Northome, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Northome is a city located in the southwestern corner of Koochiching County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 200 at the 2010 census. The county seat is International Falls
, about 70 miles (112.7 km) away.
U.S. Route 71
and State Highways 1
and 46
meet in Northome.
Fair events include:
By the 1930s the big white and red pines were gone and pine trees were essentially locally extirpated due to the unsustainable logging practices of the time, and farming gained importance. Many farmers relocated here from the Dust Bowl
conditions in the Dakotas at that time.
The Burlington Northern Railroad had a depot in Northome until the late 1970s, although passenger service discontinued long before that. Today the railroad bed is part of a large network of snowmobile trails.
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (19.58%) is water.
Northome is located at 47°52′19"N 94°16′48"W (47.871986, -94.280248).
There are named townships around Northome (Bridgie, Englewood, Wildwood, etc.) but in Koochiching County all townships are unincorporated. Therefore, for Census and other government purposes, the city of Northome also lends its name to the surrounding Unorganized Territory of Northome
(approximately 300 square miles (777 km²) of SW Koochiching County, excluding Northome and Mizpah, with 500 people in the 2000 census).
It could be that the name "Northome" is derived from the Norwegian place name "Norheim" which is found in 4 places in Norway. The name literally means north home.
, crappie
, perch
, and Bull Head. Other smaller lakes are in the area as well, together supporting a variety of fish including walleye and northern pike. Unlike most of the rest of the Lower 48 states, timber wolves (the grey wolf) were never eradicated from this area, and wolves can still be heard at night, though rarely seen. There have also been occasional reports of cougar sightings.
of 2000, there were 230 people, 87 households, and 46 families residing in the city. The [population density]] was 151.3 people per square mile (58.4/km²). There were 113 housing units at an average density of 74.4 per square mile (28.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.96% White, 1.74% Native American, and 1.30% from two or more races.
There were 87 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples
living together, 2.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 42.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 32.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 30.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 71.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 61.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,417, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $30,556 versus $20,375 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,758. About 13.0% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.8% of those sixty five or over.
to Waskish Township
. Winters also support ice-fishing, as cold temperatures occasionally dipping down to −40° (F or C) create ice that can support small snowplows to clear roads on the lakes.
Koochiching County, Minnesota
Koochiching County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 13,311. Its county seat is International Falls. A portion of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation is in the county. A small part of Voyageurs National Park extends into its northeast...
, 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 200 at the 2010 census. The county seat is International Falls
International Falls, Minnesota
International Falls is a city in and the county seat of Koochiching County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,424 at the 2010 census....
, about 70 miles (112.7 km) away.
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71
U.S. Route 71 is a north–south United States highway. This original 1926 route has remained largely unchanged by encroaching Interstate highways. Currently, the highway's northern terminus is in International Falls, Minnesota at the Canadian border, at the southern end of the Fort...
and State Highways 1
Minnesota State Highway 1
Minnesota State Highway 1 is a highway in northwest and northeast Minnesota, which runs from North Dakota Highway 54 at the North Dakota state line and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with Minnesota Highway 61 at the unincorporated town of Illgen City in Beaver Bay...
and 46
Minnesota State Highway 46
Minnesota State Highway 46 is a highway in north-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with U.S. Highway 2 near Deer River and continues northwest to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 1 in Northome.Highway 46 is in length.-Route description:Highway 46...
meet in Northome.
Fair
The Northome Fairgrounds hold the annual Koochiching County Fair, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in August 2006.Fair events include:
- Demolition derby
- ATV race
- "Scenic Sinkhole Scramble" runs of 2 miles (3.2 km) and 10 km
- Animal and crafts judging and a related Bear Fest parade in the city of Northome.
History
Northome was founded in 1903 and enjoyed a boom time early in the 20th century as a logging town.By the 1930s the big white and red pines were gone and pine trees were essentially locally extirpated due to the unsustainable logging practices of the time, and farming gained importance. Many farmers relocated here from the Dust Bowl
Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl, or the Dirty Thirties, was a period of severe dust storms causing major ecological and agricultural damage to American and Canadian prairie lands from 1930 to 1936...
conditions in the Dakotas at that time.
The Burlington Northern Railroad had a depot in Northome until the late 1970s, although passenger service discontinued long before that. Today the railroad bed is part of a large network of snowmobile trails.
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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (19.58%) is water.
Northome is located at 47°52′19"N 94°16′48"W (47.871986, -94.280248).
There are named townships around Northome (Bridgie, Englewood, Wildwood, etc.) but in Koochiching County all townships are unincorporated. Therefore, for Census and other government purposes, the city of Northome also lends its name to the surrounding Unorganized Territory of Northome
Northome (unorganized territory), Minnesota
Northome is an unorganized territory in Koochiching County, Minnesota, United States. The term "unorganized territory" is used by the United States Census Bureau to designate a portion of a county that is not included in any legally established minor civil division for the purpose of presenting...
(approximately 300 square miles (777 km²) of SW Koochiching County, excluding Northome and Mizpah, with 500 people in the 2000 census).
It could be that the name "Northome" is derived from the Norwegian place name "Norheim" which is found in 4 places in Norway. The name literally means north home.
Economy
Important sources of employment in the area include resorts, health care/assisted living facilities, and the Northome School. The local newspaper was the Northome Record, produced from 1905-2007. Shortly after the Northome Record ceased the Northome Area News was created by a local family.Wildlife
The town is on the shores of Bartlett Lake; to the south is Island Lake, popular for fishing and swimming. The lake holds Northern PikeNorthern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
, perch
Perch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
, and Bull Head. Other smaller lakes are in the area as well, together supporting a variety of fish including walleye and northern pike. Unlike most of the rest of the Lower 48 states, timber wolves (the grey wolf) were never eradicated from this area, and wolves can still be heard at night, though rarely seen. There have also been occasional reports of cougar sightings.
Demographics
Primary occupations in the area are logging timber, farming, healthcare and resorts/tourism. The largest single employer is the Northome School. 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 230 people, 87 households, and 46 families residing in the city. The [population density]] was 151.3 people per square mile (58.4/km²). There were 113 housing units at an average density of 74.4 per square mile (28.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.96% White, 1.74% Native American, and 1.30% from two or more races.
There were 87 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% 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, 2.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 42.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 32.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 30.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 71.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 61.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,417, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $30,556 versus $20,375 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 $14,758. About 13.0% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.8% of those sixty five or over.
Outdoor Activities
Fall brings the deer hunters and in the winter snowmobiling is a growing activity, supporting a small industry with a network of trails leading to nearby communities, including across the Big Bog State Recreation AreaBig Bog State Recreation Area
Big Bog State Recreation Area, a recent addition to the Minnesota state park system, is located on Minnesota State Highway 72, north of Waskish, Minnesota. It covers 9,459 acres , primarily swamps, bogs, and upland "islands"....
to Waskish Township
Waskish Township, Minnesota
Waskish Township is a township in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 116 as of the 2000 census, primarily in the community of Waskish...
. Winters also support ice-fishing, as cold temperatures occasionally dipping down to −40° (F or C) create ice that can support small snowplows to clear roads on the lakes.
External links
- City of Northome website - Link, community calendar, etc.
- Northome School website - Link, District 363
- LakesnWoods.com website -- Northome, Minn. Guide - Link, collection of Northome information