Rice, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids City of Rice
City
Downtown Rice
Seal
Motto(s):  A past with pride ... a future with promise
Location of Rice within Benton County and state of Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Benton
Incorporated	July 18, 1890
Area
• Total	5.74 sq mi (14.86 km2)
• Land	5.70 sq mi (14.77 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation	1,063 ft (324 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,975
• Density	346.37/sq mi (133.74/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56367
Area code(s)	320
FIPS code	27-53998
GNIS feature ID	2396359
Website	www.cityofrice.com

Rice is a small city in Benton County, Minnesota, United States. In 2020, about 1,975 people lived there. Rice is part of the larger St. Cloud area. Its zip code also covers some nearby townships like Graham, Langola, and Watab.

History of Rice

The area where Rice is located was originally home to the Ojibway people. The first European settlers arrived in the autumn of 1844. In 1837, the Ojibway gave up their land in a treaty with the United States government. This led to the creation of the Territory of Minnesota in 1849. Benton County became one of the first nine organized counties.

The village of Rice was named after George T. Rice. He was a hotel owner and mill owner from Massachusetts. George T. Rice moved to the nearby village of Langola in 1864 to help the area grow. When the Northern Pacific Railroad came through in 1877, he hired F.W. Earl to build the Luther hotel. Rice officially became a city in Benton County on July 18, 1890. It started as a farming community.

On April 14, 1886, a very strong tornado hit Rice. It also struck Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud. This event, known as the 1886 Sauk Rapids tornado, was the deadliest tornado in Minnesota's history.

In 1993, Rice was recognized as a Tree City USA by The National Arbor Day Foundation. This award means the city does a good job of caring for its trees. Rice has also received the "Minnesota Star City" award for its efforts in economic development.

Geography and Climate

A pine stand in Rice, MN. The city was named a Tree City USA in 1993

Rice covers about 5.71 square miles (14.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water. U.S. Highway 10 is the main road that runs through the city.

The Mississippi River is located to the west of Rice. Little Rock Lake is to the east. The land in Rice is mostly flat and sandy. In the past, it was covered by prairie grasslands and oak forests. Today, you can see many pine and poplar trees. There are also irrigated farm fields and small areas of prairie.

Weather in Rice

Rice experiences a range of temperatures throughout the year. Summers are warm, with average high temperatures in July around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). Winters are cold, with average high temperatures in January around 19 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Celsius). The city gets a good amount of rain, especially in the summer months.

Culture and Activities

Rice has several places that are important to its history. These include the Immaculate Conception Church and the Old Rice Village Hall.

Fun Events and Festivals

The city of Rice hosts many fun events throughout the year:

• Rice Loves Its Kids Month (February)
• Memorial Day Remembrance
• Summerfest (in June)
• Little Rock Lake 4th of July Pontoon Parade
• Rice Fun Day and Kiddie Parade (third Saturday in August)
• Arts and Craft Show (first weekend of September)
• 9/11 Remembrance
• Veteran's Day Remembrance
• Pearl Harbor Remembrance

Outdoor Adventures

There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors in Rice:

• Benton Beach on Little Rock Lake is a popular spot. People go camping, fishing, and boating there in the summer. In winter, it's great for ice fishing. The Little Rock Lake Association helps take care of the lake.
• Rice has its own game preserve. There are also two taxidermy shops.
• Oak Hill Golf Course offers 18 holes for golf lovers.
• Rice is home to the Benton Beach Course, an 18-hole disc golf course. It even hosted the Minnesota Disc Golf Championship in 2008. Another disc golf course, Mississippi Park Course, is also in Rice.
• Many people in Rice enjoy sports, snowmobiling, riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), bicycling, and motorcycling.

Places of Worship

Several churches serve the community in Rice:

• Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
• Shepherd of the Pines Lutheran Church
• Graham Methodist Church
• Living Hope Church

Other Cool Places to Visit

Other attractions include the Great River Bike Trail, several parks, softball fields, and an ice skating rink.

Education in Rice

Schools for All Ages

The Sauk Rapids–Rice Schools system manages the public schools for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This system includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. There is also a District Office for Home Schooling.

Rice Elementary School is the only school from this system located directly in the city of Rice. Many students who live in Rice attend Royalton schools instead. This is because Royalton schools are often closer to their homes than most of the Sauk Rapids–Rice schools. Like other school systems in Minnesota, the Sauk Rapids–Rice Schools system allows "open enrollment." This means students can choose to attend a school outside their immediate area. The sports teams for the middle and high schools are called the Storm.

Population of Rice

Rice viewed from the Highway 10 and Benton Beach Road/County Road 2 intersection, before the construction of the Highway 10 overpass.

The population of Rice has grown steadily over the years. In 2010, there were 1,275 people living in the city. By 2020, the population had increased to 1,975 people.

Who Lives in Rice?

In 2010, there were 462 households in Rice. About 49% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (59.3%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.76 people.

The average age of people in Rice was 28.8 years old. About 32.4% of residents were under 18. About 39.6% were between 25 and 44 years old. The population was almost evenly split between males (52.7%) and females (47.3%). Most of the people living in Rice were White (97.3%).

Getting Around Rice

The Empire Builder train, operated by Amtrak, passes through Rice. This train travels between Seattle/Portland and Chicago. However, the train does not stop in Rice. The closest train station is in St. Cloud, which is about 16 miles (26 km) south of Rice.

See also

In Spanish: Rice (Minnesota) para niños