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Scandia
Gammelgården Museum with Dala horse
Gammelgården Museum with Dala horse
Motto(s): 
"Dedicated To Rural Community Values"
Location of the city of Scandia within Washington County, Minnesota
Location of the city of Scandia
within Washington County, Minnesota
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Washington
Area
 • Total 39.85 sq mi (103.22 km2)
 • Land 34.85 sq mi (90.27 km2)
 • Water 5.00 sq mi (12.95 km2)
Elevation
876 ft (267 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 3,936
 • Estimate 
(2019)
4,176
 • Density 119.82/sq mi (46.26/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55073
Area code(s) 651
FIPS code 27-58900
GNIS feature ID 2396548
Website ci.scandia.mn.us

Scandia is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,936 at the 2010 census. Scandia is 25 miles northeast of Saint Paul, Minnesota, and is part of the Twin Cities Metro Area.

History

As evidenced by the town's name, Scandia has a rich Scandinavian heritage. Scandia was the site of what is believed to have been the first Swedish immigrant settlement in the State of Minnesota. In 1850, the first log cabin was built on the shores of Hay Lake. The first sanctuary of Elim Lutheran Church was built in 1856 on a site near Hay Lake.

After many years as New Scandia Township, Scandia became a city on January 1, 2007, to allay concerns that the community could be annexed by the nearby city of Forest Lake. The city is served by a weekly newspaper, the Country Messenger.

Points of interest

  • Gammelgarden Museum is owned by Elim Lutheran Church and since 1972 has preserved, presented, and promoted Swedish immigrant heritage and history, with events such as Spelmansstämma, "Midsommarafton", and "Dalapalooza". The latter is a reference to the Dalecarlian horses the city has erected to welcome visitors, in much the same way Saint Paul, Minnesota uses Peanuts characters.
  • Hay Lake School was constructed in 1896. This was rural school district #2, organized in Washington County in 1855. After several years of holding school in local homes, the school was moved into the old Elim Lutheran Church building. The school used that structure, now a part of the Gammelgarden complex, until this brick school building was built. The school was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1970.
  • The Erickson Log House Museum centers on the log house constructed in 1868 by Johannes Erickson and his 13-year-old son, Alfred. In 1904, Alfred Erickson constructed a new home and the old log home became at various times a granary, a garage, and a playhouse. In 1974, the Washington County Historical Society purchased the old log house and moved it one and a half miles to its present site. The Erickson Log House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1976.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.82 square miles (103.13 km2); 34.80 square miles (90.13 km2) is land and 5.02 square miles (13.00 km2) is water. Minnesota State Highways 95 and 97 are two of the main routes in the community.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
2010 3,936
2019 (est.) 4,176 6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,936 people, 1,499 households, and 1,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 113.1 inhabitants per square mile (43.7/km2). There were 1,704 housing units at an average density of 49.0 per square mile (18.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

Of Scandia's 1,499 households, 30.1% included children under 18, 69.9% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 21.4% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 46.9. 22.7% of residents were under 18; 5.5% were between 18 and 24; 18.4% were between 25 and 44; 38.9% were between 45 and 64; and 14.5% were over 64. The gender makeup of the city was 51.2% male and 48.8% female.

Notable person

See also

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

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