Owatonna, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Owatonna is a city
in Steele County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population
was 25,599 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Steele County
. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County Free Fair
in August.
Interstate 35
and U.S. Routes 14
, and 218
are three of the main arterial routes in the city.
. The community was named after the Stright River, which in the Dakota language
is Wakpá Owóthaŋna. The earliest the Owatonna area was settled was in 1854 and platted in September 1855, but it was incorporated as a town August 9, 1858, then as a city on February 23, 1865.
In 1883, Owatonna was the site of the State Fair and soon the county established its own fair in Owatonna, the Steele County Free Fair
or SCFF, the largest free fair in Minnesota.
All the attention on the area in the late 19th century caused the city administration (and a fly-by-night corporation from which the city administrators profited) to devise a tourism and bottled water
scheme in which a story centered around a "Princess Owatonna" was concocted. According to the story, Princess Owatonna, daughter of Chief Wabena, fell ill. She was so ill she couldn't lift her head to drink the smallest pool of water. The chief had heard of the wonderful curative effects of water bubbling from the ground in what is now Owatonna, and decided that only their magical restorative properties could save his daughter. After being given the water by her father, Princess Owatonna was miraculously cured, lending her name and image to both the town and the newly minted bottled water company. A statue of the princess appears in Owatonna's Mineral Springs Park, next to Maple Creek, a tributary
of the Straight River, and a fountain
where visitors can see the springs and drink the water that saved Princess Owatonna.
The Minnesota State School for Dependent and Neglected Children
was built in 1886. The school took in orphan
s from around the state and taught them "the value of drill, discipline and labor." The children who died in the institution were interred in the graveyard behind the school. In 1945, the orphanage was closed and the facility began to serve handicapped children. In 1974, the City purchased the compound for its office space. Renamed "West Hills," it continues to serve as the city's administration complex and home to many nonprofit civic organizations including a senior activity center, the Owatonna Arts Center, two nonprofit day care centers, a chemical dependency halfway house, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, among others.
In 1995 the film Angus whose cast included Ariana Richards
and James Van Der Beek
was filmed on location in Owatonna, mostly at Owatonna Senior High School.
In July 2008, a Raytheon
Hawker 800 corporate jet crashed near Owatonna resulting in eight deaths.
, Jostens
http://jostens.com, Cabela's
, Truth Hardware, ISD 761, Wenger Corporation, Owatonna Clinic - Mayo Health Systems, and Owatonna Hospital - Allina Hospitals And Clinics.
The city is located in Minnesota’s 26th District, represented by Senator Michael J. Parry, a Republican
. District 26 includes portions of Rice, Steele, and Waseca counties in the southeastern part of the state. He won a special election on January 26, 2010, succeeding Senator Dick Day, who resigned on January 8, 2010. Sen. Parry is currently a member of the following senate committees: Business, Industry and Jobs; Capital Investmen;, State and Local Government Operations and Oversight; Transportation; and also serves on the Finance Subcommittee for the Transportation Budget and Policy Division.
Owatonna also lies in House District 26A, represented by State Representative Kory Kath
, a Democrat. He was first elected to that office in 2008, and was recently reelected to a second term. He is also an Economics and Political Science teacher at Owatonna High School.
Owatonna is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional district
, represented by Mankato
educator Tim Walz
, a Democrat.
In the middle of Owatonna's downtown is the National Farmer's Bank
, widely recognized as one of the premier pieces of the "Prairie School
of Architecture
" in America. Designed by Louis Sullivan
, the building was finished in 1908 and features gold leaf arches, stained glass
windows, and nouveau baroque art designs. It is on the National Register of Historic Places
and is now occupied by a branch of Wells Fargo
Bank.
.
. Although having a similar name and logo, this team is unrelated to the former Southern Minnesota Express, that relocated to Michigan to become the Motor City Machine
. The team is named the Owatonna Express instead of the Southern Minnesota Express because, "With the new team in Albert Lea joining the North American Hockey League this season, and others in the Twin Cities and Rochester possibly coming into the fray in the next few years, the Express are no longer the sole owners of southern Minnesota." The Express begin play in the 2008-2009 season.
