Crookston, Minnesota | |
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 Crookston Commercial Historic District  Aerial view of Crookston, Minnesota, with theRed Lake River twisting through the town | |
 Seal | |
 Location of Crookston inPolk County,Minnesota | |
  Crookston Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:47°46′29″N96°36′23″W / 47.77472°N 96.60639°W /47.77472; -96.60639 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Polk |
| Metro | Greater Grand Forks |
| Settled | 1872 |
| Organized | 1876 |
| Incorporated | February 14, 1879 |
| Named after | Col. William Crooks |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Dale Stainbrook[1] |
| • City administrator | Darin Selzler (acting) |
| Area | |
• City | 5.115 sq mi (13.249 km2) |
| • Land | 5.115 sq mi (13.249 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.000 km2) |
| • Urban | 4.649 sq mi (12.040 km2) |
| • Metro | 3,407 sq mi (8,825 km2) |
| Elevation | 873 ft (266 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 7,482 |
• Estimate (2024)[6] | 7,269 |
| • Density | 1,420.9/sq mi (548.61/km2) |
| • Urban | 7,618[3] |
| • Urban density | 1,639/sq mi (632.7/km2) |
| • Metro | 103,120 |
| • Metro density | 30.3/sq mi (11.69/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code | 56716 |
| Area code | 218 |
| FIPS code | 27-13870 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2393678[4] |
| Website | crookston.mn.us |
Crookston is a city in theU.S. state ofMinnesota. It is thecounty seat ofPolk County.[7] The population was 7,482 at the2020 census.[5] It is part of theGreater Grand Forksmetropolitan statistical area.
Crookston is theepiscopal seat of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Crookston. Crookston is partially a commuter town to the larger city ofGrand Forks, North Dakota.
Crookston was settled around 1872.[8] It was the site of a federal land office[8] by 1876 and sited on a portion of theGreat Northern Railway that began operation by 1880. The town was incorporated on April 1, 1879[8] as "Queen City".[9] By the end of that year, the town had a jail, graded streets, and a few plank sidewalks. Soon, it was decided that the town needed a new name. Two factions emerged supporting two different names. One wished to honor the town's first mayor, Captain Ellerey C. Davis, with the name Davis. Another group picked the name Crookston to honorCol. William Crooks,[9][8] chief engineer of theGreat Northern Railway which was built through the community. The name was reportedly chosen bycoin toss.
Soon, Scandinavian, French-Canadian, and German immigrants began populating Crookston. At one point, eight different railroad lines reached the town, and it became a center of commerce and manufacturing.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.115 square miles (13.25 km2), all land.[2]
Crookston sits in the fertileRed River Valley, once a part of glacialLake Agassiz. As Lake Agassiz receded, it left behind rich mineral deposits. This made the area around Crookston prime foragricultural uses. Grains such as wheat and other crops, includingsugar beets and potatoes, grow well in the area around Crookston.[citation needed]
TheRed Lake River flows through the city.
| Climate data for Crookston, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1890–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 57 (14) | 63 (17) | 78 (26) | 96 (36) | 101 (38) | 102 (39) | 105 (41) | 104 (40) | 99 (37) | 89 (32) | 73 (23) | 56 (13) | 105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 37.7 (3.2) | 39.4 (4.1) | 54.2 (12.3) | 74.2 (23.4) | 85.4 (29.7) | 89.6 (32.0) | 90.7 (32.6) | 91.6 (33.1) | 88.4 (31.3) | 77.2 (25.1) | 56.3 (13.5) | 40.7 (4.8) | 93.9 (34.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 15.8 (−9.0) | 20.4 (−6.4) | 34.0 (1.1) | 51.3 (10.7) | 66.6 (19.2) | 76.0 (24.4) | 80.3 (26.8) | 79.6 (26.4) | 70.4 (21.3) | 54.1 (12.3) | 36.2 (2.3) | 22.4 (−5.3) | 50.6 (10.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 6.1 (−14.4) | 10.1 (−12.2) | 24.4 (−4.2) | 40.7 (4.8) | 54.7 (12.6) | 65.1 (18.4) | 69.1 (20.6) | 67.4 (19.7) | 58.2 (14.6) | 43.7 (6.5) | 27.5 (−2.5) | 13.8 (−10.1) | 40.1 (4.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −3.6 (−19.8) | −0.2 (−17.9) | 14.8 (−9.6) | 30.1 (−1.1) | 42.8 (6.0) | 54.3 (12.4) | 57.8 (14.3) | 55.2 (12.9) | 46.0 (7.8) | 33.3 (0.7) | 18.8 (−7.3) | 5.2 (−14.9) | 29.5 (−1.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −27.9 (−33.3) | −23.0 (−30.6) | −10.8 (−23.8) | 14.5 (−9.7) | 27.8 (−2.3) | 41.1 (5.1) | 46.0 (7.8) | 42.8 (6.0) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 18.3 (−7.6) | −1.6 (−18.7) | −17.2 (−27.3) | −28.4 (−33.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −44 (−42) | −51 (−46) | −39 (−39) | −10 (−23) | 6 (−14) | 27 (−3) | 38 (3) | 31 (−1) | 11 (−12) | −2 (−19) | −30 (−34) | −38 (−39) | −51 (−46) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.51 (13) | 0.53 (13) | 0.73 (19) | 1.27 (32) | 2.75 (70) | 4.15 (105) | 3.27 (83) | 2.97 (75) | 2.60 (66) | 2.09 (53) | 0.82 (21) | 0.74 (19) | 22.43 (569) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 6.4 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 10.0 | 10.7 | 9.3 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 7.3 | 5.7 | 7.3 | 90.9 |
| Source:NOAA[10][11] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,227 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,457 | 181.7% | |
| 1900 | 5,359 | 55.0% | |
| 1910 | 7,559 | 41.1% | |
| 1920 | 6,825 | −9.7% | |
| 1930 | 6,321 | −7.4% | |
| 1940 | 7,161 | 13.3% | |
| 1950 | 7,352 | 2.7% | |
| 1960 | 8,546 | 16.2% | |
| 1970 | 8,312 | −2.7% | |
| 1980 | 8,628 | 3.8% | |
| 1990 | 8,119 | −5.9% | |
| 2000 | 8,192 | 0.9% | |
| 2010 | 7,891 | −3.7% | |
| 2020 | 7,482 | −5.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 7,269 | [6] | −2.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 2020 Census[5] | |||
Crookston has not seen major population growth since the 1970s. The economy has suffered due to a lack of well-paying jobs and available housing.[13]
As of the 2022American Community Survey, there are 3,321 estimated households in Crookston with an average of 2.04 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $52,557. Approximately 15.3% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Crookston has an estimated 60.8% employment rate, with 29.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 94.2% holding a high school diploma.[14]
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (92.5%), Spanish (5.0%), Indo-European (0.3%), Asian and Pacific Islander (1.6%), and Other (0.6%).
