Montgomery, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Montgomery is a city in Le Sueur County
, Minnesota
, in the United States
, 45 miles south of Minneapolis
. It was named after Richard Montgomery
, an Irish
-American
soldier
who served as a major general
in the Continental Army
during the Revolutionary War
. The population was 2,956 at the 2010 census.
heritage. The original settlement was by Bohemian and German
immigrants who brought their traditions and customs to the rural landscape of the Montgomery area around 1856-1860.
The Torch Light Parade and fireworks are held every year near the end of November.
Montgomery is also home to Big Honza's Museum of Unnatrual History.
Annually, Montgomery celebrates their Czechoslovakian heritage at the end of July with one of Minnesota's oldest festivals, Kolacky Days.
The festival dates back to 1929, when an estimated 6,000 people visited Montgomery for the first Kolacky Day celebration, held on October 1.
"The Kolacky Day spirit reigned supreme from early Tuesday morning until a comparatively late hour Wednesday morning. More than 1,600 of the celebrated delicacies were devoured," according to a Montgomery Messenger account from the following week.
Events at the first celebration included a trap shooting
tournament, a parade
, sports and races and a football game between Montgomery and Le Sueur Center (now Le Center).
In 1931 Miss Leatta Ehmke, (Mrs. Joe Trnka) was crowned the first Kolacky Queen by Mayor Henry Westerman. Her attendants were Ella Krocak, Sylvia Zelenka, Anna Zelenka and Berniece Malone.
For the 1934 celebration, a novelty button, sold by the Kolacky girls, was devised and is still in use today.
Following the attack
on Pearl Harbor
on December 7, 1941, Kolacky Day retreated to the background until the Montgomery Community Club revived the celebration in 1948.
Kolacky Days officially became a summer festival in 1966 when the traditional date, the last Sunday in September, was dropped in favor of the first weekend in August. The earlier date and warmer weather brought huge crowds to the festival. Currently, the festival is celebrated the fourth full weekend in July.
In 1975, Kolacky Day became Kolacky Days and the event was held for the first time at the end of July. The move to July was done at the urging of the Green Giant vegetable canning company in order to avoid conflict with the busy corn processing season.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak competed in the kolacky eating contest against Montgomery Mayor Mick McGuire in 2008 and again in 2010.
2010 Marked the 76th annual Kolacky Days. The 77th annual Kolacky Days will begin July 22, 2011.
, a 43-week series of speed poker
tournaments that offered a grand prize of $1,000,000.00 USD.
(formerly Green Giant) has a Freezing and Canning facility in Montgomery. Many residents of Montgomery have "paid their dues" working at Seneca. United Steel Products also has a large facility in town.
, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
Minnesota State Highways 13
and 21
are two of the main routes in the city.
Minnesota State Highway 99
is nearby.
Montgomery is 15 miles from Interstate 35
.
The closest towns to Montgomery are as follows:
Closest Major City - Faribault
.
of 2000, there were 2,794 people, 1,105 households, and 690 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,790.7 people per square mile (691.5/km²). There were 1,137 housing units at an average density of 728.7 per square mile (281.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.59% White, 0.32% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 4.29% from other races
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.77% of the population.
There were 1,105 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,145, and the median income for a family was $48,011. Males had a median income of $30,707 versus $23,977 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,128. About 8.1% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.
Le Sueur County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,426 people, 9,630 households, and 6,923 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile . There were 10,858 housing units at an average density of 24 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...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 45 miles south of Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
. It was named after Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery was an Irish-born soldier who first served in the British Army. He later became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and he is most famous for leading the failed 1775 invasion of Canada.Montgomery was born and raised in Ireland...
, an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
who served as a major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The population was 2,956 at the 2010 census.
Community
This rural community can be characterized by its BohemianBohemian
A Bohemian is a resident of the former Kingdom of Bohemia, either in a narrow sense as the region of Bohemia proper or in a wider meaning as the whole country, now known as the Czech Republic. The word "Bohemian" was used to denote the Czech people as well as the Czech language before the word...
heritage. The original settlement was by Bohemian and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
immigrants who brought their traditions and customs to the rural landscape of the Montgomery area around 1856-1860.
The Torch Light Parade and fireworks are held every year near the end of November.
Montgomery is also home to Big Honza's Museum of Unnatrual History.
Kolacky Days Festival
The festival dates back to 1929, when an estimated 6,000 people visited Montgomery for the first Kolacky Day celebration, held on October 1.
"The Kolacky Day spirit reigned supreme from early Tuesday morning until a comparatively late hour Wednesday morning. More than 1,600 of the celebrated delicacies were devoured," according to a Montgomery Messenger account from the following week.
