Pelican Rapids, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Pelican Rapids
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Minnesota
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Otter Tail
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Brent E Frazier
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1872
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:December 10, 1883
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:6.96
Area Land Km2:6.64
Area Water Km2:0.32
Area Total Sq Mi:2.69
Area Land Sq Mi:2.56
Area Water Sq Mi:0.13
Population As Of:2020
Population Est:2602
Pop Est As Of:2022
Population Total:2577
Population Density Km2:388.21
Population Density Sq Mi:1005.46
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:–6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:–5
Elevation M:395
Elevation Ft:1296
Coordinates:46.57°N -96.0861°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:56572
Area Code:218
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:27-50164
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2396173

Pelican Rapids is a city in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,577 at the 2020 census.[2]

History

Pelican Rapids was platted in 1872, and named for the rapids on the Pelican River.[3] A post office has been in operation at Pelican Rapids since 1872.[4] Pelican Rapids was incorporated in 1882.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.63sqmi, of which 2.53sqmi is land and 0.1sqmi is water.[5]

U.S. Highway 59 and Minnesota State Highway 108 are two of the main routes in the city.

Culture

Local landmarks include "Pelican Pete", a sculpture constructed beside the river in 1957 that is claimed to be the world's largest statue of a pelican.[6] [7] [8] It stands 15.4feet tall and is constructed from concrete and plaster.[9] A survey of the state's architecture published by the University of Minnesota Press characterizes Pelican Pete as "An effective programmatic advertisement for the town, just eye-catching and outrageous enough to attract considerable attention."[10]

In 2007, for the fiftieth anniversary of Pelican Pete's installation, the town launched a painted statue public art project wherein about three dozen smaller, 4feet pelican sculptures were placed around town and decorated by local artists.[9] [11]

The O.A.E. Blyberg House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,464 people, 904 households, and 569 families living in the city. The population density was 973.9PD/sqmi. There were 984 housing units at an average density of 388.9/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 74.1% White, 5.8% African American, 0.9% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.7% Pacific Islander, 11.6% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.5% of the population.

There were 904 households, of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.42.

The median age in the city was 35.4 years. 28.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 21.1% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,374 people, 884 households, and 558 families living in the city. The population density was 905.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 962 housing units at an average density of 367sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 60.43% White, 0.72% African American, 1.93% Native American, 1.58% Asian, 1.04% Pacific Islander, 6.76% from other races, and 4.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.59% of the population.

There were 884 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,232, and the median income for a family was $36,970. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $20,645 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,699. About 9.5% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

+ 2016 Precinct Results Spreadsheet[12]
+ 2012 Precinct Results Spreadsheet[13] + 2008 Precinct Results Spreadsheet[14] + 2004 Precinct Results Spreadsheet[15] + 2000 Precinct Results Spreadsheet[16]
YearRepublicanDemocraticThird parties
202047.8% 43750.2% 4592.0% 19
201644.8% 36648.3% 3956.9% 56
201242.7% 34654.9% 4452.4% 19
200841.8% 36254.6% 4723.6% 31
200460.5% 53138.2% 3351.3% 12
200054.5% 46338.4% 3267.1% 60

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 24, 2022.
  2. Web site: Explore Census Data . . January 1, 2024.
  3. Book: Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. 1920. 397.
  4. Web site: Otter Tail County. Jim Forte Postal History. July 28, 2015.
  5. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010. United States Census Bureau. November 13, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt. July 2, 2012.
  6. Web site: A tour of Pelican Rapids . Minnesota Public Radio . Tom . Crann . March 13, 2023 . May 30, 2006.
  7. Web site: Big bird: central coast plans world's largest pelican statue . The Guardian . September 4, 2019 . March 13, 2023 . Lisa . Martin.
  8. Web site: 'Pelican Pete' takes a trip to make way for dam removal . Minnesota Public Radio . January 8, 2023 . March 13, 2023 . Kirsti . Marohn.
  9. Book: Barbara . Allen . Pelican . Reaktion Books . London . 2019 . 99. 9781789141177 .
  10. Book: David . Gebhard . Tom . Martinson . A Guide to the Architecture of Minnesota . University of Minnesota Press . Minneapolis . 1977 . 227. 9781452901015 .
  11. News: A Tour of Pelican Rapids . Katie . Betz . Wahpeton Daily News . August 5, 2018 . March 13, 2023.
  12. Web site: 2016 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET.
  13. Web site: 2012 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET.
  14. Web site: 2008 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET.
  15. Web site: 2004 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET.
  16. Web site: 2000 PRECINCT RESULTS SPREADSHEET.