Editing Floodwood, Minnesota

{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Floodwood
|official_name            = City of Floodwood
|settlement_type          = [[City (Minnesota)|City]]
|nickname                 = The Catfish Capital of the World
|motto                    = A City for All Seasons

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Main Street-Floodwood-20120406.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = St._Louis_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Floodwood_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of the city of Floodwood<br>within [[St. Louis County, Minnesota|Saint Louis County, 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|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[St. Louis County, Minnesota|Saint Louis]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Dave Denoyer
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1899

<!-- 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           = 3.91
|area_land_km2            = 3.91
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.51
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.51
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 517
|population_density_km2   = 132.18
|population_density_sq_mi = 342.38

<!-- 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             = 1250
|coordinates              = {{coord|46|55|37|N|92|54|57|W|region:US-MN|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 55736
|area_code                = [[Area code 218|218]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-21338<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0661287<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|661287}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://floodwood.govoffice.com/ floodwood.govoffice.com]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}
'''Floodwood''' is a city in [[St. Louis County, Minnesota|Saint Louis County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 517 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Floodwood, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Floodwood%20city,%20Minnesota |access-date=June 1, 2024 |website=Census}}</ref>

Originally a logging community, Floodwood was a dairy community for most of its history, but could now be best described as a [[bedroom community]], since most of its working population finds employment in nearby [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]], [[Grand Rapids, Minnesota|Grand Rapids]], [[Hibbing, Minnesota|Hibbing]] and [[Cloquet, Minnesota|Cloquet]]. The city calls itself "The Catfish Capital of the World", a nickname it gave itself following the introduction of its annual Catfish Days festival.

[[U.S. Route 2 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 2]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 73|State Highway 73 (MN 73)]] are two of the main routes in Floodwood.

==History==
Long before the city of Floodwood existed, the intersection of the [[East Savanna River]] with the [[Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary)|Saint Louis River]] made what later became Floodwood a strategic economic location. The [[Savanna Portage State Park|Savanna Portage]] was a major route for transportation in the southern [[Arrowhead Region|Arrowhead]], but its importance was magnified greatly with the arrival of European fur traders, who used the route to access rich resources of [[beaver]] and other fur animals in the upper Mississippi valley. As early as 1679, Europeans were passing by the modern location of Floodwood as they turned from the Saint Louis River to the East Savanna River on their way to the portage.

It was not until the late 19th century that homesteads began to appear in the area. In 1889, it was announced that a railroad would pass through the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Floodwood.htm |title=Floodwood Minnesota Community Guide |publisher=Lakeweb1 Internet Services |work=A Guide to Minnesota Communities |access-date=2010-01-16 }}</ref> This led to a local population boom in anticipation of the opportunities the railroad would bring. In 1890, J. C. Campbell began large-scale logging operations in the area, and the C. N. Nelson Lumber Company of [[Cloquet, Minnesota|Cloquet]] built a logging railroad in the area (the logging railroad operated only in the winter; in the summer, the logging operations used the Saint Louis River to transport timber to mills in Cloquet).

In 1893, the year that local government was first organized, the first Floodwood School building was constructed of logs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floodwood.k12.mn.us/About_Us/School_History.htm |title=History |publisher=Floodwood School ISD 698 |access-date=2010-01-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201123239/http://www.floodwood.k12.mn.us/About_Us/School_History.htm |archive-date=December 1, 2008 }}</ref> The next year, the Nelson Company was purchased by what six years later became the [[Weyerhaeuser Timber Company]], continuing the intensification of logging activities in the area. The community continued to grow and was finally incorporated in 1899.

By the time the [[1900 United States census]] was conducted, Floodwood had a population of 224, which, within the next 10 years, more than doubled to 481.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.morris.umn.edu/services/cst/dar/mdc/census/view/countyPlaceCensus.php?cousub=21338 |title=Census Data for Floodwood (City) |publisher=[[University of Minnesota Morris]] |access-date=2010-01-16 }}</ref> In 1911, the Floodwood School, which had previously been a county school, became Independent School District No. 19 (after 1958, Independent School District 698), and a new six-room brick building was built for it. The community continued to grow until the [[1918 Cloquet Fire]] nearly ended the city's history.

Like most of its neighbors, Floodwood survived the fire and began a slow recovery. But the practical importance of the rivers, Floodwood's greatest economic resource, ended. By 1926, the era of large-scale timber operations in the area had come to a close. With the logging operations gone, Floodwood's survival was again in peril.

The solution had already been present since 1911: as the surrounding areas had pastures suitable for supporting dairy cattle, the community's economy turned to dairy production. In 1911, the Floodwood Creamery Cooperative was organized. The creamery became the main support of the local economy, selling dairy products across the world until it closed in the late 1960s. Dairy cattle are still a major part of the local economy.

The [[1970 United States census|1970 census]] showed, for the first time since [[1920 United States census|1920]], that Floodwood's population had decreased. This began a trend that has endured to the present: the last time a census showed an increase in Floodwood's population was in [[1960 United States census|1960]].

