Granite Falls, Minnesota

Granite Falls is a city in Chippewa and Yellow Medicine counties in the State of Minnesota. The population was 2,897 at the 2010 census.[6] It is the county seat of Yellow Medicine County.[7] The Andrew John Volstead House, a National Historic Landmark, is located in Granite Falls.

Granite Falls
City
Prentice Street in downtown Granite Falls in 2007
Location of Granite Falls
within Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 44°48′38″N 95°32′36″W
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountiesChippewa, Yellow Medicine
Area
 • Total3.75 sq mi (9.72 km2)
 • Land3.52 sq mi (9.11 km2)
 • Water0.24 sq mi (0.61 km2)
Elevation
919 ft (280 m)
Population
 • Total2,897
 • Estimate 
(2018)[3]
2,721
 • Density777.37/sq mi (300.18/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
56241
Area code(s)320
FIPS code27-25280[4]
GNIS feature ID0644347[5]
WebsiteCity of Granite Falls
The Yellow Medicine County Courthouse in 2007

History

Granite Falls was platted in 1872.[8] The city was named for deposits of granite rock in the area.[9] A post office has been in operation at Granite Falls since 1870.[10] Granite Falls was incorporated as a city in 1889.[8]

2000 tornado

On July 25, 2000, the city of Granite Falls and Yellow Medicine County were hit by a powerful tornado. The tornado first touched down in rural parts of the county west-northwest of Granite Falls, hitting the city at 6:10 pm. After tearing through the residential sections of town, the tornado lifted at approximately 6:25PM after being on the ground for over nine miles. One person was killed, more than a dozen were injured, and the town and surrounding area suffered millions of dollars in property damage.[11]

While the damage in Granite Falls was generally limited to that of F2 and F3 damage, the extent of the damage at the corner of 9th Avenue and 14th Street caused the National Weather Service to classify it as an F4 tornado.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.82 square miles (9.89 km2); 3.59 square miles (9.30 km2) is land and 0.23 square miles (0.60 km2) is water.[12]

U.S. Highway 212 and Minnesota State Highways 23 and 67 are three of the main routes in the city.

Climate

Granite Falls, along with the rest of Minnesota, has a humid continental climate[13] with significant differences between seasons. With a July mean temperature of 22.2 °C (72.0 °F) Granite Falls just falls into the hot-summer zone of the Köppen classification of the humid continental climate regime.[14] Winters are cold and dry influenced by arctic air masses affecting it through its continental position, while summers are influenced by humid subtropical air masses bringing hot temperatures and significant rainfall. Transitional periods are very short, since only April and October are between 0 °C (32 °F) and 10 °C (50 °F) in daily mean temperatures, with May–September being clearly above and November–March averaging below freezing.[14] The middle three months in each of those cycles are also clearly warmer and colder, respectively, than the months at the beginning or at the end of transitional periods. That is in turn a typical feature of continental climates.

Climate data for Granite Falls
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) −4.6
(23.7)		 −1.9
(28.6)		 4.4
(39.9)		 14.2
(57.6)		 21.6
(70.9)		 26.4
(79.5)		 29.2
(84.6)		 27.7
(81.9)		 22.9
(73.2)		 15.2
(59.4)		 5.4
(41.7)		 −3.3
(26.1)		 13.2
(55.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) −10.8
(12.6)		 −8.1
(17.4)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 7.3
(45.1)		 14.4
(57.9)		 19.6
(67.3)		 22.2
(72.0)		 20.9
(69.6)		 15.6
(60.1)		 8.1
(46.6)		 −0.4
(31.3)		 −8.6
(16.5)		 6.7
(44.1)
Average low °C (°F) −17.1
(1.2)		 −14.2
(6.4)		 −6.7
(19.9)		 0.5
(32.9)		 7.3
(45.1)		 12.8
(55.0)		 15.3
(59.5)		 14.1
(57.4)		 8.1
(46.6)		 0.9
(33.6)		 −6.2
(20.8)		 −13.9
(7.0)		 0.2
(32.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 17.8
(0.70)		 17.8
(0.70)		 33.0
(1.30)		 61.0
(2.40)		 76.2
(3.00)		 91.4
(3.60)		 76.2
(3.00)		 83.8
(3.30)		 83.8
(3.30)		 61.0
(2.40)		 35.6
(1.40)		 17.8
(0.70)		 655.3
(25.80)
Source: [15]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880578—
189080038.4%
19001,21451.8%
19101,45419.8%
19201,61110.8%
19301,79111.2%
19402,38833.3%
19502,5115.2%
19602,7288.6%
19703,22518.2%
19803,4517.0%
19903,083−10.7%
20003,070−0.4%
20102,897−5.6%
Est. 20182,721[3]−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
2013 Estimate[17]
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880174—
U.S. Census for East Granite Falls[18]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 2,897 people in 1,282 households, including 747 families, in the city. The population density was 807.0 inhabitants per square mile (311.6/km2). There were 1,417 housing units at an average density of 394.7 per square mile (152.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.9% White, 0.6% African American, 5.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.7%.[2]

