St. Joseph, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Joseph
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Businesses lining West Minnesota Street
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| Motto(s):
"Tomorrow With Tradition"
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Location of St. Joseph
within Stearns County, Minnesota |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Stearns |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Incorporated | January 18, 1890 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.31 sq mi (24.11 km2) |
| • Land | 9.29 sq mi (24.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,093 ft (333 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,029 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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6,932 |
| • Density | 756.46/sq mi (292.08/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
56374
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| Area code(s) | 320 |
| FIPS code | 27-57130 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396497 |
St. Joseph or Saint Joseph is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. In 2020, about 7,029 people lived there. It is known for being home to the College of Saint Benedict.
St. Joseph is part of the larger St. Cloud area. This means it's connected to a bigger group of towns and cities. There's even a place in Florida called St. Joseph that was named after this city in Minnesota!
Contents
History of St. Joseph
Early Settlement and Naming
Before European settlers arrived, the Dakota people lived in this area. St. Joseph was officially started in 1855.
The city was named by early German and Slovenian settlers. They named it after the patron saint of their first log chapel.
In 1851, a missionary named Father Francis X. Pierz wrote articles in German newspapers. He encouraged Catholic families to move to central Minnesota. Many immigrants, mostly from Germany, Slovenia, and Poland, came to the area. They formed many parishes, each with a church at its center.
Slovenian Pioneers and Community Building
The story of St. Joseph is important for Slovenian people who moved to America. Father Pierz brought his 12-year-old nephew, Joseph Notsch Jr., from Slovenia. Joseph helped him with his work.
In 1855, Joseph Notsch's parents and siblings became the first Slovenian family to move to the New World. They brought a special painting for Father Pierz. Mrs. Apollonia Notsch, Joseph's mother, later wrote a famous letter from their homestead in St. Joseph. She described their journey and life in the Minnesota Territory. Her letter made many other Slovene people decide to move to America.
Benedictine Monks and Challenges
In 1856, the first Benedictine priests came to the area. Some local Catholic settlers were worried because in Germany, religious groups often owned the land. These settlers had come to America to own their own farms. However, the Benedictines earned their trust by helping them choose and protect their new homesteads.
Soon after, a large group of Rocky Mountain locusts (a type of grasshopper) arrived. They darkened the sky and made a loud noise on the chapel roof. These locusts ate most of the crops and seeds, leaving the new settlers with very little food.
Education for Native American Girls
St. Benedict's Academy was a school for Native American girls. It opened in St. Joseph in 1884 and was run by the College of Saint Benedict. The school taught subjects like reading, math, and sewing.
Historic Buildings in St. Joseph
St. Joseph became an official city in 1890. It has three important places listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- The stone Church of St. Joseph, built in 1869.
- The First State Bank building from 1918.
- A group of historic buildings at Saint Benedict's Monastery and College, built between 1882 and the 1920s.
Geography of St. Joseph
St. Joseph covers about 3.89 square miles (10.1 square kilometers) of land. There are no large bodies of water within the city limits.
Several county roads, like County Road 75, help people get around. Interstate 94 and US Highway 52 are also close by.
Some of the city's main landmarks are the St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Benedict's Monastery, and the College of St. Benedict. The College of Saint Benedict is a Catholic college for women. The church's tall spire and the monastery's dome are easy to spot from far away. Their unique architecture makes them stand out.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 292 | — | |
| 1890 | 503 | 72.3% | |
| 1900 | 549 | 9.1% | |
| 1910 | 706 | 28.6% | |
| 1920 | 717 | 1.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,009 | 40.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,055 | 4.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,246 | 18.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,487 | 19.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,786 | 20.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,994 | 67.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,294 | 10.0% | |
| 2000 | 4,681 | 42.1% | |
| 2010 | 6,534 | 39.6% | |
| 2020 | 7,029 | 7.6% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 6,932 | 6.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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How Many People Live Here?
In 2020, St. Joseph had a population of 7,029 people. The city has grown quite a bit over the years. For example, in 1880, only 292 people lived here.
Who Lives in St. Joseph?
The city is home to people from many different backgrounds. In 2020, most residents were White. However, there are also many people who identify as Black or African American, Asian, Native American, or from two or more races. About 4.7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in St. Joseph is about 22.7 years old. This is because many young people attend the College of St. Benedict. A large part of the population (37.7%) is between 18 and 24 years old.
Education in St. Joseph
Schools for Younger Students
St. Joseph is part of the St. Cloud Area School District. Most students in St. Joseph go to Kennedy Community School, which teaches Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. Some parts of the city are zoned for Westwood Elementary and North Middle School. For high school, students usually attend Apollo High School.
Kennedy Community School opened in 2008. It replaced the older Kennedy Elementary, which had been around since 1968.
There is also [Saint Joseph Catholic School]. This school has been connected to the local church since the 1850s. At first, parents helped teach the children. The school got its own building in the 1920s. For many years, it was the main school and community center in town.
Higher Education Opportunities
The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) is a private college for women. It offers a four-year education in many subjects. The college opened in 1913 with just six students. It grew out of St. Benedict's Academy, which was founded in 1889.
CSB is also connected to Saint John's University (SJU). SJU is a university for men located nearby in Collegeville Township.
Events and Activities
Running and Sports
Every May since 2008, hundreds of runners take part in the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon. This 26.2-mile race starts in Holdingford, Minnesota, and finishes in St. Joseph.
The College of St. Benedict has the Claire Lynch Gym. Here, the "Bennies" (the college's sports teams) play volleyball and basketball. They compete against other teams in the MIAC. The college also has outdoor fields for soccer and softball games.
Music Concerts
Since 2006, the Church of St. Joseph has hosted the "Joetown Rocks" music concert. This outdoor concert happens around Independence Day. Thousands of people come to enjoy the music. Famous groups like the Killer Vees and the Fabulous Armadillos have performed there.
Notable People from St. Joseph
- Steve Dehler (born 1950) was a Minnesota lawmaker and also served as the mayor of St. Joseph.
- Joyce Sutphen (born 1949) was named the official Poet Laureate of Minnesota in 2011.
- Jacob Wetterling (1978 - 1989) was a boy from St. Joseph who went missing. His case led to important changes in child safety efforts.
- Patty Wetterling (born 1949) is Jacob Wetterling's mother. She became a strong advocate for children's safety after her son's disappearance. She works to protect children from harm.
- Sister Annella Zervas, O.S.B. (1900–1926) was a nun from St. Joseph. Many people visit her grave at Saint Benedict's Monastery.
See also
In Spanish: St. Joseph (Minnesota) para niños
