Bigfork, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Bigfork is a city in Itasca County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 446 at the 2010 census. Scenic State Park
is nearby.
Minnesota State Highway 38
serves as a main route in the community. Minnesota State Highways 1
and 6
are nearby.
, claiming the stand of pine there, and began logging activities. Though Neveaux reached the area in 1887, and the settlement began in 1892, officially, he was a squatter until the land was opened for settlement in 1900.
By 1902, a post office was established, and in 1906, a station was added to the Minneapolis and Rainy River Railway
.
On January 17, 1907, less than a year after the railway stop was completed, Bigfork was incorporated as a village.
, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²). 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.66%) is water.
of 2000, there were 469 people, 208 households, and 110 families residing in the city. The population density
was 263.5 people per square mile (101.7/km²). There were 226 housing units at an average density of 127.0 per square mile (49.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.65% White, 1.71% Native American, 0.21% from other races
, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.
There were 208 households out of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 42.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 31.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,167, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,455. About 6.0% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
Itasca County, Minnesota
Itasca County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is named after Lake Itasca, which is in turn a shortened version the Latin words veritas caput, meaning 'truth' and 'head', a reference to the source of the Mississippi River. As of 2010, the population was 45,058. Its county seat...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 446 at the 2010 census. Scenic State Park
Scenic State Park
Scenic State Park is a Minnesota state park near Bigfork in Itasca County.Ten buildings and structures in the park, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Rustic Style, are included within the National Register of Historic Places. This development started in 1933, and was the first...
is nearby.
Minnesota State Highway 38
Minnesota State Highway 38
Minnesota State Highway 38 is a highway in north-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with U.S. Highway 2 in Grand Rapids and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 1 in Effie....
serves as a main route in the community. Minnesota State Highways 1
Minnesota State Highway 1
Minnesota State Highway 1 is a highway in northwest and northeast Minnesota, which runs from North Dakota Highway 54 at the North Dakota state line and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with Minnesota Highway 61 at the unincorporated town of Illgen City in Beaver Bay...
and 6
Minnesota State Highway 6
Minnesota State Highway 6 is a highway in east-central and north-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 18 in Bay Lake Township near Garrison and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with U.S...
are nearby.
History
Bigfork originally began as a settlement when Damase "Uncle Tom" Neveaux built a log cabin on the Big Fork RiverBig Fork River
The Big Fork River is a river of Minnesota. It flows into the Rainy River.-See also:*List of rivers of Minnesota-References:**USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Minnesota...
, claiming the stand of pine there, and began logging activities. Though Neveaux reached the area in 1887, and the settlement began in 1892, officially, he was a squatter until the land was opened for settlement in 1900.
By 1902, a post office was established, and in 1906, a station was added to the Minneapolis and Rainy River Railway
Minneapolis and Rainy River Railway
The Minneapolis and Rainy River Railway was a long American short line railroad used primarily for logging activities in northern Minnesota in the early 20th century. It was incorporated on July 20, 1901 and was owned by the Itasca Lumber Company...
.
On January 17, 1907, less than a year after the railway stop was completed, Bigfork was incorporated as a village.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²). 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.66%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 469 people, 208 households, and 110 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 263.5 people per square mile (101.7/km²). There were 226 housing units at an average density of 127.0 per square mile (49.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.65% White, 1.71% Native American, 0.21% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.
There were 208 households out of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 42.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 31.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,167, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,455. About 6.0% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.