Events at the first celebration included a trap shooting
Trap shooting
Trap shooting is one of the three major forms of competitive clay pigeon shooting . The others are skeet shooting and sporting clays. There are many versions including Olympic trap, Double trap , Down-The-Line, and Nordic trap. American trap is most popular in the United States and Canada...
tournament, a parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
, sports and races and a football game between Montgomery and Le Sueur Center (now Le Center).
In 1931 Miss Leatta Ehmke, (Mrs. Joe Trnka) was crowned the first Kolacky Queen by Mayor Henry Westerman. Her attendants were Ella Krocak, Sylvia Zelenka, Anna Zelenka and Berniece Malone.
For the 1934 celebration, a novelty button, sold by the Kolacky girls, was devised and is still in use today.
Following the attack
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on December 7, 1941, Kolacky Day retreated to the background until the Montgomery Community Club revived the celebration in 1948.
Kolacky Days officially became a summer festival in 1966 when the traditional date, the last Sunday in September, was dropped in favor of the first weekend in August. The earlier date and warmer weather brought huge crowds to the festival. Currently, the festival is celebrated the fourth full weekend in July.
In 1975, Kolacky Day became Kolacky Days and the event was held for the first time at the end of July. The move to July was done at the urging of the Green Giant vegetable canning company in order to avoid conflict with the busy corn processing season.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak competed in the kolacky eating contest against Montgomery Mayor Mick McGuire in 2008 and again in 2010.
2010 Marked the 76th annual Kolacky Days. The 77th annual Kolacky Days will begin July 22, 2011.
Media Reference
Area resident Andrew Rogers finished in 5th place at the Poker Dome ChallengePoker Dome Challenge
The MANSIONPoker.net Poker Dome Challenge was a 43-week series of speed poker tournaments offering a grand prize of $1,000,000 USD. The tournament aired in the United States on Fox Sports Network from May 2006 to March 2007. The tournament featured a number of technological gimmicks in an effort to...
, a 43-week series of speed poker
Speed poker
Speed poker is a live variant of Texas hold 'em inspired by online poker. A relatively new variant, it is the format of two major televised tournaments, the World Speed Poker Open and the Poker Dome Challenge, as well as the Asia-Pacific Speed Poker Championship. Card Player Magazine credits...
tournaments that offered a grand prize of $1,000,000.00 USD.
Industry
Seneca FoodsSeneca Foods
Seneca Foods Corporation is a leading low-cost food processor and distributor headquartered in Marion, New York, USA. The company primarily produces canned, frozen, and bottled produce under private label as well as national and regional brands that the company owns or licenses, including Seneca,...
(formerly Green Giant) has a Freezing and Canning facility in Montgomery. Many residents of Montgomery have "paid their dues" working at Seneca. United Steel Products also has a large facility in town.
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 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land.
Minnesota State Highways 13
Minnesota State Highway 13
Minnesota State Highway 13 is a highway in Minnesota that runs from its intersection with U.S. Highway 65 in Albert Lea to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 149 at the West St...
and 21
Minnesota State Highway 21
Minnesota State Highway 21 is a highway in Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 60 in Faribault and continues north to its northern terminus at its interchange with U.S...
are two of the main routes in the city.
Minnesota State Highway 99
Minnesota State Highway 99
Minnesota State Highway 99 is a highway in south-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with U.S. Highway 14 in Nicollet and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 21 in Erin Township, near the city of Faribault.Highway 99 is in length and passes...
is nearby.
Montgomery is 15 miles from Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
.
The closest towns to Montgomery are as follows:
- North - New PragueNew Prague, MinnesotaAs of the 2010 Census, there were 7,321 people and 2,711 occupied housing units in the city. The population density was 1,731.3 people per square mile . There were 2,862 total housing units at an average density of 658.9 per square mile . The population on the city limit signs state that New...
- South - KilkennyKilkenny, MinnesotaKilkenny is a city in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 134 at the 2010 census.It was named after the town and county of Kilkenny in Ireland.-Geography:...
- East - LonsdaleLonsdale, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 1,491 people, 560 households, and 394 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,127.3 people per square mile . There were 577 housing units at an average density of 436.2 per square mile...
- West - Le CenterLe Center, MinnesotaLe Center is a city in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,499 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Le Sueur County.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land...
Closest Major City - Faribault
Faribault, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,818 people, 7,472 households, and 4,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,644.8 people per square mile . There were 7,668 housing units at an average density of 605.8 per square mile...
.
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 2,794 people, 1,105 households, and 690 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 1,790.7 people per square mile (691.5/km²). There were 1,137 housing units at an average density of 728.7 per square mile (281.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.59% White, 0.32% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 4.29% 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 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.77% of the population.
There were 1,105 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,145, and the median income for a family was $48,011. Males had a median income of $30,707 versus $23,977 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 $16,128. About 8.1% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.
Climate
Further reading
- Montgomery: From the "Big Woods" To the "Kolacky Capital", second edition (2000), Montgomery Arts and Heritage Center.