Editing Fairmont, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in the United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Fairmont
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = City of Lakes
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Fairmont MN 1.jpg
|imagesize                = 275px
|image_caption            = Street in downtown Fairmont 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Martin_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Fairmont_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Martin County, Minnesota|Martin County]] and the state of [[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        = [[Martin County, Minnesota|Martin]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Lee Baarts
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Platted
|established_date         = 1857
|established_title1       = Incorporated (village)
|established_date1        = 1860
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (city)]]
|established_date2        = February 28, 1878
|established_title3       = City Charter Adopted
|established_date3        = 1902
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web |title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Minnesota |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_27.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=January 5, 2024}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 43.74
|area_land_km2            = 38.85
|area_water_km2           = 4.90
|area_total_sq_mi         = 16.89
|area_land_sq_mi          = 15.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 1.89
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 10260
|pop_est_as_of            = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 10487
|population_density_km2   = 264.11
|population_density_sq_mi = 684.05
|population_urban         = 8387
|population_metro         = 19650
<!-- 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              = 362
|elevation_ft             = 1188
|coordinates              = {{coord|43|38|39|N|94|27|44|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 56031
|area_code                = [[Area code 507|507]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-20330
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2394735<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394735}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 7.375%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/minnesota/cities/fairmont.html|title=Fairmont (MN) sales tax rate|access-date=January 19, 2024}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://fairmont.org/|fairmont.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Fairmont''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Martin County, Minnesota|Martin County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 10,487 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explorer Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2720330 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=August 10, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
Fairmont was [[plat]]ted in 1857.<ref name="Upham 333">{{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/n352 333]}}</ref> The city was so named on account of its elevated town site.<ref>{{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=PA162|year=1908|page=162}}</ref> A post office has been in operation at Fairmont since 1858.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Martin |title=Martin County |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |access-date=March 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135417/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Martin |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref> Fairmont was incorporated as a city on February 28, 1878, with the first city charter adopted in 1902.<ref name="Upham 333" />

==Geography==
Fairmont is southeast of the center of Martin County and was built along a chain of five lakes: Lake George, Sisseton Lake, Budd Lake, Hall Lake, and Amber Lake. All except Amber Lake are connected by channels and extensively used for recreational boating and fishing. [[Interstate 90 in Minnesota|Interstate 90]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 15]] are two of the main routes in the city. I-90 leads east {{convert|57|mi}} to [[Albert Lea, Minnesota|Albert Lea]] and west {{convert|59|mi}} to [[Worthington, Minnesota|Worthington]], while MN 15 leads north {{convert|27|mi}} to [[Madelia, Minnesota|Madelia]] and south {{convert|20|mi}} to [[Armstrong, Iowa]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Fairmont has an area of {{convert|16.89|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|15.00|sqmi|sqkm|2}} are land and {{convert|1.89|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 11.2%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/> The five lakes in the city drain northward out of Lake George into Center Creek, an east-flowing tributary of the [[Blue Earth River]], part of the [[Minnesota River]] watershed.

===Climate===
{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Fairmont, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–present

|Jan record high F = 64
|Feb record high F = 64
|Mar record high F = 86
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 108
|Jun record high F = 106
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 109
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 67

|Jan avg record high F = 43.7
|Feb avg record high F = 48.6
|Mar avg record high F = 66.6
|Apr avg record high F = 81.3
|May avg record high F = 87.1
|Jun avg record high F = 92.4
|Jul avg record high F = 93.7
|Aug avg record high F = 91.3
|Sep avg record high F = 87.9
|Oct avg record high F = 80.6
|Nov avg record high F = 64.1
|Dec avg record high F = 47.2
|year avg record high F = 95.2

<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =23.9
| Feb high F  =28.3
| Mar high F  =40.9
| Apr high F  =56.3
| May high F  =68.9
| Jun high F  =79.7
| Jul high F  =82.9
| Aug high F  =80.7
| Sep high F  =74.5
| Oct high F  =59.9
| Nov high F  =43.2
| Dec high F  =29.1
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =15.2
| Feb mean F  =19.2
| Mar mean F  =31.6
| Apr mean F  =45.6
| May mean F  =58.9
| Jun mean F  =69.9
| Jul mean F  =73.4
| Aug mean F  =71.0
| Sep mean F  =63.4
| Oct mean F  =49.6
| Nov mean F  =34.3
| Dec mean F  =21.2
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =6.6
| Feb low F  =10.2
| Mar low F  =22.4
| Apr low F  =34.9
| May low F  =49.0
| Jun low F  =60.1
| Jul low F  =63.9
| Aug low F  =61.3
| Sep low F  =52.4
| Oct low F  =39.4
| Nov low F  =25.4
| Dec low F  =13.3

