continued to grow since it became an official town. It is one of only three small towns in Minnesota that has never lost population. Much of the growth happens around the lakes in nearby areas. The Pine City Zip Code (55063) had 9,348 residents in the latest census.

Community Makeup

In 2020, most of the people in Pine City were White (95.02%). There were also smaller groups of Black or African American (1.96%), Asian (1.25%), and Native American (0.32%) residents. About 1.32% of people were from two or more races.

In 2000, about 30% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 42.8% were married couples. The average household had 2.38 people, and the average family had 3.04 people.

The median age in the city was 37 years old. About 25.3% of the population was under 18, and 21.3% was 65 or older.

The average income for a household in the city was $29,000, and for a family, it was $37,000. About 15% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Many Pine City residents have ancestors from Germany (36%), Norway (17%), Sweden (15%), and the Czech Republic (8%).

Places of Worship

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

While many people in Pine City do not belong to a church, the city has several churches from different Christian groups, including:

Economy and Businesses

Left, Pine City Farmers' Market ; Right, W.A Sauser Hardware

MINPACK, Inc. is one of the biggest employers in Pine City, with 130 employees. Atscott Manufacturing is another large employer, with 100 employees. Both companies have their main offices in Pine City. Other big employers include Walmart, Product Fabricators, Inc., and the Pine County government.

Downtown Area

The Pine City Scrapbooking Company, located in downtown Pine City, was featured on CBS News Sunday Morning in 2017.

Arts and Culture

Left, Historic photo of Pine County Fair; Right, East Central Minnesota Pride

In 2009, the Pine Center for the Arts opened. It is a regional arts center that offers many classes and shows related to theater, music, visual art, literature, and dance. These events happen all year long. The Heritage Players, a local theater group, performs twice a year. The Pine City Arts Council also organizes annual events, like a free summer concert series in Robinson Park and an art festival.

East Central Minnesota Pride holds its "Pride in the Park" celebration in Robinson Park. This event, which started in 2005, was the first small-town Pride celebration in Minnesota.

Main Yearly Events

Many community and regional events take place in and around Pine City each year.

Spring, Summer, and Fall Events

Winter Events

• BB32 hockey tournament
• Ice fishing contests on area lakes
• Pine Technical and Community College Shooter's Association Gun Show

Interesting Places to Visit

Left, François the Voyageur; Right, Rural School Museum

• Pine Center for the Arts
• Rural School Dist. 69 Museum
• Snake River Fur Post
• Voyageur Statue, in Voyageur Park

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Pine City has 12 city parks. Some are undeveloped, some are just green spaces, and eight are active parks with playgrounds or sports fields. These include:

Sports

The Pine City Pirates play town team baseball in the Eastern Minny (now North) League. Baseball has been a part of Pine City for many years. The Pirates have played in several state championships. The team stopped playing for a while but was started up again in 2017.

Education in Pine City

800-seat auditorium at Pine City High School

Pine City Public Schools (Independent School District #578) serves over 1,600 students. It includes Pine City Elementary (for grades K-6), a Junior/Senior High School (for grades 7-12), and the Pine City Area Learning Center. Pine City also has St. Mary's School (Catholic), which teaches preschool and K-6 students.

Pine Technical and Community College is a two-year school. It offers classes in technical skills and general education. Pine Tech's gunsmithing program is one of the only ones like it in the country, attracting students from all over North America.

The Pine City Public Library is part of the East Central Regional Library system. This library system has almost 400,000 books and serves over 65,000 people. Pine City also has the George E. Sausen Memorial Law Library inside the Pine County Courthouse.

Schools in Pine City

• ECFE/Community Education (for young children)
• Pine City Elementary School: grades K-6
• St. Mary's School: pre-school

• Pine City Junior High School: grades 7–9

• Pine City Senior High School: grades 10–12
• Pine City Area Learning Center (ALC): grades 9 - 12
• Vision School

Colleges and Universities

• Pine Technical and Community College

Media and News

Newspapers

The main weekly newspaper in the area is the Pine City Pioneer. It prints over 3,000 copies each week. Newspapers from the Twin Cities are also commonly read in Pine City.

Television

Pine City gets TV signals from the Twin Cities. These include channels like Twin Cities Public Television, WCCO 4, KSTP-TV, and KMSP-TV.

Radio

WCMP (AM) and WCMP-FM are the two local radio stations in Pine City. Other stations from nearby areas and the Twin Cities can also be heard.

City Services and Transportation

Pine County Courthouse

Getting Around

Public Transportation

The Rush Line Corridor is looking into having train service for people who travel to work. The Northern Lights Express passenger train line has received money and will serve residents traveling between the Twin Cities and Duluth. For getting around within Pine City, there is a local taxi service.

Bus Services

Pine City has bus service through the Arrowhead Transit system, which travels within the county. There is also an intercity bus service called Jefferson Lines that goes from Pine City to St. Paul or Duluth twice a day.

Main Roads

Main Street, formerly U.S. Route 61, now part of the I-35 Business Loop

Pine City is located along Interstate 35, which connects the Twin Cities and Duluth. The St. Croix Scenic Byway also goes through Pine City. The main highways include:

Railroads

Pine City has railroad lines that are owned by BNSF Railway and used by St. Croix Valley Railroad.

Walking and Biking Trails

There are plans for a trail that people can use for walking or biking. It will connect the Twin Cities to the Twin Ports areas. This trail is called the James L. Oberstar State Trail.

Utilities and Services

East Central Energy provides electricity to the community. Minnesota Energy supplies gas. US Cable provides cable television. The city manages and distributes water. Several local businesses handle garbage removal and recycling services.

Law Enforcement

The Pine County Sheriff's Office is in charge of law enforcement in Pine City. They have 39 full-time staff, including 23 sworn officers. The sheriff's office also has three K-9s. Besides regular patrols, they also patrol on water, ATVs, and snowmobiles, and perform search and rescue missions.

Famous People from Pine City

See also

In Spanish: Pine City (Minnesota) para niños