==Geography==
[[File:Floodwood water tower.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Floodwood water tower]] According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|1.42|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=2012-11-13 |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=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

Floodwood sits at the [[Junction (traffic)|junction]] of [[U.S. Route 2 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 2]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 73]]. It is roughly halfway between Duluth and Grand Rapids along U.S. Highway 2 and roughly halfway between Hibbing and [[Moose Lake, Minnesota|Moose Lake]] along State Highway 73. Also nearby is the city of Cloquet.

Floodwood is {{convert|46|mi|km}} northwest of [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] and {{convert|37|mi|km}} southeast of [[Grand Rapids, Minnesota|Grand Rapids]]. It is {{convert|33|mi|km}} northwest of [[Cloquet, Minnesota|Cloquet]] and {{convert|40|mi|km}} south of [[Hibbing, Minnesota|Hibbing]].

The city sits at the junctions of the [[Floodwood River (Minnesota)|Floodwood River]] and the [[East Savanna River]] with the [[Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary)|Saint Louis River]]. The area surrounding the city largely comprises forests, wetlands and, where conditions permit, dairy farms. Nearby peat bogs employ many people from Floodwood, [[Meadowlands, Minnesota|Meadowlands]] and other communities in southwest [[St. Louis County, Minnesota|Saint Louis County]]. Protected areas near Floodwood include [[Savanna Portage State Park]], the [[Savanna State Forest]], and the Floodwood Game Reserve. The Savanna Portage, together with the three rivers that meet in the city, contributes much to local culture.
{{Clear}}

==Climate==

According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Floodwood has a [[warm-summer humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Floodwood was {{convert|99|F|C|1}} on July 27, 1988, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-50|F|C|1}} on January 20, 1996.<ref name = NOWData />

{{Weather box
|location = Floodwood, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 51
|Feb record high F = 57
|Mar record high F = 77
|Apr record high F = 86
|May record high F = 89
|Jun record high F = 93
|Jul record high F = 99
|Aug record high F = 97
|Sep record high F = 95
|Oct record high F = 87
|Nov record high F = 74
|Dec record high F = 53

|Jan avg record high F = 38.2
|Feb avg record high F = 44.4
|Mar avg record high F = 58.1
|Apr avg record high F = 72.1
|May avg record high F = 82.5
|Jun avg record high F = 86.5
|Jul avg record high F = 87.9
|Aug avg record high F = 86.5
|Sep avg record high F = 82.2
|Oct avg record high F = 75.0
|Nov avg record high F = 55.9
|Dec avg record high F = 41.2
|year avg record high F = 89.5

|Jan high F = 17.9
|Feb high F = 23.7
|Mar high F = 36.3
|Apr high F = 50.1
|May high F = 63.7
|Jun high F = 72.5
|Jul high F = 77.1
|Aug high F = 75.5
|Sep high F = 67.0
|Oct high F = 52.5
|Nov high F = 36.0
|Dec high F = 23.1
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 7.1
|Feb mean F = 11.4
|Mar mean F = 24.6
|Apr mean F = 38.4
|May mean F = 51.1
|Jun mean F = 60.4
|Jul mean F = 65.0
|Aug mean F = 63.4
|Sep mean F = 55.2
|Oct mean F = 42.2
|Nov mean F = 27.6
|Dec mean F = 14.3
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = -3.7
|Feb low F = -0.8
|Mar low F = 13.0
|Apr low F = 26.8
|May low F = 38.6
|Jun low F = 48.3
|Jul low F = 53.0
|Aug low F = 51.2
|Sep low F = 43.5
|Oct low F = 31.9
|Nov low F = 19.2
|Dec low F = 5.5
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -30.2
|Feb avg record low F = -24.9
|Mar avg record low F = -14.8
|Apr avg record low F = 11.5
|May avg record low F = 24.2
|Jun avg record low F = 32.9
|Jul avg record low F = 40.0
|Aug avg record low F = 38.3
|Sep avg record low F = 27.6
|Oct avg record low F = 17.6
|Nov avg record low F = -1.8
|Dec avg record low F = -21.4
|year avg record low F = -33.1

|Jan record low F = -50
|Feb record low F = -43
|Mar record low F = -35
|Apr record low F = -4
|May record low F = 15
|Jun record low F = 25
|Jul record low F = 35
|Aug record low F = 30
|Sep record low F = 20
|Oct record low F = 6
|Nov record low F = -17
|Dec record low F = -40

