Editing Fertile, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Fertile
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = "The Flower City"
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = File:Fertile, Minnesota-09.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Commercial Businesses on Mill Street
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Polk_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Fertile_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Fertile, 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        = [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|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_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 5.38
|area_land_km2            = 5.38
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.08
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.08
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 788
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2021"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 804
|population_density_km2   = 149.53
|population_density_sq_mi = 387.28
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1135
|coordinates              = {{coord|47|32|04|N|96|16|54|W|region:US-MN|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 56540
|area_code                = [[Area code 218|218]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-20978
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2394761<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394761}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.cityoffertile.org|cityoffertile.org}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Fertile''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɜːr|t|ɪ|l|}} {{respell|FUR|til}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |title=Minnesota Pronunciation Guide |website=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722194213/http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }}</ref> is a city in [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. It is part of the [[Grand Forks, North Dakota|Grand Forks]] [[North Dakota|ND]]-[[Minnesota|MN]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 804 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2720978 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=April 16, 2022}}</ref>

The annual Polk County Fair is held in Fertile and dates to 1900. This is Fertile's main attraction during the summer. It holds many competitions for crops, animals, and manmade items.

==History==
A post office called Fertile has been in operation since 1881.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Polk |title=Polk County |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |access-date=July 31, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124043018/http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Polk |archive-date=January 24, 2016 }}</ref> The city was named after [[Fertile, Iowa]], the former home of a share of the first settlers.<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShcLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA424|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=424}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|2.13|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/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012 }}</ref> The area east, south, and southwest of Fertile is hilly while the area north and west is very flat and good for agriculture.

Fertile is home to the Fertile Sand Hills, sand dunes left behind by the ancient [[Lake Agassiz]], which host several rare plants and insects. Lake Agassiz existed mostly in what is now Canada. The Fertile Sand Hills are Minnesota's only such dune field.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|title=Welcome to the Fertile Sand Hills|date=July 30, 2019|publisher=Agassiz Environmental Learning Center|type=Brochure}}</ref> Parts of the Sand Hills are protected in the Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area<ref>{{cite web |title=Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area |url=http://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/agassiz-dunes-scientific-and-natural-area/ |website=The Nature Conservancy |access-date=September 4, 2019}}</ref> and the Fertile Sand Hills Wilderness Sanctuary and West Mill Recreation Area''.''<ref name=":0" />

Minnesota State Highways [[Minnesota State Highway 32|32]] and Minnesota Highway [[Minnesota State Highway 102|102]] are two of the community's main routes. The [[Agassiz Recreational Trail]], a 53-mile multi-use trail built on an abandoned railroad grade, passes through the city.<ref>{{Cite web  | title = Agassiz Recreational Trail (Minnesota)  | publisher = American Trails  | url = http://www.americantrails.org/awards/CRT10awards/Agassiz%20-Trail-CRT-award.html  | access-date = March 2, 2011  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110314170655/http://www.americantrails.org/awards/CRT10awards/Agassiz%20-Trail-CRT-award.html  | archive-date = March 14, 2011  | url-status = dead  }}</ref>

The city has a climate typical of a humid continental climate, with long, cold winters and warm, humid summers. The town averages {{convert|24|in|mm}} of rain and roughly {{convert|45|in|mm}} of snow each year. The record low is {{convert|-46|°F|°C|abbr=on}} and the record high is {{convert|105|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. Because Fertile is near North America's geographic center, it experiences many types of weather.

==Economy==
[[File:Fertile, Minnesota-17.jpg|thumb|Business in Fertile]]Fertile has sandy soil, which makes the area immediately around it poor farming land, as the soil dries out very easily.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} The areas east and west of town, however, are prime for corn, soybeans, wheat, sunflowers, oats, barley, sugar beets (to the west of Fertile), berries, hay, potatoes, vegetables, and much more. Livestock used to be a big area of agriculture for Fertile. Remaining livestock production is mainly beef cattle, with a few dairy farms.

Although not directly related to farming, another vital part of Fertile's economy is hunting and fishing. The area is prime for deer, waterfowl, small game and pheasant hunting, as well as multiple types of fishing in the area's many lakes.

===Polk County Fair===
Fertile has been home to the yearly Polk County Fair for over 110 years. This event is known to be family-friendly with free admission, many food stands, rides, a free stage and grandstand. The fairgrounds are east of Highway 32, providing easy access for the many visitors every year.<ref name="test">http://www.polkcountyfairfertilemn.com/about.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826061806/http://www.polkcountyfairfertilemn.com/about.html |date=August 26, 2012 }}, additional text.</ref>

==Education==
Fertile-Beltrami Public School is in Fertile at the intersection of Mill Street and Jefferson Avenue. The school is a K-12 grade building shared by Fertile and the smaller community of [[Beltrami, Minnesota|Beltrami]], which is about 12 miles to the west. The school's team is the Fertile Falcons, which includes softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball, football, and golf.

'''Advance Com'''

Advance Com is a student-based web hosting service that creates and designs web pages for the community. It is managed by Year-3 computer students who "apply" and manage the school, and other websites that pay the business to update throughout the year. The business also takes on video editing jobs on occasion.

'''Knowledge Bowl'''

Knowledge Bowl is a question-based competition in Minnesota. The first round is a test taken by five team members to determine their ranking. The written round is usually followed by four oral rounds in which four team members participate. In 2011 the Fertile-Beltrami Knowledge Bowl went to the state competition for the first time.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 273
|1900= 587
|1910= 614
|1920= 800
|1930= 800
|1940= 907
|1950= 890
|1960= 968
|1970= 955
|1980= 869
|1990= 859
|2000= 893
|2010= 842
|2020= 804
|estyear=2021
|estimate=788
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=June 16, 2022|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 16, 2022}}</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 11, 2013}}</ref><br />2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 842 people, 372 households, and 211 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|395.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 428 housing units at an average density of {{convert|200.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 372 households, of which 24.7% had children under age 18 living with them, 44.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.3% were non-families. 39.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 44.1. 23% of residents were under 18; 6.1% were between 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 21.4% were from 45 to 64; and 27.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.4% male and 53.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 893 people, 396 households, and 220 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|471.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 433 housing units at an average density of {{convert|228.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.20% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.56% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.34% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.56% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.34% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 1.34% of the population.

Fertile has the nation's second-highest percentage of residents claiming Norwegian ancestry, at 54.4%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Norwegian.html |title=Ancestry Search - Genealogy by City - ePodunk.com |access-date=2011-06-06 |archive-date=2017-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204114730/http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Norwegian.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

There were 396 households, of which 21.7% had children under 18 living with them, 45.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 42.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 29.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 37.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 49. For every 100 females, there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 72.8 males.

The median income for a household was $23,021, and the median income for a family was $30,192. Males had a median income of $27,344 versus $20,341 for females. The [[per capita income]] was $14,866. About 11.1% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.4% of those under 18 and 9.0% of those 65 or older.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Polk County, Minnesota}}
{{Greater Grand Forks}}

{{Coord|47|32|10|N|96|16|49|W|type:city_region:US-MN|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

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