Hills, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 565 people, 230 households, and 149 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,160.7 people per square mile (445.2/km²). There were 244 housing units at an average density of 501.2 per square mile (192.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.29% White, 0.18% African American, 0.18% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.
There were 230 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 28.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $21,833 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,824. About 2.8% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
). The city derives its name from the president of the Sioux City and Northern, Fredric C. Hills. Most of the businesses and residents moved from the nearby town of Bruce
, Minnesota
(2 miles west) when the Sioux City and Northern built north from Sioux City
, Iowa
to Garretson
, South Dakota
. The town of Bruce slowly faded away when the last buildings were removed in the early 1970s. Although the Illinois Central tracks were removed in 1982, the BNSF Railway
(the successor to the Great Northern) continues to serve Hills to this day.
school system in the 1960s, when it became Hills-Beaver Creek (H-BC). The high school, which houses grades 7-12, is located in Hills; the elementary school, with grades K-6, is located in Beaver Creek. There were 294 students enrolled in grades K-12 in 2005.
, represented by Mankato
educator Tim Walz
, a Democrat
. At the state level, Hills is located in Senate
District 22, represented by Republican
Doug Magnus
, and in House
District 22A, represented by Republican Joe Schomacker
.
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 565 people, 230 households, and 149 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 1,160.7 people per square mile (445.2/km²). There were 244 housing units at an average density of 501.2 per square mile (192.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.29% White, 0.18% African American, 0.18% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.
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, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 28.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $21,833 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 $15,824. About 2.8% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
The city was founded in 1890 at the junction of the Sioux City and Northern Railroad (which later merged into the Great Northern Railway) and the Cherokee and Sioux Falls Railroad (which later merged into the Illinois Central RailroadIllinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
). The city derives its name from the president of the Sioux City and Northern, Fredric C. Hills. Most of the businesses and residents moved from the nearby town of Bruce
Bruce, Minnesota
Bruce was the name of a town in Martin Township, Rock County, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The townsite is now abandoned, and no trace remains.-History:...
, 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...
(2 miles west) when the Sioux City and Northern built north from Sioux City
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
to Garretson
Garretson, South Dakota
Garretson is a city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,166 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Garretson is located at ....
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. The town of Bruce slowly faded away when the last buildings were removed in the early 1970s. Although the Illinois Central tracks were removed in 1982, 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...
(the successor to the Great Northern) continues to serve Hills to this day.
Agriculture
The local economy is largely dependent upon agriculture; corn and soybeans are the region's primary cash crops.Education
The Hills school system consolidated with the Beaver CreekBeaver Creek, Minnesota
Beaver Creek is a city in Rock County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 297 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land...
school system in the 1960s, when it became Hills-Beaver Creek (H-BC). The high school, which houses grades 7-12, is located in Hills; the elementary school, with grades K-6, is located in Beaver Creek. There were 294 students enrolled in grades K-12 in 2005.
Politics
Hills is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional districtMinnesota's 1st congressional district
Minnesota's 1st congressional district extends across southern Minnesota from the border with South Dakota to the border with Wisconsin. The First District is primarily a rural district built on a strong history of agriculture, although this is changing rapidly due to strong population growth in...
, represented by Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
educator Tim Walz
Tim Walz
Timothy James Walz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party .The district comprises the state's southern end, running along the entire border with Iowa...
, a Democrat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
. At the state level, Hills is located in Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
District 22, represented by Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
Doug Magnus
Doug Magnus
Douglas Rudy "Doug" Magnus is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate, representing District 22, which includes all of Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock counties in the southwestern part of the state...
, and in House
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
District 22A, represented by Republican Joe Schomacker
Joe Schomacker
Joseph "Joe" Roy Schomacker is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represents District 22A, which includes all or portions of Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock counties in the southwestern part of the state...
.