Fridley, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 27,449 people, 11,328 households, and 7,317 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,701.3 people per square mile (1,043.1/km²). There were 11,504 housing units at an average density of 1,132.1 per square mile (437.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.65% White, 3.42% African American, 0.82% Native American, 2.89% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races
, and 2.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% of the population.
There were 11,328 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $48,372, and the median income for a family was $55,381. Males had a median income of $38,100 versus $29,997 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $23,022. About 5.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
, represented by Minneapolis lawyer Keith Ellison
, a Democrat. Ellison is the first Muslim
to be elected to the United States Congress
. Scott Lund is the current Mayor, first elected in 2000.
park and nature reserve on its Northern border with Coon Rapids. The Western border of Fridley comprises the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
. Portions of islands within the recreation area are in the Fridley city limits.
Fridley has the following Anoka County parks within the city
Fridley is home to The World Headquarters of Medtronic Inc.
, and its major employers include BAE Systems
(formerly United Defense
); Cummins
; Unity Medical Center, part of the Allina Healthcare system; Minco Products, Inc; Kurt Manufacturing Company; and Park Construction Company. Magnum Research
, the company that produces the Desert Eagle
firearm, is also located in Fridley. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul draw their municipal water supplies from the Mississippi River at Fridley.
, a private Roman Catholic high school, Calvin Christian High School, a private Christian high school, and Al-Amal School, a private Islamic K-12 school, are also located in Fridley. A small portion of the northern part of Fridley lies in the Anoka-Hennepin School District 11
. Students living in an area of eastern Fridley are in the Columbia Heights School District 13. Most of the students living in the north-northeastern part of the city are in Spring Lake Park School District 16.
and Minnesota State Highways 47
and 65
are three of the main arterial routes in the city.
The BNSF Railway
main transcontinental Twin Cities to Portland/Seattle double track line passes through Fridley. The Amtrak
Empire Builder
passes through Fridley twice daily on this line, but does not stop within the city. The massive BNSF Northtown Classification Yards are located in the city. The Minnesota Commercial Railway
also serves Fridley, with a Terminal warehouse located there.
The Fridley Station
is served by the Northstar Commuter Rail line running on the BNSF tracks into Minneapolis.
The Mississippi River is not navigable for barge traffic north of the Camden Bridge
, however small boats can travel upstream to the Coon Rapids dam without a portage. There is a boat landing for small boats in the river near Interstate 694.
"Friendly Fridley". The nickname was spread further by a long running series of advertisements on various radio stations for a local car dealer. The announcer would direct people to "Friendly Chevrolet up in Friendly Fridley".
The city festival is called "49'er" days, which commemorates the 1949 incorporation. It is usually held in mid June.
Census
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 27,449 people, 11,328 households, and 7,317 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 2,701.3 people per square mile (1,043.1/km²). There were 11,504 housing units at an average density of 1,132.1 per square mile (437.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.65% White, 3.42% African American, 0.82% Native American, 2.89% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.23% 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 2.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% of the population.
There were 11,328 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% 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, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $48,372, and the median income for a family was $55,381. Males had a median income of $38,100 versus $29,997 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 $23,022. About 5.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Fridley is located in Minnesota's 5th congressional districtMinnesota's 5th congressional district
Minnesota's 5th congressional district is a geographically small urban and suburban congressional district in Minnesota. It covers eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties. It was created in 1883 and was named the "Bloody...
, represented by Minneapolis lawyer Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison (politician)
Keith Maurice Ellison is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The district centers on Minneapolis. He was re-elected in 2010. Ellison is a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.He is the first Muslim to be elected to the...
, a Democrat. Ellison is the first Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
to be elected to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. Scott Lund is the current Mayor, first elected in 2000.
Parks and Recreation
Fridley is home to the 127 acre (0.51395122 km²) Springbrook Nature CenterSpringbrook Nature Center
-Mission:The mission of Springbrook Nature Center is to preserve the integrity of and enable access to the natural resource base.-Site:Springbrook Nature Center is a park and nature reserve located in Fridley, Minnesota...
park and nature reserve on its Northern border with Coon Rapids. The Western border of Fridley comprises the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area protects a and corridor along the Mississippi River from the cities of Dayton and Ramsey, Minnesota to just downstream of Hastings, Minnesota. This includes the stretch of Mississippi River which flows through Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota...
. Portions of islands within the recreation area are in the Fridley city limits.
Fridley has the following Anoka County parks within the city
- Manomin County Park (Rice CreekRice Creek (Minnesota)Rice Creek is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the northern suburbs of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota in the United States...
where it enters the Mississippi river and Locke Lake) - Rice Creek West/Locke Park and Regional Trail (Rice Creek)
- Islands of Peace County Park (Mississippi River)
- Anoka County Riverfront Regional Park (Mississippi River)
Economy
Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. , based in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the world's largest medical technology company and is a Fortune 500 company.- History :...
