Holdingford, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Holdingford is a city in Stearns County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 708 at the 2010 census. It claims to be "The Gateway to Lake Wobegon
", the fictional central Minnesota town created by Garrison Keillor
.
Holdingford is part of the St. Cloud
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 736 people, 286 households, and 197 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,182.1 people per square mile (458.3/km²). There were 297 housing units at an average density of 477.0 per square mile (185.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.18% White, 0.54% Asian, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population.
There were 286 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,000, and the median income for a family was $42,788. Males had a median income of $31,053 versus $21,141 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,410. About 6.2% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
----
During prohibition, many say Holdingford was the unofficial moonshine capital of Minnesota.
"I think it was because we made the best moonshine, so there was more of a demand for it, so more was made" said Elmer Ebnet, 67, of Holdingford. "It seems that almost everyone around here was making it."
Prohibition officially started Jan. 16, 1920, and Holdingford was a community that pulled together to break the law.
Stearns County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 133,166 people, 47,604 households, and 32,132 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 people per square mile . There were 50,291 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
, 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 708 at the 2010 census. It claims to be "The Gateway to Lake Wobegon
Lake Wobegon
Lake Wobegon is a fictional town in the U.S. state of Minnesota, said to have been the boyhood home of Garrison Keillor, who reports the News from Lake Wobegon on the radio show A Prairie Home Companion....
", the fictional central Minnesota town created by Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor
Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio personality. He is known as host of the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion Gary Edward "Garrison" Keillor (born August 7, 1942) is an American author, storyteller, humorist, and radio...
.
Holdingford is part of the St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
St. Cloud metropolitan area
The St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in central Minnesota, anchored by the city of St. Cloud. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 167,392 .The St...
.
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 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
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 736 people, 286 households, and 197 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 1,182.1 people per square mile (458.3/km²). There were 297 housing units at an average density of 477.0 per square mile (185.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.18% White, 0.54% Asian, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population.
There were 286 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,000, and the median income for a family was $42,788. Males had a median income of $31,053 versus $21,141 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 $15,410. About 6.2% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
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History
During prohibition, Stearns County became a large producer of moonshine with a majority of the farmers in the area distilling spirits. Stearns County spirits made their way to Minneapolis, St. Paul, Chicago and Canada. The product was nicknamed "Minnesota 13" after the seed corn it was made from.During prohibition, many say Holdingford was the unofficial moonshine capital of Minnesota.
"I think it was because we made the best moonshine, so there was more of a demand for it, so more was made" said Elmer Ebnet, 67, of Holdingford. "It seems that almost everyone around here was making it."
Prohibition officially started Jan. 16, 1920, and Holdingford was a community that pulled together to break the law.
Notable natives
- Kenny BenkowskiKenny BenkowskiKenny Benkowski, better known as "Sodbuster" Kenny Jay or The Very Capable Kenny Jay is a retired professional wrestler who competed primarily in the American Wrestling Association...
better known as "Sodbuster" Kenny Jay born March 27, 1937 in Holdingford, Minnesota. He was a professional wrestler who competed primarily in the American Wrestling Association. - Joseph BrinkmanJoe BrinkmanJoseph Norbert Brinkman is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1973 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement during the 2006 season....
(born April 9, 1944 in Little Falls, Minnesota) was raised in Holdingford, Minnesota and graduated from Holdingford High School. He is a former umpire in Major League Baseball Umpire who worked in the American League from 1973 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement during the 2006 season.
External links
- Official City of Holdingford web site
- Holdingford Historical Holdingford Area Historical Society
- Exit153 News of what's Happening in Holdingford Today