St. Michael, Minnesota

St. Michael
City
The old Church of St. Michael pre-dates the city and serves as its namesake
Motto:  "A Great Place To Grow" [1]
Location of the city of St. Michael within Wright County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 45°12′N93°40′W / 45.200°N 93.667°W / 45.200; -93.667
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Wright
Incorporated	February 22, 1890
Government
•  Mayor	Keith Wettschreck [2]
• Council	Scott Pedersen Joe Hagerty Ryan Gleason Tom Hamilton
Area [3]
• Total	36.37 sq mi (94.20 km2)
• Land	32.67 sq mi (84.61 km2)
• Water	3.70 sq mi (9.59 km2)
Elevation	965 ft (294 m)
Population  (2020) [4]
• Total	18,235
• Estimate  (2021) [5]	19,001
• Density	558.17/sq mi (215.51/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code	763
FIPS code	27-57346 [6]
GNIS feature ID	0650903 [7]
Website	stmichaelmn.gov

St. Michael is a city in eastern Wright County, northwest of the Minneapolis-St Paul "Twin Cities" Metropolitan Area. The population was 18,235 at the 2020 census. ^[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 36.42 square miles (94.33 km²); 32.73 square miles (84.77 km²) is land and 3.69 square miles (9.56 km²) is water. ^[8]

The Crow River flows along the city's eastern boundary, separating it from the city of Rogers in Hennepin County. It also borders Monticello Township, Buffalo Township, Rockford Township, and the cities of Otsego and Albertville, all in Wright County, as well as the city of Hanover, which is within both Wright and Hennepin Counties.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Interstate 94, US Highway 52, and Minnesota State Highway 241 are three of the main routes in the city.

History

A post office called St. Michael has been in operation since 1858. ^[9] The city took its name from St. Michael Roman Catholic Church. ^[10] St. Michael was incorporated in 1890. ^[10] The Corner Bar, a restaurant in service since 1897, was on 10 Main Street South downtown; it shut down on January 9, 2020, and was razed on August 14, 2020. A complete history of the city, Faith, Family and Farming, was written by Bob Zahler. ^[11] The history is also tracked by the St. Michael Historical Society, whose mission is "to collect, preserve and share the history of the City of St. Michael". ^[12]

Education

St. Michael is part of St. Michael–Albertville Independent School District#885. The St. Michael–Albertville school colors are royal blue and gold and the mascot is the Knight. The district consists of seven schools and two alternative academies. The seven schools include St. Michael-Albertville High School (grades 9–12), St. Michael–Albertville Middle School East (grades 5–8), St. Michael–Albertville Middle School West (grades 5–8), St. Michael Elementary School (grades 1–4), Fieldstone Elementary School (grades 1–4), Big Woods Elementary School (grades 1–4), and Albertville Primary School (Kindergarten). The two academies are Page Academy (middle school alternative) and the Knights' Academy (high school alternative). There is also a private Catholic school in St. Michael for grades K–8, including preschool.

A new high school opened for the 2009–10 school year, and a dedication ceremony took place on September 20, 2009. The previous high school was converted into a new middle school (Middle School West). The current middle school has been renamed Middle School East.^{[ citation needed ]}

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	305		—
1910	401		31.5%
1920	406		1.2%
1930	385		−5.2%
1940	389		1.0%
1950	487		25.2%
1960	707		45.2%
1970	1,023		44.7%
1980	1,519		48.5%
1990	5,411		256.2%
2000	9,099		68.2%
2010	16,399		80.2%
2020	18,235		11.2%
2021 (est.)	19,001	[5]	4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [13] 2020 Census [4]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 16,399 people, 5,239 households, and 4,367 families living in the city. The population density was 501.0 inhabitants per square mile (193.4/km²). There were 5,482 housing units at an average density of 167.5 per square mile (64.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.3% White, 1.9% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 5,239 households, of which 53.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.1% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 16.6% were non-families. 12.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.43.

The median age in the city was 33.4 years. 34.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.7% were from 25 to 44; 21.9% were from 45 to 64; and 6.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,099 people, 2,926 households, and 2,437 families living in the city. The population density was 279.4 inhabitants per square mile (107.9/km²). There were 3,058 housing units at an average density of 93.9 per square mile (36.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.46% White, 0.03% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population. 49.9% were of German, 8.7% Norwegian, 7.0% Irish, 6.9% United States or American and 5.7% Swedish ancestry.

There were 2,926 households, out of which 51.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.1% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.9% were non-families. 11.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.40.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.6% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 37.7% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males

The median income for a household in the city was $69,903, and the median income for a family was $74,236. Males had a median income of $46,488 versus $32,402 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,742. About 1.4% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Presidential election results

Precinct General Election Results ^[14]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2020	59.5%6,611	38.1% 4,227	2.4% 265
2016	61.4%5,673	29.9% 2,763	8.7% 804
2012	63.0%5,741	35.0% 3,195	2.0% 182
2008	61.3%5,289	37.3% 3,214	1.4% 120
2004	65.7%5,146	33.5% 2,624	0.8% 59
2000	59.6%2,845	35.3% 1,685	5.1% 244
1996	45.2%1,395	40.4% 1,247	14.4% 448
1992	35.2%467	32.4% 430	32.4% 430
1988	52.2%533	47.8% 489	0.0% 0
1984	57.7%492	42.3% 361	0.0% 0
1980	47.0%358	46.9% 357	6.1% 46
1976	44.6% 290	51.1%332	4.3% 28
1972	42.9% 216	49.1%247	8.0% 40
1968	36.7% 142	54.8%212	8.5% 33
1964	41.8% 145	57.9%201	0.3% 1
1960	33.6% 105	66.4%208	0.0% 0

Notable people

• Dick Bremer – broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins; resides in St. Michael. ^[15]
• Chad Gable – professional wrestler for the WWE.
• Father Paul Benno Marx – Roman Catholic priest and Benedictine monk, family sociologist, writer, and pro-life movement leader. Born in St. Michael.
• Robert O. McEachern (1927-2008) - schoolteacher and Minnesota state legislator. Lived in St. Michael and was the mayor of St. Michael ^[16]
• Mitch Potter – track and field athlete, competed at the University of Minnesota and with Team USA. Born in St. Michael and current resident ^[17]
• Matt Spaeth – tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears. St. Michael–Albertville High School alumnus. Born in St. Michael. ^[18]
• Caleb Truax – professional boxer; born in Osseo and resides in St. Michael. ^[19]

References

1. "City of St. Michael Minnesota". City of St. Michael Minnesota. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
2. "Mayor & City Council".
3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
4. "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 19, 2022.
5. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". United States Census Bureau. June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
7. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
9. "Wright County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
10. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 589.
11. "Saint Michael Book" . Retrieved April 25, 2017.
12. "St. Michael History". St. Michael Historical Society. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
13. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing" . Retrieved November 25, 2014.
14. "Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - Election Results". Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
15. "Broadcasters". MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
16. Cohen, Ben (February 20, 2008). "Robert McEachern, a 'most colorful' legislator". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
17. "MITCH POTTER". USA Track&Field. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
18. "Matt Spaeth". Pro-Football-Reference.Com. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
19. "St. Michael's Truax loses boxing title defense". hometownsource.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

External links

• City of St. Michael website
• City of St. Michael Summer Festival website
• St. Michael Historical Society