Stillwater, Minnesota

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.98 square miles (20.67 km²); 6.96 square miles (18.03 km²) is land and 1.02 square miles (2.64 km²) is water.^[1] State Highways 36, 95, and 96 are three of the community's main routes.

Stillwater receives an average annual snowfall of 42 inches (1,100 mm). Average annual rainfall is 24 in (610 mm). Each year has an average of 14 days above 90 °F (32 °C).

History

On July 29 and September 29, 1837, treaties were signed between the US government and the local Ojibwa and Dakota nations that allowed settlement in the St. Croix Valley. The town was founded by settlers drawn by the area's then-abundant lumber and river traffic, making it one of Minnesota's oldest towns, preceding Minneapolis by several years. Stillwater was officially incorporated as a city on March 4, 1854 (the same day as St. Paul). The city was named for the calm waters of the St. Croix River.^[7]

Stillwater c. 1860s

Washington County Courthouse

Across the street from the Courthouse, the Veterans' Memorial for local veterans.

Stillwater is often referred to as the birthplace of Minnesota.^[8] In 1848, a territorial convention that began the process of establishing Minnesota as a state was held in Stillwater, at the corner of Myrtle and Main Streets. Minnesota officially became a territory in 1849 and a state in 1858.

As more evidence of Stillwater's importance at the time, the convention selected three leading Minnesota cities as locations for three important public institutions: Minneapolis got the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul became the capital, and Stillwater was chosen as the site of the territory's first prison. The Minnesota Territorial Prison was opened in 1853.

Lumbering was the predominant industry in the St. Croix River Valley in the second half of the 19th century, and for many years logs were sent down the St. Croix, collected at the St. Croix Boom Site two miles upstream of Stillwater, and processed in Stillwater's many sawmills. Steamboats were used most widely from 1860 to 1890, and a few are still used for entertainment today.

Stillwater sent men of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Company B and the 8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment Company C to fight during the American Civil War.^[9]^[10]

On October 18, 1921, Charles Strite invented the automatic pop-up bread toaster in Stillwater. By 1926, the Toastmaster Company began to market the first household toaster using a redesigned version of Strite's.^[11]

Stillwater today

Stillwater is a popular day trip for tourists from the Twin Cities, who enjoy the historic downtown's used bookstores, antique shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, historical sites and the scenic St. Croix River valley.

New housing development

In recent decades, there has been a good deal of new housing development on the city's outskirts, and a substantial population commutes daily to the Twin Cities. More recently, development has focused on medium-density housing, such as condominium complexes, on the north side of downtown.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	2,380		—
1870	4,124		73.3%
1880	9,055		119.6%
1890	11,260		24.4%
1900	12,818		13.8%
1910	10,198		−20.4%
1920	7,735		−24.2%
1930	7,173		−7.3%
1940	7,013		−2.2%
1950	7,674		9.4%
1960	8,310		8.3%
1970	10,191		22.6%
1980	12,290		20.6%
1990	13,882		13.0%
2000	15,143		9.1%
2010	18,225		20.4%
Est. 2014	18,800	^[12]	3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census^[13] 2013 Estimate^[14]

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 18,225 people, 7,075 households, and 4,885 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,618.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,011.0/km²). There were 7,576 housing units at an average density of 1,088.5 per square mile (420.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 1.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 7,075 households, of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 40 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile (903.7/km²). There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile (353.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.0% White, 0.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

Lift Bridge

There were 5,797 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $57,154, and the median income for a family was $72,188. Males had a median income of $49,158 versus $33,680 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,163. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

St. Croix Boom Site
St. Croix River
Stillwater Lift Bridge
Nelson's Ice Cream - An old fashioned ice cream parlor that is a major draw for tourists

Cultural references

In The Mighty Ducks films, one of the two "bash brothers", Fulton Reed (played by Elden Henson), claims to be from Stillwater.
The novel series The Emigrants and the musical Kristina från Duvemåla tell the story of a family of Swedish emigrants who journey to Minnesota in 1850. Much of the story takes place in Stillwater.
In Juno, Bren MacGuff mentions purchasing an expensive womanly item at a Stillwater store.
In the Supernatural episode "The Purge", Sam and Dean head to Stillwater when a competitive eater mysteriously dies in impossible circumstances.

Movies filmed wholly or partially in Stillwater

Grumpy Old Men (1993)
The Cure (1995)
Grumpier Old Men (1995)
Fargo (1996)
Beautiful Girls (1996)
Overnight Delivery (1998)
Paperboys (2001)
The Unearthing (2015)

Notable people

Ada Johnson, a Saddle Seat Equitation World Champion who completed the Morgan Triple Crown in 2015.
Brian Arnfelt, NFL defensive end, attended high school in Stillwater
Michele Bachmann, U.S. Representative 2007-15, lived in Stillwater
James B. Clark, director and Oscar-nominated film editor, was born in Stillwater
Nate Dwyer, NFL linebacker, was born in Stillwater
Chris Engler, NBA player, was born in Stillwater
Todd Kalis, NFL guard, was born in Stillwater
Denis McDonough, White House Chief of Staff, was born in Stillwater
Bob Nelson, NFL linebacker, was born in Stillwater
Glen Perkins, pitcher for Minnesota Twins, was born in Stillwater
Rich Sommer, actor, was raised in Stillwater
C. Gardner Sullivan, screenwriter and producer, was born in Stillwater
LaVyrle Spencer, a New York Times bestselling author, lived in Stillwater
Ben Blankenship, member of team U.S.A. Track and Field who set the world record in the distance medley.

References

1 2 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
↑ "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
↑ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 165.
↑ http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/55/v55i06p267-279.pdf
↑ From the Journal of Sgt. Sam Bloomer 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Part I
↑ Historians seek Stillwater Civil War unit's flag
↑ http://www.uspto.gov/news/pr/2001/01-46.jsp
↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
↑ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved June 9, 2014.
↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Retrieved June 9, 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stillwater, Minnesota.

Municipalities and communities of Washington County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Stillwater

Cities	Afton Bayport Birchwood Village Cottage Grove Dellwood Forest Lake Grant Hastings‡ Hugo Lake Elmo Lake St. Croix Beach Lakeland Shores Lakeland Landfall Mahtomedi Marine on St. Croix Newport Oak Park Heights Oakdale Pine Springs Scandia St. Marys Point St. Paul Park Stillwater Willernie White Bear Lake‡ Woodbury

Townships	Baytown Denmark Grey Cloud Island May Stillwater West Lakeland

Unincorporated communities	Arcola Basswood Grove Maple Island Siegel

Ghost towns	Garen Point Douglas

Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

State of Minnesota

Saint Paul (capital)

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Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 131385475 LCCN: n83050994 GND: 4676714-9

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