Mankato, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 Logo | |
| Nickname: Key City | |
| Motto: Leading the way... | |
 Location of Mankato in Blue Earth County, Minnesota | |
  Mankato Location in Minnesota Show map of Minnesota Mankato Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:44°09′53″N94°00′50″W / 44.16472°N 94.01389°W /44.16472; -94.01389 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| Counties | Blue Earth,Nicollet,Le Sueur |
| Founded | February 1852 |
| Incorporated | March 6, 1868 |
| Government | |
| • Type | City charter |
| • Mayor | Najwa Massad[1] |
| • City manager | Susan Arntz[2] |
| • Councilmembers | Mike Laven Michael McLaughlin Dennis Dieken Kevin Mettler Jenn Melby-Kelley Jessica Hatanpa |
| Area | |
• City | 20.229 sq mi (52.393 km2) |
| • Land | 19.879 sq mi (51.487 km2) |
| • Water | 0.349 sq mi (0.905 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,007 ft (307 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 44,488 |
• Estimate (2023)[7] | 45,742 |
| • Rank | US: 876th MN:22nd |
| • Density | 2,299.4/sq mi (887.79/km2) |
| • Urban | 60,206 (US:453rd) |
| • Metro | 104,248 (US:352nd) |
| Demonym | Mankatoans |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 56001, 56002, 56003 |
| Area codes | 507 and 924 |
| FIPS code | 27-39878 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395831[5] |
| Sales tax | 7.875%[8] |
| Website | mankatomn.gov |
Mankato (/mænˈkeɪtoʊ/ ⓘman-KAY-toh)[9] is a city inBlue Earth,Nicollet, andLe Sueur counties in the U.S. state ofMinnesota. It is thecounty seat of Blue Earth County. It is the21st-largest city in Minnesota and fourth-largest outside of theMinneapolis–Saint Paul area with a population of 44,488 at the2020 census,[6] while theMankato–North Mankato metropolitan area has an estimated 105,000 residents.[10]
Mankato lies along a large bend of theMinnesota River at itsconfluence with theBlue Earth River. The city is home toMinnesota State University, the state's second-largest university by enrollment.[11]
Mankato Township was not settled by European Americans untilParsons King Johnson in February 1852, as part of the 19th-century migration of people from the east across the Midwest. New residents organized the city of Mankato on May 11, 1858, the day Minnesota became a state. The city was organized by Johnson,Henry Jackson,Daniel A. Robertson, Justus C. Ramsey, and others. A popular story says that the city was supposed to have been namedMahkato, but a typographical error by a clerk established the name as Mankato.[12] According toWarren Upham, quoting historian Thomas Hughes of Mankato, "The honor of christening the new city was accorded to Col. Robertson. He had taken the name from Nicollet's book, in which the French explorer compared the 'Mahkato' or Blue Earth River, with all its tributaries, to the water nymphs and their uncle in the German legend ofUndine...No more appropriate name could be given the new city, than that of the noble river at whose mouth it is located."[13] While it is uncertain that the city was intended to be called Mahkato, the Dakota called the riverMakato Osa Watapa ("the river where blue earth is gathered"). The Anglo settlers adapted that as "Blue Earth River".[13]Frederick Webb Hodge, in theHandbook of American Indians North of Mexico, said the town was named after the older of the two like-named chiefs of theMdewakanton nation of the Santee Dakota, whose village stood on or near the site of the present town.
Ishtakhaba, also known as Chief Sleepy Eye, of theSisseton band, was said to have directed settlers to this location. He said the site at the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers was well suited to building and river traffic, and yet safe from flooding.[14]
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On December 26, 1862,United States Volunteers of the State of Minnesota carried out the largestmass execution inU.S. history at Mankato after theDakota War of 1862. Companies of the7th,8th,9th,10th Minnesota Infantry Regiments, and Minnesota Cavalry oversaw the hanging of 38 men: 35 Santee Sioux and 3 biracial French/native American, for their involvement in the war crimes committed during the uprising.[15][16] A USV military tribunal reviewed nearly 500 cases, of which 303 received a death sentence, but PresidentAbraham Lincoln requested the court files. He reviewed them, placing the rape cases at the top, and pardoning 265.Episcopal BishopHenry Benjamin Whipple urged leniency to which Lincoln responded that he had to take a balanced approach. His position and dismissals were unpopular in Minnesota. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the event a large granite marker was erected that stood at the site until 1971, when the city took it down. Today, a different monument marks the execution site. Across the street are two monuments to the Native Americans in what it called Reconciliation Park. The Blue Earth County Library, Main street and Reconciliation Park cover the immediate vicinity of the execution site.
