Scandia, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Scandia
Settlement Type:City
Motto:"Dedicated To Rural Community Values"
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Minnesota
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Washington
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:103.22
Area Land Km2:90.27
Area Water Km2:12.95
Area Total Sq Mi:39.85
Area Land Sq Mi:34.85
Area Water Sq Mi:5.00
Population As Of:2020
Population Est:3963
Pop Est As Of:2021
Population Total:3984
Population Density Km2:44.14
Population Density Sq Mi:114.31
Timezone:CST
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:1040
Coordinates:45.2536°N -92.8058°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:55073
Area Code:651
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:27-58900[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2396548

Scandia is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,984 at the 2020 census.[3] Scandia is 25 miles northeast of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

History

As evidenced by the town's name, Scandia has a rich Scandinavian heritage.[4] It is the site of what is believed to have been Minnesota's first Swedish immigrant settlement. In 1850, the first log cabin was built on the shores of Hay Lake. The first sanctuary of Elim Lutheran Church was built in 1856 on a site near Hay Lake.[5] [6]

After many years as New Scandia Township, Scandia became a city on January 1, 2007, to allay concerns that the community could be annexed by the nearby city of Forest Lake. The city is served by a weekly newspaper, the Country Messenger.[7]

Points of interest

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 39.82sqmi; 34.8sqmi is land and 5.02sqmi is water.[10] Scandia is halfway between Stillwater and Taylors Falls along the St. Croix River. It is close to William O'Brien State Park.[11] State Highways 95 and 97 are two of the main routes in the community.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,936 people, 1,499 households, and 1,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 113.1PD/sqmi. There were 1,704 housing units at an average density of 49/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

Of Scandia's 1,499 households, 30.1% included children under 18, 69.9% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 21.4% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 46.9. 22.7% of residents were under 18; 5.5% were between 18 and 24; 18.4% were between 25 and 44; 38.9% were between 45 and 64; and 14.5% were over 64. The gender makeup of the city was 51.2% male and 48.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,692 people, 1,294 households, and 1,075 families residing in the township. The population density was 102.7sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,389 housing units at an average density of 38.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 97.86% White, 0.24% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 1,294 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.7% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.9% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $68,036, and the median income for a family was $76,389. Males had a median income of $45,298 versus $33,333 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,399. About 2.0% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 0.6% of those age 65 or over.

In popular culture

The fifth season of the FX television series Fargo is partially set in Scandia.[12] [13]

See also

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. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  3. Web site: Explore Census Data . . June 17, 2022.
  4. Book: Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. 1920. Minnesota Historical Society. 570.
  5. http://www.scandiamn.com/ Scandia Community Website
  6. 'First Swedish Town in State to Celebrate 75th Birthday Tuesday' . The Minneapolis Daily Star. June 20, 1925 .
  7. http://www.countrymessenger.com/ Country Messenger
  8. http://www.wchsmn.org/museums/scandia/ Hay Lake School (Washington County Historical Society)
  9. http://www.wchsmn.org/museums/scandia/ Erickson Log House Museum (Washington County Historical Society)
  10. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010. United States Census Bureau. November 13, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt. January 25, 2012.
  11. Web site: Divine . Mary . 'Swedes, bikes and wedding barns: Scandia makes tourism pitch'. St. Paul Pioneer Press. June 1, 2019 . June 8, 2019.
  12. Web site: Croot . James . 2023-11-21 . Fargo: New blood ensures this crime anthology series is as addictive as ever . 2024-01-05 . Stuff . en.
  13. Web site: Halter . Nick . November 23, 2023 . FX's "Fargo" is back where it belongs . January 5, 2024 . Axios.