Northfield, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,452.2 people per square mile (947.1/km²). There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile (282.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.57% White, 0.90% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.78% from other races
, and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.73% of the population.
There were 4,909 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 32.1% from 18 to 24 (a figure heavily influenced by the student population of St. Olaf
and Carleton College
), 21.0% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,972, and the median income for a family was $61,055. Males had a median income of $40,008 versus $28,456 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,619. About 2.8% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Early in the city's history, local merchants created a small town square between Fourth Street to the north, Division Street to the east, the Cannon River to the west, and the southern storefronts. The old Ames Mill/Malt-O-Meal
plant was also nearby, originally powered by the dam on the river. Bridge Square and the surrounding downtown area remain a strong cultural attraction for the city. The square has several amenities including a large fountain, a memorial statue, and a concession stand known as "the popcorn wagon" run by the senior center. Several scenic walkways follow the river, and numerous shops and boutiques can be found on the neighboring streets.
Businesses serving the growing senior citizen community of Northfield have expanded to include the Village on the Cannon, Millstream Commons, and new construction at the Northfield Retirement Center complex. The northern edge of the city has also been expanding with several residential and commercial developments.
Jesse James' and the James-Younger Gang
's 1876 attempt to rob the First National Bank of Northfield serves as a heritage tourism draw for the town. The original bank building was converted to a museum operated by the Northfield Historical Society. The First National Bank of Northfield operates from a main office built half a block away from the historic site. In its front lobby, a glass case showcases a gun used during the robbery.
The Northfield Convention and Visitors Bureau provides comprehensive tourism information and visit planning services.
On September 7, 1876, Northfield experienced one of its most important historical events: an outlaw gang led by Jesse James tried to rob the First National Bank of Northfield. Local citizens, recognizing what was happening, armed themselves and resisted the robbers and successfully thwarted the theft. The gang killed the bank's cashier, Joseph Lee Heywood
and a Swedish immigrant, Nicholas Gustafson
. A couple of members of the James-Younger Gang
were killed in the street, while the rest were cornered near Madelia, Minnesota
. Jesse and Frank James escaped west into the Dakotas, while the remaining gang members were killed or taken into custody. Considering the James gang as related to postwar insurgency
, the raid has sometimes been called the last major event of the American Civil War
. One of Northfield's slogans is "Jesse James Slipped Here", based on the raid's failure.
The events have become the basis of an annual outdoor heritage festival called The Defeat of Jesse James Days. It is held the weekend after Labor Day and is among the largest outdoor celebrations in Minnesota. Thousands of visitors witness reenactments of the robbery, and related activities such as a championship rodeo, carnival, car show, and parade, horseshoe hunt, as well as discovering arts and crafts expositions, and attending musical performances.
For over a decade friends and family have come to love the annual "Horseshoe Hunt" the week prior to the celebration where an antique horseshoe is hidden somewhere within the city on public grounds. This has become a tradition and family event for locals. The finder claims that years cash purse.
The city owns 35 parks consisting of over 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land. Three of these parks have picnic shelters.
The Carleton College Cowling Arboretum
is a sizable, well-established arboretum
and nature preserve adjacent to Carleton College
. It offers extensive trails for walking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.
form of government. The City Administrator is responsible for managing daily operations. The current mayor is Mary Rossing.
Northfield is served by Minnesota State Senator Al DeKruif
(GOP) in District 25 and State Representative Kelby Woodard
(GOP) in District 25B.
and Carleton
colleges. Their student and staff populations account for a large portion of the town's year-round population.
The Northfield public school district operates three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. Northfield High School is known as one of the high schools with the highest standards in southern Minnesota. In addition, Northfield has public charter schools: ARTech
(grades 6–12) and Prairie Creek Community School (grades K–5) in nearby Castle Rock. They receive state funding from the State of Minnesota.
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 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 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 2,452.2 people per square mile (947.1/km²). There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile (282.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.57% White, 0.90% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.36% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.78% 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 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.73% of the population.
