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Belle Plaine, Minnesota facts for kids

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Belle Plaine
Motto(s): 
"A City That Works"
Location of the city of Belle Plainewithin Scott County, Minnesota
Location of the city of Belle Plaine
within Scott County, Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Scott
Area
 • Total 6.13 sq mi (15.88 km2)
 • Land 5.93 sq mi (15.36 km2)
 • Water 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2)
Elevation
856 ft (261 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 6,661
 • Estimate 
(2019)
7,185
 • Density 1,211.64/sq mi (467.79/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
56011
Area code(s) 952
FIPS code 27-04834
GNIS feature ID 0639891
Website www.belleplainemn.com

Belle Plaine is a city in Scott County, Minnesota, United States, about 40 minutes southwest of Minneapolis. The population was 6,661 at the 2010 census.

History

Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court Judge Andrew G. Chatfield selected the townsite of Belle Plaine in 1853 while traveling from Mendota to Traverse des Sioux to hold court, as it was a halfway marker on his usual path of travel. Judge Chatfield chose to name the townsite Belle Plaine, which is French for "Beautiful Prairie." Even today the city has select areas of protected, natural prairie grasses.

From 1868 to 1974, Belle Plaine was incorporated as a borough, the only one in Minnesota. In 1974, it became a city.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.11 square miles (15.82 km2); 5.91 square miles (15.31 km2) is land and 0.20 square miles (0.52 km2) is water.

U.S. Highway 169 and Minnesota State Highway 25 are two of the main routes in the community. The U.S. Highway 169 corridor travels from the city of Virginia, Minnesota, along the western edge of Mille Lacs Lake, through the western suburbs of Minneapolis and continues south through Belle Plaine, Mankato, and then into Iowa. It is a central route of travel and provides easy access to the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota.

Belle Plaine is located along the Minnesota River, which flows northeast through the town. A fairly newly constructed bridge crosses on the north side of town via Minnesota State Highway 25.

Belle Plaine is located within the Minnesota River Valley, an area of considerable width in which a great river once ran after the receding of the glaciers that left Minnesota with so many lakes. The ancient river's banks are discernible as the slopes of the valley rise up on either side of the town.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 497
1880 629 26.6%
1890 814 29.4%
1900 1,121 37.7%
1910 1,204 7.4%
1920 1,251 3.9%
1930 1,236 −1.2%
1940 1,407 13.8%
1950 1,708 21.4%
1960 1,931 13.1%
1970 2,328 20.6%
1980 2,754 18.3%
1990 3,149 14.3%
2000 3,789 20.3%
2010 6,661 75.8%
2019 (est.) 7,185 7.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
2012 Estimate

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,661 people, 2,362 households, and 1,680 families living in the city. The population density was 1,127.1 inhabitants per square mile (435.2/km2). There were 2,501 housing units at an average density of 423.2 per square mile (163.4/km2). The city's racial makeup was 94.2% White, 1.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 2,362 households, of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.9% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.22.

The median age in the city was 32.5 years. 30% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 34.1% were from 25 to 44; 18.8% were from 45 to 64; and 10.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

Places to Worship

  • Trinity Lutheran
  • St. John's Lutheran
  • River Rock Church
  • Our Lady of the Prairie



Education

Belle Plaine Public Schools are part of the Belle Plaine Public School District. The district educates nearly 1500 students in grades Kindergarten through 12. There are two elementary schools, with Chatfield Elementary holding preschool and kindergarten through second grade, and Oakcrest Elementary holding third through sixth grade. Seventh through 12th grades are held in Belle Plaine Junior/Senior High School. Graduating classes from BPHS usually range from 100 to 120 students.

Trinity Lutheran School is a Pre-K-8 grade school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Belle Plaine.

Notable people

  • Beth Riesgraf, television actress
  • Ryan Dungey, four-time AMA Supercross and four-time AMA Motocross Champion

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Belle Plaine (Minnesota) para niños

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