Karlstad, Minnesota

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Karlstad, Minnesota
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Karlstad, Minnesota


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Minnesota
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Kittson

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 3.9
area_land_km2 = 3.9
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.5
area_land_sq_mi = 1.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 794
population_density_km2 = 201.7
population_density_sq_mi = 522.3

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 320
elevation_ft = 1050
latd = 48 |latm = 34 |lats = 34 |latNS = N
longd = 96 |longm = 31 |longs = 8 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 56732
area_code = 218
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-32444GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0646041GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Karlstad is a city in Kittson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 794 at the 2000 census.

U.S. Route 59 and Minnesota State Highway 11 are two of the main arterial routes in the city.

The current mayor is Nick Amb (elected 2006). The city's slogan is "The Moose Capitol of the North"."

Enterprise

Karlstad's largest employers are Wikstrom Telephone Company (Wiktel) and Mattracks. Wiktel provides internet and phone services for much of Norwestern Minnesota, including the regional telephone directory. The company has a long history in Karlstad, going back to the early 1900's. It was founded by the Wikstrom family, and many of the current employees are Wikstroms. Mattracks, however, is a newly founded company within the last 15 years, and manufactures and markets track conversion systems. Started by Glen Brazier, the rapidly growing company recently opened a new plant in China. Other than these two companies, most town businesses are locally owned and employ only a few individuals. That said, residents are lucky to have businesses that meet basic needs, including hardware, furniture, and grocery stores, a hair salon, a Scandinavian gifts shop, a few restaurants and bars, and insurance and accounting services. In addition, the local community is primarily a farming one.

Education

Karlstad has two schools: Heritage Christian School and Tri-County Public Schools. Both schools serve grades K-12. Tri-County School combines with Marshall County Central Schools of Newfolden, MN, located 17 miles to the south, for all of its athletic programs, except for boys basketball.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 794 people, 340 households, and 199 families residing in the city. The population density was 522.3 people per square mile (201.7/km²). There were 394 housing units at an average density of 259.2/sq mi (100.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.86% White, 0.63% Native American, 0.13% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population. 47.5% were of Norwegian, 19.9% Swedish and 9.9% German ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 340 households out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 27.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,208, and the median income for a family was $35,469. Males had a median income of $29,444 versus $20,893 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,274. About 9.2% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.karlstad.mn.us/ City of Karlstad]
* [http://www.heritagepatriots.org/ Heritage Christian School]
* [http://www.tricounty.k12.mn.us/ Tri-County Schools]