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.63
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.66
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.15
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.29
|May precipitation inch = 2.93
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.92
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.89
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.17
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.50
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.78
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.24
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.99
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.1
|Feb precipitation days = 4.8
|Mar precipitation days = 5.9
|Apr precipitation days = 7.4
|May precipitation days = 10.6
|Jun precipitation days = 11.8
|Jul precipitation days = 11.1
|Aug precipitation days = 8.6
|Sep precipitation days = 9.3
|Oct precipitation days = 9.5
|Nov precipitation days = 6.4
|Dec precipitation days = 7.3

|Jan snow inch = 10.5
|Feb snow inch = 8.5
|Mar snow inch = 6.8
|Apr snow inch = 6.6
|May snow inch = 0.2
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 2.3
|Nov snow inch = 8.0
|Dec snow inch = 13.5
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 6.7
|Feb snow days = 5.2
|Mar snow days = 4.0
|Apr snow days = 2.7
|May snow days = 0.2
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.9
|Nov snow days = 4.0
|Dec snow days = 7.2

|Jan snow depth inch = 13.2
|Feb snow depth inch = 15.8
|Mar snow depth inch = 14.5
|Apr snow depth inch = 6.6
|May snow depth inch = 0.2
|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 = 1.4
|Nov snow depth inch = 5.4
|Dec snow depth inch = 8.8
|year snow depth inch = 18.1

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00212842&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: Floodwood 3 NE, MN
|access-date = September 7, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=dlh
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Duluth
|access-date = September 7, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 224
|1910= 481
|1920= 277
|1930= 343
|1940= 571
|1950= 667
|1960= 677
|1970= 650
|1980= 648
|1990= 574
|2000= 503
|2010= 528
|2020= 517
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

===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=2012-11-13}}</ref> of 2010, there were 528 people, 257 households, and 118 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|371.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 292 housing units at an average density of {{convert|205.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 4.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 257 households, of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 54.1% were non-families. 47.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 40.9 years. 21.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 20.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|census of 2000]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 503 people (as of 2009, it was estimated to have 530<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lmic.state.mn.us/datanetweb/tmp/csv058.csv |title=Minnesota Population and Household Estimates |publisher=Minnesota Geospatial Information Office }}</ref>), 254 households, and 112 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|1,131.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 290 housing units at an average density of {{convert|652.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 97.22% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.99% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.20% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 1.59% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.80% of the population. 48.5% were of [[Finns|Finnish]], 18.5% [[Germans|German]], 6.5% [[Swedish people|Swedish]] and 5.9% [[Polish people|Polish]] ancestry.

There were 254 households, out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.9% were non-families. 49.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $18,977, and the median income for a family was $30,833. Males had a median income of $30,179 versus $19,375 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,649.  About 12.0% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 25.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
Floodwood has a [[mayor-council government]] and operates under the provisions of state statutes concerning city government (which is true of every Minnesota city that has no home-rule charter). The [[mayor]] is Dave Denoyer,<ref>{{Cite web | title = Government Structure | publisher = City of Floodwood | url = http://floodwood.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={10DD713E-48AB-45C6-B8AA-0B49A0FC3ED0} | access-date = 2010-01-19 }}</ref> who presides over meetings of the [[city council]]. The position of [[City Administrator]], created in 2002 to handle the day-to-day operations of the city's administration, is held by Jess Rich.

In May 2009, when city leaders from throughout Minnesota made the trek to the [[Minnesota State Capitol|State Capitol]], Mayor Kletscher made statewide news when he said: "My toolbox is empty. We've been facing this for years. We're a very poor city and we can't afford to see tax rates go up."<ref>{{Cite news | title = MAOSC Board Member Floodwood Mayor Jeff Kletscher Makes Statewide News Fighting For Small Cities | publisher = Minnesota Association of Small Cities | url = http://www.maosc.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={4F351BE1-F53F-4271-9764-190BC81C5F33} | access-date = 2010-01-19 }}</ref> City leaders were arguing against cuts to state funding for communities in Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]]'s budget cuts.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Staff writers and news services | title = House sustains Pawlenty veto of health care program | newspaper = [[Star Tribune]] | location = Minneapolis, MN | publisher = The Star Tribune Company | date = May 17, 2009 | url = http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/45224857.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUq9_b9b_jEkP:QUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU | access-date = 2010-01-19 }}</ref> Kletscher, among others, argued that smaller communities did not have things like libraries that they could close to save funds and that the only way they could continue to function in the face of cuts in state funding would be to raise property taxes, which they did not want to do because residents of these communities are often poor, and they feared the burden would be too much for them to handle.

==Notable people==
* [[Joe Polo]] — American [[curling|curler]] in the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] and [[2018 Winter Olympics]] gold medalist, spent some of his early childhood years in Floodwood
* [[John Raymond Ylitalo]] — diplomat and 29th [[United States Ambassador to Paraguay]], born in Floodwood

==See also==
*[[Savanna Portage State Park]]
*[[Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary)|Saint Louis River]]
*[[Floodwood River (Minnesota)|Floodwood River]]
*[[East Savanna River]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://floodwood.govoffice.com City of Floodwood, MN – Official Website]

{{St. Louis County, Minnesota}}

{{coord|46|55|45|N|92|55|11|W|type:city_region:US-MN|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in St. Louis County, Minnesota]]