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Byron, Minnesota facts for kids

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There are also two Byron Townships in Minnesota.
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Byron
Motto(s): 
"Where Neighbors Become Family"
Location of Byron, Minnesota
Location of Byron, Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Olmsted
Incorporated 1873
Area
 • Total 3.03 sq mi (7.84 km2)
 • Land 3.03 sq mi (7.84 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,257 ft (383 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,312
 • Density 1,862.90/sq mi (719.19/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55920
Area code(s) 507
FIPS code 27-09154
GNIS feature ID 0640721
Website [1]

Byron is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States, approximately five miles (8 km) west of Rochester on U.S. Route 14. It is surrounded by Kalmar Township. The population was 6,312 at the 2020 census.

Local industries are in the form of farm services and printing. A grain elevator is situated next to the rail line that runs through town, which is owned by the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad. Schmidt Printing (a subsidiary of Taylor Corporation) is another major company in town. Byron is also a bedroom community for nearby Rochester.

History

Byron was platted in 1864. The city was named after Port Byron, New York by a settler from that place. A post office called Byron has been in operation since 1868. Byron was incorporated in 1873.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.91 square miles (7.54 km2), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 222
1890 291 31.1%
1900 347 19.2%
1910 272 −21.6%
1920 302 11.0%
1930 323 7.0%
1940 341 5.6%
1950 385 12.9%
1960 660 71.4%
1970 1,419 115.0%
1980 1,715 20.9%
1990 2,441 42.3%
2000 3,500 43.4%
2010 4,914 40.4%
2020 6,312 28.4%

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,914 people, 1,796 households, and 1,366 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,688.7 inhabitants per square mile (652.0/km2). There were 1,891 housing units at an average density of 649.8 per square mile (250.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% White, 0.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 1,796 households, of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 23.9% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.6% 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 3.15.

The median age in the city was 33.1 years. 31.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.8% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 7.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

Transportation

A commuter bus service to Rochester is operated by Rochester City Lines and has three trips daily through Byron each day. Two of those three go directly to a park-and-ride lot on the eastern edge of town, while the third zigzags through the city to pick up riders.

The DM&E rail line was originally built by the Winona and St. Peter Railroad, which reached west through town to neighboring Kasson in 1865. The station was west of what is now Byron Avenue, and was rebuilt in 1883. The Chicago and North Western Railway gained control of the Winona and St. Peter a few years after the line reached Byron. The C&NW operated the line until the 1980s, when it was spun off to create the DM&E.

Parks and recreation

Parks

One of the major parks in the county, Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo, is 3.5 miles north of town. The zoo has dozens of animals from thirty different native species, including a number of birds, a mountain lion, wolves, otters, and some bison.

Within Byron, there are several city parks as well as a pool which operates in the summer.

Golf

Byron is home to two golf courses. Somerby Golf Club and Community is a private golf club and community, located on the north side of the city. Links of Byron [2] is on the south side of Byron, and is a 9-hole, executive length public golf course. The Links of Byron was closed in 2015.

See also

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

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