Faribault, Minnesota
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| Faribault, Minnesota | |||
| |||
| Nickname: ""Flambo" or "Faribo"" | |||
| Motto: "City of the Move" | |||
| Location in Rice County and the state of Minnesota. | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Minnesota | ||
| Counties | Rice | ||
| Mayor | Charles Ackman | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 12.9 mi² - 33.3km² km² | ||
| - Land | 12.7mi² mi² - 32.9km² km² | ||
| - Water | 0.2mi² mi² - 0.5km² km² | ||
| Elevation | .. m | ||
| Population | |||
| - City (2000) | 20,818 | ||
| - Density | 1.644.8mi² mi² - 634.9km²/km² | ||
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) | ||
| Website: http://www.faribault.org | |||
Faribault is a city in Rice County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 20,818 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rice County6.
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[edit] History
Faribault is regarded as one of the most historic communities in Minnesota, with settlement and commercial activity predating Minnesota’s establishment as a U.S. Territory.
Prior to 1745, the area was primarily occupied by the Wahpekute band of Dakotah. Shortly thereafter, the tribe was driven south after several clashes with the Ojibwe over territory.
The city’s namesake, Alexander Faribault, was the son of a French-Canadian fur trader and a woman of the Dakotah tribe. He is credited with fueling most of the early settlement activity in the area beginning in 1826, when he established a fur trading post on the banks of the Cannon River. By 1834, the trading post had grown in popularity and been relocated to the Straight River, one mile upstream of its junction with the Cannon River, the site of modern-day Faribault. The young Alexander Faribault used his knowledge of Dakotah language and culture to improve relations with the displaced Wahpekute and even helped the tribe to resettle in the area. This relationship was instrumental in ensuring the success of the trading post and allowing safe travel to the area for settlers.
The aptly-named Alexander Faribault House was built in 1853 by Alexander Faribault at a cost of $4,000. The house is considered the oldest framed structure in the area, and still stands in its original location near the southeastern edge of Faribault’s historic downtown district.
The years that followed the construction of this first building brought unprecedented growth, development, and economic prosperity for the young settlement. Spurred by the completion of the area’s first steam-powered sawmill in early 1854, the year that followed would bring Faribault from a sleepy settlement of 20 buildings to a bustling town with more than 250 buildings. Historians attribute Faribault’s impressive growth during this period to a number of important milestones which arrived between 1855 and 1856, including the creation of new roads connecting to other settlements and trading posts in Iowa and Minnesota Territory, the new availability of mail service, and the rapid construction of schools and churches.
The City of Faribault was platted in 1855 and granted a home-rule charter in 1872.
[edit] Additional Historical Resources
- Faribault Heritage Preservation Commission
- Preserving Faribault’s Past
- Faribault Lives and Times
- Faribault, Our Community
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.3 km² (12.9 mi²). 32.8 km² (12.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.56%) is water.
The confluence of the Straight River and the Cannon River is located within city limits. Sakatah Lake State Park and Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park are nearby.
Faribault County, Minnesota, roughly 100 miles to the southwest, is unrelated to the city of Faribault.
Interstate 35 runs along the western edge of town and currently there are three exits. This fact, at first blush, does not seem too unique as standard truck stops, various restaurants and motels serve passing motorists. However, prior to completion of I-35 traffic was routed directly through town which generated significant revenue to many retailers that literally had a major highway running right past their doors. In approximately 1975, Interstate 35 was finally completed and all traffic finally started to move around (and not through) Faribault. On that same corridor through town, the White Sands Swimming Pool stood elegantly for over ten years (1964-1977), was the social epicenter for the tanned Faribault youth. Currently, only weeds and abandoned infrastructure remain where Minnesota's largest outdoor swimming pool once stood.
[edit] Demographics
The racial makeup of Faribault was almost exclusively white until about 1985, when Hispanic and Somali immigrants and their families began to settle in the area. These groups were drawn by the availabilitiy of employment to unskilled workers, and the relative absence of crime compared to larger cities. By 2000, there were churches and businesses catering to each of these racial groups.
As of the census² of 2000, there were 20,818 people, 7,472 households, and 4,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 634.9/km² (1,644.8/mi²). There were 7,668 housing units at an average density of 233.9/km² (605.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.87% White, 2.69% African American, 0.67% Native American, 1.83% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.33% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.90% of the population.
There were 7,472 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 106.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,865, and the median income for a family was $49,662. Males had a median income of $32,404 versus $24,046 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,610. About 5.8% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Economy
Faribault has the usual gamut of small-town retail and service shops. Employers include a typical assortment of light manufacturing offerings including a turkey packing plant, a plastic extrusion factory, vegetable canneries, and a can manufacturing factory. Recently, Jim & Joe's Clothiers closed after 125+ years of service. A recent news article relates a story of a long-time merchant who was discouraged, observing the looming death of small-town retailing. He espouses causes including the arrival of big-box retailers, the internet, the lack of customer loyalty, and the rise of casual dressing. [1] The building is in structural disrepair, but a new owner is remodeling the building, and promising to give a much-needed facelift to this Central Avenue block.
[edit] Politics
Faribault is located in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented by John Kline, a Republican.
[edit] Notable Institutions
[edit] Education
The Minnesota State Academies for the Deaf and for the Blind, including the State Library for the Blind, are located in the southeast part of the city above the Straight River.
On the bluffs overlooking the Straight River east of downtown of Faribault is Shattuck-Saint Mary's School (formerly Shattuck School (college prep for boys, grade 7-12), St. Mary's (college prep for girls, grade 7-12). Shattuck was originally an Episcopal military school, but evolved into more non-secular directions in the later 1970's. One enters Shattuck by a drives through the stone arch which frames the stone buildings comprising the original campus. The most notable Shattuck attendee was likely Marlon Brando. In his autobiography, Songs My Mother Taught Me, he spoke glowingly of his classmates but was critical of the school administration. After being expelled prior to graduation for removing the clapper from the main bell (never proven), he received a letter from all his classmates in which they sent him their collective regards. The letter was one of only a few possessions that he appeared to appreciate throughout his life and it was framed and prominently displayed at his house.
Faribault Public Schools, Faribault Public School website
[edit] Other Institutions
The Thomas Scott Buckham Memorial Library is the city library.
The Faribault Correctional Facility is a state prison located on the campus of a former mental hospital.
[edit] Prominent Individuals
Herbert Sellner was the inventor of the Tilt-A-Whirl carnival ride. As of 2006, the rides were still manufactured in Faribault.
Henry Benjamin Whipple was the first Episcopal bishop in Minnesota. He was an advocate for clemency for Dakota prisoners in the wake of the Sioux Uprising (also known as the Dakota War or Dakota Conflict) in 1862. He is buried beneath the altar of the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour in Faribault, the oldest cathedral in Minnesota.
Bruce Smith was the 1941 Heisman trophy winner from the University of Minnesota.
Stephen Chatman, a noted Canadian composer, was born in Faribault in 1950. Chatman's bio
[edit] External links
