St. James, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. James, Minnesota
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The Watonwan County Courthouse in St. James
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Watonwan |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor - Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.36 sq mi (6.10 km2) |
| • Land | 2.33 sq mi (6.04 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,073 ft (327 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,793 |
| • Density | 2,054.44/sq mi (793.34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
56081
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| FIPS code | 27-57040 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396493 |
St. James or Saint James is a city in Watonwan County, Minnesota, United States. It is the main city, or county seat, of Watonwan County. In 2020, about 4,793 people lived there.
You can reach St. James using Minnesota State Highways 4, 30, and 60. These are the main roads that go through the city.
Contents
History of St. James
St. James was founded in 1870. Directors from the St. Paul and Sioux City railroads chose this spot. They wanted a midpoint for a new railroad line connecting the two cities. The city was named after James Purington, who was one of the first people to settle there. St. James officially became a city in 1871.
The city was home to Winfield Scott Hammond, who became the 18th Governor of Minnesota in 1915. He was a member of the Democratic Party. In the 1940s, Theodore S. Mondale was a pastor at the First Methodist Church in St. James. He was the father of Walter Mondale, who later became the Vice President of the United States.
Since 1947, Tony Downs Foods Co. has been a big employer in St. James. This company processes poultry and makes frozen meals.
St. James has two important buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special places that are protected because of their history. These are the Grand Opera House, which was finished in 1892, and the Watonwan County Courthouse, completed in 1896.
Geography and Climate
St. James covers an area of about 2.43 square miles (6.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Climate in St. James
St. James experiences a climate with warm summers and cold winters. Temperatures can get quite high in summer, sometimes over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). In winter, it can get very cold, dropping below zero degrees Fahrenheit (-18 degrees Celsius). The city gets a good amount of rain, especially in spring and summer. It also gets a lot of snow during the winter months.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 444 | — | |
| 1890 | 939 | 111.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,607 | 177.6% | |
| 1910 | 2,102 | −19.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,673 | 27.2% | |
| 1930 | 2,808 | 5.1% | |
| 1940 | 3,400 | 21.1% | |
| 1950 | 3,861 | 13.6% | |
| 1960 | 4,174 | 8.1% | |
| 1970 | 4,027 | −3.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,346 | 7.9% | |
| 1990 | 4,364 | 0.4% | |
| 2000 | 4,695 | 7.6% | |
| 2010 | 4,605 | −1.9% | |
| 2020 | 4,793 | 4.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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2010 Population Details
In 2010, there were 4,605 people living in St. James. There were 1,839 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 32% of these households had children under 18. The average age of people in the city was about 37.8 years old. Around 27.8% of the residents were under 18, and 17.9% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (48.7%) and females (51.3%).
Transportation
St. James has its own airport, called the St. James Municipal Airport. The city owns and manages it.
Famous People from St. James
Many interesting people have connections to St. James:
- Moses K. Armstrong – A businessman and lawmaker.
- Becky Buller – A talented bluegrass musician.
- Peter Eckerstrom – A judge for the Arizona Court of Appeals.
- Henry Norman Graven – A United States District Court judge, who was born in St. James.
- Winfield Scott Hammond – The 18th governor of Minnesota, who lived and worked in St. James.
- Mac Hegstrom – A businessman and politician, born in St. James.
- Carl L. Johnson – A businessman and lawmaker.
- Mike Kingery – A professional baseball player, born in St. James.
- Gary Mielke – A professional baseball player, born in St. James.
- Carl G. Olson – A farmer and politician, born in St. James.
See also
In Spanish: St. James (Minnesota) para niños
