Editing Fosston, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Fosston
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = Where The Prairie Meets The Pines
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = fosston_mn_seal.jpg
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Polk_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Fosston_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Fosston, Minnesota
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Jim Offerdahl{{cn}}
|leader_title             = 
|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         = 1889
<!-- 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           = 5.53
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.13
|area_land_km2            = 5.18
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.00
|area_water_km2           = 0.35
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.13
|area_water_percent       = 1.17
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 1399
|pop_est_as_of            = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 1434
|population_density_km2   = 276.57
|population_density_sq_mi = 716.28
|population_urban         = 
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_metro_km2 = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1286
|coordinates              = {{coord|47|34|57|N|95|45|05|W|region:US-MN|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 56542
|area_code                = [[Area code 218|218]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-21986
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2394799<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394799}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.fosston.com/|fosston.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Fosston''' is a city in [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. It is part of the [[Greater Grand Forks]] region. The population was 1,434 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Fosston_city,_Minnesota?g=160XX00US2721986 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 15, 2023}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.71|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.69|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<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>

Four-lane [[U.S. Route 2 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 2]] serves as a main route in the city.

===Climate===
{{Weather box
| location = Fosston 1E, Minnesota (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1909–present)
| single line = Y
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan record high F = 48
| Feb record high F = 61
| Mar record high F = 82
| Apr record high F = 96
| May record high F = 97
| Jun record high F = 101
| Jul record high F = 109
| Aug record high F = 103
| Sep record high F = 102
| Oct record high F = 91
| Nov record high F = 78
| Dec record high F = 58
| year record high F = 109
| Jan high F = 15.9
| Feb high F = 21.2
| Mar high F = 34.8
| Apr high F = 51.3
| May high F = 65.5
| Jun high F = 74.3
| Jul high F = 78.2
| Aug high F = 77.4
| Sep high F = 68.8
| Oct high F = 53.2
| Nov high F = 35.9
| Dec high F = 22.1
| year high F = 49.9
| Jan mean F = 4.5
| Feb mean F = 5.7
| Mar mean F = 23.9
| Apr mean F = 39.6
| May mean F = 53.3
| Jun mean F = 63.1
| Jul mean F = 66.8
| Aug mean F = 64.9
| Sep mean F = 56.6
| Oct mean F = 42.8
| Nov mean F = 26.9
| Dec mean F = 13.0
| year mean F = 38.8
| Jan low F = −6.4
| Feb low F = -2.5
| Mar low F = 12.9
| Apr low F = 27.9
| May low F = 41.1
| Jun low F = 51.8
| Jul low F = 55.4
| Aug low F = 52.5
| Sep low F = 44.5
| Oct low F = 32.4
| Nov low F = 17.9
| Dec low F = 4.0
| year low F = 27.8
| Jan record low F = −44
| Feb record low F = −45
| Mar record low F = −35
| Apr record low F = −12
| May record low F = 6
| Jun record low F = 27
| Jul record low F = 34
| Aug record low F = 28
| Sep record low F = 19
| Oct record low F = −4
| Nov record low F = −33
| Dec record low F = −54
| year record low F = −54
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.52
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.54
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.95
| Apr precipitation inch = 1.76
| May precipitation inch = 3.01
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.64
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.93
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.54
| Sep precipitation inch = 2.97
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.25
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.61
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.83
| year precipitation inch = 26.55
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=fgf
| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = September 24, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00212916&format=pdf
| title = Station: Fosston 1 E, MN
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = September 24, 2021}}</ref>
| source = 
| Jan avg record low F = -27.9
| Feb avg record low F = -24.8
| Dec avg record low F = -20.4
| Mar avg record low F = -13.9
| Apr avg record low F = 15.4
| May avg record low F = 28.6
| Jun avg record low F = 41.4
| Jul avg record low F = 45.1
| Aug avg record low F = 43.5
| Sep avg record low F = 31.7
| Oct avg record low F = 17.8
| Nov avg record low F = -6.1
| Jan avg record high F = 37.5
| Feb avg record high F = 35.6
| Mar avg record high F = 52.4
| Apr avg record high F = 71.2
| May avg record high F = 80.4
| Jun avg record high F = 85.6
| Jul avg record high F = 90.1
| Aug avg record high F = 87.9
| Sep avg record high F = 75.3
| Oct avg record high F = 71.5
| Nov avg record high F = 55.8
| Dec avg record high F = 41.5
| Jan chill = -69.3
| Feb chill = -62.1
| Dec chill = -55.5
| Mar chill = -31.2
| Apr chill = -24.6
| May chill = -11.4
| Jun chill = 0.0
| Jul chill = 0.0
| Aug chill = 0.0
| Sep chill = -7.9
| Oct chill = -21.3
| Nov chill = -24.8
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Fosston1902.jpg|thumb|left|Main Street, Fosston, 1902]]
{{US Census population
|1890= 207
|1900= 864
|1910= 1075
|1920= 1014
|1930= 978
|1940= 1271
|1950= 1424
|1960= 1704
|1970= 1684
|1980= 1599
|1990= 1517
|2000= 1575
|2010= 1527
|2020= 1434
|estyear=2022
|estimate=1399
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=November 15, 2023|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=November 15, 2023}}</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 1,571 people, 670 households, and 367 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|903.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 750 housing units at an average density of {{convert|443.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.9% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 2.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 670 households, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.2% were non-families. 41.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the city was 43 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.2% were from 25 to 44; 21.9% were from 45 to 64; and 26% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 1,575 people, 681 households, and 379 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|969.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 739 housing units at an average density of {{convert|454.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.70% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.19% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.52% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.51% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.06% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.95% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.57% of the population.

