Cokato, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Cokato is a city in Wright County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 2,694 at the 2010 census.
, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all of it land.
U.S. Route 12
serves as a main route in the city.
of 2000, there were 2,727 people, 990 households, and 663 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,125.8 people per square mile (822.6/km²). There were 1,035 housing units at an average density of 806.8 per square mile (312.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.81% White, 0.15% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races
, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.68% of the population. 29.5% were of German
, 24.2% Finnish, 15.3% Swedish and 9.8% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 990 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% 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 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,613, and the median income for a family was $51,645. Males had a median income of $35,362 versus $21,484 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,149. About 7.1% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
, New Hampshire
and Maine
. Soon after that European immigrants, predominantly from Finland
and Sweden
, but also from Norway
, Germany
, Poland
, and Bohemia
, arrived and settled the area.
. The museum is a is a local history museum to dedicated to chronicling the story of the people of the city of Cokato and the surrounding townships in southwestern Wright County
. The Akerlund Studio is a restored photography studio and home of Gust Akerlund, who operated the studio during the early twentieth century.
Cokato hosts the Cokato Corn Carnival annually during the second week of August in Peterson Park next to Cokato Elementary. The highlight of the festival is the serving of free corn-on-the-cob, along with a parade, midway and carnival rides, musical entertainment, the Miss Cokato coronation, a cash prize drawing and other events.
, winner of season one of HGTV Design Star and the host of Color Splash with David Bromstad, was born in Cokato.
Wright County, Minnesota
Wright County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1855. As of 2010, the population was 124,700. Its county seat is Buffalo.-History:...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,694 at the 2010 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all of it land.
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 or US 12 is an east–west United States highway, running from Grays Harbor on the Pacific Ocean, in the state of Washington, to downtown Detroit, for almost . As a thoroughfare, it has mostly been supplanted by I-90 and I-94, but remains an important road for local travel.The...
serves as a main route in the city.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,727 people, 990 households, and 663 families residing in the city. The population density
Population 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 2,125.8 people per square mile (822.6/km²). There were 1,035 housing units at an average density of 806.8 per square mile (312.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.81% White, 0.15% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.25% 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...
, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.68% of the population. 29.5% 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....
, 24.2% Finnish, 15.3% Swedish and 9.8% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 990 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% 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, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% 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 3.33.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,613, and the median income for a family was $51,645. Males had a median income of $35,362 versus $21,484 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 $17,149. About 7.1% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.
History
The first settlers came to the Cokato area in 1858. Early settlers were speculators from New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. Soon after that European immigrants, predominantly from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, but also from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, and Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, arrived and settled the area.
Culture
The city of Cokato is home to the Cokato Museum & Gust Akerlund StudioCokato Museum & Gust Akerlund Studio
Cokato Museum & Gust Akerlund Studio is a local history museum in Cokato, Minnesota, which is dedicated to chronicling the story of the people of the city of Cokato and the surrounding townships in southwestern Wright County. There are two buildings that comprise the facility.The first is the...
. The museum is a is a local history museum to dedicated to chronicling the story of the people of the city of Cokato and the surrounding townships in southwestern Wright County
Wright County, Minnesota
Wright County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1855. As of 2010, the population was 124,700. Its county seat is Buffalo.-History:...
. The Akerlund Studio is a restored photography studio and home of Gust Akerlund, who operated the studio during the early twentieth century.
Cokato hosts the Cokato Corn Carnival annually during the second week of August in Peterson Park next to Cokato Elementary. The highlight of the festival is the serving of free corn-on-the-cob, along with a parade, midway and carnival rides, musical entertainment, the Miss Cokato coronation, a cash prize drawing and other events.
Notable natives & residents
David BromstadDavid Bromstad
David Reed Bromstad is an American designer and television personality. In 2006, he became the winner of the debut season of HGTV Design Star...
, winner of season one of HGTV Design Star and the host of Color Splash with David Bromstad, was born in Cokato.