The median age in the city was 39.4 years.
| Race / ethnicity(NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 2000[15] | Pop. 2010[16] | Pop. 2020[17] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 7,196 | 6,576 | 5,695 | 87.84% | 83.34% | 76.12% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 35 | 99 | 238 | 0.43% | 1.25% | 3.18% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 119 | 109 | 95 | 1.45% | 1.38% | 1.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 36 | 124 | 57 | 0.44% | 1.57% | 0.76% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.11% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 84 | 109 | 298 | 1.03% | 1.38% | 3.98% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 722 | 871 | 1,088 | 8.81% | 11.04% | 14.54% |
| Total | 8,192 | 7,891 | 7,482 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 7,482 people and 3,087 households, and 1,647 families residing in the city.[18] Thepopulation density was 1,446.4 inhabitants per square mile (558.5/km2). There were 3,445 housing units at an average density of 666.0 inhabitants per square mile (257.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.93%White, 3.26%African American, 1.90%Native American, 0.78%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 4.30% from some other races and 8.79% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 14.54% of the population.[19] 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.4% were under 5 years of age, and 20.8% were 65 and older.
As of the2010 census, there were 7,891 people, 3,109 households, and 1,743 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,533.3 inhabitants per square mile (592.0/km2). There were 3,303 housing units at an average density of 641.4 inhabitants per square mile (247.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.24%White, 1.42%African American, 1.66%Native American, 1.58%Asian, 0.00%Pacific Islander, 2.79% from some other races and 2.31% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 11.04% of the population.
There were 3,109 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 40.3% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.9% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.97.
The median age in the city was 35.1 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.5% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
As of the2000 census, there were 8,192 people, 3,078 households, and 1,819 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,658.8 inhabitants per square mile (640.5/km2). There were 3,382 housing units at an average density of 684.8 inhabitants per square mile (264.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.5%White, 0.50%African American, 1.54%Native American, 0.49%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 4.64% from some other races and 1.56% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.81% of the population.
There were 3,078 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% 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 3.10.
The city's age distribution shows 24.2% under the age of 18, 14.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,609, and the median income for a family was $44,157. Males had a median income of $30,564 versus $21,021 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $17,219. About 7.5% of families and 12.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.
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The American subsidiary ofNew Flyer, a Canadian bus maker, has a manufacturing facility in Crookston. In 2015, they employed 325 people at the Crookston plant.[20]
The Grand Theater in Crookston is the oldest continuously operating movie theater in the United States. Built in 1910, it served as an opera house until 1917, when it began to primarily show movies. Notable performers include early film actressMary Pickford.[21]
Crookston is the northern terminus of theAgassiz Recreational Trail, a 53-mile multi-use trail built on an abandoned railroad grade that has its southern terminus atUlen.[22]
Public education is administered byCrookston School District 593. The school district enrolled 1,135 students in K-12 in the school year 2022–2023.[23]
Students from the neighboring towns ofEuclid,Gentilly, andMentor attendCrookston High School, established in 1914.[citation needed]
Private elementary schools include Cathedral Elementary (Catholic, formerly Mount Saint Benedict High School), Our Savior's Lutheran, and Bible Baptist.[citation needed]
Crookston has theUniversity of Minnesota Crookston (a campus of theUniversity of Minnesota system). It began as an agricultural high school before becoming a two-year college and then a four-year university.[24] On January 30, 2010, the new Crookston Sports Center was dedicated. The university enrolled about 1,729 students in the fall 2024 term.[25]
The local newspaper is theCrookston Daily Times.
Crookston is part of theFargo/Grand Forks television market.PBS member stationKCGE (channel 16) islicensed to Crookston, serving Grand Forks.
KROX 1260AM (also broadcast locally ontranslator K289CE 105.7FM) specifically covers the community.Radio stations from Grand Forks,Thief River Falls, andKRJB 106.5FM broadcasting fromAda can also be easily received. Radio stationsKQHT 96.1 FM andKYCK 97.1 FM are also licensed to Crookston, but broadcast from Grand Forks and serve the region in general.
U.S. Highways2 and75 and Minnesota State Highways9 and102 are four of the main routes in the community.
in 1872, the name for the new settlement was the "Red Lake Crossing" ... As people began to populate the new community, the name of Crooksbury was chosen, but that only lasted for a short time. This was to honor Colonel William Crooks, an official of the railroad company. Then it was permanently changed to Crookston.
Municipalities and communities ofPolk County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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