Editing Montgomery, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Montgomery, Minnesota
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = Kolacky Capital of the World
| motto              = Vitame Vas
<!-- Images -->| image_skyline      = 2009-0805-Montgomery-Westerman.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = The [[Westerman Lumber Office and House]] structure is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Le Sueur County, Minnesota|National Register of Historic Places]].
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Le_Sueur_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Montgomery_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Montgomery, 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  = [[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Sueur]]
<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = Mayor - Council
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = [[Thomas "Tom" Eisert]] {{Citation |last= |first= |year= |title=Thomas Eisert Montgomery MN |publisher=cityofmontgomerymn.com |publication-place= |page= |url=https://www.cityofmontgomerymn.com/people/thomas-eisert |access-date=2024-06-04}}
| 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     = 6.50
| area_land_km2      = 6.50
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.51
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.51
| 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   = 3249
| population_density_km2 = 499.55
| population_density_sq_mi = 1293.91
<!-- 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       = 1093
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|26|42|N|93|34|47|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 56069
| area_code          = [[Area code 507|507]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 27-43738<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2395381<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395381}}</ref>
| website            = 
}}
'''Montgomery''' is a city in [[Le Sueur County, Minnesota|Le Sueur County]], [[Minnesota]], United States, 45 miles south of [[Minneapolis]]. It was named after [[Richard Montgomery]], an [[Ireland|Irish]]-[[United States|American]] [[soldier]] who served as a [[major general]] in the [[Continental Army]] during the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]]. The population was 2,956 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="2010 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_GCTPL2.ST13&prodType=table|work=American FactFinder|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 27, 2011}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==History==
Montgomery was [[plat]]ted in 1877 when the railroad was extended to that point.<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n321 302]}}</ref> [[Martin M. Malone]] (1888-1962), politician and businessman, was born in Montgomery.<ref>'Martin M. Malone (obituary),' '''Montgomery Messenger (Minnesota),''' February 8, 1062</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.62|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]]|accessdate=November 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archivedate=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

Minnesota State Highways [[Minnesota State Highway 13|13]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 21|21]] are two of the main routes in the city.  [[Minnesota State Highway 99]] is located directly to the south.  Montgomery is 15 miles from [[Interstate 35 in Minnesota|Interstate 35]].

The closest towns to Montgomery are: North - [[New Prague, Minnesota|New Prague]], South - [[Kilkenny, Minnesota|Kilkenny]], East - [[Lonsdale, Minnesota|Lonsdale]], West - [[Le Center, Minnesota|Le Center]].  The closest major city is [[Faribault, Minnesota|Faribault]] to the Southeast.

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Montgomery, Minnesota
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 19
|Feb high F = 26
|Mar high F = 38
|Apr high F = 55
|May high F = 68
|Jun high F = 77
|Jul high F = 81
|Aug high F = 78
|Sep high F = 70
|Oct high F = 58
|Nov high F = 39
|Dec high F = 24
|Jan low F = −1
|Feb low F = 6
|Mar low F = 19
|Apr low F = 31
|May low F = 45
|Jun low F = 55
|Jul low F = 58
|Aug low F = 56
|Sep low F = 45
|Oct low F = 34
|Nov low F = 20
|Dec low F = 5
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.76
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.52
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.62
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.34
|May precipitation inch = 3.40
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.42
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.86
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.68
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.97
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.14
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.71
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.72
|source 1 = The Weather Channel<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/56069 |title= Monthly Averages for Montgomery, Minnesota | publisher=Weather.com |year=2010 |accessdate=April 6, 2010}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 261
|1890= 1086
|1900= 979
|1910= 1267
|1920= 1297
|1930= 1570
|1940= 1741
|1950= 1913
|1960= 2118
|1970= 2281
|1980= 2349
|1990= 2399
|2000= 2794
|2010= 2956
|2020= 3249
|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 12, 2013}}</ref><br />2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 5, 2019}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
At the 2010 [[census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=November 13, 2012}}</ref> there were 2,956 people, 1,185 households and 760 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1128.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,306 housing units at an average density of {{convert|498.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.4% of the population.

There were 1,185 households, of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.9% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age was 35.1 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.5% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13.4% were 65 years of age or older. The population was 50.6% male and 49.4% female.

===2000 census===
At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,794 people, 1,105 households and 690 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,790.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,137 housing units at an average density of {{convert|728.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.59% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.32% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.25% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.32% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 4.29% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.22% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 9.77% of the population.

There were 1,105 households, of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.23.

