Editing Dawson, Minnesota

{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Dawson
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = Gnometown USA, Dodge
| motto              = "The Small City With The Bright Future"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.dawsonmn.com/|title=City of Dawson Minnesota|publisher=City of Dawson Minnesota|access-date=October 8, 2012}}</ref>
<!-- Images --------------->| image_skyline      = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps ----------------->
| image_map          = Lac_qui_Parle_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Dawson_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Dawson, Minnesota
<!-- 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  = [[Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota|Lac qui Parle]]
<!-- Government ------>| named_for          = [[William Dawson (mayor)|William Dawson]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
<!-- 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_total_km2     = 3.72
| area_land_km2      = 3.72
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.44
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.44
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
<!-- Population ----------->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 1466
| population_density_km2 = 393.63
| population_density_sq_mi = 1019.47
<!-- 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       = 1040
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|55|44|N|96|03|01|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 56232
| area_code          = [[Area code 320|320]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 27-14968<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2394469<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394469}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.dawsonmn.com/|dawsonmn.com}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Dawson''' is a city in [[Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota|Lac qui Parle County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 1,466 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2714968 |work=American FactFinder |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 1, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
The land Dawson sits on was originally home to the Wahpekute, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, and Yanktonai people, three bands of the [[Dakota people|Dakota]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome |url=https://native-land.ca/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=Native-Land.ca |language=en}}</ref> Land was ceded to the US government by the [[Treaty of Traverse des Sioux]] in 1851.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cession 289 |url=https://native-land.ca/maps/treaties/cession-289/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=Native-Land.ca |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cession 289 |url=https://digitreaties.org/treaties/cession/289/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=digitreaties.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Willand |first=Jon |url=http://archive.org/details/lacquiparledakot0000will_g7x1 |title=Lac Qui Parle and the Dakota Mission |date=1964 |publisher=Lac Qui Parle County Historical Society |others=Internet Archive}}</ref>  The treaties were signed on July 23 and August 6 in [[Traverse des Sioux]] and [[Mendota, Minnesota|Mendota]] respectively.  The land was ceded in exchange for $3,750,000, about 12 cents per acre.  Little of the payment was actually received by the Dakota.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1851: Dakota |url=http://treatiesmatter.org/treaties/land/1851-Dakota |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=treatiesmatter.org}}</ref>

Dawson was [[plat]]ted in 1884.<ref name="Upham 289">{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog | title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance | publisher=Minnesota Historical Society | author=Warren Upham | year=1920 | page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n308 289]}}</ref> The city was named for [[William Dawson (mayor)|William Dawson]], a former mayor of [[St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]], and one of three partners in the Dawson Townsite Company.<ref>History, The First 100 Years, 1884–1984, p.3.</ref> A post office has been in operation at Dawson since 1884.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Lac+qui+Parle |title=Lac qui Parle County |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |access-date=July 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721063756/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Lac+qui+Parle |archive-date=July 21, 2015 }}</ref> The city was incorporated in 1885.<ref name="Upham 289" />

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.48|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]] |access-date=November 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref> The West Branch of the [[Lac qui Parle River]] flows through the city.<ref>{{cite book| title= Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer |year=1994 |publisher= [[DeLorme]] |location=Yarmouth, Me. |isbn= 0-89933-222-6 |pages= 36}}</ref> [[U.S. Route 212 in Minnesota|U.S. Route 212]] serves as a main route in the city.  The [[BNSF Railway]] runs through the city.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Minnesota Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations|date=September 2015|title=Minnesota Freight Railroad Map|url=https://www.dot.state.mn.us/ofrw/maps/MNRailMap.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230012912/http://www.dot.state.mn.us:80/ofrw/maps/MNRailMap.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2009 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 418
|1900= 962
|1910= 1318
|1920= 1511
|1930= 1386
|1940= 1646
|1950= 1834
|1960= 1766
|1970= 1699
|1980= 1901
|1990= 1626
|2000= 1539
|2010= 1540
|2020= 1466
|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|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 10, 2013}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===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]]|access-date=November 13, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,540 people, 682 households, and 412 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1040.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 768 housing units at an average density of {{convert|518.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 682 households, of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 47.8 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 25.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,539 people, 677 households, and 398 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|1,043.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 756 housing units at an average density of {{convert|512.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 98.25% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.19% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.32% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.32% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.91% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.52% of the population.

