Owatonna, Minnesota

Steele County

27-49300

Owatonna is a city ( with a status of "City" ) and the administrative seat of Steele County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. In 2010, Owatonna had 25,599 inhabitants. The city is host to the annual held in August Steele County Free Fair.

• 6.1 National Farmers Bank
• 6.2 State School Museum

Geography

Interstate 35 and U.S. Highways 14 and 218 run through the city. With the Owatonna Degner Regional Airport is located in the northeast of the city limits, a small airfield.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.8 km ², of which 32.6 km ² of land and 0.2 km ² omitted ( = 0.55 %) to water. The oldest part of the city is located in a low-lying area on the eastern shore of the Straight River, south of Maple Creek. The city has spread in all directions and lies on both banks as well as on the ridge north of Maple Creek. In recent years, the city grew especially in the northeast, north and southeast.

On the southern edge of town is the Kaplan Woods is a nature reserve, which consists of a hardwood forest. Cinder Hill is a steep, about twenty meters high hill overlooking the Linn Avenue surmounted in the center. On the Straight River is a dam that was originally used to drive a mill and has since been retrofitted with a fish ladder.

History

Owatonna was first settled in 1853. The city was the seat of the 1883 State Fair, and later the County began here an exhibition, the Steele County Free Fair hold; Today, these are the largest independent event of its kind in Minnesota.

Economy

Owatonna is a commercial center for southern Minnesota. Federated Insurance is with around 1,500 employees is the largest employer, followed by Viracon. The two companies have their headquarters in the city. Other major employers are SPX Corporation, Jostens, Cabela's, Truth Hardware, ISD 761, Wenger Corporation. In addition, healthcare, hospitals Owatonna Clinic - Mayo Health Systems and Owatonna Hospital - Allina Hospitals And Clinics.

More recently, a number of retail and restaurant chains have settled in Owatonna.

Politics and Administration

Owatonna is administered by a mayor and a city council.

The city is located in the 26th Congressional District of Minnesota, at the state level Owatonna is part of the first constituency of Congress from Minnesota.

Education

Public schools

• Lincoln Elementary, Grades K-5
• McKinley Elementary, Grades K-5
• Washington Elementary, Grades K-5
• Wilson Elementary, Grades K-5
• Owatonna Junior High School, Grades 7-8
• Willow Creek Intermediate School, Grade 6
• Owatonna Senior High School, Grades 9-12

Private Schools

• El Shaddai School, Grades K -12
• Owatonna Christian School, Grades K -12
• St. Mary's Catholic School, Grades K-8

Higher Education

• Owatonna College and University Center Concordia University
• Crown College ( Minnesota)
• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Owatonna Community Education
• Riverland Community College
• Southwest Minnesota State University
• University of St. Thomas

Attractions

National Farmers Bank

Right in center of Owatonna is the building of the National Farmer's Bank, which was designed by Louis Sullivan in the style of " Prairie School of Architecture " and was completed in 1908. Among the features of the building include the gold leaf ornate arches, stained glass windows and the neo-Baroque style. It is entered in the National Register of Historic Places and is now a branch of the banking institution Wells Fargo.

State School Museum

The Minnesota State School for Dependent and Neglected Children was built in 1886. The school was a boarding school for orphans from the state that have been recorded and learned the value of drill, discipline and work. Animals that die in the asylum children were buried in the cemetery behind the school. The orphanage was closed in 1945 and the establishment now serves disabled children. 1974 bought the city administration building for use as office space. The facility was renamed West Hills and serves as the administrative center for the city, in which several non-profit organizations are housed, such as a senior citizens center, two day care centers or initiative Big Brothers / Big Sisters.

Demographic data

According to the census in 2010 lived in Owatonna 25,599 people in 10,068 households. The population density was 787.7 inhabitants per square kilometer. In the 10,068 households lived statistically 2.49 per person.

The racial the population was composed of 91.2 percent white, 3.8 percent African American, 0.3 percent Native American, 0.9 percent Asian and 2.2 percent from other ethnic groups; 1.5 percent were descended from two or more races. Regardless of ethnicity were 7.3 percent of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

26.9 percent of the population were under 18 years old, 59.3 percent were between 18 and 64 and 13.8 percent were 65 years or older. 51.2 percent of the population was female.

The median annual income for a household was $ 55,764. The per capita income was $ 26,330. 9.0 percent of the population lived below the poverty line.

Memorable people

• Mark H. Dunnell (1823-1904) - Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives - long lived in Owatonna, where he died
• Harvey H. Johnson (1808-1896) - Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives - long lived in Owatonna, where he died
• Arthur Fry ( born 1931 ) - Inventor ( post-it sticky notes ) and scientists - who was born in Owatonna
• EG Marshall (1914-1998) - Actor ( Juror # 3 in Twelve Angry Men The ) - Born and raised in Owatonna
• Adam Young, founder of the music project Owl City