Olcott Park is an old, well known addition to Virginia, Minnesota

Virginia, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...

's city attractions.

The Park's History

Olcott Park was named after W. J. Olcott, an officer of the Great Northern Mining Company. In 1905, the company first leased the land to the city for $1 a year if the city would pay taxes on it. The city purchased the land in 1939 for $9,015.

Basic Description

The Olcott Park in Virginia, Minnesota is a 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) amount of land on the north side of town. It is bordered by 9th St. N and SMDC/Virginia Regional Medical Center on the north and the Calvary Cemetery on the west. On the east it is bordered by 9th Ave W, and a city museum. On the south, the park is bordered by Parkview Learning Center and some little-league baseball fields.

Along with a large playground area, the park also boasts a bandstand in its center where Virginia City Band performances take place in the summer. In the northern region of the park, a fountain still stands today that was built during the Great Depression

Great Depression

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...

. Also, a structure in the southern edge of the park still stands that once held baby monkeys and bear cubs at another time. The park also holds the Olcott Park Greenhouse

Olcott Park Greenhouse

The Olcott Park Greenhouse 4,500 square feet is a city-operated greenhouse located in the 40 acre Olcott Park at 9th Avenue W. and 7th Street N. in Virginia, Minnesota. It is open to the public year-round without charge....

, one of the town's major attractions.

See also

1. Virginia, Minnesota

Virginia, Minnesota

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,157 people, 4,333 households, and 2,270 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.1 people per square mile . There were 4,692 housing units at an average density of 249.1 per square mile...

2. Olcott Park Greenhouse

Olcott Park Greenhouse

The Olcott Park Greenhouse 4,500 square feet is a city-operated greenhouse located in the 40 acre Olcott Park at 9th Avenue W. and 7th Street N. in Virginia, Minnesota. It is open to the public year-round without charge....