The Owatonna Express completed their final season in early March 2011.
, the city has a total area of 12.7 square miles (32.9 km²), of which, 12.6 square miles (32.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.55%) is water. The oldest part of the city (including the downtown area) is located on a low lying area on the eastern bank of the Straight River
, extending towards the south from Maple Creek
. The city has grown in all directions, and now lies on both sides of the river, as well as above the ridge north of Maple Creek
. Significant growth in recent years has occurred to the northeast, where homes have been built along the ravine of Maple Creek
as well as alongside Brooktree Golf Course, to the north, and to the southeast. Geographical landmarks of note include Kaplan's Woods, a hardwood nature preserve on the southern border of the city, Cinder Hill
, a steep 60 foot hill on Linn Avenue overlooking downtown that is used by local athletes for training, the Straight River
dam, originally used to power a mill and now reconstructed to include a fish ladder, and the Forest Hill Cemetery, an old wooded cemetery on the ridge to the north of Maple Creek
that marks the boundary between the oldest parts of the city and more recent developments.
Record rainfall events from Wednesday, September 22, 2010 to Friday, September 24, 2010 caused record flooding of the Straight River and Maple Creek in and near Owatonna, with developments in the floodplains of both streams being completely inundated.
of 2000, there were 22,434 people, 8,704 households, and 5,936 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,779.9 people per square mile (687.4/km²). There were 8,940 housing units at an average density of 709.3 per square mile (273.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.09% White, 1.56% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.92% from other races
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.31% of the population.
There were 8,704 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% 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 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,660, and the median income for a family was $54,883. Males had a median income of $37,691 versus $25,511 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,513. About 4.3% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
In 1974, the City of Owatonna purchased the campus of the former Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children, which had been in operation from 1886 until 1945. The site was renamed West Hills, and now serves as an administrative center for the City of Owatonna, as well as housing several non-profit organizations in the various historic buildings, including the Owatonna Arts Center.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Steele County
Steele County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile . There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 31 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
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was 25,599 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Steele County
Steele County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile . There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
. Owatonna is home to the Steele County Fairgrounds, which hosts the Steele County Free Fair
Steele County Free Fair
The Steele County Free Fair in held each year in Owatonna, the county seat of Steele County, Minnesota, is the largest free county fair in the state.-History:The first fair in Steele County was held on October 17, 1860...
in August.
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...
and U.S. Routes 14
U.S. Route 14
U.S. Route 14 , an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles , but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles . For much of its length, it runs roughly parallel to Interstate 90.As of 2004, the highway's eastern terminus is in...
, and 218
U.S. Route 218
U.S. Route 218 is an original United States Highway, created in 1926. Although technically a spur of U.S. Route 18, US 218 neither begins nor ends at US 18, but overlaps US 18 for near Charles City, Iowa. US 218 begins at U.S. Route 136 in downtown Keokuk and ends away at...
are three of the main arterial routes in the city.
History
Owatonna was first settled in 1853 around the Straight RiverStraight River (southern Minnesota)
The Straight River is a tributary of the Cannon River, 45 miles long, in southeastern Minnesota in the United States. Via the Cannon River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of approximately 450 square miles in an agricultural region.Its name is a...
. The community was named after the Stright River, which in the Dakota language
Dakota language
Dakota is a Siouan language spoken by the Dakota people of the Sioux tribes. Dakota is closely related to and mutually intelligible with the Lakota language.-Dialects:...
is Wakpá Owóthaŋna. The earliest the Owatonna area was settled was in 1854 and platted in September 1855, but it was incorporated as a town August 9, 1858, then as a city on February 23, 1865.
In 1883, Owatonna was the site of the State Fair and soon the county established its own fair in Owatonna, the Steele County Free Fair
Steele County Free Fair
The Steele County Free Fair in held each year in Owatonna, the county seat of Steele County, Minnesota, is the largest free county fair in the state.-History:The first fair in Steele County was held on October 17, 1860...
or SCFF, the largest free fair in Minnesota.
