Editing Claremont, Minnesota (section)

==Geography==

Claremont is a small city in [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]], located in [[southeastern Minnesota]]. It is part of the [[Rochester metropolitan area, Minnesota|Rochester metropolitan area]]. The city is situated along [[U.S. Route 14]], approximately 18 miles from [[Rochester, Minnesota|Rochester]], the largest city in the area. Claremont is easily accessible via [[Dodge County Road 1]] and [[Dodge County Road 3]], which connect it to the larger regional road network.<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Claremont|url=http://www.claremontmn.com/|publisher=City of Claremont Minnesota|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

===Location and Size===
Claremont covers a total land area of {{convert|1.08|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, as reported by the [[United States Census Bureau]].<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files – Claremont, Minnesota|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref> This is a relatively small land area compared to major U.S. cities, which tend to range in hundreds of square miles. For comparison, the city of [[Minneapolis]] in Minnesota spans about {{convert|58.4|sqmi}}, making Claremont much smaller in land area.<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Minneapolis Profile|url=https://www.minneapolismn.gov/|publisher=City of Minneapolis|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

===Location in Relation to Neighboring Areas===
Claremont is located in [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]], with neighboring cities and towns including [[Dodge Center]] to the north and [[West Concord, Minnesota|West Concord]] to the south. The city lies about 18 miles southeast of [[Rochester, Minnesota|Rochester]], which is known for its healthcare and educational industries. The city is situated within the [[Rochester metropolitan area, Minnesota|Rochester metropolitan area]], but it retains a rural, small-town character.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rochester, Minnesota|url=https://www.rochestermn.gov/|publisher=City of Rochester|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

===Physical Features===
Claremont is part of the [[Minnesota Prairie]] and the [[driftless area]] of southeastern Minnesota. The city is primarily situated on [[Flat (landform)|flat]] to [[gently rolling terrain]], typical of much of the southeastern Minnesota region. The city is surrounded by farmland, with some small hills and scattered wooded areas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Geography of Southeastern Minnesota|url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_mapping/southeast.html|publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

===Waterways and Ports===
While Claremont is not directly located on any major waterways, it is situated in an area with access to various [[rivers]] and [[streams]] in [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]], most notably the [[Zumbro River]], which flows to the east.<ref>{{cite web|title=Zumbro River|url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/watersheds/zumbro.html|publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref> The [[Zumbro River]] provides some opportunities for local water activities, but Claremont itself does not have large-scale ports or navigable waterways.

===Topography===
The [[elevation]] of Claremont is approximately {{convert|1286|ft|m|0}} (392 meters) above sea level.<ref name="gnis">{{GNIS|2393531}}</ref> The landscape in and around Claremont consists of relatively [[flat farmland]] and [[gentle hills]], with small streams running through the area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Topography of Southeastern Minnesota|url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_mapping/southeast.html|publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

===Natural Resources===
The region around Claremont is rich in [[agricultural]] resources, including fertile soil ideal for farming. The [[Minnesota Prairie]] area supports a variety of crops, including [[corn]], [[soybeans]], and [[wheat]], as well as [[livestock farming]]. Other natural resources in the area are primarily [[agricultural products]] rather than mineral resources.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota Agricultural Resources|url=https://www.mda.state.mn.us/|publisher=Minnesota Department of Agriculture|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

===Road and Rail Networks===
Claremont benefits from a well-developed [[road network]] that connects the city to larger metropolitan areas:
* [[U.S. Highway 14]] is the primary route that connects Claremont to [[Rochester, Minnesota|Rochester]] and other nearby towns.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Route 14 in Minnesota|url=https://www.mndot.gov/|publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Dodge County Road 1]] and [[Dodge County Road 3]] provide additional local access to surrounding areas. These roads are locally maintained by the [[Dodge County Highway Department]].<ref>{{cite web|title=County Roads in Minnesota|url=https://www.mndot.gov/|publisher=Minnesota Department of Transportation|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

While Claremont itself no longer has a [[rail line]], the area was historically served by the [[Chicago & North Western Railway]], which helped to establish the city’s agricultural trading importance in the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chicago and North Western Railway|title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA56|year=1908|page=56}}</ref> Rail access was crucial for the region’s economic development during that time.

===Climate===
Claremont has a [[humid continental climate]], characterized by four distinct seasons:
* [[Winter]]s are cold, with average temperatures often dropping below freezing, and snowfall is common.
* [[Summers]] are warm and humid, with temperatures frequently reaching the 80s and 90s °F (27-37&nbsp;°C).
* [[Spring (season)|Spring]] and [[fall]] are transitional seasons, with mild temperatures and moderate rainfall.

Seasonal temperature fluctuations can be significant, with summer highs occasionally reaching over 90&nbsp;°F (32&nbsp;°C), while winter lows can dip below 0&nbsp;°F (-18&nbsp;°C). [[Precipitation]] is spread throughout the year, with [[Spring (season)|spring]] and [[summer]] seeing the most rainfall. [[Atmospheric pressure]] is typical for the region, with some variability based on seasonal changes. [[Humidity]] levels are high during summer months and lower during the winter months.<ref>{{cite web|title=Claremont, Minnesota Climate Data|url=https://www.weather.gov/climate/|publisher=National Weather Service|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

===Seasonal Abnormalities===
* [[Summer]] thunderstorms can bring heavy rain and occasional tornadoes to the region. The area is located in [[Tornado Alley]], so Claremont may experience tornado warnings during the summer months.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tornadoes in Minnesota|url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forests/fire/tornado.html|publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Snowfall]] can be significant in winter, especially from November to March, with accumulation averaging around {{convert|30|in|mm|1}} (76&nbsp;cm) annually.<ref>{{cite web|title=Snowfall in Southeastern Minnesota|url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snowfall/index.html|publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Drought conditions]] can sometimes affect the area, although the climate generally provides adequate rainfall for agriculture.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota Drought Resources|url=https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/drought.html|publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

===Political Geography===
Claremont is situated within [[Dodge County, Minnesota|Dodge County]], which is part of the [[Rochester metropolitan area, Minnesota|Rochester metropolitan area]]. The [[city of Rochester]], located approximately 18 miles northeast, serves as the regional center for [[healthcare]], [[education]], and [[Industry (manufacturing)|industry]].

Claremont is part of [[Minnesota Senate District 26]] and [[House District 26B]], both of which encompass other small towns and rural areas in southeastern Minnesota. The city is governed by a [[Mayor-Council]] system with the Mayor and City Council overseeing local policies.<ref>{{cite web|title=District 26B - Minnesota State Legislature|url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/|publisher=Minnesota State Legislature|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

===State of Industrial Development===
While Claremont is primarily a rural agricultural community, it benefits from the nearby [[Rochester metropolitan area, Minnesota|Rochester metropolitan area]], which is a hub of [[healthcare]] and [[biotechnology]]. The presence of the [[Mayo Clinic]] in Rochester provides significant economic benefits to surrounding areas, including Claremont. The local economy is supported by [[manufacturing]], [[healthcare]], and [[construction]], with small-scale industrial activities and businesses contributing to the local economy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Economic Development of Rochester, MN|url=https://www.rochestermn.gov/|publisher=City of Rochester|accessdate=November 9, 2024}}</ref>