There were 681 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.3% 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 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,634, and the median income for a family was $40,521. Males had a median income of $29,688 versus $21,176 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,064. About 11.4% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 21.1% of those age 65 or over.

==History==
In the year 1876 the first white settlers came to the Fosston area, arriving in covered wagons, bringing with them a few cattle, oxen, horses and mules. Charles Adair, with his family was the first to file a claim on the land, with nine others soon following. Fosston, is located in sections 3 and 4 of Rosebud Township, and was named in honor of Louis Foss, an immigrant from the village [[Nyttingnes]] in [[Sogn og Fjordane]] county, [[Norway]]. The townsite was organized by W. J. Hilligoss, who selected and purchased the townsite in 1884, had it surveyed, platted a four-block area, and built a hotel. Hilligoss died in 1941. The town was named Fosston when Louis Foss moved his store and opened a post office there. The village was incorporated on August 22, 1895. The incorporation papers of Fosston were recorded June 8, 1889, by the Register of Deeds in [[Crookston, Minnesota|Crookston]], the County Seat of [[Polk County, Minnesota]]. Fosston was a busy depot on the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] line.<ref>''Fosston, Minnesota – A Story of the Old Town'' (Esten Moen, Thirteen Towns Press: 1944)</ref>

===Cordwood Pete===
In an effort to promote tourism in Fosston, the legend of "Cordwood Pete" was created by Arvid Clementson, who served as Fosston's mayor until his death in 2006.<ref>[https://www.carlinfuneral.com/obituary/Arvid-Clementson Obituary of former Fosston Mayor Arvid "Clem" Clementson]</ref> In what he described as a "true story, embellished", Clementson claimed the complete story of Cordwood Pete was discovered in the spring of 2001 when a time capsule was discovered during the demolition of one of Fosston's oldest buildings.<ref name="fosston.com">[http://www.fosston.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={FD14779F-1317-450C-930F-A2CA8F031CAB} Fosston.com  Legend of Cordwood Pete]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=T9okjBKav1oC&pg=PA19 Weird Minnesota  By Eric Dregni, Mark Moran, Mark Sceurman]</ref>

Cordwood Pete, was said to be the younger brother of famed lumberjack [[Paul Bunyan]]. While Paul Bunyan was a giant, Pete was a mere 4 feet 9 inches in height. According to the tale, Pete's growth was stunted by the fact that he could never get enough flapjacks at the breakfast table because brother Paul ate everything in sight.

