St. James, Minnesota

St. James or Saint James<ref name=gnis/> is a city in and the county seat of Watonwan County, Minnesota, United States.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The population was 4,793 at the 2020 census.<ref name="2020 Census (City)">Template:Cite web</ref>

Minnesota State Highways 4, 30, and 60 are three of the main routes in the city.

History

In 1870, the directors of the St. Paul and Sioux City railroads chose the future townsite of St. James as the midpoint for a new railroad linking the two cities. Named for James Purington, an early settler,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the new city was incorporated in 1871.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It was the hometown of Minnesota Governor Winfield Scott Hammond, a Democrat who served in 1915. In the 1940s, Theodore S. Mondale, the father of future Vice President of the United States Walter Mondale, was the pastor at First Methodist Church of St. James. Tony Downs Foods Co. has been a major employer since 1947, processing poultry and frozen meals.

St. James has two properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Grand Opera House, completed in 1892, and the Watonwan County Courthouse, completed in 1896.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of Template:Convert; Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 4,605 people, 1,839 households, and 1,145 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,039 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 81.8% White, 0.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 14.9% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.0% of the population.

There were 1,839 households, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.7% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.17.

The median age in the city was 37.8 years. 27.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,695 people, 1,845 households, and 1,186 families living in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,006 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the city was 83.24% White, 0.40% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 14.27% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.77% of the population.

There were 1,845 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,196, and the median income for a family was $40,993. Males had a median income of $30,036 versus $19,391 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,336. About 9.0% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Precinct General Election Results<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|50.7% 924	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|47.6% 867	1.7% 32
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|48.8% 880	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|44.3% 799	6.9% 125
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2012	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|42.1% 756	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|55.5% 997	2.4% 44
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2008	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|42.3% 801	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|54.8% 1,039	2.9% 56
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2004	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|49.1% 982	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|48.9% 977	2.0% 41
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2000	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|44.5% 795	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|48.8% 872	6.7% 120
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|1996	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|32.3% 617	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|54.3% 1,038	13.4% 255
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|1992	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|31.6% 635	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|41.4% 831	27.0% 541
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1988	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|51.2% 980	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|48.8% 933	0.0% 0
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1984	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|56.5% 1,158	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|43.5% 893	0.0% 0
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1980	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|49.7% 1,139	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|42.8% 981	7.5% 171
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1976	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|49.7% 1,105	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|49.3% 1,097	1.0% 23
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1968	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|51.4% 1,062	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|45.0% 928	3.6% 75
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|1964	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|43.1% 877	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|56.8% 1,154	0.1% 1
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1960	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|65.1% 1,341	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|34.6% 713	0.3% 5

Transport

The city owns and operates the St. James Municipal Airport.<ref name=airport>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

• Moses K. Armstrong, businessman and legislator
• Becky Buller, bluegrass musician
• Brad Finstad, U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s 1st congressional district
• Peter Eckerstrom, Arizona Court of Appeals judge
• Henry Norman Graven, United States District Court judge, born in St. James
• Winfield Scott Hammond, 18th Minnesota governor, established his home and his law practice in St. James
• Mac Hegstrom, businessman and politician, born in St. James
• Carl L. Johnson, businessman and legislator
• Mike Kingery, professional baseball player, born in St. James
• Gary Mielke, professional baseball player, born in St. James
• Carl G. Olson, farmer and politician, born in St. James

Media

Television

Channel	Callsign	Affiliation	Branding	Subchannels		Owner
(Virtual)				Channel	Programming
2.1	K26CS-D (KTCA Translator)	PBS	TPT 2	2.2 2.4	Minnesota Channel PBS Kids	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
2.3	K29IE-D (KTCI Translator)	PBS	TPT Life	2.5	TPT Now	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
4.2	K35KI-D	Start TV				Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
5.1	K30FN-D (KSTP Translator)	ABC	5 Eyewitness News	5.7	Heroes & Icons	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
5.2	K14KE-D (KSTC Translator)	Ind.	45 TV	5.3 5.4 5.6	Me-TV Antenna TV This TV	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
7.1	KMNF-LD	NBC	KEYC	7.2	The CW+	Gray Television
9.2	K23MF-D (WFTC Translator)	Ind.	FOX 9 Plus	9.3 9.1	Movies! FOX	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
9.9	K35KI-D (KMSP Translator)	FOX	FOX 9	9.4 9.5	Buzzr Light TV	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
11.4	K32GX-D (KARE Translator)	NBC	KARE 11	11.5 11.6 11.7	Court TV True Crime Network Quest	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
12.1	KEYC-TV	CBS	KEYC	12.2	Fox	Gray Television
16.1	K31KV-D	CTV		16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 23.5	Action Heartland AMG Biz Grit	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
17.1	K17MW-D	Youtoo America				Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
18.1	K18NE-D					Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
19.1	K19LI-D	Laff				Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
23.1	K34JX-D (WUCW Translator)	CW	CW 23	23.2 23.3 23.4	Comet Charge! TBD	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
23.6	K21DG-D	CTV 2				Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
24.1	K24JV-D	Retro TV				Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
28.1	K28OH-D					Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
41.1	K20LP-D (KPXM Translator)	ION	ION	41.2 41.3 41.4 41.5 41.6	Qubo Ion Plus ION Shop QVC HSN	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
45.1	K22MQ-D	TBN		45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5	Hillsong Channel JUCE TV Smile Enlace	Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota

External links

• Template:Commons category-inline
• City Website
• St. James Public Schools
• St. James Chamber of Commerce
• St. James Plaindealer newspaper site