In 1880, Mankato was Minnesota's fourth-most populous city, with 5,500 residents.[17]
Former Vice PresidentSchuyler Colfax died while traveling through Mankato on January 13, 1885.[18]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.229 square miles (52.39 km2), of which 19.879 square miles (51.49 km2) is land and 0.350 square miles (0.91 km2) is water.[4] TheMinnesota,Blue Earth, andLe Sueur rivers all flow through or near the city.
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Mankato has ahumid continental climate, typeDfa (hot summer subtype).[19] Winters are cold, with snow cover (continuous most winter seasons) beginning typically between mid-November and mid-December, ending in March most years. However, Mankato often receives less snow than areas to its north and east. For example,Minneapolis, 75 miles (121 km) northeast of Mankato, averages over 54 inches (140 cm) of snow per winter season, compared to Mankato's seasonal average of 35 inches (89 cm). The coldest month, January, has an average monthly temperature around 14 °F (−10 °C). Dangerously low wind-chill temperatures are a significant hazard during the winter months, as Arctic air outbreaks rush into the area from Canada, borne on high winds; this can bring about ground blizzard conditions, especially in nearby rural areas.
Summers are warm, with occasional but usually brief hot, humid periods, often interspersed with pushes of cooler air from Canada, often preceded by showers and thunderstorms. The hottest month, July, has an average monthly temperature of around 73 °F (22.8 °C). Precipitation falls year round, but falls mostly as snow from December to February, sometimes March, and as showers and thunderstorms during the warmer season, from May to September. Mankato's average wettest months are from June to August, with frequent thunderstorm activity. Mankato lies on the northern fringe of the central United States’ main tornado belt, with lower risk than in Iowa and Missouri to the south. The highest-risk months for severe thunderstorms and (rarely) tornadoes, are May through July. However, a very unusual early tornado outbreak affected areas within 20 miles (32 km) of Mankato on March 29, 1998, when anF3 tornado hit St. Peter, 13 miles (21 km) to the north. On August 17, 1946, tornadoes struck southwestern areas of Mankato and the town of Wells to the southeast, killing 11 people.[20]
| Climate data for Mankato, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 61 (16) | 67 (19) | 84 (29) | 94 (34) | 100 (38) | 105 (41) | 104 (40) | 107 (42) | 99 (37) | 92 (33) | 83 (28) | 69 (21) | 107 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 43.4 (6.3) | 47.3 (8.5) | 65.7 (18.7) | 81.4 (27.4) | 89.3 (31.8) | 93.3 (34.1) | 92.3 (33.5) | 89.9 (32.2) | 88.5 (31.4) | 82.5 (28.1) | 66.0 (18.9) | 47.3 (8.5) | 95.6 (35.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 23.7 (−4.6) | 28.6 (−1.9) | 40.9 (4.9) | 56.5 (13.6) | 69.2 (20.7) | 78.8 (26.0) | 81.9 (27.7) | 79.5 (26.4) | 73.6 (23.1) | 59.8 (15.4) | 43.4 (6.3) | 28.6 (−1.9) | 55.4 (13.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 14.7 (−9.6) | 19.0 (−7.2) | 31.4 (−0.3) | 45.2 (7.3) | 58.1 (14.5) | 68.2 (20.1) | 71.8 (22.1) | 69.5 (20.8) | 61.9 (16.6) | 48.6 (9.2) | 34.1 (1.2) | 20.6 (−6.3) | 45.3 (7.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 5.7 (−14.6) | 9.4 (−12.6) | 21.9 (−5.6) | 33.9 (1.1) | 47.0 (8.3) | 57.7 (14.3) | 61.7 (16.5) | 59.4 (15.2) | 50.1 (10.1) | 37.4 (3.0) | 24.7 (−4.1) | 12.7 (−10.7) | 35.1 (1.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −17.1 (−27.3) | −11.0 (−23.9) | −0.5 (−18.1) | 20.3 (−6.5) | 33.6 (0.9) | 45.9 (7.7) | 52.5 (11.4) | 49.6 (9.8) | 35.5 (1.9) | 22.7 (−5.2) | 6.7 (−14.1) | −9.4 (−23.0) | −19.4 (−28.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −34 (−37) | −35 (−37) | −24 (−31) | 3 (−16) | 22 (−6) | 35 (2) | 44 (7) | 38 (3) | 23 (−5) | 12 (−11) | −15 (−26) | −32 (−36) | −35 (−37) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.99 (25) | 0.84 (21) | 1.88 (48) | 3.31 (84) | 4.20 (107) | 5.64 (143) | 4.26 (108) | 4.31 (109) | 3.30 (84) | 2.37 (60) | 1.65 (42) | 1.13 (29) | 33.88 (860) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.2 (21) | 6.9 (18) | 7.4 (19) | 1.6 (4.1) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 5.9 (15) | 8.6 (22) | 38.7 (99.35) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 6.4 | 5.2 | 7.8 | 9.6 | 11.1 | 11.5 | 9.4 | 9.1 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 98.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 5.1 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.7 | 5.6 | 22.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA[21] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[22] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 3,482 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,550 | 59.4% | |
