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Menahga, Minnesota

Coordinates: 46°45′21″N 95°06′04″W / 46.75583°N 95.10111°W / 46.75583; -95.10111
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Menahga
City
Water tower
Water tower
Motto: 
Home of St. Urho
Location of Menahga, Minnesota
Location of Menahga, Minnesota
Coordinates: 46°45′21″N 95°06′04″W / 46.75583°N 95.10111°W / 46.75583; -95.10111
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyWadena
Area
[1]
 • Total3.90 sq mi (10.11 km2)
 • Land3.71 sq mi (9.61 km2)
 • Water0.19 sq mi (0.50 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,381 ft (421 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,340
 • Density361.28/sq mi (139.48/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
56464
Area code218
FIPS code27-41660[3]
GNIS feature ID2395093[2]
WebsiteCity website

Menahga (/məˈnɑːɡə/ mə-NAH-gə)[4] is a city in Wadena County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 1,306 at the 2010 census.[5]

History

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Menahga was platted in 1891, and named for an Ojibwe language word meaning "there are [many] blueberries".[6] A post office has been in operation at Menahga since 1891.[7]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 3.89 square miles (10.08 km2); 3.70 square miles (9.58 km2) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.49 km2) is water.[8]

The Blueberry River flows just north of the city.[9]

U.S. Route 71 and Minnesota State Highway 87 are two of the city's main routes.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900413—
1910346−16.2%
192047838.2%
19304861.7%
194076858.0%
195084910.5%
1960799−5.9%
19708354.5%
198098017.4%
19901,0769.8%
20001,22013.4%
20101,3067.0%
20201,3402.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2010 census

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As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 1,306 people, 569 households, and 301 families living in the city. The population density was 353.0 inhabitants per square mile (136.3/km2). There were 654 housing units at an average density of 176.8 per square mile (68.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.8% White, 0.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 569 households, of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.5% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.1% were non-families. 42.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 3.01.

The median age in the city was 44.8 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.8% were from 25 to 44; 21.7% were from 45 to 64; and 28.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.9% male and 54.1% female.

2000 census

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As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,220 people, 491 households, and 282 families living in the city. The population density was 328.3 inhabitants per square mile (126.8/km2). There were 556 housing units at an average density of 149.6 per square mile (57.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.36% White, 0.08% African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.33% of the population. 42.4% were of Finnish, 23.2% German and 15.5% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 491 households, out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 20.2% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 33.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,232, and the median income for a family was $30,288. Males had a median income of $26,071 versus $18,594 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,360. About 14.7% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

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The writer-illustrator Wallace Wood, best known as one of the original five Mad cartoonists, was born in Menahga on June 17, 1927. Bhob Stewart documented Wood's Menahga childhood in the illustrated biography Against the Grain: Mad Artist Wallace Wood (TwoMorrows Publishing, 2003).

College basketball head coach Don Monson was born in Menahga in 1933; he moved to Idaho as a child.[12]

Joseph Andrew Quinn, politician and lawyer was born in Menahga.[13]

Tourist attractions

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See also: Saint Urho
Menahga Mayor, Elizabeth Olson introduces the Changing of the Guards at the St Urho statue

Menahga is known for the legend of the fictional St. Urho, the legendary patron saint of Finland, which led locals to celebrate St. Urho's Day on March 16, the day before St. Patrick's Day. A statue of St. Urho is along Highway 71 South.[14], The city celebrates Saint Urho Day over two days. Festivities includes costumes contests where celebrants wear purple for the vineyards and green for the grasshoppers, and a parade [15][16]

Radio stations

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FM radio
AM radio
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  • Menahga City Hall
    Menahga City Hall
  • Menahga Post Office
    Menahga Post Office
  • Menahga Area Historical Museum
    Menahga Area Historical Museum
  • Menahga Mayor, Elizabeth Olson reads the St Urho Proclamation at Opening Ceremonies
    Menahga Mayor, Elizabeth Olson reads the St Urho Proclamation at Opening Ceremonies

References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Menahga, Minnesota
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census. Retrieved April 23, 2011.[dead link]
  6. ^ "The Ojibwe People's Dictionary". University of Minnesota. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  7. ^ "Wadena County". Jim Forte Postal History. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  9. ^ Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 1994. p. 61. ISBN 0-89933-222-6.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on October 3, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  12. ^ Devlin, Vince (March 11, 1982). "Monson: Drive to win is way of life". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 26. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  13. ^ "Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-Joseph Andrew Quinn". Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  14. ^ "St. Urho". City of Menahga. (Menahga, Minnesota). Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  15. ^ "DL, Menahga to celebrate St. Urho". Detroit Lakes Tribune. March 7, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Happy St. Urho's Day! Bemidji has ties to Finnish legend". Bemidji Pioneer. March 16, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
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