Crosby, Minnesota

Crosby
City
Motto:  Founded by George H. Crosby
Location of Crosby within Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 46°28′55″N93°57′29″W / 46.48194°N 93.95806°W / 46.48194; -93.95806
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Crow Wing
Area [1]
• Total	3.73 sq mi (9.66 km2)
• Land	2.96 sq mi (7.65 km2)
• Water	0.77 sq mi (2.01 km2)
Elevation [2]	1,260 ft (380 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,360
• Density	798.65/sq mi (308.31/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56441
Area code	218
FIPS code	27-13924 [3]
GNIS feature ID	0642478 [2]
Website	www.crosbymn.govoffice3.com

Crosby is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,386 at the 2010 census. ^[4] It is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area. Crosby is adjacent to its twin city of Ironton, in the Cuyuna iron range.

History

Cuyuna Range Museum

Crosby was built for the sole purpose of mining. It was named for George H. Crosby, a businessman in the mining industry. ^[5]

Crosby was the location of Minnesota's worst mining disaster, the Milford Mine disaster. ^[6] On February 5, 1924, a new tunnel was blasted too close to nearby Foley Lake, and water rushed in, killing 41 miners.

In the 1932 local elections, Karl Emil Nygard was elected president of Crosby's Village Council, making it the first city in the United States to have a Communist mayor. ^[7]

In August 1957, David G. Simons, a 35-year-old Air Force major, climbed to nearly 102,000 feet (31,000 m) above the earth as part of Project Manhigh. The flight, which was launched from Crosby's 400-foot-deep (120 m) Portsmouth Mine Pit Lake, helped the United States take its fledgling steps into space exploration. Simons returned to Crosby in 2007 to mark the 50th anniversary of the project. ^[8]

Geography

This serpent, on the edge of Serpent Lake, welcomes visitors to Crosby, Minnesota.

Crosby is in eastern Crow Wing County at the intersection of Minnesota Highways 6 and 210. Ironton is adjacent to the west and Deerwood lies to the east along route 210. Serpent Lake is adjacent to the southeast and the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area is to the northwest. The Mississippi River flows by four miles to the north. ^[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 3.73 square miles (9.66 km²), of which 3.07 square miles (7.95 km²) is land and 0.66 square miles (1.71 km²) is water. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1920	3,500		—
1930	3,451		−1.4%
1940	2,954		−14.4%
1950	2,777		−6.0%
1960	2,629		−5.3%
1970	2,241		−14.8%
1980	2,218		−1.0%
1990	2,073		−6.5%
2000	2,299		10.9%
2010	2,386		3.8%
2020	2,360		−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census ^[11] of 2010, there were 2,386 people, 1,065 households, and 552 families living in the city. The population density was 777.2 inhabitants per square mile (300.1/km²). There were 1,241 housing units at an average density of 404.2 per square mile (156.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.4% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,065 households, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.3% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.2% were non-families. 42.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 43.2 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64, and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 2,299 people, 989 households, and 554 families living in the city. The population density was 755.0 inhabitants per square mile (291.5/km²). There were 1,081 housing units at an average density of 355.0 per square mile (137.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.69% White, 0.04% African American, 0.91% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population. 23.9% were of German, 14.1% Norwegian, 11.7% Swedish, 9.6% American and 7.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 989 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.9% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.2% 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 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,053, and the median income for a family was $31,629. Males had a median income of $28,879 versus $20,842 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,465. About 15.6% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Nick Anderson, pitcher for the Atlanta Braves
• Anthony "The Bullet" Bonsante, boxer
• Robert A. Good, physician
• Leon S. Kennedy, actor
• Rick Nolan, politician
• Karl Emil Nygard, first Communist mayor in the United States
• Thomas W. Simons Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Poland and Pakistan
• Howard E. Smith, businessman and Minnesota state legislator

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Crosby, Minnesota
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census. Retrieved April 23, 2011.^{[ dead link ]}
5. Warren Upham (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p.  156.
6. "Brainerd-Crosby Lakes Area Trail System | Cuyuna Country | Crosby - Ironton | Attractions". Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
7. Donnelly, Thomas (1935). The 1932 Campaign,: An Analysis. Farrar & Rinehart.
8. "Brainerd Dispatch: Obits | Brainerd, Minnesota | Brainerd Lakes Area Obits on brainerddispatch.com". Archived from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
9. Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer, Delorme, 9th ed., 2016, p. 54 ISBN   0899333338
10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 13, 2012.

External links

• City of Crosby, MN – Official Website
• Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce – Visitor Information site

46°28′56″N93°57′28″W / 46.48222°N 93.95778°W / 46.48222; -93.95778