| 1890 | 8,838 | 59.2% | |
| 1900 | 10,599 | 19.9% | |
| 1910 | 10,365 | −2.2% | |
| 1920 | 12,469 | 20.3% | |
| 1930 | 14,039 | 12.6% | |
| 1940 | 15,654 | 11.5% | |
| 1950 | 18,809 | 20.2% | |
| 1960 | 23,797 | 26.5% | |
| 1970 | 30,895 | 29.8% | |
| 1980 | 28,651 | −7.3% | |
| 1990 | 31,477 | 9.9% | |
| 2000 | 32,427 | 3.0% | |
| 2010 | 39,309 | 21.2% | |
| 2020 | 44,488 | 13.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 45,742 | [7] | 2.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[23] 2020 Census[6] | |||
As of the 2022American Community Survey, there are 17,605 estimated households in Mankato with an average of 2.31 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $61,726. Approximately 22.5% of the city's population lives at or below thepoverty line. Mankato has an estimated 71.1% employment rate, with 37.6% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.6% holding a high school diploma.
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 (89.5), Spanish (2.7%), Other Indo-European (1.6%), Asian and Pacific Islander (2.2%), and Other (3.9%).
The median age in the city was 26.5 years.
| Race / ethnicity(NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 2000[24] | Pop. 2010[25] | Pop. 2020[26] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 29,670 | 34,656 | 34,381 | 91.50% | 88.16% | 77.28% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 608 | 1,560 | 3,652 | 1.87% | 3.97% | 8.21% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 100 | 104 | 162 | 0.31% | 0.26% | 0.36% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 903 | 1,092 | 1,698 | 2.78% | 2.78% | 3.82% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 30 | 16 | 21 | 0.09% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 21 | 37 | 184 | 0.06% | 0.09% | 0.41% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 376 | 691 | 1,801 | 1.16% | 1.76% | 4.05% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 719 | 1,153 | 2,589 | 2.22% | 2.93% | 5.82% |
| Total | 32,427 | 39,309 | 44,488 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 44,488 people, 17,576 households, and 8,344 families residing in the city.[27] Thepopulation density was 2,305.2 inhabitants per square mile (890.0/km2). There were 18,855 housing units at an average density of 977.0 inhabitants per square mile (377.2/km2). The racial makeup was 79.02%White, 8.42%African American, 0.53%Native American, 3.83%Asian, 0.07%Pacific Islander, 2.35% from some other races and 5.79% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.82% of the population.[28] 16.9% of residents were under the age of 18, 5.0% were under 5 years of age, and 12.5% were 65 and older.
As of the2010 census, there were 39,309 people, 14,851 households, and 7,093 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,195.3 inhabitants per square mile (847.6/km2). There were 15,784 housing units at an average density of 881.3 per square mile (340.3/km2). The racial makeup was 89.94%White, 4.03%African American, 0.34%Native American, 2.78%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.81% from some other races and 2.07% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.93% of the population.
There were 14,851 households, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.
The median age in the city was 25.4 years. 16.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 32.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 16.6% were from 45 to 64; and 10.6% were 65 years of age or older. The city's gender makeup was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.
As of the2000 census, there were 32,427 people, 12,367 households, and 6,059 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,132.5 inhabitants per square mile (823.4/km2). There were 12,759 housing units at an average density of 839.1 inhabitants per square mile (324.0/km2). The racial makeup was 92.55%White, 1.90%African American, 0.34%Native American, 2.81%Asian, 0.10%Pacific Islander, 0.94% from some other races, and 1.36% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.22% of the population.
There were 12,367 households, of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.0% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90.