According to legend, Paul Bunyan left his home in [[Bangor, Maine]], to make his way in the world, and ended up in the north woods of Minnesota where he excelled as a lumberjack. Pete, tired of being mocked by lumberjacks in Maine over his size, followed Paul to Minnesota, and despite his diminutive stature, found work as a lumberjack near Fosston, Minnesota, taking the name Peter Delang.

Local lumberjacks nicknamed him "Cordwood Pete" because his size suggested he was more suited to cutting cordwood than felling huge trees. Pete spent much time in the local saloons, and his fellow lumberjacks soon learned he was hot tempered and full of spunk, especially after imbibing. They came to admire his feisty spirit, and no one dared fight the little man.

Legend has it that he "borrowed" his brother's double-bladed ax one day. When he swung it, the weight of the huge ax kept it spinning round and round as if in perpetual motion. When the ax finally stopped spinning, 100 acres of timber had been felled. The railroad hired Pete the next day to clear a path for their tracks, and before the day was over, he had clear-cut fifty square miles of timber. Pete had to give his brother's ax back to him the next day, and he never again achieved such a lumberjacking feat.<ref name="fosston.com"/>

After that Pete stuck to cutting cordwood, which he hauled to market with the help of his little donkey named Tamarack. He died at the age of 84.

Authors [[Richard Dorson]] and Marshall Fitwick cite Paul Bunyan as an example of "[[fakelore]]", or a modern story passed off as an older folktale.<ref>Fitwick, Marshall.  ''Probing popular culture on and off the Internet''.  Routledge, 2004, ISBN 0789021331, 9780789021335, p. 114-118</ref><ref>Dorson, Richard.  ''American Folklore''.  University of Chicago Press, 1977, ISBN 0226158594, 9780226158594, p. 216-226</ref> Cordwood Pete may also qualify as a more modern example of fakelore.

===High School sports===
Fosston's boys basketball team won the first-ever state basketball championship in 1913.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mshsl.org/mshsl/publications/code/yearbook/BasketballBoys.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714033922/http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/publications/code/yearbook/BasketballBoys.pdf |archive-date=2014-07-14 |url-status=live |title=MSHSL Boys Basketball Annual Yearbook | publisher=Minnesota State High School League | access-date=April 14, 2020}}</ref>  In 2002, the girls basketball team set the state consecutive win record, winning 78 games between 1999 and 2002.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

==Media==

===Radio===
* [[KKCQ (AM)]] 1480 "The Information Station" – Talk licensed to Fosston
* [[KKCQ-FM]] 96.7 "Q-Country 96.7" – Country
(studios in Fosston, licensed to nearby [[Bagley, MN]]. Owned by [[R & J Broadcasting]].
* [[KKEQ]] FM 107.1 "QFM" – contemporary Christian music.
(Owned by Pine to Prairie Broadcasting. QFM's city of license is Fosston, but studios are split between Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Bemidji, Minnesota)

Other radio and television stations from [[Bemidji, Minnesota|Bemidji]], [[Thief River Falls, Minnesota|Thief River Falls]], [[Crookston, Minnesota|Crookston]], [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]], and [[Fargo, North Dakota]] can also be received.

===Print===
There is one local newspaper, ''The 13 Towns'', with additional newspapers ''[[Grand Forks Herald]]'' (Grand Forks), ''[[The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead|The Forum]]'' (Fargo, North Dakota), ''The Pioneer'' (Bemidji), and ''[[Star Tribune]]'' ([[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]]) available via subscription or at newsboxes.

==Notable people==
*[[Lily Hanson]], writer and comedian
*[[Edgar Olson]], politician and farmer
*[[Francis Stadsvold]], basketball player and coach
*[[Reuben Harold Tweten]], politician and farmer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.fosston.com/ City of Fosston, Minnesota – Official site]
*[https://vimeo.com/channels/1428613/307371016/ Television News report on Cordwood Pete]
{{Polk County, Minnesota}}
{{Greater Grand Forks}}

{{Coord|47|34|35|N|95|45|05|W|type:city_region:US-MN|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

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