There were 4,909 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 32.1% from 18 to 24 (a figure heavily influenced by the student population of St. Olaf
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
and Carleton College
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
), 21.0% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,972, and the median income for a family was $61,055. Males had a median income of $40,008 versus $28,456 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 $18,619. About 2.8% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Malt-O-Meal
The Malt-O-Meal Company is a privately owned American corporation that produces breakfast cereals. Its corporate headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It employs 1,400 people and had estimated sales in 2008 of $548 million.-History:...
plant was also nearby, originally powered by the dam on the river. Bridge Square and the surrounding downtown area remain a strong cultural attraction for the city. The square has several amenities including a large fountain, a memorial statue, and a concession stand known as "the popcorn wagon" run by the senior center. Several scenic walkways follow the river, and numerous shops and boutiques can be found on the neighboring streets.
Businesses serving the growing senior citizen community of Northfield have expanded to include the Village on the Cannon, Millstream Commons, and new construction at the Northfield Retirement Center complex. The northern edge of the city has also been expanding with several residential and commercial developments.
Jesse James' and the James-Younger Gang
James-Younger gang
The James-Younger Gang was a notable 19th-century gang of American outlaws that included Jesse James.The gang was centered in the state of Missouri. Membership fluctuated from robbery to robbery, as the outlaws' raids were usually separated by many months...
's 1876 attempt to rob the First National Bank of Northfield serves as a heritage tourism draw for the town. The original bank building was converted to a museum operated by the Northfield Historical Society. The First National Bank of Northfield operates from a main office built half a block away from the historic site. In its front lobby, a glass case showcases a gun used during the robbery.
The Northfield Convention and Visitors Bureau provides comprehensive tourism information and visit planning services.
Defeat of Jesse James Days
Joseph Lee Heywood
Joseph Lee Heywood was the acting cashier at the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota when the James-Younger Gang attempted to rob the bank...
and a Swedish immigrant, Nicholas Gustafson
Nicholas Gustafson
Nicholas Gustafson was a Swedish immigrant who was mortally wounded in the James-Younger Gang bank raid in Northfield, Minnesota. Various sources use alternate spellings of his names including Nicolaus, Nicholaus or Niclas and Gustavson...
. A couple of members of the James-Younger Gang
James-Younger gang
The James-Younger Gang was a notable 19th-century gang of American outlaws that included Jesse James.The gang was centered in the state of Missouri. Membership fluctuated from robbery to robbery, as the outlaws' raids were usually separated by many months...
were killed in the street, while the rest were cornered near Madelia, Minnesota
Madelia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,340 people, 911 households, and 571 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,876.4 people per square mile . There were 1,000 housing units at an average density of 801.9 per square mile...
. Jesse and Frank James escaped west into the Dakotas, while the remaining gang members were killed or taken into custody. Considering the James gang as related to postwar insurgency
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
, the raid has sometimes been called the last major event of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. One of Northfield's slogans is "Jesse James Slipped Here", based on the raid's failure.
The events have become the basis of an annual outdoor heritage festival called The Defeat of Jesse James Days. It is held the weekend after Labor Day and is among the largest outdoor celebrations in Minnesota. Thousands of visitors witness reenactments of the robbery, and related activities such as a championship rodeo, carnival, car show, and parade, horseshoe hunt, as well as discovering arts and crafts expositions, and attending musical performances.
For over a decade friends and family have come to love the annual "Horseshoe Hunt" the week prior to the celebration where an antique horseshoe is hidden somewhere within the city on public grounds. This has become a tradition and family event for locals. The finder claims that years cash purse.
In popular media
- Films based on the failed raid include The Great Northfield Minnesota RaidThe Great Northfield Minnesota RaidThe Great Northfield Minnesota Raid is a 1972 Technicolor Western film about the James-Younger Gang distributed by Universal Pictures. It was directed by Philip Kaufman in a cinéma vérité style and starred Cliff Robertson as Cole Younger, Robert Duvall as Jesse James, Luke Askew as Jim Younger, R....
(1972) and The Long RidersThe Long RidersThe Long Riders is a 1980 western film directed by Walter Hill. It was produced by James Keach, Stacy Keach and Tim Zinnemann and featured an original soundtrack by Ry Cooder. Cooder won the Best Music award in 1980 from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards for this soundtrack...
