Wadena

Wadena, Minnesota

Background information

First episode
A Trip to Yellowstone

Last episode
A Trip to Yellowstone

**Wadena** is a city in Otter Tail and Wadena counties in the State of Minnesota. It is about one hundred sixty miles northwest of the Minneapolis – Saint Paul metro area. The population was 4,088 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Wadena County.

History
The first permanent settlement at Wadena was made in 1871. The city is named after Chief Wadena, an Ojibwe Indian chief of the late 19th century in northwestern Minnesota. A post office has been in operation at Wadena since 1873. Wadena was incorporated in 1881. Four properties in Wadena are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Commercial Hotel built circa 1885, the Wadena Fire and City Hall built in 1912, the Northern Pacific Passenger Depot built in 1915, and the Peterson-Biddick Seed and Feed Company built 1916–1936.

2010 tornado
On June 17, 2010, Wadena was hit by an EF-4 tornado that cut a quarter-mile-wide path of destruction through the town. The Wadena tornado was part of the largest single day tornado outbreak in Minnesota state history, 48 tornados were recorded that day. The tornado that struck Wadena was over a mile wide at its peak, packed winds of up to 170 miles per hour, and was on the ground for about 10 miles. At least 232 homes were damaged in the city accounting for roughly 30% of homes in the city. Though no one in the town was killed 34 people were treated for injuries at local hospitals. The Community Center was damaged "beyond repair", and the high school was also severely damaged. Both were later torn down and rebuilt. The city continues to recover with roughly 20 lots abandoned throughout the city. City officials are encouraging rebuilding by offering tax free land incentives. The Wadena Tornado was covered extensively on the December 1, 2010, episode of the Discovery Channel series *Storm Chasers*.
In the aftermath of the tornado, students from the high school attended classes at the Wadena campus of Minnesota State Community and Technical College, at a school that was previously no longer in use in nearby Deer Creek (Deer Creek having consolidated with Wadena in 1991), and at the Wadena Elementary School. In order to accommodate the high school students, some early childhood classes at the Elementary School were further moved to Saint Anne's Catholic School. Outdoor athletics were largely unaffected, but home volleyball and basketball games were played in the Elementary School gymnasium.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.38 square miles (13.93 km2), all of it land.
U.S. Highways 10 and 71 and Minnesota State Highway 29 are three of the main routes in the city.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,088 people, 1,840 households, and 1,013 families living in the city. The population density was 759.9 inhabitants per square mile (293.4/km2). There were 2,010 housing units at an average density of 373.6 per square mile (144.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% White, 1.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 1,840 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.9% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the city was 42 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 23% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

Media
Radio stations
**FM radio*** 92.5 KXKK
* 94.5 KDLB
* 97.5 KDKK
* 94.7 KSKK
* 101.9 KQKK
* 102.5 KKWB-FM
* 105.9 KKWS

**AM radio*** 820 WBKK-AM
* 870 KPRM Classic Country
* 920 KWAD Classic Country
* 1070 KSKK Variety
* 1430 KNSP Classic Country
* 1570 KAKK

Television
Wadena is served by five local TV stations:
* KVLY-TV Ch. 11 NBC (Fargo)
* KCCW Ch. 12 CBS (Walker)
* KVRR Ch. 15 FOX (Fargo)
* KAWB Ch. 22 PBS (Brainerd)
* KSAX Ch. 42 ABC (Alexandria)

The local cable TV provider is Arvig Communication Systems.

Newspapers* Wadena Pioneer Journal

Arts and culture
With over 100 hand-painted murals decorating downtown buildings, Wadena depicts 1,000 years of Minnesota history known as the "Largest Puzzle in the World". The Alley Arts Committee beautified the alleys while creating an interesting tourist attraction. Over 40 artists worked together to finish the collection of 100 puzzle panels. Group guided tours are available along with a map at the train depot.
During the 2015 Christmas season, Wisconsin-based group Freedom From Religion threatened legal action against the city of Wadena over the display of a city-owned nativity in a city park. To avoid a lawsuit, the city sold the nativity to a private buyer who was able to feature it in an even more prominent, privately owned location. As a result of the actions of the Freedom From Religion, many nativity scenes sprang up around the city, estimated to be over 1,000 in total. The former site of the city-owned nativity was rented out a day at a time by individuals who were legally able to display a nativity. The story captured the attention of national media outlets.

Appearances
*TylerTales*
*Live-Action Series** **Season 1** - A Trip to Yellowstone