Warren, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Warren
City
Motto(s):  "Soaring To A Bright Future"
Location within Marshall County and Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Marshall
Founded	1879
Incorporated (town)	1881
Incorporated (city)	1892
Area
• Total	1.46 sq mi (3.77 km2)
• Land	1.46 sq mi (3.77 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	856 ft (261 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,605
• Estimate  (2021)	1,574
• Density	1,102.34/sq mi (425.53/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56762
Area code(s)	218
FIPS code	27-68170
GNIS feature ID	0653783

Warren is a city in Minnesota, United States. It is the main city, also called the county seat, of Marshall County. In 2020, about 1,605 people lived there.

History of Warren

Warren was first planned out in 1879. It was named after Charles H. Warren, who worked for the railroad. A post office opened in Warren in 1880.

Challenges to Warren's County Seat Role

Warren is much larger than other cities in Marshall County. However, its role as the county seat has been challenged many times.

• Railroad Plans: In 1905, the Soo Line Railroad was built. The original plan was for the train line to go from Thief River Falls to Argyle and then west. People in Argyle hoped that having a railroad stop there would make their city the new county seat instead of Warren. But other ideas won out. The railroad line now goes north from Thief River Falls, then south to Warren. It looks like the plan changed while it was being built.

• Moving the County Seat: In 1974, people from the eastern part of Marshall County wanted to move the county seat. They noticed Warren is in the western part of the long county, very close to its southern edge. They asked twice to move the county seat to Newfolden. But these efforts did not get the question on the ballot for voters to decide. In fact, voters had already approved building an addition to the courthouse in Warren.

Warren in Pop Culture

Warren was featured on a 2006 episode of the History Channel show UFO Files. The episode was called "Alien Encounters." It talked about a mysterious object that hit a county sheriff's car on August 27, 1979. This event is known as the Val Johnson Incident. This same story was also shown in 2012 on the Travel Channel's Mysteries at the Museum.

Geography of Warren

The United States Census Bureau says that Warren covers about 1.44 square miles (3.77 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.

Snake River and Flooding

The Snake River flows through Warren in a winding way, which is why it's called "Snake River." Both sides of the river have buildings. This has caused problems when the city tries to control floods. Warren has had several major floods in its history. Some of the biggest floods happened in 1896 (twice), 1969, 1974, 1979, 1996 (twice), and 1997.

City Layout and Roads

The streets in the older part of Warren are laid out in a grid. They run parallel and perpendicular to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Some newer parts of the city, especially south of Bridge Street (which is also Minnesota Highway 1), have a normal north-south grid layout. The BNSF railroad tracks divide the city's streets into east and west. Bridge Street divides them into north and south.

The main roads in Warren are U.S. Highway 75 and Minnesota State Highway 1.

Climate in Warren

People of Warren (Demographics)

How Many People Live Here? (2010 Census)

In 2010, the city had 1,563 people living in 681 households. The population density was about 1085 people per square mile (419 people per square kilometer). There were 743 housing units, with about 516 units per square mile (199 units per square kilometer).

Most of the people in Warren were White (97.2%). A small number were African American (0.4%), Native American (0.3%), or Asian (0.3%). About 1.2% were from other races, and 0.5% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 2.6% of the population.

Households and Families

Out of 681 households:

• 27.8% had children under 18 years old.
• 46.1% were married couples living together.
• 10.7% had a female head of household with no husband present.
• 4.6% had a male head of household with no wife present.
• 38.6% were not families.

About 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals living alone. 18.5% of households had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household had 2.20 people, and the average family had 2.82 people.

The average age in Warren was 44.5 years.

• 23.2% of residents were under 18.
• 6.3% were between 18 and 24.
• 21.2% were from 25 to 44.
• 25.7% were from 45 to 64.
• 23.5% were 65 years or older.

The city had slightly more females (52.5%) than males (47.5%).

Places of Worship

Warren has several churches:

• Three Lutheran churches (two are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and one is with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod).
• A Roman Catholic church and cemetery.
• An Evangelical Covenant church.
• A United Methodist church.
• An Assembly of God church.
• A non-denominational church.

In the countryside around Warren, there are three smaller Lutheran churches.

Economy of Warren

Farming and businesses related to farming have always been the most important parts of Warren's economy. For most of its history, there were no other major industries. The Red River Valley has a short growing season, and floods can make it even shorter. However, the soil is excellent, which helps farmers get good harvests. This makes farming in the area less risky than in places with poorer soil.

The main crops grown here are wheat, soybeans, potatoes, and sugar beets. Warren was once home to the largest independent grain elevator in Minnesota. Today, Northwest Grain Cenex Harvest States Cooperative has a large grain elevator on the Soo Line railroad. The American Crystal Sugar Co. also runs a sugar beet terminal just north of Warren during harvest time. Warren has three bank branches, with the largest being a branch of Community Bank of the Red River Valley.

Education and Culture in Warren

Warren is home to the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo school district. The district has one high school (for grades 7-12) and one elementary school, both located in Warren. Both school buildings are considered very good for a district of this size. The high school, built in 1954, has a large auditorium that can seat 1000 people. The elementary school, built in 1970, was first designed with classrooms separated by chalkboards instead of solid walls. Some walls were added in 1987. In the late 2000s, the school board added a new gymnasium.

Warren also has a public library called the Godel Memorial Library. It is home to the Marshall County Historical Society, which preserves local history. The Marshall County Fair is held here, and there is also the Warren Riverside Country Club, which has a 9-hole golf course.

Transportation in Warren

The Warren City Council decided to build an airport in 1965. It was estimated to cost $109,000. A special ceremony to open the airport took place in August 1966.

Notable People from Warren

Here are some well-known people who have lived in Warren:

• Julius J. Olson – A justice and chief justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
• Oscar Knutson – A chief justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court and a mayor of Warren.
• John J. Herrick – A captain who led the ship that was fired upon in the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
• Gerome Kamrowski – An abstract artist.
• Joseph Steffan – A civil rights activist.
• Paul Nelson – A magazine editor and musician.
• Val Johnson – A former sheriff's deputy known for his UFO encounter.

See also

In Spanish: Warren (Minnesota) para niños