Dodge Center, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 2,226 people, 824 households, and 588 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,173.8 people per square mile (452.3/km²). There were 859 housing units at an average density of 452.9 per square mile (174.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.13% White, 0.31% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 4.76% from other races
, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.29% of the population.
There were 824 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,453, and the median income for a family was $44,632. Males had a median income of $31,525 versus $24,485 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,858. About 8.0% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
, a manufacturer of ready-mixed concrete mixer trucks, garbage trucks, and related apparatus. McNeilus is a division of Oshkosh Corporation.
The city is located along the mainline of the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad
, a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific. This east-west line had been owned by the Chicago and North Western Railway
until the 1980s when DM&E was formed. Dodge Center also used to be on the Chicago Great Western mainline which ran south from St. Paul down through Iowa
and across to Chicago, Illinois. However, the CGW right-of-way has since been abandoned. There were at least three train stations built in the town over the years. Two of these still exist, though they have been repurposed.
's Works Progress Administration
program. An elementary school was added in 1958 and is now owned by a private entity. It houses apartments and some small businesses.
Dodge Center chose the DODGERS as its nickname and mascot. School colors were maroon and gold up until the 1930s, when the colors were changed to green and white. The first school annual, The Dodger Digest, was published in 1947. It later became known as the Centerite.
The 1952 Dodge Center Dodger football team is one of six Minnesota high school football teams to not allow a point in a season.
The city's school district combined with the towns of Claremont and West Concord in 1990 to form Triton Public Schools. Dodge Center is home to Triton Primary, Triton High School and Triton Middle School. The first commencement exerices were held in 1991.
Triton's school mascot is the Cobras. The school colors are maroon and gray. The annual yearbook is titled Triton Tradition and the first volume was published in 1991.
Triton, coached by Don Henderson, won the Minnesota State Football championship in 1994 (B Division), 2000 (AA Division) and in 2006 (AA Division). In 2006,Triton's football team won every game in the AA Division. The 2006 Cobras hold a Minnesota State High School League
Prep Bowl record for both the highest scoring team in a championship game (70 points), as well as total scoring game for both teams (91 points). Two members of the 1994 state championship team also hold individual Minnesota State High School League
Prep Bowl records. Kirk Midthun for Most Touchdowns Passing (6) and Judge Gisslen for Most Yards Pass Receptions (171 / 9 passes) and Most Touchdown Receptions (4). Source: http://www.mshsl.org Kirk Midthun was the Minnesota Player of the Year in 1995 and 1994 (a co-winner with Tim Rosga of Cretin Derham Hall).
The Triton athletic fields are named for former Dodge Center High School football coach, Wally Hitt.
Notable citizens=
Dodge Center is the reported hometown of Shirley Ardell Mason
, the multi-personality case described in the 1973 book "Sybil
" by Flora Rheta Schreiber
.
Dodge Center is the home of Dougy Brekke with one of the largest license plate collections in the world. He can quote any townsperson's license plate number at will and the dates tabs expire. http://www.licenseplates.cc/story.php?id=137
It is also the birthplace of astronomer Milton L. Humason
.
Census
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 2,226 people, 824 households, and 588 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 1,173.8 people per square mile (452.3/km²). There were 859 housing units at an average density of 452.9 per square mile (174.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.13% White, 0.31% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 4.76% 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 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.29% of the population.
There were 824 households out of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% 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, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,453, and the median income for a family was $44,632. Males had a median income of $31,525 versus $24,485 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 $16,858. About 8.0% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Industry
The largest employer in Dodge Center is McNeilusMcNeilus
McNeilus manufactures Concrete transport trucks, mobile and portable Concrete Batch Plants, and Refuse Collection vehicles in Dodge Center, Minnesota, where it is the largest employer....
, a manufacturer of ready-mixed concrete mixer trucks, garbage trucks, and related apparatus. McNeilus is a division of Oshkosh Corporation.
The city is located along the mainline of the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad
Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad
The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad is a Class II railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway operating across South Dakota and southern Minnesota in the northern plains of the United States...
