Waseca, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 8,493 people, 3,388 households, and 2,219 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,215.6 people per square mile (856.2/km²). There were 3,563 housing units at an average density of 929.5 per square mile (359.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.24% White, 1.39% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.50% from other races
, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.10% of the population.
The ancestral makeup of the city is 44.6 % German
, 21.3% Norwegian
, 13.2% Irish
, 5.2% English
, 5.1% Swedish
, and 4.6% French
.
There were 3,388 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,554, and the median income for a family was $49,163. Males had a median income of $35,701 versus $22,837 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,439. About 6.5% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
two-year technical college (before it was converted to the Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca
) and the Southern School of Agriculture boarding high school.
. Brown Printing is the fourth-largest magazine printer in the United States.
Waseca is home to the Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca
, a low-security federal prison
housing female inmates.
Waseca opened a waterpark in June 2007.
Waseca has finished a new bike path that surrounds Clear Lake.
Waseca is home to the Waseca Medical Center, part of the Mayo Health System.
On April 30, 1967, Waseca was severely damaged from the 1967 Southern Minnesota tornado outbreak
.
A ticket bought in Faribault
for the multi-state Powerball
lottery for the May 3, 2008 drawing won the jackpot
, worth approximately $180.1 million (annuity value.) The couple (who live in Waseca), married grandparents, chose the cash option
of about $87.0 million.
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 8,493 people, 3,388 households, and 2,219 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 2,215.6 people per square mile (856.2/km²). There were 3,563 housing units at an average density of 929.5 per square mile (359.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.24% White, 1.39% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.50% 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 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.10% of the population.
The ancestral makeup of the city is 44.6 % German
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
, 21.3% Norwegian
Norwegian American
Norwegian Americans are Americans of Norwegian descent. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the later half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the 20th century. There are more than 4.5 million Norwegian Americans according to the most recent U.S. census, and...
, 13.2% Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
, 5.2% English
English American
English Americans are citizens or residents of the United States whose ancestry originates wholly or partly in England....
, 5.1% Swedish
Swedish American
Swedish Americans are Americans of Swedish descent, especially the descendants of about 1.2 million immigrants from Sweden during 1885-1915. Most were Lutherans who affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ; some were Methodists...
, and 4.6% French
French American
French Americans or Franco-Americans are Americans of French or French Canadian descent. About 11.8 million U.S. residents are of this descent, and about 1.6 million speak French at home.An additional 450,000 U.S...
.
There were 3,388 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% 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, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,554, and the median income for a family was $49,163. Males had a median income of $35,701 versus $22,837 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 $18,439. About 6.5% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Waseca High School (WHS) consistently has between 700 and 800 students yearly. It has a very strong music program, with its marching band (Marching Jays) consistently earning awards across the state and country, and also has a choir program. The school districts mascot is the bluejay. The school colors are blue and gold (yellow). Waseca is also home to the Waseca Junior High and Central Intermediate School (CIS). Waseca also has Hartley Elementary, a school ranging from kindergarten through third grade. Sacred Heart School is also a private elementary school ranging from kindergarten through fourth grade. Waseca also has a charter school called TEAM Academy, hosting students from kindergarten-6th grade. Until recently, TEAM Academy was sponsored by the Public Schools. Formerly, Waseca was home to the University of Minnesota WasecaUniversity of Minnesota Waseca
The University of Minnesota Waseca was a two-year technical college specializing in agriculture and located in Waseca, Minnesota. A part of the University of Minnesota system, it operated from 1971–1992 and served nearly 20,000 students during that time...
two-year technical college (before it was converted to the Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca
Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca
The Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca is a United States federal prison in Waseca, Minnesota. It is a low security prison housing female inmates. The site was converted into a prison after formerly serving as a University of Minnesota campus until 1992. The prison was co-ed for a few...
) and the Southern School of Agriculture boarding high school.
Economy
Waseca is home to Brown Printing, a subsidiary of Gruner + JahrGruner + Jahr
Gruner + Jahr GmbH & Co. KG is the largest European printing and publishing firm. Its headquarters is in Hamburg, Germany.-History:Originally founded on August 1, 1948 as the Henri Nannen publishing house, Gruner + Jahr was created in 1965 from a merger by acquisition, by publishers John Jahr Sr....
