Freeport, Minnesota

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

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Freeport, Minnesota


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

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 2.3
area_land_km2 = 2.3
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.9
area_land_sq_mi = 0.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 454
population_density_km2 = 198.6
population_density_sq_mi = 514.3

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 379
elevation_ft = 1243
latd = 45 |latm = 39 |lats = 47 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 41 |longs = 15 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 56331
area_code = 320
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-22652GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0643925GR|3
website =
footnotes =
[
frame|right|Freeportwater tower greets travelers on Interstate 94 with a smiley face]

Freeport is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 454 at the 2000 census. It is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it is land and 1.12% is water.

Businesses and Organizations

* [http://www.freeportstatebank.com/ Freeport State Bank]
* Charlie's Cafe
* [http://www.freeportblacksox.com/ Freeport Black Sox Baseball Team]
* Ackies Pioneer Inn
* Corner Pub
* Hennen Lumber
* Hennen Floor Covering
* Whirlwind Building Products
* Ellingson Plumbing and Heating
* [http://www.centralmnfcu.org/ Central Minnesota Federal Credit Union]
* Freeport Screen Print
* Freeport Farm Center
* Atkinson Well and Pump
* Swany White Flour Mills
* Famo Feeds
* Mid Central Heating and Air Conditioning
* Applewood Homes
* Corner Store
* [http://www.aleephotography.com/ ALee Photography]
* Quality Trailers
* Freeport Hardware

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 454 people, 190 households, and 132 families residing in the city. The population density was 514.3 people per square mile (199.2/km²). There were 199 housing units at an average density of 225.4/sq mi (87.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.34% White, 0.22% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.

There were 190 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 24.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,955, and the median income for a family was $39,063. Males had a median income of $31,964 versus $22,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,827. About 3.2% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

Freeport Baseball

In 2005 amateur baseball returned to Freeport for the first time in about 50 years. The [http://www.freeportblacksox.com/ Freeport Black Sox] (formally the Melrose Black Sox) started playing for Freeport in 2005. The first season and a half was played in New Munich because construction of Black Sox Park, the new home of the Black Sox had not been completed. On July 2, 2006 opening ceremonies at Black Sox Park commenced in front of around 500 fans. Tim Laudner, formerly of the Minnesota Twins was on hand to sign autographs and to give praise to the efforts of the small community for the wonderful job done on Black Sox Park. The game that followed pitted the Freeport Black Sox vs the [http://www.litchfieldblues.com/ Litchfield Blues] in a match up of Lakewood West rivals. The Black Sox came out swinging and ended up defeating the Blues 10 - 0 in a game that was shortened to 7 innings due to the 10 run rule.

Inspiration for Lake Wobegon

Garrison Keillor, creator of Lake Wobegon and host of A Prairie Home Companion, has written that Stearns County in general and Freeport specifically were the inspirations for his fictional city, Lake Woebegon. In 1998 the county honored Keillor and his show by naming a section of abandoned rail line the Lake Wobegon Trail. [In Search of Lake Woebegon (National Geographic Magazine); Garrison Keillor; December 2000]

References

External links

* [http://freeportmn.org City website]