Richmond, Minnesota

Not to be confused with Richmond Township, Winona County, Minnesota.

Richmond
City
Richmond's Water Tower, City Library, City Hall and Fire Station
Motto:  "On The Horseshoe Chain Of Lakes" [1]
Location of Richmond within Stearns County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 45°27′17″N94°30′49″W / 45.45472°N 94.51361°W / 45.45472; -94.51361
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Stearns
Area [2]
• Total	1.21 sq mi (3.14 km2)
• Land	1.19 sq mi (3.09 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation [3]	1,119 ft (341 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,475
• Density	1,237.42/sq mi (477.59/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56368
Area code	320
FIPS code	27-54268 [4]
GNIS feature ID	2396367 [3]
Website	www.ci.richmond.mn.us

Richmond is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,422 at the 2010 census. ^[5] Richmond is part of the St. Cloud, Minnesota metropolitan area. ^[6]

History

Richmond was platted in 1856 by Reuben Richardson, ^[7] a farmer from Sauk Rapids who later served in Minnesota Legislature. ^[8] The name "Richmond" may come from the surname of an early settler, ^[7] the surname of Richardson's wife, or an early surveyor. ^[9] The original plat was a seven block by seven block square piece of land. Two years later, land owned by G.H. Brauning (also spelled Bruening), on the eastern side of the town, was added to Richmond's plat. ^{[10] [11]} The town was incorporated in 1890, but went by the name Torah, because there was another town in southeastern Minnesota named Richmond. ^[9] The same year of its incorporation, a Great Northern Railway station was built. ^[12] The town's post office and railroad station was named Torah until 1909, when the other Richmond's post office closed. Following this, the name changed to Richmond, a name that locals identified with. ^[9]

The pontoon boat was invented in Richmond in the 1950s by Ambrose Weeres, who was involved in the milling business, and Edwin Torborg, a farmer who manufactured feed mixers. ^[9]

Geography and transportation

Richmond's eastern end, featuring a water tower with the town's motto

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.05 square miles (2.72 km²); 1.03 square miles (2.67 km²) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²) is water. ^[13]

Richmond serves as the northern terminus for State Highway 22, with the route ending when it connects with State Highway 23. ^[14] Richmond is located about 15 miles west of Interstate 94 following State Highway 23. ^[15] Glacial Lakes State Trail also runs through Richmond and connects it through different towns all the way to Willmar. ^[16]

The town's nickname, "On the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes", is a nod to a geographical feature of the town. The town is home to a group of over a dozen lakes along the Sauk River, with the largest being Horseshoe Lake, hence the name "Horseshoe Chain of Lakes". ^[17]

Richmond is located in an area with many outcrops of granite. ^[18] The area is known as "Granite Country", as the material has been mined there for over 100 years and is home to around twenty different quarries. ^[19]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	600		—
1910	563		−6.2%
1920	651		15.6%
1930	603		−7.4%
1940	634		5.1%
1950	700		10.4%
1960	751		7.3%
1970	866		15.3%
1980	867		0.1%
1990	965		11.3%
2000	1,213		25.7%
2010	1,422		17.2%
2020	1,475		3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [20]

2010 census

As of the census ^[21] of 2010, there were 1,422 people, 583 households, and 392 families living in the city. The population density was 1,380.6 inhabitants per square mile (533.1/km²). There were 627 housing units at an average density of 608.7 per square mile (235.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.0% White, 0.1% African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 1,903 households, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 39.4 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.2% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, there were 1,213 people, 483 households, and 943 families living in the city. The population density was 2,421.5 inhabitants per square mile (934.9/km²). There were 1,098 housing units at an average density of 583.6 per square mile (225.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.98% White, 0.02% African American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% from other races, and 0.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.33% of the population.

There were 483 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,400, and the median income for a family was $44,464. Males had a median income of $29,315 versus $21,219 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,995. About 4.4% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Bernard Brinkman, politician; former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives ^[22]
• Joseph Gimse, politician; former member of the Minnesota Senate ^[23]

References

1. "City of Richmond, Minnesota". City of Richmond, Minnesota. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Richmond, Minnesota
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "TOTAL POPULATION". Census.gov . U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved October 13, 2020.
6. "METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS AND COMPONENTS, December 2006, WITH CODES". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 26, 2007. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
7. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p.  526.
8. "Richardson, Reuben M. "R.M."". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Minnesota Legislature . Retrieved October 15, 2020.
9. Rajkowski, Frank (July 11, 2015). "Richmond looks back on 125 years (and more)". St. Cloud Times . Retrieved October 9, 2020.
10. Foote, Charles M., 1849-1899. "(Cartographic) 1896 Plat Book of Stearns County, Minnesota,(1896)". Stearns History Museum. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
11. Mitchell, William Bell (1915). History of Stearns County, Minnesota. H.C. Cooper, Jr. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
12. "Stearns County". Minnesota Railroad Stations Past and Present. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
13. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
14. Riner, Steve. "Details of Routes 1-25". Unofficial Minnesota Highways Page. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
15. "Trunk Highway Log Point Listing" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. September 6, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 14, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
16. "Glacial Lakes State Trail". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources . Retrieved October 13, 2020.
17. "Horseshoe Chain of Lakes, Minnesota, USA". Lake Lubbers. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
18. "Common Minnesota Rocks". University of Minnesota . Retrieved October 13, 2020.
19. Rosier, Jessica Leigh (October 2, 2010). "These days, Granite Country in central Minnesota is hard at work attracting pleasure seekers". St. Paul Pioneer Press . Retrieved October 13, 2020.
20. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
21. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2012-11-13.
22. "Legislator Record - Brinkman, Bernard J. "Bernie, Brinky, B.J."". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
23. "Legislator Record - Gimse, Joseph R. "Joe"". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved October 9, 2020.

External links

• City of Richmond, Minnesota