Editing Alpha, Minnesota

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Alpha, Minnesota
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Jackson_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Alpha_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Alpha, Minnesota
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Jackson County, Minnesota|Jackson]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = Mayor – Council
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Tim Cain
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Platted
|established_date         = 1895
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = July 3, 1899
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web|title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 0.554
|area_land_km2            = 0.554
|area_water_km2           = 0.000
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.214
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.214
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.000
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 97
|pop_est_as_of            = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 97
|population_density_km2   = 175.01
|population_density_sq_mi = 453.27
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = −6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 423
|elevation_ft             = 1388
|coordinates              = {{coord|43|38|15|N|94|52|16|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 56111
|area_code                = [[Area code 507|507]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-01162
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2393928<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393928}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 6.875%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/minnesota/cities/alpha.html|title=Alpha (MN) sales tax rate|access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Alpha''' is a city in [[Jackson County, Minnesota|Jackson County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 97 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Alpha_city,_Minnesota?g=160XX00US2701162 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=February 6, 2024}}</ref>

==History==
Alpha was [[plat]]ted in 1895.<ref name="Upham 261">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog |title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |last=Upham |first=Warren |year=1920 |page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n280 261]}}</ref> A post office has been in operation at Alpha since 1895.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Jackson |title=Jackson County |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |accessdate=July 13, 2015}}</ref> The city was incorporated on July 3, 1899.<ref name="Upham 261" />

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.214|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 209
|1910= 223
|1920= 261
|1930= 209
|1940= 229
|1950= 230
|1960= 207
|1970= 179
|1980= 180
|1990= 105
|2000= 126
|2010= 116
|2020= 97
|estyear=2022
|estimate=97
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=February 6, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 6, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 116 people, 47 households, and 38 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|682.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 58 housing units at an average density of {{convert|341.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.9% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 47 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 12.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 19.1% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% 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 2.68.

The median age in the city was 43 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 27.6% were from 45 to 64; and 20.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 54.3% male and 45.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 126 people, 52 households, and 34 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|711.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 61 housing units at an average density of {{convert|344.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.41% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] and 1.59% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.79% of the population.

There were 52 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,750, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $26,563 versus $17,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,769. There were no families and 2.4% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including no under eighteens and 4.8% of those over 64.

==Politics==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2023}}
Alpha is located in [[Minnesota's 1st congressional district]], represented by [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]] [[Jim Hagedorn]].  At the state level, Alpha is located in [[Minnesota Senate|Senate]] District 22, represented by [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]] [[Doug Magnus]], and in [[Minnesota House of Representatives|House]] District 22B, represented by Republican [[Rod Hamilton]]. Tim Cain is the mayor of Alpha.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Alpha.htm Alpha Community Guide]

{{Jackson County, Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Jackson County, Minnesota]]