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Litchfield, Minnesota facts for kids

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Litchfield
The Litchfield Commercial Historic District.
The Litchfield Commercial Historic District.
Nickname(s): 
Litch
Location of the city of Litchfieldwithin Meeker Countyin the state of Minnesota
Location of the city of Litchfield
within Meeker County
in the state of Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Meeker
Area
 • Total 5.47 sq mi (14.17 km2)
 • Land 4.50 sq mi (11.64 km2)
 • Water 0.98 sq mi (2.53 km2)
Elevation
1,129 ft (344 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 6,574
 • Estimate 
(2019)
6,650
 • Density 1,479.42/sq mi (571.21/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55355
Area code(s) 320
FIPS code 27-37448
GNIS feature ID 0646743
Website www.ci.litchfield.mn.us

Litchfield is a city in and the county seat of Meeker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,726 at the 2010 census.

History

Litchfield was platted in 1869 when the railroad was extended to that point. The city is named after the family English capitalist E. Darwin Litchfield, a major stockholder of the Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad. A post office has been in operation at Litchfield since 1869. Litchfield was incorporated in 1872.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.40 square miles (13.99 km2), of which 4.43 square miles (11.47 km2) is land and 0.97 square miles (2.51 km2) is water.

U.S. Highway 12 and Minnesota State Highways 22 and 24 are three of the main routes in the city.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 353
1880 1,250 254.1%
1890 1,899 51.9%
1900 2,280 20.1%
1910 2,333 2.3%
1920 2,790 19.6%
1930 2,880 3.2%
1940 3,920 36.1%
1950 4,608 17.6%
1960 5,078 10.2%
1970 5,262 3.6%
1980 5,904 12.2%
1990 6,041 2.3%
2000 6,562 8.6%
2010 6,574 0.2%
2019 (est.) 6,650 1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,726 people, 2,747 households, and 1,749 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,518.3 inhabitants per square mile (586.2/km2). There were 2,930 housing units at an average density of 661.4 per square mile (255.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.8% White, 0.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 2.6% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.2% of the population.

There were 2,747 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the city was 39.6 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 18.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

Notable people

  • Bernie Bierman (1894-1977) - Minnesota Gophers football coach, won five national championships, seven Big Ten titles.
  • Florence Riddick Boys (1873-1963), Indiana journalist (first woman editor in the country with a syndicated column, suffragist - County Chair of the suffrage group "The Woman's Franchise", first Woman's Publicity Director to write publicly for the Republican National Committee, Indiana State Probation Officer, born in Litchfield
  • John Carlson, Jr. – football player, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals
  • Herbert W. Chilstrom - Presiding Bishop (1987–95) of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  • John W. Foss - US Army (Ret.) four-star general and former commander of Training and Doctrine Command
  • Peter E. Hanson (1845–1914) - politician and businessman
  • William A. Nolen (1928-1986) - surgeon and author, wrote syndicated medical advice column that appeared in McCall's magazine for many years; his best-known book, The Making of a Surgeon, was written in 1970; appeared multiple times on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show
  • Wally Pikal (1927-2017) - entertainer and musician, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame inductee, resident of Litchfield for more than 30 years; appeared on The Tonight Show, Mike Douglas Show and Bozo's Circus, played with such notables as Frank Sinatra Jr, Conway Twitty, and Victor Borge
  • Michael Shaw - Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Mid-America Music Hall of Fame, first open heart surgery survivor, operation by Drs. Lillihei and Lewis
  • Gale Sondergaard (1899–1985) - Academy Award-winning actress 1936 (first Best Supporting Actress award); appeared in more than 40 Hollywood films, numerous TV shows, radio, Chautauqua circuit and many Broadway plays
  • Dan Sperry - magician; signature style of magic is called "Shock Illusion," performing cutting-edge magic incorporating razor blades, needles, broken glass, voodoo and industrial shredders.
  • Ann D. Montgomery, Federal judge of United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.

See also

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

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