All the attention on the area in the late 19th century caused the city administration (and a fly-by-night corporation from which the city administrators profited) to devise a tourism and bottled water
Bottled water
Bottled water is drinking water packaged in plastic or glass water bottles. Bottled water may be carbonated or not...
scheme in which a story centered around a "Princess Owatonna" was concocted. According to the story, Princess Owatonna, daughter of Chief Wabena, fell ill. She was so ill she couldn't lift her head to drink the smallest pool of water. The chief had heard of the wonderful curative effects of water bubbling from the ground in what is now Owatonna, and decided that only their magical restorative properties could save his daughter. After being given the water by her father, Princess Owatonna was miraculously cured, lending her name and image to both the town and the newly minted bottled water company. A statue of the princess appears in Owatonna's Mineral Springs Park, next to Maple Creek, a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Straight River, and a fountain
Fountain
A fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
where visitors can see the springs and drink the water that saved Princess Owatonna.
The Minnesota State School for Dependent and Neglected Children
Minnesota State School for Dependent and Neglected Children
The Minnesota State School for Dependent and Neglected Children was located in Owatonna, Minnesota from 1886 to 1945. During those years, it was home to a total of 10,635 children who were orphans or had been abused or abandoned...
was built in 1886. The school took in orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
s from around the state and taught them "the value of drill, discipline and labor." The children who died in the institution were interred in the graveyard behind the school. In 1945, the orphanage was closed and the facility began to serve handicapped children. In 1974, the City purchased the compound for its office space. Renamed "West Hills," it continues to serve as the city's administration complex and home to many nonprofit civic organizations including a senior activity center, the Owatonna Arts Center, two nonprofit day care centers, a chemical dependency halfway house, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, among others.
In 1995 the film Angus whose cast included Ariana Richards
Ariana Richards
Ariana Clarice Richards is an American actress and professional painter. She is best known for her roles as Mindy Sterngood in Tremors, Lex Murphy in the film Jurassic Park, and as Carol Wetherby in the film Prancer....
and James Van Der Beek
James Van Der Beek
James William Van Der Beek, Jr. is an American television, film, and stage actor, known for his portrayal of Dawson Leery in The WB series Dawson's Creek...
was filmed on location in Owatonna, mostly at Owatonna Senior High School.
In July 2008, a Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
Hawker 800 corporate jet crashed near Owatonna resulting in eight deaths.
Economy
Owatonna is an economic center of Southern Minnesota, with diverse industries. Federated Insurance is the largest employer with 1521 employees, followed by Viracon which has 1434 employees. Both have their headquarters in Owatonna. Other large employers in the community are SPX CorporationSPX Corporation
SPX Corporation is a Fortune 500 multi-industry manufacturing firm. SPX's business segments serve developing and emerging end markets, such as global infrastructure, process equipment, and diagnostic tool industries. With corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, they have operations in...
, Jostens
Jostens
Jostens is an American company providing yearbooks and class rings for various high schools and colleges as well as championship rings for sports, including the Super Bowl rings....
http://jostens.com, Cabela's
Cabela's
Cabela's is a direct marketer and specialty retailer of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor recreation merchandise, based in Sidney, Nebraska. It also has "Trophy Properties LLC , "Outdoor Adventures" , and the "Gun Library"...
, Truth Hardware, ISD 761, Wenger Corporation, Owatonna Clinic - Mayo Health Systems, and Owatonna Hospital - Allina Hospitals And Clinics.
Government
Owatonna is governed by a Mayor and City Council. As of December 2009 its mayor is Thomas Kuntz.http://www.ci.owatonna.mn.us/council/The city is located in Minnesota’s 26th District, represented by Senator Michael J. Parry, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. District 26 includes portions of Rice, Steele, and Waseca counties in the southeastern part of the state. He won a special election on January 26, 2010, succeeding Senator Dick Day, who resigned on January 8, 2010. Sen. Parry is currently a member of the following senate committees: Business, Industry and Jobs; Capital Investmen;, State and Local Government Operations and Oversight; Transportation; and also serves on the Finance Subcommittee for the Transportation Budget and Policy Division.
