St. Francis, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Francis
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Welcome sign at city border
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| Counties | Anoka, Isanti |
| Area | |
| • Total | 23.75 sq mi (61.50 km2) |
| • Land | 23.32 sq mi (60.38 km2) |
| • Water | 0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 922 ft (281 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,142 |
| • Density | 349.22/sq mi (134.83/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
55070
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| Area code(s) | 763 |
| FIPS code | 27-56950 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396487 |
| Website | www.stfrancismn.org |
St. Francis is a city located in Anoka and Isanti counties in Minnesota, United States. In 2020, about 8,142 people lived here.
Minnesota State Highway 47 is a major road that goes through the city. Another important road is Ambassador Boulevard.
Contents
History of St. Francis
St. Francis got its name from Francis of Assisi. The Rum River was named after him in 1680 by Louis Hennepin. This is where the city's name comes from.
Early Settlers and Buildings
In 1855, a man named Dwight Woodbury built a dam and two mills. These mills were used for grinding grain and cutting wood. He also built the first house, which later became the Riverside Hotel. George Armsby and E. Fowler are thought to be the very first settlers in this area.
St. Francis Township was settled in 1855. It became an official township in 1857.
First Services and Businesses
The first doctor in St. Francis, known as Dr. Marshall, arrived in 1857. That same year, the first school started at the home of M. Fowler. Hattie Waterhouse was the first teacher.
In 1869, a part of St. Francis Township became a separate area called Burns Township. Today, this area is known as Nowthen.
In 1879, Pelutiar McClure opened a general store. This store sold many different kinds of goods. In 1888, Dwight Woodbury built a large mill called St. Francis Milling Co.. A factory that made starch and canned food was built in 1893.
In the early 1890s, a place called Blanchette's Sample Room Beer Parlour opened. Later, when local schools joined together, it was changed into an ice cream parlor. The ice cream parlor stayed open until 1933. On July 18, 1933, the large mill burned down, and the dam was also destroyed. At that time, St. Francis also had a blacksmith shop, a drugstore, and a meat market. The meat market later became a place to keep horses.
Becoming a City
The city of St. Francis officially became a city on May 16, 1962. In 1974, it became a "statutory city." This happened when villages were no longer a type of local government in Minnesota.
Pioneer Days, a local celebration, started in 1964.
Geography of St. Francis
St. Francis is located in the northwestern part of Anoka County.
The city covers an area of about 23.97 square miles (62.08 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 23.53 square miles (60.94 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.44 square miles (1.14 square kilometers), is water.
Nearby Places
Several towns are close to St. Francis. These include Bethel, East Bethel, Oak Grove, Nowthen, Elk River, Zimmerman, Crown, and Isanti.
St. Francis is about 16 miles (26 kilometers) north of the city of Anoka. Lake George is also nearby. The city is just north of the large Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 153 | — | |
| 1870 | 166 | 8.5% | |
| 1880 | 270 | 62.7% | |
| 1890 | 324 | 20.0% | |
| 1900 | 483 | 49.1% | |
| 1910 | 519 | 7.5% | |
| 1920 | 589 | 13.5% | |
| 1930 | 510 | −13.4% | |
| 1940 | 510 | 0.0% | |
| 1950 | 447 | −12.4% | |
| 1960 | 525 | 17.4% | |
| 1970 | 897 | 70.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,184 | 32.0% | |
| 1990 | 2,538 | 114.4% | |
| 2000 | 4,910 | 93.5% | |
| 2010 | 7,218 | 47.0% | |
| 2020 | 8,142 | 12.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate |
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In 2010, there were 7,218 people living in St. Francis. There were 2,520 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. Most people living in the city were White (95.9%).
About 46.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.86 people. The average family had 3.22 people.
The average age of people in the city was 31.5 years old. About 31.7% of residents were under 18 years old. About 6.5% were 65 years or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (49.5%) and females (50.5%).
Organizations
- St. Francis is where the Land of Lakes Choirboys are currently based.
Notable People from St. Francis
- Kiana Eide, a rhythmic gymnast.
- Dakotah Lindwurm, a long-distance runner and Olympian.
- Sean Sherk, a mixed martial artist.
See also
In Spanish: St. Francis (Minnesota) para niños