16.9% of the city's residents were under the age of 18; 32.5% were between age 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 15.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were age 65 or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,956, and the median income for a family was $47,297. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $22,081 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,652. About 8.5% of families and 19.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
According to the City's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[29] the largest employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mankato Area Public Schools ISD #77 | 2,123 | 8.06% |
| 2 | Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato | 1,300 | 4.94% |
| 3 | Minnesota State University, Mankato | 1,300 | 4.94% |
| 4 | Walmart Distribution Center | 525 | 1.99% |
| 5 | Blue Earth County | 491 | 1.86% |
| 6 | Mankato Clinic | 425 | 1.61% |
| 7 | Mankato Rehabilitation Center Inc. Industrial Operation | 375 | 1.42% |
| 8 | Compeer Financial | 362 | 1.37% |
| 9 | Johnson Outdoors-Mankato | 360 | 1.37% |
| 10 | The City of Mankato | 313 | 1.19% |
| — | Total employers | 7,574 | 28.75% |
The Blue Earth County Library, part of theTraverse des Sioux Library System, serves the city.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2000 | 6,465 | 42.37% | 7,349 | 48.16% | 1,446 | 9.48% |
| 2004 | 8,224 | 43.06% | 10,573 | 55.35% | 304 | 1.59% |
| 2008 | 8,099 | 38.01% | 12,632 | 59.29% | 575 | 2.70% |
| 2012 | 7,942 | 38.45% | 11,901 | 57.62% | 812 | 3.93% |
| 2016 | 8,056 | 39.73% | 9,922 | 48.94% | 2,297 | 11.33% |
| 2020 | 8,032 | 37.69% | 12,651 | 59.36% | 628 | 2.95% |
| 2024 | 9,175 | 42.12% | 12,079 | 55.46% | 527 | 2.42% |
Mankato is inMinnesota's 1st congressional district, represented byBrad Finstad.[35] It is inMinnesota Senate district 19, represented byNick Frentz, andMinnesota House district 19B, represented by Luke Frederick. Mankato voted forJoe Biden in the2020 presidential election.[36]
The Mankato Area Public Schools are consolidated to include the cities of Mankato, North Mankato, Eagle Lake, and Madison Lake. There are ten elementary schools (Franklin, Eagle Lake, Kennedy, Washington, Roosevelt, Jefferson, Monroe, Hoover, Rosa Parks, and Bridges); two middle schools (Dakota Meadows Middle School and Prairie Winds Middle School); and two high schools (Mankato West High School andMankato East High School).
Mankato has four parochial schools:Loyola Catholic School, Immanuel Lutheran Grade School and High School (K–12), Mount Olive Lutheran School (K–8) and Risen Savior Lutheran School (K–8). There is also a public charter school,Kato Public Charter School. The alternative school Central High, on Fulton Street, is another educational option.
The major daily newspaper in the area is theMankato Free Press.
Public transportation in Mankato is provided by theMankato Transit System. The city is served byMankato Regional Airport, which has no commercial flights. Under MnDOT's 2015 State Rail Plan, Mankato is listed as a Tier 1 Corridor for regional rail service from Minneapolis and/or St. Paul. U.S. Highways14 and169 and Minnesota State Highways22 and60 are four of Mankato's main routes.
The following routes are within the city of Mankato.
U.S. Highway 14.svg)
U.S. Highway 169
Minnesota State Highway 22
Minnesota State Highway 60
Minnesota State Highway 83The protagonist ofSinclair Lewis's 1920 novelMain Street, Carol Milford, is a former Mankato resident. Lewis describes Mankato as follows: "In its garden-sheltered streets and aisles of elms is white and green New England reborn", alluding to its many migrants from New England, who brought their culture with them. Lewis wrote a substantial portion of the novel while staying at the J.W. Schmidt House at 315 South Broad Street, as now marked by a small plaque in front of the building.[39]
In 1996, Don Descy created city-mankato.us as a teaching tool and example that not everything on the Internet should be believed.[40][41]
In 2016Food & Wine credited a 1930 Mankato church congregation cookbook as the first written record of ahotdish recipe. Many churches publish cookbooks with recipes submitted by their congregation as fund raisers.[42] The source included neither the name of the woman who invented the recipe nor the source. Mankato resident Joyce Nelson had a copy of the 1930 Lutheran church recipe book and it was found that the recipe was indeed included in that year's cookbook. Mrs. C. W. Anderson had submitted a recipe for a "HOT DISH" made with hamburger, onions, Creamette pasta, celery, a can of peas, tomato soup and tomatoes.[43][44]
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{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help);Missing or empty|url= (help)Top Five Employers: Taylor Cos. (2,400 employees), Mayo Clinic Health System (1,830 employees), Minnesota State University Mankato (1,700 employees), Mankato Area Public Schools (1,200 employees), MRCI (1,200 employees), Source: Greater Mankato Growth
Media related toMankato, Minnesota at Wikimedia Commons
Mankato, Minnesota travel guide from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofBlue Earth County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofLe Sueur County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofNicollet County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| Core Cities |  | ||||
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† indicates acounty seat.‡ indicates that it is partially in the metropolitan area. | |||||
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