Excelsior, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Excelsior is a settlement on Lake Minnetonka
in Hennepin County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 2,188 at the 2010 census.
, the city has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (7.46%) is water. Minnesota State Highway 7
serves as a main route.
of 2000, there were 2,393 people, 1,199 households, and 547 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,822.9 people per square mile (1,466.6/km²). There were 1,254 housing units at an average density of 2,003.3 per square mile (768.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.07% White, 0.75% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 1.55% from other races
, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.13% of the population.
There were 1,199 households out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.3% were non-families. 45.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,598, and the median income for a family was $61,406. Males had a median income of $40,845 versus $28,717 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,127. About 3.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Excelsior was home to the Excelsior Amusement Park
from 1925 to 1973.
The Minnehaha Steamboat, a Steamboat used for passenger travel on Lake Minnetonka
near the turn of the century, was raised from the bottom of Lake Minnetonka, restored, and is now available for rides from the Excelsior port during the summer.
Ray Colihan owned Big Reggie's Danceland in Excelsior. He boasted of being the only man to lose money on both The Beatles
who he booked at Met Stadium in 1965 and The Rolling Stones
who played Danceland sloppily in 1964 to about 300 people.
Legend has it, since debunked online, that a city of Excelsior resident, the late Jimmy Hutmaker
, was the inspiration behind the Rolling Stones song "You Can't Always Get What you Want" after an encounter with Mick Jagger
during a 1964 Stones concert at the drug store. "Mr. Jimmy", as people called him, died on October 3, 2007.
President Gerald Ford
's golden retriever
Liberty
was purchased in 1974 from Avis Friberg who lived in the town.
Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka is a lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Throughout its recorded history, the lake has been a resort destination. It is located west-southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The lake is an irregular shape with numerous bays and islands which make up about of shoreline...
in Hennepin County
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
, 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 2,188 at the 2010 census.
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 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (7.46%) is water. Minnesota State Highway 7
Minnesota State Highway 7
Minnesota State Highway 7 is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 28 and Big Stone County Road 1 near Beardsley and continues east to its eastern terminus at its interchange with State Highway 100 and Hennepin County Road 25 in St. Louis Park.For part of its...
serves as a main route.
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 2,393 people, 1,199 households, and 547 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 3,822.9 people per square mile (1,466.6/km²). There were 1,254 housing units at an average density of 2,003.3 per square mile (768.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.07% White, 0.75% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 1.55% 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 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.13% of the population.
There were 1,199 households out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% 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, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.3% were non-families. 45.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.5% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,598, and the median income for a family was $61,406. Males had a median income of $40,845 versus $28,717 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 $29,127. About 3.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
Excelsior was founded in the 1850s as a destination for vacationers, primarily from the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Throughout the years, Excelsior's Water Street has been the home to many businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and merchants. Today, Excelsior works hard to maintain its historical identity while renewing various elements of the downtown area.Excelsior was home to the Excelsior Amusement Park
Excelsior Amusement Park
Excelsior Amusement Park was located on Lake Minnetonka in the town of Excelsior, Minnesota. The park, which operated from 1925 to 1973, was a popular destination for company picnics and day trips from the Twin Cities.-Attractions:...
from 1925 to 1973.
The Minnehaha Steamboat, a Steamboat used for passenger travel on Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka is a lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Throughout its recorded history, the lake has been a resort destination. It is located west-southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The lake is an irregular shape with numerous bays and islands which make up about of shoreline...
near the turn of the century, was raised from the bottom of Lake Minnetonka, restored, and is now available for rides from the Excelsior port during the summer.
Ray Colihan owned Big Reggie's Danceland in Excelsior. He boasted of being the only man to lose money on both The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
who he booked at Met Stadium in 1965 and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
who played Danceland sloppily in 1964 to about 300 people.
Legend has it, since debunked online, that a city of Excelsior resident, the late Jimmy Hutmaker
Jimmy Hutmaker
Jimmy Hutmaker, a.k.a. "Mister Jimmy", was a celebrity in Excelsior, Minnesota until his death on October 3, 2007.-Life:...
, was the inspiration behind the Rolling Stones song "You Can't Always Get What you Want" after an encounter with Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
during a 1964 Stones concert at the drug store. "Mr. Jimmy", as people called him, died on October 3, 2007.
President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
's golden retriever
Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized breed of dog. They were historically developed as gundogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties. As such, they were bred to have a soft mouth to retrieve game undamaged and have an instinctive love...
Liberty
Liberty (dog)
Honor's Foxfire Liberty Hume was the Golden Retriever Presidential pet of Betty Ford and Gerald Ford. Liberty was born February 8, 1974 and given to the president as an 8-month-old puppy by his daughter Susan Ford and new White House photographer David Hume Kennerly in the fall of 1974...
was purchased in 1974 from Avis Friberg who lived in the town.