Richfield, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 34,439 people, 15,073 households, and 8,727 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,993.9 people per square mile (1,927.1/km²). There were 15,357 housing units at an average density of 2,226.9 per square mile (859.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.25% White, 6.65% African American, 0.72% Native American, 5.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.41% from other races
, and 2.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.27% of the population.
There were 15,073 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,519, and the median income for a family was $56,434. Males had a median income of $38,417 versus $29,909 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $24,709. About 3.9% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
, represented by Minneapolis lawyer Keith Ellison
, a Democrat.
Best Buy Company, Inc.
moved its corporate headquarters into the city in 2003, becoming the largest employer in Richfield.
Job growth in Richfield has reached unprecedented levels in recent years. From the first quarter of 2001 to the first quarter of 2003, net job growth equaled 2,444 – the second highest in the metropolitan area. Additionally, total employment in Richfield jumped from 10,090 to nearly 15,000 between 1995 and 2005.
Cedar Point Commons recently opened in Richfield at Cedar Avenue and 66th Street, adjacent to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. SuperTarget and The Home Depot
serve as its anchor tenants. The SuperTarget has the Target bullseye painted on its roof, which can be seen from planes taking off from the airport. Target stores near Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
also have bullseyes on their roof.
in grades K
-12. Richfield schools are organized around four key stages of youth development, Primary School, Intermediate School, Middle School, and High School.
Primary School: Two elementary schools serve primary students in Kindergarten through Grade 2. In an environment geared toward young children, students begin learning the fundamentals of reading, writing
and math
, and begin to explore other curriculum areas as well.
Intermediate School: The school is divided into teacher/learner teams for grades 3-5 that allow students and teachers to develop strong bonds and help teachers monitor progress and meet the needs of individual learners. Standards-based instruction continues to build a strong foundation of learning in the core areas of reading, language arts, math, science and social studies. Other activities help students to develop positive values, leadership and social skills.In September 2010,Richfield Intermediate School became Richfield STEM School servng kids K-5.
Middle School: Students in Grades 6-8 attend Richfield Middle School. Students work with a team of teachers in core academic areas of language arts, math, science and social studies. Students develop skills and talents through a variety of exploratory courses – including art, music, global languages, family and consumer science, physical education, health and computers/technology.
High School: Richfield High School provides a wide variety of programs and activities to meet the interests and needs of students in Grades 9-12. A variety of honors, accelerated, independent study and college credit classes provide a high level of challenge for the 1,400 students that attend Richfield High School.
land, 21 neighborhood parks and a nature preserve. Wood Lake Nature Center
, which is a 150 acre (0.607029 km²) park operated by the city of Richfield that features wetlands, walking paths and an interpretive center. When the Nature Center opened in 1971, it was one of the first urban nature center in the United States, and is currently home to more than 200 different kinds of birds and 30 mammals.
Richfield's Ice Arena has two full-size indoor skating rinks. Hockey games, figure skating
, broom ball games, open skating, and community events all take place in this facility.
Located near the icea arena is Richfield's outdoor pool. Renovated in 2003, the swim complex features a 50-meter competitive pool, wading pool, and a 28 feet (9 m) double waterslide. The city is also home to a single bowling alleys – Lariat Lanes on the west side of Richfield.
Census
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 34,439 people, 15,073 households, and 8,727 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 4,993.9 people per square mile (1,927.1/km²). There were 15,357 housing units at an average density of 2,226.9 per square mile (859.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.25% White, 6.65% African American, 0.72% Native American, 5.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.41% 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 2.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.27% of the population.
There were 15,073 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% 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, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,519, and the median income for a family was $56,434. Males had a median income of $38,417 versus $29,909 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 $24,709. About 3.9% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
On November 7, 2006, Debbie Goettel – despite having had no previous elected experience in the city's government – was elected Richfield's mayor. She assumed the position held by Martin Kirsch for 16 years (four terms). Richfield has five city council members, which include Sue Sandahl (at-large), Pat Elliott (west Richfield), Fred Wroge (central), Tom Fitzhenry (east) and Mayor Goettel. At the State level, Richfield is represented by DFLers, including state Sen. Ken Kelash and state representatives Paul Thissen and Linda Slocum. The city is located in Minnesota's 5th congressional districtMinnesota's 5th congressional district
Minnesota's 5th congressional district is a geographically small urban and suburban congressional district in Minnesota. It covers eastern Hennepin County, including the entire city of Minneapolis, along with parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties. It was created in 1883 and was named the "Bloody...
