Stillwater is a city in Washington County, Minnesota across the St. Croix River from the state of Wisconsin. It is the county seat. The population was 18,225 at the 2010 census. Stillwater is part of the Twin Cities Metro Area.
Geography
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.98 square miles (20.67Â km2); 6.96 square miles (18.03Â km2) is land and 1.02 square miles (2.64Â km2) is water. State Highways 36, 95, and 96 are three of the community's main routes.
Stillwater receives an average annual snowfall of 42 inches (1,100 mm). Average annual rainfall is 24 in (610 mm). Each year has an average of 14 days above 90 °F (32 °C).
History
On July 29 and September 29, 1837, treaties were signed between the US government and the local Ojibwa and Dakota nations that allowed settlement in the St. Croix Valley. The town was founded by settlers drawn by the area's then-abundant lumber and river traffic, making it one of Minnesota's oldest towns, preceding Minneapolis by several years. Stillwater was officially incorporated as a city on March 4, 1854 (the same day as St. Paul). The city was named for the calm waters of the St. Croix River.
Stillwater is often referred to as the birthplace of Minnesota. In 1848, a territorial convention that began the process of establishing Minnesota as a state was held in Stillwater, at the corner of Myrtle and Main Streets. Minnesota officially became a territory in 1849 and a state in 1858.
As more evidence of Stillwater's importance at the time, the convention selected three leading Minnesota cities as locations for three important public institutions: Minneapolis got the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul became the capital, and Stillwater chose to be the site of the territory's first prison, primarily because of the access to free prisoner labor it would provide. The Minnesota Territorial Prison (later Minnesota State Prison) was opened in 1853. The prison held Cole, Jim, and Bob Younger, three of the Younger brothers of the Jamesâ€"Younger Gang
Lumbering was the predominant industry in the St. Croix River Valley in the second half of the 19th century, and for many years logs were sent down the St. Croix, collected at the St. Croix Boom Site two miles upstream of Stillwater, and processed in Stillwater's many sawmills. Steamboats were used most widely from 1860 to 1890, and a few are still used for entertainment today.
David Swain operated a shipyard and engine works in Stillwater. Excursion steamboats, such as the Verne Swain and the Capitol, appeared at the docks in the early 20th century.
Stillwater sent men of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Company B and the 8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment Company C to fight during the American Civil War.
On October 18, 1921, Charles Strite invented the automatic pop-up bread toaster in Stillwater. By 1926, the Toastmaster Company began to market the first household toaster using a redesigned version of Strite's.
Stillwater today
Stillwater is a popular day trip for tourists from the Twin Cities, who enjoy the historic downtown's used bookstores, antique shops, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, historical sites and the scenic St. Croix River valley.
In 1996 the city of Stillwater entered into an agreement with Stillwater Township to annex land. In 2015 the Stillwater city council approved the annexing the last of the land covered by the agreement. The city's western border is now Manning Avenue (County Road 15). The northern border is now mostly, but not entirely, Minnesota Highway 96.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 18,225 people, 7,075 households, and 4,885 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,618.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,011.0/km2). There were 7,576 housing units at an average density of 1,088.5 per square mile (420.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.1% White, 1.0% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
There were 7,075 households, of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.0% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
The median age in the city was 40 years. 26.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 29% were from 45 to 64; and 12.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile (903.7/km²). There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile (353.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.0% White, 0.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
There were 5,797 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city, the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $57,154, and the median income for a family was $72,188. Males had a median income of $49,158 versus $33,680 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,163. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Stillwater has a mix of public district, public charter, and private schools at the primary and secondary levels.
Attractions
- St. Croix Boom Site
- St. Croix River
- Stillwater Lift Bridge
- Nelson's Ice Cream
Cultural references
- In The Mighty Ducks films, one of the two "bash brothers", Fulton Reed (played by Elden Henson), is from Stillwater.
- The novel series The Emigrants and the musical Kristina från Duvemåla tell the story of a family of Swedish emigrants who journey to Minnesota in 1850. Much of the story takes place in Stillwater.
- In Juno, Bren MacGuff mentions purchasing an expensive womanly item at a Stillwater store.
- In the Supernatural episode "The Purge", Sam and Dean head to Stillwater when a competitive eater mysteriously dies in impossible circumstances.
- The entirety of the film The Unearthing takes place in Stillwater and the story revolves around a local ghost legend.
- In Fargo, Stillwater is mentioned, referring specifically to the prison.
Movies filmed entirely or partially in Stillwater
- Grumpy Old Men (1993)
- The Cure (1995)
- Grumpier Old Men (1995)
- Fargo (1996)
- Beautiful Girls (1996)
- Overnight Delivery (1998)
- Paperboys (2001)
- The Unearthing (2015)
Notable people
- Brian Arnfelt, NFL defensive end, attended high school in Stillwater
- Michele Bachmann, U.S. Representative 2007-15, lived in Stillwater
- Ben Blankenship, member of Team U.S.A. Track and Field who set the world record in the distance medley
- James B. Clark, director and Oscar-nominated film editor, was born in Stillwater
- Nate Dwyer, NFL linebacker, was born in Stillwater
- Chris Engler, NBA player, was born in Stillwater
- Phil Housley, Hockey Hall of Fame player and NHL coach, coached in Stillwater
- Todd Kalis, NFL guard, was born in Stillwater
- Jessica Lange, actress, resided in Stillwater
- Denis McDonough, White House Chief of Staff, was born in Stillwater
- Bob Nelson, NFL linebacker, was born in Stillwater
- Glen Perkins, pitcher for Minnesota Twins, was born in Stillwater
- Sam Shepard, playwright and actor, resided in Stillwater
- Rich Sommer, actor, was raised in Stillwater
- C. Gardner Sullivan, screenwriter and producer, was born in Stillwater
- LaVyrle Spencer, a New York Times bestselling author, lived in Stillwater
- Alpheus Beede Stickney, a famous railroad builder, lived in Stillwater, born in Maine
- Younger Brothers (Cole, Jim and Bob), famous outlaws, spent time in the Stillwater prison.
- Sean Graham, retired professional track athlete and current head track and cross country coach at American University
See also
- Stillwater Area High School
- Oak-Land Jr. High School
References
External links
- Visitor's Bureau Website
- City website
- Stillwater Public Library - St. Croix Collection
- Washington County Historical Society
- Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
- Stillwater travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Stillwater, Minnesota at Curlie (based on DMOZ)