Belle Plaine, Minnesota

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Belle Plaine, Minnesota
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Belle Plaine, Minnesota


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

government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 11.0
area_land_km2 = 10.5
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_total_sq_mi = 4.3
area_land_sq_mi = 4.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3789
population_density_km2 = 360.1
population_density_sq_mi = 932.7

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 261
elevation_ft = 856
latd = 44 |latm = 37 |lats = 25 |latNS = N
longd = 93 |longm = 45 |longs = 57 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 56011
area_code = 952
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-04834GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0639891GR|3
website = [http://www.belleplainemn.com/ www.belleplainemn.com]
footnotes =

Belle Plaine is a city in Scott County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,789 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11.0 km²), of which, 4.1 square miles (10.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (4.47%) is water.

U.S. Route 169 and Minnesota State Highway 25 are two of the main routes in the community.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,789 people, 1,396 households, and 949 families residing in the city. The population density was 932.7 people per square mile (360.3/km²). There were 1,424 housing units at an average density of 350.5/sq mi (135.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.39% White, 0.13% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.45% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 1,396 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,272, and the median income for a family was $59,539. Males had a median income of $39,292 versus $27,054 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,433. About 2.9% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

History

Minnesota Territorial Judge Andrew G. Chatfield selected this townsite in 1853 while traveling on horseback from Mendota to Traverse des Sioux to hold court. Judge Chatfield chose to name the townsite Belle Plaine, French for "beautiful prairie."

From 1868 to 1974, Belle Plaine was incorporated as a borough, the only municipality in Minnesota to do so. In 1974, the municipal title was changed from borough to city.

Education

The Belle Plaine Public Schools service nearly 1,400 students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. The district is growing at approximately 4% per year. In 2007, the junior and senior high schools combined into a newly renovated building, and the elementary was split according to grade level due to a new school having been built.

Administration (2008)

*Kelly D. Smith, Superintendent
*Lowell Hoffman, High School Principal
*Matt Hillmann, Chatfield Elementary (K-2) Principal
*JoAnne Tierney, Oak Crest Elementary (3-6) Principal

References

External links

* [http://www.belleplaine.k12.mn.us Belle Plaine Public Schools - website]