, represented by Minneapolis lawyer Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison (politician)
Keith Maurice Ellison is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The district centers on Minneapolis. He was re-elected in 2010. Ellison is a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.He is the first Muslim to be elected to the...
, a Democrat.
Business
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
moved its corporate headquarters into the city in 2003, becoming the largest employer in Richfield.
Job growth in Richfield has reached unprecedented levels in recent years. From the first quarter of 2001 to the first quarter of 2003, net job growth equaled 2,444 – the second highest in the metropolitan area. Additionally, total employment in Richfield jumped from 10,090 to nearly 15,000 between 1995 and 2005.
Cedar Point Commons recently opened in Richfield at Cedar Avenue and 66th Street, adjacent to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. SuperTarget and The Home Depot
The Home Depot
The Home Depot is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services.The Home Depot operates 2,248 big-box format stores across the United States , Canada , Mexico and China, with a 12-store chain...
serve as its anchor tenants. The SuperTarget has the Target bullseye painted on its roof, which can be seen from planes taking off from the airport. Target stores near Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is a public airport located south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. It is the commercial airport nearest to Washington, D.C. For many decades, it was called Washington National Airport, but this airport was renamed in 1998 to...
also have bullseyes on their roof.
Top Employers
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best Buy Best Buy Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates... (HQ) |
5,200 |
| 2 | Richfield Public Schools Richfield Public Schools Richfield Public Schools is a school district in Richfield, Minnesota.-Schools:* Richfield Senior High School* Richfield Middle School* Richfield STEM Elementary School* Sheridan Hills Elementary School* Centennial Elementary School... |
656 |
| 3 | GMAC ResCap | 530 |
| 4 | Metro Sales, Inc. | 243 |
| 5 | City of Richfield | 205 |
| 6 | Best Buy Best Buy Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates... (store) |
200 |
| 7 | Target Target Corporation Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's... |
200 |
| 8 | Richfield Health Center | 122 |
| 9 | Metro Dentalcare | 119 |
| 10 | Weis Builders | 119 |
Population statistics
| Population History | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Population | Number of People Employed in Richfield |
| 1940 | 3,778 | |
| 1950 | 17,502 | |
| 1960 | 42,523 | |
| 1970 | 47,231 | 10,328 |
| 1980 | 37,851 | 10,698 |
| 1990 | 35,710 | 10,844 |
| 2000 | 34,439 | 11,602 |
| 2010 | 37,500 | 17,100 |
| 2020 | 40,000 | 19,300 |
- Estimated projections
Education
Richfield has public schools, private schools, alternative education programs, and post-secondary options.Public schools
The school district, Independent School District 280, serves about 4,200 students in Richfield and part of EdinaEdina, Minnesota
Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a first-ring suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
in grades K
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
-12. Richfield schools are organized around four key stages of youth development, Primary School, Intermediate School, Middle School, and High School.
Primary School: Two elementary schools serve primary students in Kindergarten through Grade 2. In an environment geared toward young children, students begin learning the fundamentals of reading, writing
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
and math
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, and begin to explore other curriculum areas as well.
Intermediate School: The school is divided into teacher/learner teams for grades 3-5 that allow students and teachers to develop strong bonds and help teachers monitor progress and meet the needs of individual learners. Standards-based instruction continues to build a strong foundation of learning in the core areas of reading, language arts, math, science and social studies. Other activities help students to develop positive values, leadership and social skills.In September 2010,Richfield Intermediate School became Richfield STEM School servng kids K-5.
Middle School: Students in Grades 6-8 attend Richfield Middle School. Students work with a team of teachers in core academic areas of language arts, math, science and social studies. Students develop skills and talents through a variety of exploratory courses – including art, music, global languages, family and consumer science, physical education, health and computers/technology.
High School: Richfield High School provides a wide variety of programs and activities to meet the interests and needs of students in Grades 9-12. A variety of honors, accelerated, independent study and college credit classes provide a high level of challenge for the 1,400 students that attend Richfield High School.