. Brown Printing is the fourth-largest magazine printer in the United States.
Waseca is home to the Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca
Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca
The Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca is a United States federal prison in Waseca, Minnesota. It is a low security prison housing female inmates. The site was converted into a prison after formerly serving as a University of Minnesota campus until 1992. The prison was co-ed for a few...
, a low-security federal prison
Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
housing female inmates.
Waseca opened a waterpark in June 2007.
Waseca has finished a new bike path that surrounds Clear Lake.
Waseca is home to the Waseca Medical Center, part of the Mayo Health System.
History
The city of Waseca was founded in 1867.1967 Southern Minnesota tornado outbreak
The 1967 Southern Minnesota tornado outbreak was a tornado outbreak that affected portions of south central and southeast Minnesota on Sunday, April 30, 1967. The outbreak spawned a total of nine tornadoes resulting in thirteen deaths and eighty injuries...
.
A ticket bought in 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...
for the multi-state Powerball
Powerball
Powerball is an American lottery game sold in 44 jurisdictions as a shared jackpot game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association , a non-profit organization formed by an agreement with lotteries. Powerball is a game whose advertised jackpot starts at $20 million and can roll into...
lottery for the May 3, 2008 drawing won the jackpot
Prize
A prize is an award to be given to a person or a group of people to recognise and reward actions or achievements. Official prizes often involve monetary rewards as well as the fame that comes with them...
, worth approximately $180.1 million (annuity value.) The couple (who live in Waseca), married grandparents, chose the cash option
Present value
Present value, also known as present discounted value, is the value on a given date of a future payment or series of future payments, discounted to reflect the time value of money and other factors such as investment risk...
of about $87.0 million.
Politics
- Located in Minnesota's 1st congressional district represented by U.S. Representative Tim WalzTim WalzTimothy 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...
(DFL). - Represented in the Minnesota State Senate by Mike Parry (R), District 26.
- Represented in the Minnesota State House by Kory Kath (DFL), District 26A.
- The current mayor is Roy Srp.
Notable residents
- Ray J. MaddenRay J. MaddenRay John Madden was a United States Representative from Indiana. He was born in Waseca, Minnesota. He attended the public schools and Sacred Heart Academy in his native city. He graduated from the law department of Creighton University with an LL.B...
, member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. - Peter McGovernPeter McGovern (politician)Peter McGovern was a member of the Minnesota Senate.-Biography:McGovern was born on October 9, 1845 in Watertown, Wisconsin. He passed away on November 15, 1917 in Waseca, Minnesota.-Career:...
, member of the Minnesota Senate. - Tim PennyTim PennyTimothy Joe "Tim" Penny , is an American politician from Minnesota. Penny was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor member of the United States House of Representatives, 1983–1995, representing Minnesota's 1st congressional district in the 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd and 103rd congresses.-Early life:Penny...
, member of the United States House of Representatives. - Jeffrey SkillingJeffrey SkillingJeffrey Keith "Jeff" Skilling is the former president of Enron Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas. In 2006 he was convicted of multiple federal felony charges relating to Enron's financial collapse, and is currently serving a 24-year, four-month prison sentence at the Federal...
, former EnronEnronEnron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
CEO, was imprisoned in the Federal Correction Institution, Waseca. - Leroy ShieldLeroy ShieldLeroy Shield was an American film score and radio composer.-Career:A native of Waseca, Minnesota, Shield was an employee of RCA Victor's National Broadcasting Company, for which he composed and conducted on-air musical pieces...
, Composer, Conductor, Arranger of such works as Little Rascals, Laurel & Hardy,born in Waseca.* - Reverend E.H. Alden, founding pastor of First Congregational Church of Waseca, made famous in the Laura Ingalls WilderLaura Ingalls WilderLaura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder was an American author who wrote the Little House series of books based on her childhood in a pioneer family...
series "Little House on the PrairieLittle House on the PrairieLittle House is a series of children's books by Laura Ingalls Wilder that was published originally between 1932 and 1943, with four additional books published posthumously, in 1962, 1971, 1974 and 2006.-History:...
" where he was played by Dabbs GreerDabbs GreerRobert William "Dabbs" Greer was an American actor who performed many diverse supporting roles in film and television for some fifty years. His distinctive, southern-accented voice fitted well in shows featuring rustic characters, such as westerns...
in the TV series.