(1980).
Park and recreation
The Carleton College Cowling Arboretum
Carleton College Cowling Arboretum
Carleton College Cowling Arboretum consists of approximately 880 acres of land adjacent to Carleton College. It was created under the leadership of President Donald J. Cowling and Professor Harvey E. Stork in the 1920s. Professor Stork and Superintendent of Grounds D...
is a sizable, well-established arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
and nature preserve adjacent to Carleton College
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
. It offers extensive trails for walking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Government and politics
The City of Northfield operates as a Mayor-CouncilMayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
form of government. The City Administrator is responsible for managing daily operations. The current mayor is Mary Rossing.
Northfield is served by Minnesota State Senator Al DeKruif
Al DeKruif
Allan D. "Al" DeKruif is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate who represents District 25, which includes portions of Le Sueur, Rice, Scott and Sibley counties in the south central part of the state...
(GOP) in District 25 and State Representative Kelby Woodard
Kelby Woodard
Kelby G. Woodard is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represents District 25B, which includes Rice and Scott counties in the southeastern part of the state...
(GOP) in District 25B.
Education
Northfield is home to St. OlafSt. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
and Carleton
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
colleges. Their student and staff populations account for a large portion of the town's year-round population.
The Northfield public school district operates three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. Northfield High School is known as one of the high schools with the highest standards in southern Minnesota. In addition, Northfield has public charter schools: ARTech
Northfield School of Arts and Technology
"Artech School" and "ARTech Charter school" redirect here. For other uses see Artech .Northfield School of Arts and Technology is a project-based 6-12 charter school located in Northfield, MN, US.-History and Curriculum:A...
(grades 6–12) and Prairie Creek Community School (grades K–5) in nearby Castle Rock. They receive state funding from the State of Minnesota.
Notable natives and residents
- Peter AgrePeter AgrePeter Agre is an American medical doctor, professor, and molecular biologist who was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of aquaporins. Aquaporins are water-channel proteins that move water molecules through the cell membrane...
, Nobel laureate in chemistry - Cyril ArchibaldCyril ArchibaldCyril Archibald was an Ontario political figure. He represented Stormont in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member from 1872 to 1878....
, member of Canadian Parliament - Ian BarbourIan BarbourIan Graeme Barbour, born 5 October 1923, is an American scholar on the relationship between science and religion. According to the Public Broadcasting Service his mid-1960s Issues in Science and Religion "has been credited with literally creating the contemporary field of science and religion."In...
, Winifred & Atherton Bean Professor of Science, Technology & Society, Emeritus at Carleton College, winner of 1999 Templeton Prize - Steven BrustSteven BrustSteven Karl Zoltán Brust is an American fantasy and science fiction author of Hungarian descent. He was a member of the writers' group The Scribblies, which included Emma Bull, Pamela Dean, Will Shetterly, Nate Bucklin, Kara Dalkey, and Patricia Wrede; he also belongs to the Pre-Joycean...
, fantasy author and musician - Paulette CarlsonPaulette CarlsonPaulette Tenae Carlson is a country singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the 1980s as the founder and lead vocalist for the country band Highway 101...
, country music singer - F. Melius ChristiansenF. Melius ChristiansenF. Melius Christiansen was a Norwegian-born violinist and choral conductor in the Lutheran choral tradition.-Background:...
, pioneer of a capella choral music - Laurence McKinley GouldLaurence McKinley GouldLaurence McKinley "Larry" Gould was an American geologist, educator, and polar explorer.Gould was born in Lacota, Michigan on August 22, 1896. After completing high school in South Haven, Michigan in 1914, he went to Boca Raton, Florida and taught grades 1 to 8 in a one-room school for two years,...
, 20th-century American geologist, educator, polar explorer. - Joel HeatwoleJoel HeatwoleJoel Prescott Heatwole was a U.S. House Representative from Minnesota.He was born at Waterford Mills, Indiana. He attended the public schools, and learned the printer’s trade...