Owatonna also lies in House District 26A, represented by State Representative Kory Kath
Kory Kath
Kory L. Kath is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 26A, which includes all or portions of Steele and Waseca counties in the southeastern part of the state...
, a Democrat. He was first elected to that office in 2008, and was recently reelected to a second term. He is also an Economics and Political Science teacher at Owatonna High School.
Owatonna is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional district
Minnesota'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.
Elementary schools
- Lincoln Elementary, Grades K-5
- McKinley Elementary, Grades K-5
- Washington Elementary, Grades K-5
- Wilson Elementary, Grades K-5
Private schools
- El Shaddai School, Grades K-12
- Owatonna Christian School, Grades K-12
- St. Marys Catholic School, Grades K-8
National Farmers Bank
National Farmer's Bank of Owatonna
The National Farmers' Bank of Owatonna, Minnesota is a bank building designed by Louis Sullivan with decorative elements by George Elmslie. It was built in 1908, and was the first of Sullivan's "jewel boxes". The building is clad in red brick with green terra cotta bands, and features two large...
, widely recognized as one of the premier pieces of the "Prairie School
Prairie School
Prairie School was a late 19th and early 20th century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States.The works of the Prairie School architects are usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands,...
of Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
" in America. Designed by Louis Sullivan
Louis Sullivan
Louis Henri Sullivan was an American architect, and has been called the "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism" He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an...
, the building was finished in 1908 and features gold leaf arches, stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows, and nouveau baroque art designs. It is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and is now occupied by a branch of Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
Bank.
State School Museum
The State School Museum http://orphanagemuseum.com/museum.php/ is located at West Hills on the grounds of the former state orphanage, the Minnesota State School for Dependent and Neglected ChildrenMinnesota State School for Dependent and Neglected Children
The Minnesota State School for Dependent and Neglected Children was located in Owatonna, Minnesota from 1886 to 1945. During those years, it was home to a total of 10,635 children who were orphans or had been abused or abandoned...
.
Junior Hockey
The Owatonna Express is a junior hockey team who play at Four Seasons Center and are a member of the North American Hockey LeagueNorth American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
. Although having a similar name and logo, this team is unrelated to the former Southern Minnesota Express, that relocated to Michigan to become the Motor City Machine
Motor City Machine
The Jamestown Ironmen are a Junior A ice hockey team set to begin play for the 2011-2012 season in the North American Hockey League, The Ironmen will play its home games at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, New York.-Team history:...
. The team is named the Owatonna Express instead of the Southern Minnesota Express because, "With the new team in Albert Lea joining the North American Hockey League this season, and others in the Twin Cities and Rochester possibly coming into the fray in the next few years, the Express are no longer the sole owners of southern Minnesota." The Express begin play in the 2008-2009 season.
The Owatonna Express completed their final season in early March 2011.
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 12.7 square miles (32.9 km²), of which, 12.6 square miles (32.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.55%) is water. The oldest part of the city (including the downtown area) is located on a low lying area on the eastern bank of the Straight River
Straight River
Straight River may refer to:*Straight River , a tributary of the Fish Hook River*Straight River , a tributary of the Cannon River*Straight River , a tributary of the Apple River...
, extending towards the south from Maple Creek
Maple Creek
Maple Creek may refer to:*Maple Creek, California*Maple Creek, Saskatchewan*Maple Creek , Canadian riding*Maple Creek, Wisconsin*Maple Creek crater...
. The city has grown in all directions, and now lies on both sides of the river, as well as above the ridge north of Maple Creek
Maple Creek
Maple Creek may refer to:*Maple Creek, California*Maple Creek, Saskatchewan*Maple Creek , Canadian riding*Maple Creek, Wisconsin*Maple Creek crater...