There were 677 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 3.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 29.7% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,442, and the median income for a family was $46,484. Males had a median income of $30,493 versus $18,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,084.  About 3.3% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#ccccff|title=Presidential election results 1960–2020}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Precinct General Election Results<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/|title=Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - Election Results|access-date=February 22, 2021|archive-date=February 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222230838/https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.8%''' ''401''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.8% ''363''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.4% ''11''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''49.9%''' ''376''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.0% ''332''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|6.1% ''46''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.4% ''318''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.3%''' ''440''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.3% ''10''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.0% ''326''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.6%''' ''450''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.4% ''19''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.3% ''366''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.6%''' ''510''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.1% ''10''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.2% ''334''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.4%''' ''484''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|6.4% ''56''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.6% ''290''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.2%''' ''516''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|12.2% ''112''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.9% ''319''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''45.0%''' ''437''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|22.1% ''215''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.0% ''399''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.0%''' ''487''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.0% ''0''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|54.4% ''519''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''45.6%''' ''435''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.0% ''0''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.5%''' ''511''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.4% ''421''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|6.1% ''61''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.4% ''552''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.8%''' ''726''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.8% ''24''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.0%''' ''524''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.1% ''428''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.9% ''19''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.3%''' ''463''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.8% ''406''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.9% ''17''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.8% ''366''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.2%''' ''553''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.0% ''0''
|-
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]'''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.0%''' ''550''
|  style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.0% ''352''
|  style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.0% ''0''
|}
{{Hidden end}}

==Notable people==
[[File:Carrie Tollefson ING New York City Marathon 2011.jpg|alt=A women holds a microphone in front of a finish line|thumb|250x250px|Carrie Tollefson]]
*[[Theodore Christianson]] - [[List of Governors of Minnesota|21st]] [[Governor of Minnesota]] from January 6, 1925, until January 6, 1931; publisher of the ''[[Dawson Sentinel]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000381|title= CHRISTIANSON, Theodore, (1883 - 1948)|publisher= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= October 8, 2012}}</ref><ref>History, the First 100 Years, 1884-1984</ref>
*[[Theodore Christianson (judge)|Theodore Christianson]] - Minnesota Supreme Court justice and eldest son of Governor Christianson<ref>[http://mn.gov/lawlib/judgebio.html# Minnesota State Law Library-Theodore Christianson] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105045051/http://mn.gov/lawlib/judgebio.html |date=January 5, 2014 }}</ref>
*[[Phyllis Gates]] - Interior decorator and wife of Hollywood actor [[Rock Hudson]] (1955–1958)
*[[James Day Hodgson]] - [[United States Secretary of Labor]] (1970–1973) and [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Japan|United States Ambassador to Japan]] (1974–1977); born in Dawson
*[[Edor Nelson]] - baseball, football, wrestling, and hockey coach at [[Augsburg University]]
*[[Jeff Nordgaard]] - Second-round [[NBA]] draft pick in 1996
*[[Roger Reinert]] - mayor of [[Duluth, Minnesota]]; raised in Dawson
*[[Howard Wads Rundquist]] - businessman, educator, and politician
*[[Rudie M. Saltness]] - member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]]
*[[Carrie Tollefson]] - Olympian at 1500 meters in 2004, NCAA cross country champion in 1997

==Notable places==
[[File:Dawson Commercial Bank Building.jpg|alt=A two-story building made of red masonry.|thumb|148x148px|Dawson Bank Museum]]
[[File:Dawson Armory & Community Building.jpg|alt=A large building made of bricks|thumb|183x183px|Armory]]
Dawson is home to the [[Dawson Bank Museum]], a [[Carnegie library|Carnegie Library]] building (now a law office), and an armory building (now a public library and apartments).  All three of these buildings are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NPS.gov Homepage (U.S. National Park Service)|url=https://www.nps.gov/index.htm|access-date=May 12, 2021|website=www.nps.gov|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Dawson Carnegie Library.jpg|alt=A Carnegie Library made of brown bricks|thumb|181x181px|Carnegie Library]]

==In culture==
* The movie ''[[Sweet Land]]'' (2005) was partly filmed in Dawson.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428038/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt "Sweet Land Filming Locations"] IMDB</ref>
* ''[[Love Thy Neighbor (book)|Love Thy Neighbor]]'', a 2019 memoir by Ayaz Virji and Alan Eisenstock recounts Virji's experience as a Muslim in the town in the wake of the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Emily McFarlan |date=2019-06-14 |title=In new book, Muslim doctor encourages Christians to 'love thy neighbor' |url=https://religionnews.com/2019/06/14/in-new-book-muslim-doctor-encourages-christians-to-love-thy-neighbor/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-24 |title=Lutheran pastor, Muslim doctor discuss common ground in 'Love Thy Neighbor' conversation in Willmar |url=https://www.wctrib.com/lifestyle/lutheran-pastor-muslim-doctor-discuss-common-ground-in-love-thy-neighbor-conversation-in-willmar |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=West Central Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