Of the 1,282 households 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.7% were non-families. 37.2% of households were one person and 17.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age was 43 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.3% were from 25 to 44; 26.9% were from 45 to 64; and 20.7% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 3,070 people in 1,344 households, including 806 families, in the city. The population density was 890.5 people per square mile (343.6/km²). There were 1,472 housing units at an average density of 427.0 per square mile (164.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.35% White, 0.07% African American, 5.70% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.42% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15%.[4]

Of the 1,344 households 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 35.0% of households were one person and 18.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.

The median household income was $32,031 and the median family income was $45,536. Males had a median income of $32,905 versus $22,957 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,356. About 6.6% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Cultural references

Media

Television
Channel Callsign Affiliation Branding Subchannels Owner
(Virtual) Channel Programming
2.1 K35DK-D
(KTCA Translator)		 PBS TPT 2 2.2
2.4		 Minnesota Channel
PBS Kids		 Minnesota Valley TV Improvement Corporation
4.1 K14OL-D CBS WCCO 4 4.2
4.4
14.1
14.2
14.3
14.4
14.5
18.1
 Start TV
Youtoo America
MVTV
Retro TV
Rev'n
Family
Faith
Laff		 Minnesota Valley TV Improvement Corporation
5.1 K24CS-D
(KSTP Translator)		 ABC 5 Eyewitness News 5.7 Heroes & Icons Minnesota Valley TV Improvement Corporation
5.2 K36OK-D
(KSTC Translator)		 Ind. 45 TV 5.3
5.4
5.6		 Me-TV
Antenna TV
This TV		 Minnesota Valley TV Improvement Corporation
10.1 K33OS-D
(KWCM Translator)		 PBS Pioneer PBS 10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5		 Create
Minnesota Channel
World
PBS Kids		 Minnesota Valley TV Improvement Corporation
11.1 K16CP-D
(KARE Translator)		 NBC KARE 11 11.2
11.3
11.4		 Court TV
Justice Network
Quest		 Minnesota Valley TV Improvement Corporation
22.1 K22DO-D Action 22.2
22.3
22.4
22.5		 Heartland
Biz TV
AMG TV
Grit		 Minnesota Valley TV Improvement Corporation
23.1 K19LX-D
(WUCW Translator)		 CW CW 23 23.2
23.3
23.4		 Comet
Charge!
TBD		 Minnesota Valley TV Improvement Corporation
41.1 K32DR-D
(KPXM Translator)		 ION ION 41.2
41.3
41.4
41.5
41.6		 Qubo
ION Life
ION Shop
QVC
HSN		 Minnesota Valley TV Improvement Corporation

References
  1. "2017 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jan 3, 2019.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  7. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  8. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 594.
  9. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 141.
  10. "Yellow Medicine County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  11. "Granite Falls Tornado: July 25, 2000 - Minnesota DNR". www.dnr.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
  12. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  13. "Granite Falls, Minnesota Climate Summary". Weatherbase. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  14. "Granite Falls, Minnesota Temperature Averages". Weatherbase. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  15. "Granite Falls, Minnesota". Weatherbase. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  16. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  17. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
  18. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2019.

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