Akeley, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Akeley is a city in Hubbard County
, Minnesota
, USA
. The population was 432 at the 2010 census.
Minnesota State Highways 34
and 64
are two of the main arterial routes in the community.
was 277.7 people per square mile (107.5/km²). There were 234 housing units at an average density of 157.7 per square mile (61.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.60% White, 2.67% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.24% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population. 47.4% were of German
, 13.5% Norwegian
, 6.2% French
, 5.9% Irish
, 5.3% Finnish and 5.3% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 179 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples
living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households was made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.65.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,719, and the median income for a family was $33,611. Males had a median income of $26,023 versus $19,063 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,749. About 17.2% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.8% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
magnate T. B. Walker
and Healy C. Akeley, who formed the Red River Lumber Company in 1893. General settlement of Akeley began in 1895. After Walker built a sawmill in 1902, Akeley's development skyrocketed. The mill was once the largest in the state of Minnesota. Thomas B. Walker had intended to build the mill in what would later become Walker, Minnesota
, but chose Akeley instead because of his disapproval of the bars and brothels in the Walker area.
Because of the mill, and the train depot built in 1899, Akeley became a boomtown
. Lumberjacks came and went on every freight train. The population swelled from 2,000 to over 3, 500 between 1907 and 1908. Now the town has fewer than 500 residents.
Akeley has been celebrating "Paul Bunyan Days" since 1955, and the town hosts a 25 feet (7.6 m) tall statue of a kneeling Paul Bunyan
next to a giant cradle. http://www.roadtripamerica.com/roadside/Minnesota-Akeley-Paul-Bunyan.htmhttp://www.akeleyminnesota.com/news_events/PBD06.htm Akeley is also home to the Paul Bunyan Historical Museum. http://www.akeleyminnesota.com/organizations/museum/museum.htm
Hubbard County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,376 people, 7,435 households, and 5,345 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 12,229 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 432 at the 2010 census.
Minnesota State Highways 34
Minnesota State Highway 34
Minnesota State Highway 34 is a highway in west-central and north-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 9 in Barnesville and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with State Highways 200 and 371 in Walker.The route is concurrent with U.S...
and 64
Minnesota State Highway 64
Minnesota State Highway 64 is a highway in north-central Minnesota, which runs from its intersection with State Highway 210 in Motley and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 200 near Laporte and Kabekona....
are two of the main arterial routes in the community.
Demographics
As of the Census of 2000, there were 412 people, 179 households, and 119 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 277.7 people per square mile (107.5/km²). There were 234 housing units at an average density of 157.7 per square mile (61.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.60% White, 2.67% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.24% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population. 47.4% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 13.5% Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
, 6.2% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, 5.9% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 5.3% Finnish and 5.3% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 179 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households was made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.65.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 86.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,719, and the median income for a family was $33,611. Males had a median income of $26,023 versus $19,063 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,749. About 17.2% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.8% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
History
The city of Akeley was incorporated on December 30, 1916. It was largely developed by a partnership between lumberLumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
magnate T. B. Walker
T. B. Walker
Thomas Barlow Walker was a highly successful American businessperson who acquired timber in Minnesota and California and became an art collector. Walker founded the Minneapolis Public Library. He was among the 10 wealthiest men in the world in 1923. He built two company towns, one of which his son...
and Healy C. Akeley, who formed the Red River Lumber Company in 1893. General settlement of Akeley began in 1895. After Walker built a sawmill in 1902, Akeley's development skyrocketed. The mill was once the largest in the state of Minnesota. Thomas B. Walker had intended to build the mill in what would later become Walker, Minnesota
Walker, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,069 people, 449 households, and 258 families residing in the city. The population density was 734.3 people per square mile . There were 517 housing units at an average density of 355.1 per square mile...
, but chose Akeley instead because of his disapproval of the bars and brothels in the Walker area.
Because of the mill, and the train depot built in 1899, Akeley became a boomtown
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
. Lumberjacks came and went on every freight train. The population swelled from 2,000 to over 3, 500 between 1907 and 1908. Now the town has fewer than 500 residents.
Akeley has been celebrating "Paul Bunyan Days" since 1955, and the town hosts a 25 feet (7.6 m) tall statue of a kneeling Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan
Paul Bunyan is a lumberjack figure in North American folklore and tradition. One of the most famous and popular North American folklore heroes, he is usually described as a giant as well as a lumberjack of unusual skill, and is often accompanied in stories by his animal companion, Babe the Blue...
next to a giant cradle. http://www.roadtripamerica.com/roadside/Minnesota-Akeley-Paul-Bunyan.htmhttp://www.akeleyminnesota.com/news_events/PBD06.htm Akeley is also home to the Paul Bunyan Historical Museum. http://www.akeleyminnesota.com/organizations/museum/museum.htm