Houston, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Houston is a city in Houston County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 979 at the 2010 census.
, first president of the Republic of Texas
.
In 1852, William McSpadden platted the original site of the Village of Houston. McSpadden had served under the legendary Sam Houston in the Mexican-American War.
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
Minnesota State Highways 16
and 76
are two of the main routes in the city.
of 2000, there were 1,020 people, 434 households, and 255 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,083.2 people per square mile (419.0/km²). There were 459 housing units at an average density of 487.4 per square mile (188.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.02% White, 0.49% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.20% of the population.
There were 434 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,236, and the median income for a family was $38,462. Males had a median income of $31,161 versus $21,691 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,087. About 8.2% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
Jeanne Poppe, Minnesota legislator
.
caused the Root River
to rise to 19 feet (5.8 m) about a foot short of the height of the dike protecting the town, necessitating evacuation of the community.
serves Houston. With the program K12 Inc.
, Houston Public Schools has developed the Minnesota Center for Online Learning and the Minnesota Virtual Academy. Open to students state-wide, these programs are unique in that there are no others of their kind in Minnesota.
U.S. News and World Report named Houston High School of Houston, Minnesota one of America’s "Top 100 Schools" in a study published December 8, 2008 entitled “America’s Best High Schools.” http://www.usnews.com/directories/high-schools/.
Houston Public Schools was also ranked #6 in the state of Minnesota by the U.S. News and World Report
Five seniors of the 2008 state championship football team are playing college football. Three players are at UW-La Crosse and two players at Luther College.
Houston County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,718 people, 7,633 households, and 5,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 8,168 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 979 at the 2010 census.
History
The community was named after Sam HoustonSam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
, first president of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
.
In 1852, William McSpadden platted the original site of the Village of Houston. McSpadden had served under the legendary Sam Houston in the Mexican-American War.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
Minnesota State Highways 16
Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16 is a two-lane highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate Highway 90 in Dexter and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highways 14 and 61 in La Crescent....
and 76
Minnesota State Highway 76
Minnesota State Highway 76 is a highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from Iowa Highway 76 at the Iowa state line , and continues north to its northern terminus at its interchange with Interstate Highway 90 in Pleasant Hill Township near Winona.Highway 76 is in length.-Route...
are two of the main routes in the city.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,020 people, 434 households, and 255 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,083.2 people per square mile (419.0/km²). There were 459 housing units at an average density of 487.4 per square mile (188.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.02% White, 0.49% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.20% of the population.
There were 434 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,236, and the median income for a family was $38,462. Males had a median income of $31,161 versus $21,691 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,087. About 8.2% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives and residents
- Everett BidwellEverett BidwellEverett V. "Cy" Bidwell was a Wisconsin politician who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and later Wisconsin Senate, serving the 27th Senate district of Wisconsin. A member of the Republican Party, he was defeated for reelection by future United States Senator Russell Feingold...
, Wisconsin legislator - Francis Martin KellyFrancis Martin KellyFrancis Martin Kelly was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Winona from 1928 to 1949.-Biography:...
, third Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of WinonaRoman Catholic Diocese of WinonaThe Diocese of Winona is the Roman Catholic diocese which ministers to the people of southern Minnesota. The diocese includes Blue Earth, Cottonwood, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Jackson, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nobles, Olmsted, Pipestone, Rock, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonowan,...
Jeanne Poppe, Minnesota legislator
Trail connection
Houston is the eastern terminus of the Root River segment of the Blufflands State TrailBlufflands State Trail
Blufflands State Trail is a paved multi-use rail trail system in southeast Minnesota. The trail system consists of two main segments, the Root River segment, and Harmony-Preston Valley segment. The trails are used mainly for bicycling, hiking, and inline skating in the summer, and for cross...
.
2007 flood
The 2007 Midwest flooding2007 Midwest flooding
The 2007 Midwest flooding was a major flooding event that occurred in the Midwestern United States in the third week of August 2007. While Hurricane Dean was affecting the Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico, and Tropical Storm Erin was affecting Oklahoma and Texas, a persistent storm system...
caused the Root River
Root River (Minnesota)
The Root River flows for through the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota and is a tributary of the Upper Mississippi River. It is an excellent river for canoeing...
to rise to 19 feet (5.8 m) about a foot short of the height of the dike protecting the town, necessitating evacuation of the community.
Education
Houston Public SchoolsHouston Public Schools
* For the school district in Texas see Houston Independent School District. For the school district in Mississippi see Houston School District.------Houston Public Schools is a school district headquartered in Houston, Minnesota, United States....
serves Houston. With the program K12 Inc.
K12 Inc.
K12 Inc. is a technology-based education company that offers curriculum and educational services for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.- History :...
, Houston Public Schools has developed the Minnesota Center for Online Learning and the Minnesota Virtual Academy. Open to students state-wide, these programs are unique in that there are no others of their kind in Minnesota.
U.S. News and World Report named Houston High School of Houston, Minnesota one of America’s "Top 100 Schools" in a study published December 8, 2008 entitled “America’s Best High Schools.” http://www.usnews.com/directories/high-schools/.
Houston Public Schools was also ranked #6 in the state of Minnesota by the U.S. News and World Report
Sports
In November 2008 the Houston Hurricanes won the Minnesota 9-Man Football State Championship. They ended their season with a 14-0 mark. This is the first State Championship in school history, with the exception of five state appearances by the girls track team--which included a state title in 2006.Five seniors of the 2008 state championship football team are playing college football. Three players are at UW-La Crosse and two players at Luther College.