==Town culture==

=== Riverfest ===
Riverfest is Dawson's annual community festival,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Riverfest underway in Dawson |url=https://www.marshallindependent.com/news/local-news/2024/06/riverfest-underway-in-dawson-2/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=marshallindependent.com |language=en-US}}</ref> named after the Lac qui Parle River,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-01 |title=Flea market, softball and even bubbles highlight Riverfest in Dawson, Minnesota |url=https://www.wctrib.com/news/local/flea-market-softball-and-even-bubbles-highlight-riverfest-in-dawson-minnesota |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=West Central Tribune |language=en}}</ref> which is held the last full weekend every June.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Events {{!}} City of Dawson |url=https://dawsonmn.com/annual-events |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=dawsonmn.com |language=en}}</ref>  Riverfest features events, like live music, sports tournaments, and canoe races, as well as the town's gnome unveiling ceremony.<ref name=":0" />

===Gnomes===
[[File:Theodore Christianson, Governor of Minnesota.JPG|alt=An oil painting of Theodore Christianson staring to the left|thumb|237x237px|Theodore Christianson, Governor of Minnesota and first Gnome of Dawson]]
Dawson, also known as Gnometown USA,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Riverfest |url=https://www.exploreminnesota.com/event/riverfest/10334 |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Explore Minnesota |language=en}}</ref> commemorates its notable citizens by making them into 3-foot tall [[gnome]]s that are placed either in the Dawson Public Library or Gnome Park.  The gnomes are revealed to the community during Riverfest.  Each gnome gets its own legend. (found [http://www.gnomedaws.com/tales.html here])  New gnomes have been added every year since 1989.  There are more than 40 gnomes in Gnome Park<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=GNOMETOWN, USA|url=http://www.gnomedaws.com/|access-date=May 3, 2021|website=GNOMETOWN, USA|language=en}}</ref> with more being added every year.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+ Gnomes of Dawson
|-
!Year
!Name of Gnome(s)/Troll
!Person/People/Thing Represented
!Ref.
|-
|1989
|Governor Ted
|Theodore Christianson
| rowspan="35" |<ref name=":1" />
|-
|1990
|Postmaster Bertha
|Bertha Swenson
|-
|1991
|Scouter T.O.
|T.O. Vaala
|-
|1992
|Doc Bill
|Dr. Vilhelm Johnson
|-
|1993
|The Maestro
|John Solie
|-
|1994
|Morrie and Kay
|Morris and Kathryn Benson
|-
|1995
|Areta
|Areta Schmoker Wold
|-
|1996
|Farmer Gerry
|Gerald Michaelson
|-
|1997
|Baker Elder
|Elder Molstad
|-
|1998
|Rudy
|Rudy Prestholdt
|-
|1999
|Doc Phil and Jean
|Dr. Phil and Jean Maus
|-
|2000
|The Merchant and the Miller
|Harland and Gladys Thoen
|-
|2001
|Principal Vern
|Vernon Stevens
|-
|2002
|Coach Steve and Irene
|Steve and Irene Ruzich
|-
|2003
|Joe and Mary
|Joe and Mary Givens
|-
|2004
|Del the Gnometographer
|Delbert Thielke
|-
|2005
|The Reverend
|Reverend G.S. Froiland
|-
|2006
|Superintendent Bob
|Robert Clay
|-
|2007
|Harris and Eloise
|Harris and Eloise Ronning
|-
|2008
|The Gnometown Fire Department
|The Dawson Fire Department
|-
|2009
|The Founders of Dawson Mills
|Glen Blomquist, Art Lee, John C. Hanson, and Bert Dahl
|-
|2010
|Mayor Richard
|Richard Pollei
|-
|2011
|Al
|Allan Schacherer
|-
|2012
|Alta, Ruth, and Shar
|Alta Roesch, Ruth Solem, and Sharilyn Bates
|-
|2013
|HUGs and TUGs
|The EMTs and First Responders
|-
|2014
|Bob and Marlene
|Bob and Marlene Lee
|-
|2015
|Ole
|Norm Olson
|-
|2016
|Doc Ralph
|Dr. Ralph Gerbig
|-
|2017
|Virg
|Virgil Thompson
|-
|2018
|Charlie
|Charlie Prestholdt
|-
|2019
|Dennis and Ruby
|Dennis and Ruby Anderson
|-
|2020
| rowspan="2" |Covidius Putrid Evilson the 19th (Triumph over the Troll)*
| rowspan="2" |The way the community came together and overcame the COVID-19 pandemic
|-
|2021
|-
|2022
|Loren
|Loren Femrite
|-
|2023
|Deb
|Deb Breberg
|-
|2024
|Dan and Luanne
|Dan and Luanne Fondell
|
|-
| colspan="4" |*denotes troll
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
 <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
*[http://www.dawsonmn.com/ City of Dawson, MN -- Official site]
*[http://www.dawsonboydschools.org/  Dawson-Boyd Schools -- Official site]
*[http://www.dawsonchamber.com/ Dawson Area Chamber of Commerce -- Official site]
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/Dawson-Minnesota.html City-Data.com]

{{Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota]]