- Richfield High SchoolRichfield High School (Minnesota)Richfield High School is the only public traditional high school in Richfield, Minnesota, and also the only public high school in the area that is a college preparatory school. Richfield, MN, a suburb of Minneapolis located directly south of the Minneapolis city limits...
Private schools
- Academy of Holy AngelsAcademy of Holy AngelsThe Academy of Holy Angels is a Catholic, coeducational high school located in Richfield, Minnesota. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Holy Angels educates more than 820 students each year in grades nine through twelve from around the Twin Cities...
: The Academy of Holy Angels is a Catholic, co-educational high school that serves over 800 students in Grades 9 through 12. - Fraser School: The Fraser School is an inclusive early childhood center that serves children six-weeks to six-years old. It is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young ChildrenNational Association for the Education of Young ChildrenThe National Association for the Education of Young Children is the largest nonprofit association in the United States representing early childhood education teachers, paraeducators, center directors, trainers, college educators, families of young children, policy makers, and advocates...
and is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. - Blessed Trinity Catholic School
- Mount Calvary Lutheran School
- Minnesota Japanese School
Post-secondary
- Adler Graduate SchoolAdler Graduate SchoolAdler Graduate School is a small, non-profit educational institution located in Richfield, Minnesota that offers a Master of Arts Degree in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy with five areas of emphasis. These are: Marriage and Family Therapy, Licensed Professional Counseling/Licensed...
- Globe University/Minnesota School of Business, offering bachelor's and associate degrees and diplomas in business, health science, information technology, legal science and creative production
- Minnesota Life CollegeMinnesota Life CollegeMinnesota Life College or MLC as it is commonly referred, is a three year postsecondary, life-skills training program for young adults with learning disabilities located in Richfield, Minnesota.-History:...
Recreation
Richfield has more than 460 acres (1.9 km²) of parkPark
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
land, 21 neighborhood parks and a nature preserve. Wood Lake Nature Center
Wood Lake Nature Center
Wood Lake Nature Center is a nature preserve within Richfield, Minnesota. In addition to Wood Lake, the park contains mixed lowland forest, cattail marsh and restored prairie habitats. Three miles of walking trails and boardwalks surround the lake as well as observation shelters,docks, a picnic...
, which is a 150 acre (0.607029 km²) park operated by the city of Richfield that features wetlands, walking paths and an interpretive center. When the Nature Center opened in 1971, it was one of the first urban nature center in the United States, and is currently home to more than 200 different kinds of birds and 30 mammals.
Richfield's Ice Arena has two full-size indoor skating rinks. Hockey games, figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
, broom ball games, open skating, and community events all take place in this facility.
Located near the icea arena is Richfield's outdoor pool. Renovated in 2003, the swim complex features a 50-meter competitive pool, wading pool, and a 28 feet (9 m) double waterslide. The city is also home to a single bowling alleys – Lariat Lanes on the west side of Richfield.
Notable residents
- Steve ChristoffSteve ChristoffSteven Mark Christoff is a retired American professional ice hockey forward who played 248 regular season games in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings in 1980–84....
of the 1980 USA men's hockey team that won the gold medal in the Miracle on IceMiracle on IceThe "Miracle on Ice" is the name in American popular culture for a medal-round men's ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, New York, on Friday, February 22...
. - Darby HendricksonDarby HendricksonDarby Joseph Hendrickson is a retired American professional ice hockey center. He played in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche, and is currently an assistant coach with the Wild.-Playing career:He was drafted in...
- Former NHL player - Will StegerWill StegerWill Steger is a prominent spokesperson for the understanding and preservation of the Arctic and has led some of the most significant feats in the field of dogsled expeditions; such as the first confirmed dogsled journey to the North Pole in 1986, the 1,600-mile south-north traverse of Greenland...
- Arctic explorer and environmentalist - Charles W. LindbergCharles W. LindbergCharles W. "Chuck" Lindberg was a United States Marine who was part of the first raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II...
- U.S Marine - Chad SmithChad SmithChad Smith is an American musician, best known as the longtime and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smith is also the drummer of the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot which includes Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, and Michael Anthony, former Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes' backing band and...
- Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer - Morris A. Nilsen - Founder of Morris Nilsen Boys' Choir (now known as: Minnesota Boys' Choir) in 1963. The founder and owner of Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel (established 1958).