, and its major employers include BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
(formerly United Defense
United Defense
United Defense Industries was a United States defense contractor which is now part of BAE Systems Land and Armaments. This company produces combat vehicles, artillery, naval guns, missile launchers and precision munitions.-History:...
); Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
; Unity Medical Center, part of the Allina Healthcare system; Minco Products, Inc; Kurt Manufacturing Company; and Park Construction Company. Magnum Research
Magnum Research
Magnum Research Inc. is a privately held corporation based in Fridley, Minnesota which manufactures and distributes firearms. The majority owners, Jim Skildum and John Risdall , have been with the company since its founding in 1979...
, the company that produces the Desert Eagle
Desert Eagle
The Desert Eagle is a large-framed gas-operated semi-automatic pistol designed by Magnum Research in the U.S. and by IMI in Israel; the pistol is manufactured primarily in Israel by IMI...
firearm, is also located in Fridley. Both Minneapolis and St. Paul draw their municipal water supplies from the Mississippi River at Fridley.
Education
The public schools in Fridley are governed by Fridley Independent School District 14. Fridley High School, Fridley Middle School, and two elementary schools (Hayes Elementary and Stevenson Elementary) comprise the district. Totino-Grace High SchoolTotino-Grace High School
Totino-Grace High School is a private, Catholic high school in Fridley, Minnesota. Recognizing the key elements of their mission as learning, faith, community, and service, they seek to provide a safe environment that places priority on mutual respect, self-discipline, and acknowledgment of the...
, a private Roman Catholic high school, Calvin Christian High School, a private Christian high school, and Al-Amal School, a private Islamic K-12 school, are also located in Fridley. A small portion of the northern part of Fridley lies in the Anoka-Hennepin School District 11
Anoka-Hennepin School District 11
The Anoka-Hennepin School District 11 is a school district in Minnesota, northwest of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The district serves 13 communities: All of Anoka, Champlin and Coon Rapids, and parts of Andover, Blaine, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Dayton, Fridley, Ham Lake, Nowthen, Oak Grove...
. Students living in an area of eastern Fridley are in the Columbia Heights School District 13. Most of the students living in the north-northeastern part of the city are in Spring Lake Park School District 16.
Transportation
Interstate 694Interstate 694
Interstate 694 is an east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway located in the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The western terminus of the route is at its junction with Interstate 94 and Interstate 494 in Maple Grove...
and Minnesota State Highways 47
Minnesota State Highway 47
Minnesota State Highway 47 is a highway in east-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with Central Avenue in Minneapolis and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highway 169 in Aitkin....
and 65
Minnesota State Highway 65
Minnesota State Highway 65 is a highway in east-central and northeast Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with Washington Avenue at the north end of downtown Minneapolis and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with U.S...
are three of the main arterial routes in the city.
The BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
main transcontinental Twin Cities to Portland/Seattle double track line passes through Fridley. The Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
Empire Builder
Empire Builder
The Empire Builder is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. It is Amtrak's busiest long-distance route and busiest daily train, carrying more than 500,000 travelers annually since 2007. Overall, it is the railroad's 10th-busiest line. Before...
passes through Fridley twice daily on this line, but does not stop within the city. The massive BNSF Northtown Classification Yards are located in the city. The Minnesota Commercial Railway
Minnesota Commercial Railway
The Minnesota Commercial Railway is a short line railroad in the United States.This railroad operates out of the St. Paul area with service to Minneapolis, Bayport, Hugo, Fridley and New Brighton. It is considered a terminal and switching line. It is based out of a roundhouse on Cleveland Ave. in...
also serves Fridley, with a Terminal warehouse located there.
The Fridley Station
Fridley (Metro Transit station)
Fridley Station is a commuter rail station in Fridley, Minnesota, located at Main Street NE and 61st Avenue NE. It is served by the Northstar Commuter Rail line. The station features bicycle lockers and two park and ride lots with a total capacity of 611 spaces. The commute time to downtown...
is served by the Northstar Commuter Rail line running on the BNSF tracks into Minneapolis.
The Mississippi River is not navigable for barge traffic north of the Camden Bridge
Camden Bridge
Camden Bridge is a continuous span plate girder bridge, that spans the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It connects 42nd Avenue North in the Camden community on the west side of the river to 37th Avenue Northeast in Northeast Minneapolis on the east side. It also links Webber Parkway ...
, however small boats can travel upstream to the Coon Rapids dam without a portage. There is a boat landing for small boats in the river near Interstate 694.
Nickname
Fridley has the nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"Friendly Fridley". The nickname was spread further by a long running series of advertisements on various radio stations for a local car dealer. The announcer would direct people to "Friendly Chevrolet up in Friendly Fridley".
The city festival is called "49'er" days, which commemorates the 1949 incorporation. It is usually held in mid June.