Stillwater, Minnesota

Stillwater, Minnesota
Stillwater is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Washington County. It is in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, on the west bank of the St. Croix River, across from Houlton, Wisconsin. Stillwater's population was 19,394 at the 2020 census. Stillwater is often called "the birthplace of Minnesota" due to its role in the establishment of the state.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of ; is land and is water. State Highways 36, 95, and 96 are three of the community's main routes.
Climate
Stillwater receives an average annual snowfall of . Average annual rainfall is . Each year has an average of 14 days above .
Name
The name "Stillwater" was proposed in 1843 by John McKusick, who built the settlement's first sawmill. McKusick was later a state senator. The name derives from the St. Croix River's calmness near the town center. It is also believed that McKusick had fond memories of Stillwater, Maine, where he had migrated from.
Long before European Americans arrived, the area was occupied by various indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The Dakota people called it Hoġan Wanḳe Kin, a term that encompassed not only the St. Croix River but also Lake St. Croix and a large sandbar across from present-day Afton. The name, meaning "the place where the fish lies", derived from a legend in which a man was transformed into a giant fish (a catfish or a pike, depending on the version) and then into a sandbar. In English, Hoġan Wanḳe Kin has been spelled variously as Hogan-wahnkay-kin, Hogan-wauke-kin and Hogan-wan-kee.
The Ojibwe name for the place was Giigoonzh-agomod, with the slightly different meaning of "where the fish floats". The Ojibwe origin legend is very similar, also involving a man transformed into a giant fish and found floating in the lake. He was ultimately transformed into "a piece of land crossing the lake there" (i.e., the sandbar). In English renderings, Giigo onh-zhagomod has been spelled as Kee-go-shagewa-minnie and Kegan-Shaw-Ga-Nut.
History
In the 1830s, European Americans were pressing west into this territory. The U.S. government tried to arrange for their settlement in Native American lands, and on July 29 and September 29, 1837, it signed treaties with the local Ojibwe and Dakota nations to allow such settlement in the St. Croix Valley.
The settlement was founded on October 26, 1843, when four partners formed the Stillwater Lumber Company. Settlers were drawn by the area's abundant lumber and river traffic resulting from the industry. This was 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).
Stillwater is often called the birthplace of Minnesota. 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. Originally part of the Wisconsin Territory, Minnesota officially became a separate territory in 1849 and, after population increases, a state in 1858.
As more evidence of Stillwater's importance at the time, the territorial convention selected three leading Minnesota cities as locations for three important public institutions: Saint Paul was designated as the capital; the University of Minnesota was established at Minneapolis; and Stillwater became the site of the territory's first prison. The Minnesota Territorial Prison (later Minnesota State Prison) was opened in 1853. The prison held Cole, Jim, and Bob Younger, three of the Younger brothers of the James–Younger Gang.
Lumbering was the predominant industry in the St. Croix River Valley in the second half of the 19th century. For many years, lumbermen sent large rafts of logs down the St. Croix. They were collected at the St. Croix Boom Site two miles upstream of Stillwater, and processed in Stillwater's many sawmills. Steamboats were used most widely on the river from 1860 to 1890. A few still operate as entertainment venues today.
David Swain operated a shipyard and engine works in Stillwater. Excursion steamboats, such as the Verne Swain and the Capitol, began to operate in the early 20th century, taking passengers to other cities along the river.
During the American Civil War, Stillwater sent men of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Company B and the 8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment Company C to fight for the Union.<ref>[http://thisweekinthecivilwar.com/?p=337 From the Journal of Sgt. Sam Bloomer 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Part I']</ref>
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 invention. In 1923, Nelson's Ice Cream parlor was established.
In 1931, construction of the Stillwater lift bridge over the St. Croix River was completed at a final cost of $460,174, which was split equally between Minnesota and Wisconsin. The lift bridge is one of the city's most iconic and visible local monuments. It was part of Minnesota State Highway 36 until 2017, when it closed to vehicle traffic. In 2020 it became part of a five-mile trail loop running through Stillwater and Houlton, Wisconsin.
In 1996 the city of Stillwater entered into an agreement with Stillwater Township to annex land. In 2015 the Stillwater city council approved the annexing the last of the land covered by the agreement. The city's western border is now Manning Avenue (County Road 15). The northern border is now mostly, but not entirely, Minnesota Highway 96.