|Jan avg record low F = -14.3
|Feb avg record low F = -10.5
|Mar avg record low F = 1.8
|Apr avg record low F = 21.7
|May avg record low F = 35.4
|Jun avg record low F = 46.7
|Jul avg record low F = 53.7
|Aug avg record low F = 49.5
|Sep avg record low F = 36.6
|Oct avg record low F = 24.3
|Nov avg record low F = 8.3
|Dec avg record low F = -9.9
|year avg record low F = -18.8

|Jan record low F = -35
|Feb record low F = -33
|Mar record low F = -30
|Apr record low F = 2
|May record low F = 22
|Jun record low F = 30
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 34
|Sep record low F = 18
|Oct record low F = 0
|Nov record low F = -19
|Dec record low F = -26

<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =0.85
| Feb precipitation inch  =1.16
| Mar precipitation inch  =1.93
| Apr precipitation inch  =3.53
| May precipitation inch  =4.58
| Jun precipitation inch  =5.02
| Jul precipitation inch  =3.88
| Aug precipitation inch  =3.79
| Sep precipitation inch  =3.44
| Oct precipitation inch  =2.32
| Nov precipitation inch  =1.58
| Dec precipitation inch  =1.38

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 7.4
|Feb precipitation days = 6.2
|Mar precipitation days = 7.5
|Apr precipitation days = 10.2
|May precipitation days = 11.8
|Jun precipitation days = 12.1
|Jul precipitation days = 9.5
|Aug precipitation days = 9.0
|Sep precipitation days = 8.4
|Oct precipitation days = 7.9
|Nov precipitation days = 6.0
|Dec precipitation days = 7.4

|Jan snow inch = 6.3
|Feb snow inch = 6.8
|Mar snow inch = 9.6
|Apr snow inch = 3.4
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.3
|Nov snow inch = 5.3
|Dec snow inch = 13.5
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 4.8
|Feb snow days = 3.8
|Mar snow days = 2.7
|Apr snow days = 1.3
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.2
|Nov snow days = 3.0
|Dec snow days = 5.3

|Jan snow depth inch = 9.9
|Feb snow depth inch = 9.4
|Mar snow depth inch = 7.8
|Apr snow depth inch = 2.6
|May snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
|Oct snow depth inch = 0.1
|Nov snow depth inch = 3.9
|Dec snow depth inch = 8.6
|year snow depth inch = 15.9

|source 1 = NOAA (snow/snow days 1981–2010)<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00212698&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Fairmont, MN (1991–2020)
|access-date = February 24, 2023
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00212698&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Fairmont, MN (1981–2010)
|access-date = February 24, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = XMACIS2 (mean maxima/minima, snow depth 1981–2010)<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS
|access-date = February 24, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 541
|1890= 1205
|1900= 3040
|1910= 2958
|1920= 4630
|1930= 5521
|1940= 6988
|1950= 8193
|1960= 9745
|1970= 10751
|1980= 11506
|1990= 11265
|2000= 10889
|2010= 10666
|2020= 10487
|estyear=2022
|estimate=10260
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=January 19, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 19, 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|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2013}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 10,666 people, 4,812 households, and 2,816 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|709.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,251 housing units at an average density of {{convert|349.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.9% 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 5.3% of the population.

There were 4,812 households, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.5% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% 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 2.78.

The median age in the city was 45.5 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.4% were from 45 to 64; and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 10,889 people and 2,962 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|747.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 5,036 housing units at an average density of {{convert|345.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 96.1% White, 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.9% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.9% from two or more races.

There were 4,702 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the age of the population is varied with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,709, and the median income for a family was $46,637. Males had a median income of $31,365 versus $22,447 for females.  The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,658.  About 8.0% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Fairmont has been home to Fairmont Railway Motors, Inc, now part of [[Harsco Corporation]], for a century. The company pioneered motorized railway section cars, later road-rail technologies as well as track maintenance machinery that revolutionized and mechanized rail track engineering.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}

Fairmont products are exported around the world, although the dominant product, [[railroad speeders]], is now mainly in the hands of railway enthusiasts who operate them for fun, such as the [[North American Railcar Operators Association]] and the [[Australian Society of Section Car Operators, Inc.]]

Fairmont is home to the U.S. headquarters of [[Avery Weigh-Tronix]], one of the world's largest suppliers of weighing solutions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtxweb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=59 |title=Avery Weigh-Tronix {{!}} +1 800 368 2039 {{!}} Overview |website=www.wtxweb.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521005940/http://www.wtxweb.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=59 |archive-date=May 21, 2006}}</ref>

The ''[[Sentinel (Fairmont)|Fairmont Sentinel]]'', cited as the most conservative newspaper in Minnesota,<ref>{{cite news|date=November 13, 2008|issue=1065 |title=Fairmont Sentinel|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> is published here. It was founded in 1885 and is published daily, except Sunday. As of 2019, it was owned by [[Ogden Newspapers]] and had a circulation of 3,629.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89064574/|title=About Sentinel. (Fairmont, Minn.) 1966-current|website=Chronicling America|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mnnews.com/index.php/newspapers-in-minnesota-cities-starting-with-the-letter-f/fairmont-sentinel/|title=Fairmont Sentinel|website=Minnesota Newspaper Association|access-date=January 28, 2020}}</ref>

Fairmont's largest employer is Fairmont Medical Center, part of the Mayo Health System.

Until 1992, Fairmont was home to a major regional frozen food canning operation. Long owned by [[Stokely-Van Camp]], the plant fell under the United Foods International umbrella after United Foods' 1982 $50 million buyout of Van Camp's frozen vegetable division. Before closing in December 1992, the Fairmont plant was one three frozen vegetable processing plants producing product for the United Foods family of canned vegetables for sale nationwide. The plant reopened and operated until 2015 as Fairmont Foods of Minnesota. Its closing was announced, but Tony Downs Food Group purchased it and kept it open.<ref>"Fairmont Foods finds suitor" (February 13, 2015). 
[http://www.fairmontsentinel.com/news/local-news/2015/02/13/fairmont-foods-finds-suitor/]. Fairmont Sentinel.</ref>

===Top employers===
According to the Fairmont's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fairmont.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2020.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924160632/https://fairmont.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2020.pdf |archive-date=September 24, 2021 |url-status=live|title=City of Fairmont 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report|page=195|date=August 10, 2022}}</ref> the city's largest employers:

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|Fairmont Foods of Minnesota
|325
|-
|2
|[[Avery Weigh-Tronix|Weigh-Tronix Scale Manufacturing]]
|305
|-
|3
|[[Mayo Clinic Health System|Fairmont Mayo Health Systems]]
|300
|-
|4
|ISD 2752 (Fairmont Area Schools)
|300
|-
|5
|REM Heartland 
|250
|-
|6
|[[Hy-Vee]]
|240
|-
|7
|Torgerson Properties
|218
|-
|8
|Preferred Capital Management
|194
|-
|9
|[[Walmart]]
|191
|-
|10
|Lakeview Health Care Facility
|167
|}

==Education==
Local schools:<ref>http://fairmont.k12.mn.us/ Fairmont Area Schools website</ref>

*Fairmont Junior/Senior High School
*Fairmont Elementary School
*St. John Vianney Catholic School, K-6
*St. Paul Lutheran School, K-8 (Martin Luther High School 9-12 is in nearby Northrop)

Higher education
*Minnesota West Community College

==[[Jerry Rosburg|Notable]] people==
* [[Frank A. Day]], newspaper editor, Minnesota legislator and the 13th lieutenant governor of Minnesota
* [[CJ Holstine]], [[Education Minnesota]]'s 2018 Minnesota Teacher of the Year
* [[Jay Maynard]], [[internet celebrity]] known as "Tron-Guy"
* [[Paul Willson]], actor best known for his role as Paul in ''[[Cheers]]'' and Bob Porter in ''[[Office Space]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Fairmont, Minnesota}}
{{Wikivoyage|Fairmont (Minnesota)|Fairmont, Minnesota}}
*{{Official|https://fairmont.org/}}
*[http://fairmontsentinel.com/ Fairmont ''Sentinel'']
*[http://fairmont.k12.mn.us/ Fairmont Area Schools]
*[https://fairmontoperahouse.org/ Fairmont Opera House]
*[http://www.fairmont.org/mchs/index.htm Martin County Historical Society]
*[http://www.kfmc.com/ KFMC radio]

{{Martin County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Martin County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:County seats in Minnesota]]