, a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific. This east-west line had been owned by the Chicago and North Western Railway
Chicago and North Western Railway
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was a Class I railroad in the Midwest United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s...
until the 1980s when DM&E was formed. Dodge Center also used to be on the Chicago Great Western mainline which ran south from St. Paul down through Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and across to Chicago, Illinois. However, the CGW right-of-way has since been abandoned. There were at least three train stations built in the town over the years. Two of these still exist, though they have been repurposed.
Schools
Dodge Center High School held its first commencement exercises in 1884. A new brick building opened in the 1890s and was torn down in 1972. Its replacement building is still in use. A gymnasium/auditorium (still standing) was erected in 1938 as part of President Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
's Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
program. An elementary school was added in 1958 and is now owned by a private entity. It houses apartments and some small businesses.
Dodge Center chose the DODGERS as its nickname and mascot. School colors were maroon and gold up until the 1930s, when the colors were changed to green and white. The first school annual, The Dodger Digest, was published in 1947. It later became known as the Centerite.
The 1952 Dodge Center Dodger football team is one of six Minnesota high school football teams to not allow a point in a season.
The city's school district combined with the towns of Claremont and West Concord in 1990 to form Triton Public Schools. Dodge Center is home to Triton Primary, Triton High School and Triton Middle School. The first commencement exerices were held in 1991.
Triton's school mascot is the Cobras. The school colors are maroon and gray. The annual yearbook is titled Triton Tradition and the first volume was published in 1991.
Triton, coached by Don Henderson, won the Minnesota State Football championship in 1994 (B Division), 2000 (AA Division) and in 2006 (AA Division). In 2006,Triton's football team won every game in the AA Division. The 2006 Cobras hold a Minnesota State High School League
Minnesota State High School League
The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, non-profit association for the support and governance of interscholastic activities at high schools in Minnesota, United States. The association supports interscholastic athletics and fine arts programs for member schools...
Prep Bowl record for both the highest scoring team in a championship game (70 points), as well as total scoring game for both teams (91 points). Two members of the 1994 state championship team also hold individual Minnesota State High School League
Minnesota State High School League
The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, non-profit association for the support and governance of interscholastic activities at high schools in Minnesota, United States. The association supports interscholastic athletics and fine arts programs for member schools...
Prep Bowl records. Kirk Midthun for Most Touchdowns Passing (6) and Judge Gisslen for Most Yards Pass Receptions (171 / 9 passes) and Most Touchdown Receptions (4). Source: http://www.mshsl.org Kirk Midthun was the Minnesota Player of the Year in 1995 and 1994 (a co-winner with Tim Rosga of Cretin Derham Hall).
The Triton athletic fields are named for former Dodge Center High School football coach, Wally Hitt.
Notable citizens=
Dodge Center is the reported hometown of Shirley Ardell Mason
Shirley Ardell Mason
Shirley Ardell Mason was an American psychiatric patient and commercial artist who was reputed to have multiple personality disorder. Her life was fictionalized in 1973 in the book Sybil, and two films of the same name were made in 1976 and 2007...
, the multi-personality case described in the 1973 book "Sybil
Sybil (book)
Sybil is a 1973 book by Flora Rheta Schreiber about the treatment of Sybil Dorsett for dissociative identity disorder by her psychoanalyst, Cornelia B...
" by Flora Rheta Schreiber
Flora Rheta Schreiber
Flora Rheta Schreiber , an American journalist, was the author of the 1973 bestseller Sybil, the story of a woman who suffered from dissociative identity disorder....
.
Dodge Center is the home of Dougy Brekke with one of the largest license plate collections in the world. He can quote any townsperson's license plate number at will and the dates tabs expire. http://www.licenseplates.cc/story.php?id=137
It is also the birthplace of astronomer Milton L. Humason
Milton L. Humason
Milton Lasell Humason was an American astronomer. He was born in Dodge Center, Minnesota.He dropped out of school and had no formal education past the age of 14. Because he loved the mountains, and Mount Wilson in particular, he became a "mule skinner" taking materials and equipment up the...
.