Editing Comfrey, Minnesota

{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Comfrey
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "Remembering Yesterday, Appreciating Today, Working for Tomorrow"<ref name="Comfrey Minnesota Website">{{cite web|url= http://www.comfrey.govoffice.com/ |title=  Comfrey Minnesota Website|publisher= Comfrey Minnesota Website |accessdate= October 14, 2012}}</ref>

<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Cottonwood_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Comfrey_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Comfrey, Minnesota
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Minnesota]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Minnesota|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Brown County, Minnesota|Brown]], [[Cottonwood County, Minnesota|Cottonwood]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Mayor - Council
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Gary Richter<ref name="Comfrey Minnesota Website">{{cite web|url= http://www.comfrey.govoffice.com/ |title=  Comfrey Minnesota Website|publisher= Comfrey Minnesota Website |accessdate= October 14, 2012}}</ref>
| established_title  = platted
| established_date   = 1902<ref name = HOPN/>

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|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>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 1.11
| area_land_km2      = 1.11
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.43
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.43
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_total   = 392
| population_footnotes = 
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_density_km2 = 353.58
| population_density_sq_mi = 915.89

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 1125
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|06|40|N|94|54|10|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 56019
| area_code          = [[Area code 507|507]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 27-12772<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2393615<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393615}}</ref>
| website            = https://www.comfreymn.com/
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
}}

'''Comfrey''' is a city in [[Brown County, Minnesota|Brown]] and [[Cottonwood County, Minnesota|Cottonwood]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. The population was 392 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2010 Census (City)">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Comfrey%20city,%20Minnesota |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The majority of the people live in Brown County.

==History==
Comfrey was [[plat]]ted in 1902.<ref name = "HOPN">{{cite book|author=Chicago and North Western Railway Company|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=PA58|year=1908|page=58}}</ref> It was named after the plant called [[comfrey]] (Symphytini Officinalis), by the first postmaster, A. W. Pederson.<ref name = HOPN/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=20946|title=Profile for Comfrey, Minnesota, MN |publisher= ePodunk|accessdate= October 14, 2012}}</ref>

On March 29, 1998, Comfrey was hit by a strong [[1998 Comfrey – St. Peter tornado outbreak|F4 tornado]] which damaged or destroyed most of the town.<ref>[http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/199803/30_steilm_comfrey-m/ "Living Through the Tornado in Comfrey"], Minnesota Public Radio, March 30, 1998</ref> While no one was killed, a dozen people were injured.<ref name = "SPT">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0ioxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=huYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3527,3008414&dq=comfrey+minnesota&hl=en "Tornadoes cut destructive path in southern Minnesota"], ''Gettysburg Times,'' March 30, 1998</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.47|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2012-11-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-07-02 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 238
|1920= 533
|1930= 535
|1940= 555
|1950= 642
|1960= 616
|1970= 525
|1980= 548
|1990= 433
|2000= 367
|2010= 382
|2020= 392
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{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>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-11-13}}</ref> of 2010, there were 382 people, 169 households, and 110 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|812.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 180 housing units at an average density of {{convert|383.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], and 2.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 169 households, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 44.4 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 24.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 367 people, 160 households, and 99 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|871.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 171 housing units at an average density of {{convert|406.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 99.46% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 0.27% from two or more races.

There were 160 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 2.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,938, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $32,045 versus $18,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,878. About 3.8% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==

===Museums and other points of interest===
The [[Jeffers Petroglyphs]] Historic Site is located near Comfrey. Discovered in the 1870s, the rock carvings have been visited by scientists and archeologists. In 1966, the [[Minnesota Historical Society]] bought the property from the Warren Jeffers estate to preserve the petroglyphs for future generations.<ref name="Comfresh Minnesota Website">{{cite web |title=Comfrey Minnesota Website |url=http://www.comfrey.govoffice.com/ |accessdate=October 14, 2012 |publisher=Comfrey Minnesota Website}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.jefferspetroglyphs.com/|title= Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site|publisher= Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site |accessdate= October 14, 2012}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
Mound Creek Park is located a few miles outside Comfrey. The park has 316 acres, and was dedicated in 1993.<ref name="Comfrey Minnesota Website"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.co.brown.mn.us/mound-creek-park|title= Mound Creek Park|publisher= Mound Creek Park |accessdate= October 14, 2012}}</ref>

==Government==
Comfrey is located in [[Minnesota's 1st congressional district]], represented by [[Brad Finstad]], a [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]]. At the state level, Comfrey is located in [[Minnesota Senate|Senate]] districts 21 and 22, represented by [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republicans]] [[Gary Dahms]] and [[Bill Weber (Minnesota politician)|Bill Weber (politician)]], and in [[Minnesota House of Representatives|House]] districts 21B and 22B, represented by Republicans [[Paul Torkelson]] and [[Rod Hamilton]].

==Education==
Comfrey Public School educates approximately 170 students in grades K-12.<ref>[http://www.comfrey.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={2872F113-0AD8-4B8E-84A8-600708F86B5D} City of Comfrey: Comfrey school district #81]</ref> The school building was rebuilt in 1999 after being heavily damaged by a tornado.<ref>{{cite news|last = Meryhew|first = Richard|title = New school brings fresh start|work=Star Tribune|publisher=Avista Capital Partners|date = October 3, 1999 |url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62461761.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150329103945/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62461761.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2015-03-29}}</ref>

==Notable person==
* [[Glen Taylor]], owner of the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] and [[Minnesota Lynx]] [[basketball]] teams and business billionaire; raised on a farm outside Comfrey.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.comfreymn.com/ City of Comfrey]
* [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=20946 ePodunk: Profile for Comfrey, Minnesota]
* [http://www.lakesnwoods.com/ComfreyGallery.htm Historic photographs]
* [http://www.co.brown.mn.us/mound-creek-park Mound Creek Park]

{{Brown County, Minnesota}}
{{Cottonwood County, Minnesota}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Brown County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Cottonwood County, Minnesota]]