. Significant growth in recent years has occurred to the northeast, where homes have been built along the ravine of Maple Creek
Maple Creek
Maple Creek may refer to:*Maple Creek, California*Maple Creek, Saskatchewan*Maple Creek , Canadian riding*Maple Creek, Wisconsin*Maple Creek crater...
as well as alongside Brooktree Golf Course, to the north, and to the southeast. Geographical landmarks of note include Kaplan's Woods, a hardwood nature preserve on the southern border of the city, Cinder Hill
Cinder Hill
Cinder Hill is a prominent dissected volcano, high, consisting of layers of red basalt scoria and cinders and abundant olivine nodules, standing between Harrison Stream and Wilson Stream on the ice-free lower west slopes of Mount Bird, Ross Island. It was mapped and descriptively named by the New...
, a steep 60 foot hill on Linn Avenue overlooking downtown that is used by local athletes for training, the Straight River
Straight River
Straight River may refer to:*Straight River , a tributary of the Fish Hook River*Straight River , a tributary of the Cannon River*Straight River , a tributary of the Apple River...
dam, originally used to power a mill and now reconstructed to include a fish ladder, and the Forest Hill Cemetery, an old wooded cemetery on the ridge to the north of Maple Creek
Maple Creek
Maple Creek may refer to:*Maple Creek, California*Maple Creek, Saskatchewan*Maple Creek , Canadian riding*Maple Creek, Wisconsin*Maple Creek crater...
that marks the boundary between the oldest parts of the city and more recent developments.
Record rainfall events from Wednesday, September 22, 2010 to Friday, September 24, 2010 caused record flooding of the Straight River and Maple Creek in and near Owatonna, with developments in the floodplains of both streams being completely inundated.
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 22,434 people, 8,704 households, and 5,936 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 1,779.9 people per square mile (687.4/km²). There were 8,940 housing units at an average density of 709.3 per square mile (273.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.09% White, 1.56% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.92% 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 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.31% of the population.
There were 8,704 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% 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 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,660, and the median income for a family was $54,883. Males had a median income of $37,691 versus $25,511 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 $20,513. About 4.3% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Culture and Society
Parts of the 1995 movie Angus were filmed in and around Owatonna, including Owatonna High School, its football team, and marching band.In 1974, the City of Owatonna purchased the campus of the former Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children, which had been in operation from 1886 until 1945. The site was renamed West Hills, and now serves as an administrative center for the City of Owatonna, as well as housing several non-profit organizations in the various historic buildings, including the Owatonna Arts Center.
Notable natives
- Ken ChristiansonKen ChristiansonKen Christianson is a musician and artist living in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. He is the composer of the score to the short film Better Left Alone . He is also a resident composer for the Minneapolis-based theater group, the Drama Troupe Players. He is also resident composer for the Samantha...
, artist and musician, graduate of Owatonna Senior High. - Masanori Mark ChristiansonMasanori Mark ChristiansonMasanori Mark Christianson is a Japanese-Korean-American musician, art director, copywriter, visual artist and model...
, art director and musician, graduate of Owatonna Senior High. - Lillian ColtonLillian ColtonLillian Colton was a crop artist whose work, usually portraits of public figures made from agricultural products such as wild rice, hay and timothy seeds glued to cardboard, has been prominently displayed at the Minnesota State Fair for many years...
, crop artist. - Sean Tillman a.k.a. Har Mar SuperstarHar Mar SuperstarSean Matthew Tillmann , better known by his stage names of Har Mar Superstar and Sean Na Na, is an American singer.-Life and career:...
. Raised in Owatonna. - Casey DriessenCasey DriessenCasey Christopher Driessen is an American bluegrass fiddler and singer. He plays acoustic and electric five-string violins, each of which has an additional low C string....
, fiddler. - Theodore Marcus HansenTheodore Marcus HansenTheodore Marcus Hansen was a Danish-American Lutheran pastor, educator, and church leader. Ordained as a pastor in the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1915, Theodore Marcus served eleven Lutheran congregations...
