Pelican Rapids, Minnesota

"Pelican Rapids" redirects here. For the Canadian community, see Pelican Rapids, Manitoba.

Pelican Rapids
City
Pelican Pete, world's largest pelican, is located downtown Pelican Rapids
Location of Pelican Rapids within Otter Tail County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 46°34′12″N96°05′10″W / 46.57000°N 96.08611°W / 46.57000; -96.08611
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Otter Tail
Area [1]
• Total	2.69 sq mi (6.96 km2)
• Land	2.56 sq mi (6.64 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.32 km2)
Elevation [2]	1,296 ft (395 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	2,577
• Estimate  (2021) [4]	2,582
• Density	1,005.46/sq mi (388.21/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56572
Area code	218
FIPS code	27-50164
GNIS feature ID	2396173 [2]
Website	pelicanrapids.com

Pelican Rapids is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,577 as of the 2020 census. ^[3]

History

Pelican Rapids was platted in 1872, and named for the rapids on the Pelican River. ^[5] A post office has been in operation at Pelican Rapids since 1872. ^[6] Pelican Rapids was incorporated in 1882. ^[5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.63 square miles (6.81 km²), of which 2.53 square miles (6.55 km²) is land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km²) is water. ^[7]

U.S. Highway 59 and Minnesota State Highway 108 are two of the main routes in the city.

Culture

Local landmarks include "Pelican Pete", a sculpture constructed beside the river in 1957 that is claimed to be the world's largest statue of a pelican. ^{[8] [9] [10]} It stands 15.4-foot (4.7 m) tall and is constructed from concrete and plaster. ^[11] A survey of the state's architecture published by the University of Minnesota Press characterizes Pelican Pete as "An effective programmatic advertisement for the town, just eye-catching and outrageous enough to attract considerable attention." ^[12]

In 2007, for the fiftieth anniversary of Pelican Pete's installation, the town launched a painted statue public art project wherein about three dozen smaller, 4-foot (1.2 m) pelican sculptures were placed around town and decorated by local artists. ^{[11] [13]}

The O.A.E. Blyberg House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	624		—
1900	1,033		65.5%
1910	1,019		−1.4%
1920	1,156		13.4%
1930	1,365		18.1%
1940	1,560		14.3%
1950	1,676		7.4%
1960	1,693		1.0%
1970	1,835		8.4%
1980	1,867		1.7%
1990	1,886		1.0%
2000	2,374		25.9%
2010	2,464		3.8%
2020	2,577		4.6%
2021 (est.)	2,582	[4]	0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [14] 2020 Census [3]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,464 people, 904 households, and 569 families living in the city. The population density was 973.9 inhabitants per square mile (376.0/km²). There were 984 housing units at an average density of 388.9 per square mile (150.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.1% White, 5.8% African American, 0.9% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.7% Pacific Islander, 11.6% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.5% of the population.

There were 904 households, of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.42.

The median age in the city was 35.4 years. 28.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 21.1% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

Rainbow at Faith Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,374 people, 884 households, and 558 families living in the city. The population density was 905.8 inhabitants per square mile (349.7/km²). There were 962 housing units at an average density of 367.0 per square mile (141.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.43% White, 0.72% African American, 1.93% Native American, 1.58% Asian, 1.04% Pacific Islander, 6.76% from other races, and 4.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.59% of the population.

There were 884 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,232, and the median income for a family was $36,970. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $20,645 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,699. About 9.5% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Presidential election results

2020 Precinct Results Spreadsheet ^[15]

2016 Precinct Results Spreadsheet ^[16]

2012 Precinct Results Spreadsheet ^[17]

2008 Precinct Results Spreadsheet ^[18]

2004 Precinct Results Spreadsheet ^[19]

2000 Precinct Results Spreadsheet ^[20]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2020	47.8% 437	50.2%459	2.0% 19
2016	44.8% 366	48.3%395	6.9% 56
2012	42.7% 346	54.9%445	2.4% 19
2008	41.8% 362	54.6%472	3.6% 31
2004	60.5%531	38.2% 335	1.3% 12
2000	54.5%463	38.4% 326	7.1% 60

Notable people

• Roy Emery Dunn - American businessman and politician
• Dave Goltz - Retired Major League Baseball pitcher
• Roger L. Hanson - American businessman and politician
• Tucker Hibbert - Professional snowmobile racer for Team Monster Energy/Arctic Cat
• Buck Paulson - American painter with a show on PBS

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pelican Rapids, Minnesota
3. "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 4, 2022.
4. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". United States Census Bureau. June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
5. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p.  397.
6. "Otter Tail County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
8. Crann, Tom (2006-05-30). "A tour of Pelican Rapids". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
9. Martin, Lisa (2019-09-04). "Big bird: central coast plans world's largest pelican statue". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
10. Marohn, Kirsti (2023-01-08). "'Pelican Pete' takes a trip to make way for dam removal". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
11. Allen, Barbara (2019). Pelican. London: Reaktion Books. p. 99. ISBN   9781789141177.
12. Gebhard, David; Martinson, Tom (1977). A Guide to the Architecture of Minnesota. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 227. ISBN   9781452901015.
13. Betz, Katie (2018-08-05). "A Tour of Pelican Rapids". Wahpeton Daily News. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
14. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing" . Retrieved September 10, 2013.
15. "2020 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET".
16. "2016 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET".
17. "2012 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET".
18. "2008 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET".
19. "2004 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET".
20. "2000 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET".

External links

• City Website
• Pelican Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce