Willmar, Minnesota

Willmar, Minnesota
City
Location of Willmar, Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Kandiyohi
Area
• Total	13.6 sq mi (35.2 km2)
• Land	11.8 sq mi (30.7 km2)
• Water	1.8 sq mi (4.6 km2)
Elevation	1,142 ft (348 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	19,610
• Density	1,549.9/sq mi (598.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56201
Area code	320
FIPS code	27-70420Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	0654177Template:GR
Website	www.ci.willmar.mn.us

Willmar is a city in and the county seat of Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, United States.Template:GR The population was 19,610 at the 2010 census.

Willmar has been assigned ZIP code 56201 by the United States Postal Service.

U.S. Routes 12 and 71 and Minnesota State Highways 23 and 40 are four of the main routes in the city.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.6 square miles (35.2 km²), of which, 11.8 square miles (30.7 km²) of it is land and 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 12.94% water.

The 45º latitude line passes just south of Willmar, placing it just halfway between the equator and the North Pole.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	1,002		—
1890	1,825		82.1%
1900	3,409		86.8%
1910	4,135		21.3%
1920	5,892		42.5%
1930	6,173		4.8%
1940	7,623		23.5%
1950	9,410		23.4%
1960	10,417		10.7%
1970	12,869		23.5%
1980	15,895		23.5%
1990	17,531		10.3%
2000	18,351		4.7%
2010	19,610		6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile (598.4/km²). There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile (254.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.12% White, 0.90% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 8.52% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.86% of the population.

There were 7,302 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,455, and the median income for a family was $45,415. Males had a median income of $31,575 versus $22,158 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,515. About 8.4% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older.

History

Agricultural expansion and the establishment of Willmar as a division point on the Great Northern Railway determined the growth of the community. The first settlers arrived during the 1850s attracted to the fertile land and an abundance of timber and game. The Dakota War of 1862 left the township abandoned for several years. The advent of the railroad in Kandiyohi County in 1869 brought new settlers. Many were of Swedish and Norwegian origins; hence the predominance today of residents of Scandinavian heritage. In 1870, Leon (Chadwick) Willmar, a Belgian acting as a European bondholder of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, purchased the title to Section 1 of Willmar Township. Willmar was established as the county seat in 1871 and was incorporated as a village in 1874 and as a city in 1901.

Willmar was the site of The Great Willmar, Minnesota Raid, a famous bank robbery by the Machine Gun Kelly gang on July 15, 1930. They robbed the Bank of Willmar (now Bremer Bank) of about $70,000, and wounded 3 people during the robbery.

From 1977 to 1979, Willmar was the site of the Willmar 8, a famous strike of female workers confronting sexual discrimination at a local bank. The story of the strike was featured in mainstream media and made into a documentary.

Willmar native and composer, Bradley Joseph, often references the past when he names his songs and his music is frequently reminiscent of his rural Minnesota roots. "Wind Farmer" was inspired by childhood visits to a relative's farm near Olivia, and his company, Robbins Island Music, is named after a city park in Willmar, says Anne Polta of the West Central Tribune.

Willmar is home to the annual Sonshine Festival, a Christian music festival.

Willmar was the first U.S. city that used black & white police squad cars. The officers thoughts were if the cab of the car was painted white it would reduce the heat generated from sunlight. Today, the Police Chief will not use black & whites.

Education

Willmar is home to Ridgewater College est. 1996, a community and technical college with campuses in both Willmar and Hutchinson, MN. The college enrolls over 5,500 students and provides a moderate range of programs, in addition to providing access to some four-year programs through relationships with universities in the MnSCU system.

Immigration

Since October 15, 1989, the rural city has experienced a large influx of immigrants from Latin America and Northeast Africa, mostly due to the demand for labor at the Jennie-O poultry plant. In 2001, the city was recognized as an "All America City" by the National Civic League, in part for its success as growing numbers of immigrants became part of the community.

Also in 2005, the city received attention from national media after several Somali high school students gave Willmar High School its first Cross-Country State championship in twenty years. The team won the state tournament and attended the Nike Nationals consecutively in 2005 and 2006. Following the success of the team, the city gained attention from Sports Illustrated. Subsequently, NBC Nightly News conducted a story documenting the changing face of the rural city and its relative acceptance of the new makeup of its citizens.

Notable natives and residents

• Dan Anderson – psychologist
• Karlyn Kohrs Campbell – academic
• Bonnie Henrickson – head women's college basketball coach at the University of Kansas
• Dean Johnson – politician
• Carl O. Jorgenson – politician
• Bradley Joseph – composer and recording artist
• George Nelson – astronaut
• Alec G. Olson – politician
• Earl B. Olson – founder of the Jennie-O Turkey company
• Kenneth L. Olson – United States Army soldier
• Albert E. Rice – politician
• Marion Ross – actress
• Henrik Shipstead – politician
• Paul Stagg – radio professional KWLM (formerly of WCCO)
• Curt Swan – illustrator of Superman comics from the '50s to the '80s
• Rick Swenson – dog musher and Iditarod participant
• Buck Zumhofe – wrestler
• Joel Engel – AKA MOOSE, likes rootbeer

Media

Newspapers

West Central Tribune

La Gran America (Trilingual newspaper) Founded in September 2008.

Magazines

Seasons of Minnesota

Coup

Television stations

Refer to UHF-TV Inc.

Pay television services

Charter Communications
En-Tel Communications
DirecTV
Dish Network

Radio stations

Call Sign	Frequency	City	Format
KNSR	88.9 FM	St. Cloud, MN	News
KBPG	89.5 FM	Montevideo, MN	Religious
KSJR	90.1 FM	St. Cloud, MN	Classical
KKLW	90.9 FM	Willmar, MN	Christian Contemporary
KBHZ	91.9 FM	Willmar, MN	Religious
KSCR-FM	93.5 FM	Benson, MN	Adult Contemporary
KKRC	93.9 FM	Montevideo, MN	Oldies
KKLN	94.1 FM	Willmar, MN	Rock
KMXK	94.9 FM	St. Cloud, MN	Hot AC
KDJS-FM	95.3 FM	Willmar, MN	Country
KTTB	96.3 FM	Minneapolis, MN	Rhythmic
KZRV	96.7 FM	St. Cloud, MN	Active Rock
KGLH-LP	96.9 FM	Spicer, MN	Religious
KRVY	97.3 FM	Willmar, MN	Adult Contemporary
KLGR-FM	97.7 FM	Redwood Falls, MN	Hot AC
WWJO	98.1 FM	St. Cloud, MN	Country
KZPK	98.9 FM	St. Cloud, MN	Country
KKCK	99.7 FM	Marshall, MN	Top 40/CHR
KOLV	100.1 FM	Olivia, MN	Country
KIKV	100.7 FM	Alexandria, MN	Country
WHMH	101.7 FM	St. Cloud, MN	Active Rock
KQIC	102.5 FM	Willmar, MN	Hot AC
KCLD	104.7 FM	St. Cloud, MN	Top 40/CHR
KARL	105.1 FM	Marshall, MN	Country
KMGM	105.5 FM	Montevideo, MN	Adult Contemporary
KLFN	106.5 FM	Willmar, MN	Classic Hits
KARP-FM	106.9 FM	Hutchinson, MN	Country
KMGK	107.1 FM	Glenwood, MN	Adult Contemporary
KUOM	770 AM	Minneapolis, MN	College
KDUZ	1260 AM	Hutchinson, MN	Country
KBMO	1290 AM	Benson, MN	Adult Contemporary
KWLM	1340 AM	Willmar, MN	News/Talk
KLFD	1410 AM	Litchfield, MN	Variety
KDMA	1460 AM	Montevideo, MN	Country
KLGR	1490 AM	Redwood Falls, MN	Country
KDJS	1590 AM	Willmar, MN	Oldies

Sister cities

Willmar has two sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

• Frameries, Belgium
• Vileyka, Belarus

External links

• Official website
• The Official Willmar Lakes Area Community site
• The Official Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
• Official website of the Willmar Public School District