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Alexandria, Minnesota

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Alexandria, Minnesota
City
Motto(s): 
Easy To Get To, Hard To Leave
Location in Douglas, Minnesota
Location in Douglas, Minnesota
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyDouglas
Settled1858
Founded1859
Government
 • MayorDan Ness
Area
 • City23.0 sq mi (24.2 km2)
 • Land1.2 sq mi (8.9 km2)
 • Water0.5 sq mi (50.01 km2)  5.02%)%
Elevation
1,404 ft (428 m)
Population
 (2006)
 • City11,323
 • Density992.5/sq mi (383.2/km2)
 • Urban
24,095
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
56308
Area code320
FIPS code27-00928Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0639272Template:GR
Websitewww.ci.alexandria.mn.us

Alexandria is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Minnesota, United States.Template:GR First settled in 1858, it was named after Alexander and William Kinkead. The population was 8,820 at the 2000 census.

The city has a museum housing the controversial Kensington Runestone, which is thought by some to indicate that Vikings had visited the area in the 14th century. The city hosts the annual Vikingland Band Festival parade marching championship.

Alexandria is located near Interstate 94 (concurrent with U.S. Route 52 in this part of the state), along Minnesota State Highways 27 and 29. Lake Carlos State Park is ten miles north of Alexandria.

Education

Almost all children in Alexandria attend school at Minnesota ISD 206, which consists of six kindergarten-6th grade elementary schools (Lincoln, Voyager, Washington, Carlos, Miltona, Garfield), one 7th-9th grade junior high school (Discovery Middle School), and one 10th-12th grade senior high school (Jefferson High School). There are also multiple independent K-6 Christian schools in the area. Alexandria Technical College offers post-secondary education from certificates on up to 2 year AAS/AS degrees.

Transportation

Alexandria has an airport named Chandler Field. It is on the southwest edge of town.

Alexandria has two major state highways: Minnesota State Highways 27 and 29. Highway 27 connects Alexandria to Nelson, Osakis and to western Minnesota. Highway 29 connects Alexandria to Glenwood and Parkers Prairie. Alexandria is located near Interstate 94, which allows access to the Twin Cities and Fargo-Moorhead.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.2 km²), of which, 8.9 square miles (23.0 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (5.02%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 8,820 people, 4,047 households, and 2,011 families residing in the city. The population density was 992.5 people per square mile (383.1/km²). There were 4,311 housing units at an average density of 485.1/sq mi (187.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.94% White, 0.42% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 4,047 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.3% were non-families. 41.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,851, and the median income for a family was $38,245. Males had a median income of $27,871 versus $20,254 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,085. About 7.8% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Television

Alexandria offers one local television station under ABC affiliation, KSAX. KSAX-TV provides greater Minnesota with local news, weather, and sports. The station airs ten minute segments during KSTP’s newscast. Alexandria is also home to a full-power repeater of WCCO-TV, KCCO.

The Alexandria area is additionally served by Selective TV, a non-profit, viewer-supported organization which transmits several cable channels free-to-air over standard UHF television frequencies, viewable in any area home without subscription. Selective TV operates under low power television rules of the FCC and as such will not be subject to the digital to analog conversion deadline in 2009. Residents will still need a converter box to view KCCO and KSAX stations.

The stations available in Alexandria are:

Source: FCC Database for Alexandria, Minnesota

Radio

Several radio stations serve Alexandria and the surrounding area. There are eight radio stations in Alexandria; three are locally owned by Paradis Broadcasting: KXRA-AM, KXRA-FM, and KXRZ. Louis H. Buron, Jr. owns two stations: KULO and KIKV. The other three stations (K208EQ, K215BL, and K219FA) are translator radio stations. There are five other stations in the surrounding area including KKOK from Morris, KRVY from Starbuck, KMGK and [KRFG under construction permit] from Glenwood, and KBHL from Osakis.

AM Radio Stations

FM Radio Stations

Notable natives

References

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