Bigfork, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Bigfork
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Minnesota
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Itasca
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:4.90
Area Land Km2:4.81
Area Water Km2:0.09
Area Total Sq Mi:1.89
Area Land Sq Mi:1.86
Area Water Sq Mi:0.03
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:400
Population Density Km2:83.09
Population Density Sq Mi:215.17
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:399
Elevation Ft:1309
Coordinates:47.7469°N -93.655°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:56628, 56639
Area Code:218
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:27-05698[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0655384[3]
Website:www.cityofbigfork.com

Bigfork is a city in Itasca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 400 at the 2020 census.[4] Scenic State Park is nearby.

Minnesota State Highway 38 serves as a main route in the community. State Highways 1 and 6 are nearby.

History

Bigfork originally began as a settlement when Damase "Uncle Tom" Neveaux built a log cabin on the Big Fork River, claiming the stand of pine there, and began logging activities. Though Neveaux reached the area in 1887, and the settlement began in 1892, officially, he was a squatter until the land was opened for settlement in 1900.[5]

By 1902, a post office was established,[6] and in 1906, a station was added to the Minneapolis and Rainy River Railway.

On January 17, 1907, less than a year after the railway stop was completed, Bigfork was incorporated as a village.[5] Bigfork Village Hall, built in 1936 with WPA funds, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.8sqmi, of which 1.77sqmi is land and 0.03sqmi is water.[8]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 446 people, 195 households, and 102 families living in the city. The population density was 252PD/sqmi. There were 241 housing units at an average density of 136.2/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.7% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 195 households, of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.7% were non-families. 42.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 29.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age in the city was 51.3 years. 17.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 17.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 34.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 469 people, 208 households, and 110 families living in the city.[10] The population density was 263.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 226 housing units at an average density of 127sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 97.65% White, 1.71% Native American, 0.21% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.

There were 208 households, out of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 42.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 16.8% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 31.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,167, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $32,083 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,455. About 6.0% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Television

ChannelCallsignAffiliationBrandingSubchannelsOwner
(Virtual)ChannelProgramming
13.1K23KZ-D
(WIRT Translator)
ABCWDIO13.2
13.3
EZ-TV, Inc.
21.1K21KY-D
(KQDS Translator)
FOXFOX 2121.2Antenna TVEZ-TV, Inc.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 24, 2022.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  3. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  4. Web site: Bigfork, Minnesota . May 31, 2024 . Census.
  5. Web site: Bigfork: When Dinner was Big Game . Northern Itasca Joint Powers Board . 2010 . 1 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726013841/http://www.edgeofthewilderness.org/tour/bfork1.htm . 26 July 2011 .
  6. Book: Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia . Warren Upham . 2001 . Minnesota Historical Society Press . 0-87351-396-7 . 260–261 . 2011-01-01.
  7. Web site: Existing Conditions Assessment and Preservation Plan for: Bigfork City Hall . https://web.archive.org/web/20170118054228/http://www.cityofbigfork.com/2012%20Architect%20Bigfork%20Report%20FINAL.pdf . 2017-01-18 . live . Faucher . Laura . 30 April 2005 . 17 January 2017.
  8. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . 2012-11-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . January 12, 2012 .
  9. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2012-11-13.
  10. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .