The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1937-12-23
City's Population
Passes 5000 Mark
I22 NEW HOMES IN
REDWOOD FALLS
SINCE CENSUS

Although the demand for homes
is undated, houses and apart
ments for 122 new families have
been provided since the 1880 CEN
sus, indicating the city's popula-
ton has reached the 5000 mark,
survey completed by F. B. For
bes, city recorder, this week
shows.
In compiling the figures, deduc-
tons were made for several
homes which were torn down
during the period while in cases
where old homes were remodeled
to provide quarters for additional
families, only the added places
were included.
BY far the greater part of the
building has occurred In the last
three years as activity in the
construction industry was dull
from 1880 through 1884. The
major gain during that period oc-
Cured as families doubled up in
existing houses with a mininaum
of alteration if any. This increase
in homes was as much due to de-
preston lack of rent paying abil-
ity as to the shortage OF homes.
During 1880 records on file at
the recorders office indicate an
addition of only three homes al
though the doubling up proceed
ure had already begun, no records
being kept in such cases. The de-
preston in 1881 was becoming
more severe but the shortage of
houses nevertheless resulted in
new construction or remodeling
to make room for eight families.
Figures for 1882 and 1888 are
combined in Mr.. Forbes report
but they show gain of only sew
en- for the two years.
Boom Started in "a
BY 1884 the depression cloud
had cleared partially and provi-
sion was made for IL families
that year, four of which were In
an old home which was complete
ly remodeled. 1t was in the fall
of that year that the home-bulld-
ing boom of recent years COM
menced.
By a narrow margin, 1885 holds
the eight year record as residents
took advantage of low prices for
materials and labor during that
year. Twenty-Five families NOV
ed into new homes or completely
remodeled apartments during the
summer and fall of that year, the
majority of them into entirely
new dwellings.
Twenty-three homes were pro-
vided in 1886, most of them addi-
tons to the eastern section Of the
city although the tendency to re-
model homes into several family
dwellings also continued. The
total spent for homes that year
probably exceeded the figure for
the previous building season.
Commercial building hit its
peak in 1887 and had its affect on
labor costs while materials also
advanced to help hold the figure
for the year to 81 homes, some OF
which are still under construction.
This makes total of SO homes
in the eight year period but a
careful check of the town lists 80
places where changes were made
without obtaining building per-
mits or before the ordinance was
adopted, all of which are listed in
the recorders survey. From this
figure six homes are subtracted
which were RACED, most of them
for the bridge parkway project,
for net gain of 122. Only those
places still occupied by extra
families were considered.
On basis of three persons per
household, a population gain of
366 is indicated but careful check
ing indicates that the average is
nearer four per household. The
census figure for the city in 1880
was 2,552 which undoubtedly has
been boosted to 5000 by the pre-
sent time.
Conservatively figured, the city
has gained rot less than Is per
cent in eight years or nearly
twice the one per cent a year es-
/ innate generally considered nor
NAL. Most of the gain has been in
three years. This estimate is more
than supported by the increase in
school enrolment which is up Is
per cent in spite of the fact tina;
a large part of the district is out
side the city limits where the
population probably has varied
but little.