Sartell is a city in Minnesota, a state in the United States. It is located in both Benton and Stearns Counties. The city is special because it sits right on the Mississippi River.

Sartell is part of the larger St. Cloud area. In 2020, about 19,351 people lived there. This makes Sartell the biggest suburb of St. Cloud and the fourth-largest city in central Minnesota.

History of Sartell
Economy of Sartell
Religion in Sartell
Transportation in Sartell
Geography of Sartell
Population Changes in Sartell
- Who Lives in Sartell?
Education in Sartell
Mayors of Sartell
Notable People from Sartell
Images for kids
See also

History of Sartell

Sartell has a rich history, starting long before it became a city.

Early Native American History

The first people known to live in the Sartell area were the Dakota tribe. Later, the Anishinaabe people moved into the region. The area that became Sartell was often a "no man's land" between these two tribes. This means it was a neutral zone where neither tribe fully settled.

European explorers and traders, like Jean-Baptiste Perrault and David Thompson, traveled through this area. American explorers such as Zebulon Pike and Henry Schoolcraft also explored the Mississippi River here.

The Watab Creek in Sartell was an important border. It separated the Anishinaabe people to the north from the Dakota people to the south. The U.S. government officially recognized this border in a treaty in 1825.

The Ho-Chunk People and Early Settlements

In 1846, about 1,300 Ho-Chunk people (also known as Winnebago) were moved to the Sartell area. They were placed there to act as a buffer between the Dakota and Anishinaabe tribes, who were often at war. However, the Ho-Chunk people did not stay long. They moved away in 1853 to a more peaceful area.

The Sartell area was known as "Winnebago" on maps from the 1860s.

Founding of the Town

Sartell began as a small town focused on lumber and paper. Early French fur traders called this spot "The Third Rapids" because it was the third set of rough waters they found when traveling north on the Mississippi River.

Sartell's paper mill, seen from the air in 1946.

One of the first European settlers was Joseph B. Sartell, who arrived in 1854. He worked at a local sawmill. Later, he opened a flour mill and started the Sartell Brothers Lumber Company with his sons.

In 1905, construction began on the Sartell Pulp and Paper Company and the Sartell Dam across the Mississippi River. Both were finished in 1907. The paper mill became the city's biggest employer for many years.

Becoming a City

In 1907, the people living in the town decided to officially make it a village. They named it "The Village of Sartell" to honor Joseph Sartell and his family's contributions. For many years, members of the Sartell family were involved in the local government.

In 1973, a state law changed all villages in Minnesota to "cities." So, "The Village of Sartell" became "The City of Sartell."

The city has grown a lot over the years. In 1960, only about 700 people lived there. Today, the population is over 18,000!

Economy of Sartell

Sartell's economy has changed over time. For many years, the biggest employers were the paper mill (which started as Watab Pulp & Paper) and DeZurik Water Controls, a company that makes valves.

In 2012, the paper mill was badly damaged and eventually closed. Since then, Sartell has been growing and adding new businesses. It is developing a new area with larger chain stores, which is becoming a new downtown for the city.

Religion in Sartell

The Sartell family helped start the first church in town, Riverside Presbyterian. This church served the local Protestant community.

Saint Francis Xavier Church, a Roman Catholic church, was founded in 1948. It was named after Francis Xavier Pierz, a missionary who helped bring many European farmers to the area.

Transportation in Sartell

Getting around Sartell is mainly done by roads. The main roads are U.S. Highway 10 and Minnesota State Highway 15. These roads run along the edges of the city.

Sartell also has a bus service called St. Cloud Metro Bus. This bus connects Sartell to nearby cities like Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud.

Because Sartell is close to St. Cloud, residents can easily get to the St. Cloud Regional Airport. There are also Amtrak train and Greyhound bus stations in St. Cloud.

The Mississippi River in Sartell is not used for large shipping because of dams and shallow areas. However, it is popular for recreational activities like boating. The Sartell Bridge, built in 1984, helps people cross the river.

Geography of Sartell

Sartell covers an area of about 10.05 square miles (27.00 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The city is located right on the Mississippi River. The areas around the city that are not developed are mostly woodlands and farmland. Sartell is located just north of the city of St. Cloud.

Population Changes in Sartell

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1910	240	—
1920	510	112.5%
1930	521	2.2%
1940	532	2.1%
1950	662	24.4%
1960	791	19.5%
1970	1,323	67.3%
1980	3,427	159.0%
1990	5,393	57.4%
2000	9,641	78.8%
2010	15,876	64.7%
2020	19,351	21.9%
2022 (est.)	19,696	24.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

Sartell has grown a lot over the years. In 1910, only 240 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 19,351 people. This shows how much the city has developed over the last century.

Who Lives in Sartell?

In 2020, most people in Sartell were White (about 88.6%). There were also growing numbers of Black or African American (1.9%), Asian (2.4%), and people of two or more races (3.9%). About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Sartell in 2010 was about 32.7 years old. About 30% of the residents were under 18, and about 10% were 65 or older.

Education in Sartell

Most of the schools in Sartell are part of the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. However, some parts of Sartell are in the St. Cloud Area School District or the Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools district.

Students in the St. Cloud school district sections of Sartell attend Westwood Elementary School, North Middle School, and Apollo High School.

Mayors of Sartell

Here is a list of the people who have served as mayor of Sartell:

Charles Sartell, 1907–1923
C.L. Witherell, 1924–1928, 1932–1936
Norris Sartell, 1929–1931
Ripley Sartell Sr, 1937–1943, 1960–1973
Elmer Thornton, 1944–1947
Peter Pikus, 1948–1949
Joseph Gallus, 1950–1955
Darrel Hurd, 1956–1959
Tony Zakrajshek, 1974–1978
Robert C. Bogard, 1979–1990
Robert Pogatshnik, 1991–2006
Tim O'Driscoll 2007–2011
Joe Perske, 2011–2014
Sarah Nicoll, 2015–2018
Ryan Fitzthum, 2019–term expires 2026

Notable People from Sartell

Al Patton, a state representative for Minnesota.
Craig Sauer, a linebacker who played for the Minnesota Vikings.
For All Those Sleeping, a metalcore music band.
Kurt Sauer, a defenseman who played for the Phoenix Coyotes.
Michael Sauer, drafted by the New York Rangers.

Images for kids

Winnebago 1846 Reservation, Nicollet's 1843 map.
A part of a map from 1866 showing "Winnebago" (now Sartell) on the Mississippi River.

Sartell, Minnesota facts for kids

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