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Wabasha, Minnesota
Downtown Wabasha
Downtown Wabasha
Motto(s): 
"Governor's Fit City"
Location of the city of Wabashawithin Wabasha Countyin the state of Minnesota
Location of the city of Wabasha
within Wabasha County
in the state of Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Wabasha
Area
 • Total 9.25 sq mi (23.96 km2)
 • Land 8.19 sq mi (21.22 km2)
 • Water 1.06 sq mi (2.75 km2)
Elevation
686 ft (209 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,559
 • Density 312.42/sq mi (120.62/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55981
Area code(s) 651
FIPS code 27-67378
GNIS feature ID 0653695
Website www.wabasha.org

Wabasha is a city and the county seat of Wabasha County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,559 at the time of the 2020 census. It is on the Mississippi River, near its confluence with the Zumbro River.

Name

Wabasha is named after the Mdewakanton Dakota mixed-blood (with Anishinaabe) chiefs Wapi-sha, or red leaf (wáȟpe šá - leaf red), father (1718–1806), son (1768–1855), and grandson (±1816–1876) of the same name. The second, Wabishaw the son, signed the 1830 USA treaty with the "Confederated Tribes of the Sacs and Foxes; the Medawah-Kanton, Wahpacoota, Wahpeton and Sissetong Bands or Tribes of Sioux; the Omahas, Ioways, Ottoes and Missourias" in Prairie du Chien. The grandson, Wabasha III (±1816–1876), signed the 1851 and 1858 treaties that ceded the southern half of what is now the state of Minnesota to the United States, beginning the removal of his band to the Minnesota River, then removal from Minnesota to Crow Creek Reservation in Dakota Territory, then to the Santee Reservation in Nebraska, where the last chief Wabasha died.

History

Wabasha was platted in 1854.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Wabasha has an area of 9.25 square miles (23.96 km2); 8.19 square miles (21.21 km2) is land and 1.06 square miles (2.75 km2) is water. U.S. Highway 61 and Minnesota Highway 60 are two of the main routes in the city. Wisconsin Highways 25 and 35 are nearby.

The city of Wabasha is on the Mississippi River at the foot of Lake Pepin.

Wabasha–Nelson Bridge over the Mississippi

Climate

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Dfb"(Warm Summer Continental Climate).

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 894
1870 1,739 94.5%
1880 2,088 20.1%
1890 2,489 19.2%
1900 2,528 1.6%
1910 2,622 3.7%
1920 2,249 −14.2%
1930 2,212 −1.6%
1940 2,368 7.1%
1950 2,468 4.2%
1960 2,500 1.3%
1970 2,371 −5.2%
1980 2,372 0.0%
1990 2,384 0.5%
2000 2,599 9.0%
2010 2,521 −3.0%
2020 2,559 1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, the population was 2,559. The population density was 312.4 inhabitants per square mile (120.6/km2). There were 1,344 housing units at an average density of 164.1 per square mile (63.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.0% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,521 people, 1,144 households, and 654 families living in the city. The population density was 306.7 inhabitants per square mile (118.4/km2). There were 1,315 housing units at an average density of 160.0 per square mile (61.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 0.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 1,144 households, of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.8% were non-families. 37.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.72.

The median age in the city was 48.8 years. 19.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 26.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

Transportation

Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which operates between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, passes through the town on BNSF tracks, but makes no stop. The nearest stations are located in Red Wing, 31 miles (50 km) to the northwest, and Winona, 32 miles (51 km) to the southeast.

Arts and culture

The National Eagle Center is in Wabasha. Wabasha is also home to Minnesota's oldest Episcopal church, Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, which features a Tiffany stained-glass window.

GraceMemorialEpiscopalChurch2011
Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, Wabasha, Minnesota

Notable people

  • Larry Brandenburg, Actor
  • John R. Foley, one-term congressman from Maryland
  • Joyce M. Lund, journalist and Minnesota state legislator
  • Chief Tamaha, Mdewakanton Sioux chief
  • Tom Tiffany, Congressman from Wisconsin's 7th congressional district
  • John Van Dyke, Congressman from New Jersey's 4th congressional district from 1847 to 1851; member of Minnesota Senate from 1872 to 1873
  • Jim "Baron Von" Raschke, retired professional wrestler and manager

In popular culture

A sign reading "Welcome to Wabasha, Home of Grumpy Old Men" stands at the city limits. This is a tribute to the 1993 film Grumpy Old Men and its 1995 sequel Grumpier Old Men, both of which are set in Wabasha. Though many of the places the films mention (such as the local VFW and Slippery's Tavern) are in Wabasha, the films were shot in other Minnesota communities. The only scene filmed near Wabasha was the "snow angel" scene, filmed in Red Wing.

Education

Wabasha-Kellogg High School
Wabasha-Kellogg High School

Run by Wabasha-Kellogg Independent School District #811, Wabasha-Kellogg is a K-12 school. Alternatively, St. Felix Catholic School is a private school offering a Pre K-6 curriculum.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wabasha (Minnesota) para niños

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