Hector, Minnesota

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

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Hector, Minnesota


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

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
The LEADER OF HECTOR =
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established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.0
area_land_km2 = 4.0
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 = 1166
population_density_km2 = 291.8
population_density_sq_mi = 755.7

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 329
elevation_ft = 1079
latd = 44 |latm = 44 |lats = 33 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 42 |longs = 52 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 55342
area_code = 320
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-28124GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0644825GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Hector is a city in Renville County, Minnesota, USA. The population was 1,166 at the 2000 census.

U.S. Route 212 and Minnesota State Highway 4 are two of the main arterial routes in the city.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (4.0 km²), all of it land.

History

According to Hector's Official Website:

Hector was founded in 1878 when the Hastings and Dakota Railway Company constructed the railroad on the north side of the original town site. The 10 block town site survey was completed September 14, 1878 on land owned by the Hastings and Dakota Railway Company.

The village was named after the township of Hector, which had been organized in June of 1874. It had originally been named Milford, but found it necessary to change its name when it was learned there was already another Milford in Minnesota. After a hotly contested debate between those who favored the name Plainfield (after the stage stop and post office) and those who favored the name Hector, a township in New York on the east shore of Seneca Lake where many of the early settlers came from. Hector, New York was named after the bravest of the ancient Trojan warriors whose story is an important part of Homer’s epic, “Iliad”. So by succession, Hector was named after the brave Trojan warrior and it has always shown fighting spirit befitting its name. (Unbeknown to the village citizens, further research showed the other Milford was actually located in South Dakota, and they could have named their town Milford after all.)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,166 people, 509 households, and 320 families residing in the city. The population density was 755.7 people per square mile (292.3/km²). There were 532 housing units at an average density of 344.8/sq mi (133.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.54% White, 4.03% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.23% of the population.

There were 509 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,000, and the median income for a family was $41,477. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $22,159 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,406. About 6.5% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

References