, Lutheran pastor and educator, pastor in Owatonna from 1948-1952. - Mike HegstrandRoad Warrior HawkMichael James Hegstrand was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors or The Legion of Doom , with Road Warrior Animal.-Early life:While living in Chicago, Hegstrand met Joe Lauranaitis, who would be later...
, professional wrestler, Hawk, One half of the Road Warriors, 1958-2003. Born in Owatonna, Resided on Xerxes Ave. - Don LaughlinDon LaughlinDonald J. Laughlin is a gambling entrepreneur, hotelier and rancher for whom the town of Laughlin, Nevada, is named.A native of Owatonna, Minnesota, Laughlin worked winters during his youth as a fur trapper. He took the profits and used them to purchase slot machines for installation in hunting...
, founder of the resort town of LaughlinLaughlin, NevadaLaughlin is a census-designated place in Clark County, Nevada, United States, and a port located on the Colorado River. Laughlin is south of Las Vegas, located in the far southern tip of Nevada. It is best known for its gaming, entertainment, and water recreation. As of the 2010 census, the...
, NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, born and raised in Owatonna. - E.G. Marshall, actor known for his role as the nervous Juror #4 in the Henry FondaHenry FondaHenry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
classic 12 Angry Men and as the lead in the TV series The Defenders, was born in Owatonna on June 18, 1910. - Craig MinowaCraig MinowaCraig Minowa is the singer/songwriter/frontman for the alternative rock band, Cloud Cult. He is also the founder of Earthology Records. Minowa was born Craig Richardson in February 1973. Minowa grew up in Owatonna, Minnesota, along with Sean Tillman . Minowa is the middle child. He has two sisters,...
, lead singer of Cloud CultCloud CultCloud Cult is an experimental indie rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota led by singer/songwriter Craig Minowa. The name originated from the ancient prophecies of indigenous North Americans.-History:...
and founder of Minnesota record label Earthology RecordsEarthology RecordsEarthology Records is the record label of Cloud Cult singer/songwriter Craig Minowa formed in 1997 on his organic farm. The label's buildings are powered by geothermal energy and were partially constructed with reclaimed wood and recycled plastic. It is also a non-profit label that only uses...
. - Evan S. TylerEvan S. Tyler-Biography:Tyler was born on March 22, 1843 in Damascus, Pennsylvania. Eventually he moved to Owatonna, Minnesota and later to Fargo, North Dakota. He married Clara Estella Barnes...
, North DakotaNorth DakotaNorth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
State Representative. - Harry Williams, successful songwriter, and sometime director for Mack SennettMack SennettMack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
graduated from Pillsbury Military AcademyPillsbury Baptist Bible CollegePillsbury Baptist Bible College was an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Christian college in Owatonna, Minnesota, founded in 1957....
. - Travis WiuffTravis WiuffTravis Wiuff is a mixed martial arts fighter born in Minnesota, United States. He competes in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions...
, a.k.a "Diesel", MMA fighter, UFC - Adam Young, a.k.a. Owl CityOwl CityOwl City is an American electronica musical project by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young formed in 2007 in Owatonna, Minnesota. Young created the project while experimenting with music in his parents' basement...
- Austin Tofte, a.k.a Swimming With DolphinsSwimming With DolphinsSwimming with Dolphins is a synthpop band from Minnesota, US. It was formed in 2008 by Austin Tofte and Adam Young, of Owl City. After gaining considerable mainstream popularity, Adam Young left the band to focus on Owl City. The band released one EP, called Ambient Blue. Since Young left the...
- Noel JenkeNoel JenkeNoel Jenke is a former linebacker in the National Football League and minor league baseball player in the Boston Red Sox organization.-Boyhood and collegiate career:Jenke was born Noel Charles Jenke on December 17, 1946 in Owatonna, Minnesota...
, NFL player
External links
- City of Owatonna Website
- Music Boosters of Owatonna
- Owatonna Development
- City of Owatonna Police Website
- Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
- Finding Minnesota: Owatonna Video from WCCO news profiling the legend of Owatonna
- A Sweet Spot Worth A Stop In Owatonna Video from WCCO news featuring local institution: Costas Chocolates