28.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The [[median household income]] was $34,145 and the median family income was $48,011. Males had a median income of $30,707 compared with $23,977 for females. The [[per capita income]] was $16,128.  About 8.1% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 18.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[Seneca Foods]] (formerly Green Giant) has a freezing and canning facility in Montgomery. [[United Steel Products]] also has a large facility in town. The economy of the Montgomery area relies heavily on agriculture, and other assorted blue collar jobs.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Business Directory|url = http://www.cityofmontgomerymn.com/index.asp?SEC=F71CFC70-43A6-454D-BF84-1D38D5A487F8&Type=B_BASIC|website = www.cityofmontgomerymn.com|access-date=February 18, 2016}}</ref>

==Government==
Montgomery is in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district, represented by [[Angie Craig]] (DFL); Minnesota Senate district 22, represented by [[Rich Draheim]] (R); and Minnesota House district 22B, represented by [[Brian Pfarr]] (R).  In terms of county politics, Montgomery is a part of Le Sueur County District #2 and represented by Joe Connolly.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

==Education==
[[File:2009-0805-Montgomery-HilltopHall.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hilltop Hall]] is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.]]
Montgomery is a part of the Tri-City United School District, [[Independent School District|ISD]] #2905. The district includes a grades 9-12 [[Tri-City United High School]] in Montgomery; K-8 campuses in Montgomery and [[Le Center, Minnesota|Le Center]]; and a K-6 elementary school in [[Lonsdale, Minnesota|Lonsdale]]. The district's sports teams, the Titans, are members of the [[Minnesota River Conference]], and participate in baseball, softball, basketball, cross-country, hockey, tennis, track, football, cheerleading, wrestling, golf and volleyball.

The Most Holy Redeemer Catholic School is a parochial pre-K-8 school. Its sports teams, the Raiders, compete in the Tri-County Private School Conference in sports including volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball.

==Arts and culture==
[[Image:Downtown-monty-kdays.jpg|thumb|Downtown Montgomery during the 74th Annual Kolacky Days Festival]]

Montgomery celebrates its Czechoslovakian heritage annually at the end of July with one of Minnesota's oldest festivals, [[Kolacky]] Days. The festival dates back to 1929, when an estimated 6,000 people visited Montgomery for the first Kolacky Day celebration, held on October 1.

"The Kolacky Day spirit reigned supreme from early Tuesday morning until a comparatively late hour Wednesday morning. More than 1,600 of the celebrated delicacies were devoured," according to a ''Montgomery Messenger'' account from the following week.

Events at the first celebration included a [[trap shooting]] tournament, a [[parade]], sports and races, and a football game between Montgomery and Le Sueur Center (now [[Le Center, MN|Le Center]]).

In 1931 Miss Leatta Ehmke (later Leatta Trnka) was crowned the first Kolacky Queen by Mayor Henry Westerman. For the 1934 celebration, a novelty button, sold by the Kolacky girls, was devised and is still in use today. Following the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] on December 7, 1941, Kolacky Day retreated to the background until the Montgomery Community Club revived the celebration in 1948. Kolacky Day officially became a summer festival in 1966 when the traditional date, the last Sunday in September, was dropped in favor of the first weekend in August. The earlier date and warmer weather brought huge crowds to the festival. In 1975, Kolacky Day became Kolacky Days and the event was held for the first time at the end of July. It is now celebrated on the fourth full weekend of that month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.montgomery.govoffice.com/ |title=City of Montgomery -- VITÁME VÁS! |website=www.montgomery.govoffice.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060706231440/http://www.montgomery.govoffice.com/ |archive-date=2006-07-06}}</ref> The shift was made at the urging of the Green Giant vegetable canning company, to avoid conflict with the busy corn-processing season.

Other annual events include the Torchlight Parade & Fireworks, the Masopust Festival also known as "The Czech Mardi Gras" and the Miss Czech-Slovak MN Pageant.

==Parks and recreation==

===Baseball===
Montgomery's baseball tradition includes the amateur baseball team, known as the Mallards, the former high school Montgomery-Lonsdale Redbirds and now the Tri-City United Titans.
The Mallards play in the Dakota Rice Scott Amateur Baseball League (DRS) under the direction of the Minnesota Baseball Association. The Mallards participated in the State Tournament in 1998, 1999, 2002, 2016 and 2022. They play their home games at Memorial Field, in Memorial Park.

The Redbirds played in the Minnesota River Conference under the direction of the Minnesota High School League.  The Redbirds participated in a few State Tournaments and won the Class A State Championship for the 1998-1999 Season.  Now the tradition continues with the consolidated Tri-City United School District.

===Recreation===
The Tri-City United Community Education Office provides the citizens of Montgomery as well as the rest of the school district with recreational opportunities for all ages.

===City parks===
*Memorial Park
*North Side
*West Side
*Veteran's Memorial Park

===Nearby Lakes===
* Lake Pepin
* Lake Dora
* Clear Lake
* Gorman Lake

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''Montgomery: From the "Big Woods" To the "Kolacky Capital"'', second edition (2000), Montgomery Arts and Heritage Center.

==External links==
* [http://www.kolackydays.com Kolacky Days]
* [http://www.montgomerymnnews.com Montgomery MN Newspaper]
* [http://www.facebook.com/kolackydays Kolacky Days on Facebook]
* [http://www.bighonza.com Big Honza's Museum of Unnatural History]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120205090934/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=21281 ePodunk entry for Montgomery]
* [http://www.montgomerymn.org Montgomery Chamber Of Commerce]

{{Le Sueur County, Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Czech-American culture in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Le Sueur County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:1877 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Slovak-American culture in Minnesota]]