, member of U.S. House of Representatives - Lucius Roy HolbrookLucius Roy HolbrookLucius Roy Holbrook was a Major General who commanded of the United States Army's Philippine Department from 1936 to 1938....
, U.S. Army major generalMajor GeneralMajor 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... - Alexandra HoldenAlexandra Holden-Life and career:Holden was born in Northfield, Minnesota, the daughter of Kristi and Barry Holden. She played film roles in Drop Dead Gorgeous as Mary Johanson and in Sugar & Spice as Fern Rogers. She also starred in the low budget slasher film Wishcraft.Holden has also had roles in TV and music...
, television and film actress - Siri HustvedtSiri HustvedtSiri Hustvedt is an American novelist and essayist. Hustvedt is the author of a book of poetry, five novels, two books of essays, and a work of non-fiction...
, novelist, poet, and essayist - Karl RolvaagKarl RolvaagKarl Fritjof Rolvaag was a U.S. politician and the son of Norwegian-American author and professor Ole E. Rølvaag...
, governor of Minnesota - Ole Edvart RølvaagOle Edvart RølvaagOle Edvart Rølvaag was an American novelist and professor who became well known for his writings regarding the Norwegian American immigrant experience...
, novelist - Gilmore SchjeldahlGilmore SchjeldahlGilmore Tilmen Schjeldahl was an American businessman and inventor in plastics, adhesives, and circuitry. He was awarded 16 US patents and may be best known for inventing the plastic-lined airsickness bag....
, inventor and entrepreneur, builder of "Echo" satellites, plastic bag machines - Peter SchjeldahlPeter SchjeldahlPeter Schjeldahl, , is an American art critic, poet, and educator.Schjeldahl was born in Fargo, North Dakota. He grew up in small towns throughout Minnesota, and attended Carleton College and The New School...
, art critic and writer - Marilyn SellarsMarilyn SellarsMarilyn Sellars is an American country music and gospel singer who had several hits during the mid 1970s on Mega Records, most notably the original version of "One Day At A Time" in 1974.-Early career:...
, country music singer - Chad SetterstromChad SetterstromChad Aaron Setterstrom is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2003. He played college football at Northern Iowa....
, professional football player - Mark SetterstromMark SetterstromMark David Setterstrom is an American football guard for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
, professional football player - Edward John ThyeEdward John ThyeEdward John Thye was an American politician. He was the 26th Governor of Minnesota and a United States Senator from Minnesota.-Background:...
, governor of Minnesota, and U.S. Senator - Paul WellstonePaul WellstonePaul David Wellstone was a two-term U.S. Senator from the state of Minnesota and member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party. Before being elected to the Senate in 1990, he was a professor of political science at Carleton College...
, U.S. Senator - Jon Wee, professional juggler
- Johnny WesternJohnny WesternJohnny Western is an American country singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and radio show host. He is a member of the Western Music Association Hall of Fame and the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
, singer-songwriter, actor, radio host - Charles Augustus WheatonCharles Augustus WheatonCharles Augustus Wheaton was a businessman and major figure in the central New York state abolitionist movement and Underground Railroad, as well as other progressive causes...
, major figure in the abolitionist movement and Underground RailroadUnderground RailroadThe Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,... - Joan N. EricksenJoan N. EricksenJoan N. Ericksen is a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. She joined the court in 2002 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.-Early life and education:...
, a Federal judge in the Minnesota district - Jerome J. Workman, Jr.Jerome J. Workman, Jr.Jerome J. Workman, Jr. CSci CChem FRSC, a.k.a. Jerry Workman , a.k.a. J. Workman is an American citizen and is a prolific author and editor of scientific reference works on the subject of spectroscopy; and a noted analytical spectroscopist.-Career:Workman has published multiple reference text...
, American spectroscopist, editor, author - Michael DorrisMichael DorrisMichael Anthony Dorris was a prominent American novelist and scholar. During his career he presented himself as Native American and this identity was a key part of his professional activities and his public reputation; but its factuality is in doubt...
, author, lived in Northfield with their family for a short period of time