Demographics
Historic census data
1870
White: 4,106
Colored: 18
Indian: 1
Total: 4,125
1880
White: 9,020
Colored: 22
Chinese or Japanese: 2
Total: 9,046
1890
White: 11,209
Colored: 18
Civilized Indian: 1
Total: 11,260
1910
White: 10,131
Born in U.S. to two U.S.-born parents: 2,447
Born in U.S. to one or two foreign-born parents: 4,910
Born outside U.S. 2,774
African American: 56
Chinese, Japanese, or Indian: 5
Total: 10,199
1920
White: 10,137
Born in U.S. to two U.S.-born parents: 2,384
Born in U.S. to one or two foreign-born parents: 3,683
Born outside U.S. 1,664
African American: 4
Total: 7,735
1940
White: 7,012
Other: 1
1950
White: 99.9%
Other: 0.1%
1960
White: 99.9%
Other: 0.1%
1970
White: 10,159
African American: 1
Indian: 12
Asian: 9
Japanese: 3
Filipino: 6
Other: 6
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of . 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.
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.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 18,225 people, 7,075 households, and 4,885 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 7,576 housing units at an average density of . 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.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 19,394 people living in the city.
The racial makeup of the city was 89.9% White alone (95.4% White alone or in combination), 1.7% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 5.6% from two or more races. Hispanics of any race were 3.2% of the population.
According to the American Community Survey estimates for 2016-2020, the median income for a household in the city was $91,947, and the median income for a family was $109,151. Male full-time workers had a median income of $73,986 versus $67,005 for female workers. The per capita income for the city was $48,553. About 3.3% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over. Of the population age 25 and over, 96.4% were high school graduates or higher and 46.6% had a bachelor's degree or higher.
Education
Stillwater has a mix of public district, public charter, and private schools at the primary and secondary levels. The city is served by the Stillwater Area Public Schools system and the nearest high school is Stillwater Area High School in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota.
Notable people
Thomas J. Abercrombie, photographer, first journalist to reach South Pole, Born in Stillwater
Ed Ackerson, musician (Polara, The 27 Various) and record producer (The Jayhawks, The Replacements, Motion City Soundtrack), born and attended high school in Stillwater
Brian Arnfelt, NFL defensive end, attended high school in Stillwater
Michele Bachmann, U.S. Representative, lived in Stillwater
Ben Blankenship, member of Team USA Track and Field who set the world record in the distance medley
Robert Brown, Minnesota state senator and educator, born in Stillwater
Noah Cates, professional ice hockey player for the Philadelphia Flyers, born in Stillwater
James B. Clark, director and Oscar-nominated film editor, born in Stillwater
Jessie Diggins, Olympic gold medalist in cross-country skiing, attended high school in Stillwater
Nate Dwyer, NFL linebacker, born in Stillwater
Chris Engler, NBA player, born in Stillwater
Otto Folin, biochemist, educated in Stillwater
Sam Gorski and Niko Pueringer, creators of Corridor Digital
Sean Graham, retired professional track athlete and current head track and cross country coach at American University
Nicole Hause, skateboarder for REAL Skateboards and Nike SB, originally from Stillwater
Patrick Hicks, novelist, poet, and essayist, grew up in Stillwater
Phil Housley, Hockey Hall of Fame player and NHL coach, coached in Stillwater
Sherri Jarvis, murder victim
Todd Kalis, NFL guard, born in Stillwater
Jessica Lange, actress, resided in Stillwater
Frankie Lee, musician, born in Stillwater
Chris Maddock, stand-up comedian
Jonah Marais, member of boy band Why Don't We
Denis McDonough, 11th Secretary of Veterans Affairs and White House Chief of Staff for President Obama, born in Stillwater
Harriet McPherson, Minnesota state legislator, farmer, and educator
Bob Nelson, NFL linebacker, born in Stillwater
Socrates Nelson, Minnesota state senator, resided in Stillwater
Karl G. Neumeier, Minnesota state senator and lawyer, born in Stillwater
Glen Perkins, pitcher for Minnesota Twins, born in Stillwater
Sam Shepard, playwright and actor, resided in Stillwater
Zach Sobiech, musical artist who wrote the #1 hit “Clouds” after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma; inspiration for the Disney film Clouds''
Rich Sommer, actor, raised in Stillwater
LaVyrle Spencer, a New York Times bestselling author, lived in Stillwater
Alpheus Beede Stickney, a famous railroad builder, lived in Stillwater, born in Maine
C. Gardner Sullivan, screenwriter and producer, born in Stillwater
John B. Taft, farmer and Minnesota state legislator, resided in Stillwater
Butch Thompson, jazz pianist and clarinetist, went to high school in Stillwater
Thomas Vanek, retired NHL winger for Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild and others, resides in Stillwater
See also
List of cities in Minnesota
History of Minnesota
References
External links
Visitor's Bureau Website
City website
Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
1837 establishments in Wisconsin Territory
Cities in Minnesota
Cities in Washington County, Minnesota
County seats in Minnesota
Logging communities in the United States