Willow River, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Willow River is a city in Pine County
, Minnesota
, United States
, at the confluence of the Kettle
and Willow
Rivers. The population was 415 at the 2010 census.
Interstate 35
, County Road 43, and County 61 (Cross Street) are three of the main routes in the community.
, the city has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (8.72%) is water.
of 2000, there were 301 people, 130 households, and 69 families residing in the city. The population density
was 196.7 people per square mile (76.0/km²). There were 155 housing units at an average density of 98.7 per square mile (38.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.88% White, 4.53% Native American, 0.97% from other races
, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.
There were 129 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,938, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $37,656 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,620. About 16.1% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 18.6% of those sixty five or over.
Willow River was once a thriving town which drew many tourists from the Minnesota Twin Cities in the 1920s with its large amusement park and fair grounds. The amusement park was among the largest in the state with 6 roller coasters and numerous smaller rides. The park also included an over-sized water park. When the amusement park closed in 1942, the water park was dismantled. The remnants of the large wave-pool can be seen approximately 50 yards north of the Willow River Dam.
Pine County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,530 people, 9,939 households, and 6,917 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile . There were 15,353 housing units at an average density of 11 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...
, at the confluence of the Kettle
Kettle River (Minnesota)
The Kettle is a tributary of the St. Croix River, about 80 mi long, in eastern Minnesota in the United States. Via the St. Croix River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. The river's English name is due to the large number of large rounded holes in the sandstone in and around...
and Willow
Willow River (Kettle River)
The Willow River is a short tributary of the Kettle River in eastern Minnesota in the United States. It is one of three rivers by that name in Minnesota. Via the Kettle and St. Croix Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
Rivers. The population was 415 at the 2010 census.
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...
, County Road 43, and County 61 (Cross Street) are three of the main routes in the community.
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 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (8.72%) is water.
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 301 people, 130 households, and 69 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 196.7 people per square mile (76.0/km²). There were 155 housing units at an average density of 98.7 per square mile (38.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.88% White, 4.53% Native American, 0.97% 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 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.
There were 129 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% 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, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,938, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $37,656 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,620. About 16.1% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 18.6% of those sixty five or over.
History
Willow River was established in 1891 by a small group of pioneers. Small amounts of gold had been found downstream in the Willow River and the group felt the possibility of more gold upstream warranted further exploration. Only small amounts of gold were found through panning in the river, and geologic surveys showed gold deposits underground due to the proximity to the Duluth Geologic Complex were not in high enough concentrations to have either an underground or surface mine be economically feasible.Willow River was once a thriving town which drew many tourists from the Minnesota Twin Cities in the 1920s with its large amusement park and fair grounds. The amusement park was among the largest in the state with 6 roller coasters and numerous smaller rides. The park also included an over-sized water park. When the amusement park closed in 1942, the water park was dismantled. The remnants of the large wave-pool can be seen approximately 50 yards north of the Willow River Dam.
Historic Places
- John Doboszenski Farmstead
- Willow River Rutabaga Warehouse and Processing Plant
Notable residents
- Ernie Nevers, Football Hall of Famer
- Rebekah Wood, News Reporter/Host