Editing Northfield, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Northfield
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "Cows, College, Contentment"<ref>as seen on the welcome sign entering on the West Bank</ref>
<!-- Images --------------->| image_skyline      = DowntownNorthfield1.JPG
| imagesize          = 275px
| image_caption      = Downtown Northfield, September 2010
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps ----------------->
| image_map          = Rice County Minnesota Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Northfield Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of the city of Northfield<br>within [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice]] and [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]] Counties<br>in 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|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice]], [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]]
<!-- Government ----------->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Mayor-council]] government
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Erica Zweifel
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Platted
| established_date   = October 1855
| established_title1 = Incorporated (village)
| established_date1  = 1871
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (city)]]
| established_date2  = February 26, 1875
<!-- 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     = 22.10
| area_land_km2      = 22.03
| area_water_km2     = 0.06
| area_total_sq_mi   = 8.53
| area_land_sq_mi    = 8.51
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.03
| area_water_percent = 0.58
<!-- Population ----------->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 20924
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
| population_total   = 20790
| population_density_km2 = 943.55
| population_density_sq_mi = 2443.87
| population_urban   = 22686
| population_metro   = 67693
<!-- 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        = 282
| elevation_ft       = 925
| coordinates        = {{coord|44|27|18|N|93|10|11|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code        = 55057
| area_code          = [[Area code 507|507]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 27-46924
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2395265<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395265}}</ref>
| blank2_name        = [[Sales tax]]
| blank2_info        = 7.375%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/minnesota/cities/northfield.html|title=Northfield (MN) sales tax rate|access-date=January 19, 2024}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.northfieldmn.gov/|northfieldmn.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Northfield''' is a city in [[Dakota County, Minnesota|Dakota]] and [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice]] counties in the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Minnesota]]. It is mostly in Rice County, with a small portion in Dakota County. The population was 20,790 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Northfield_city,_Minnesota?g=160XX00US2746924 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 19, 2024}}</ref> Northfield is {{convert|40|mi|abbr=on}} south of the downtowns of [[Minneapolis]] and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]] and is an [[exurb]] of the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area]].

==History==
{{See also|Timeline of Northfield, Minnesota}}
Northfield was [[plat]]ted in October 1855 by [[John W. North]].<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/n482 463]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Fedo |first=Michael |title=Pocket Guide to Minnesota Place Names |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |year=2002 |location=Canada |pages=109 |url=http://shop.mnhs.org/moreinfomhspress.cfm?Product_ID=139 |isbn=0-87351-424-6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527153351/http://shop.mnhs.org/moreinfomhspress.cfm?Product_ID=139 |archive-date=May 27, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Northfield was founded by settlers from [[New England]] known as "Yankees" as part of New England's colonization of what was then the far west.<ref>The Minds of the West: Ethnocultural Evolution in the Rural Middle West, 1869-1917 page 339</ref> It was an early agricultural center with many wheat and corn farms. The town also supported lumber and flour mills powered by the [[Cannon River (Minnesota)|Cannon River]]. As the "wheat frontier" moved west, dairy operations and diversified farms replaced wheat-based agriculture. The region has since moved away from dairy and beef operations, and it produces substantial crops of corn and soybeans, as well as hogs. The local cereal producer [[Malt-O-Meal]] is one of the few remnants of Northfield's historic wheat boom. The city's motto, "Cows, Colleges, and Community" (a recent change from "Cows, Colleges, and Contentment"),<ref>{{cite news|last= Adler|first= Erin|url= https://www.startribune.com/after-months-of-research-northfield-decides-its-content-with-most-of-its-well-known-slogan/600342693/|title= After Months of Research Northfield Decides it's Content with Most of its Well-known Slogan|work= Minnesota Star Tribune|date= February 11, 2024|access-date= January 14, 2025}}</ref> reflects the influence of the dairy farms as well as its two liberal arts colleges, [[Carleton College]] and [[St. Olaf College]].{{source?|date=January 2024}}

Since early in its history, Northfield has been a center of higher education. [[Carleton College]] (then Northfield College) was founded in 1866 by the Minnesota Conference of [[Congregational church]]es whose Congregation consisted of the "Yankee" settlers who had largely founded the town. These were people descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s.<ref>The expansion of New England: the spread of New England settlement and institutions to the Mississippi River, 1620-1865</ref> Carleton soon established its campus on the northern edge of town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our History — About Carleton|url=https://www.carleton.edu/about/history/}}</ref> [[St. Olaf College]] was founded in 1874 on the western edge of town by [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]] [[Lutheran]] immigrant pastors and farmers who were eager to preserve their faith and culture by training teachers and preachers. These two institutions, which today enroll more than 5,000 students, make Northfield a [[college town]].{{source?|date=January 2024}}

In the 1970s, completion of [[Interstate 35]] six miles west of Northfield enabled the expansion of the [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]] metro area south of the [[Minnesota River]]. The downtown grain elevator accepted its last load of corn in 2000 and was torn down in 2002. Residential growth has been rapid since the mid-1990s.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} Northfield Hospital, which opened in 2003 in the town's northwest corner, is in Dakota County, so chosen because government reimbursement rates are more generous for Dakota County than for Rice County.{{source?|date=January 2024}}

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|8.61|sqmi|sqkm|2}}; {{convert|8.56|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|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|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The peak elevation is about {{convert|912|feet|abbr=on}}.<ref name ="NorthfieldElevation">{{cite web|title=Minnesota HomeTownLocator|url=http://minnesota.hometownlocator.com/mn/rice/northfield.cfm|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 21, 2015}}</ref>

The town is roughly centered around the [[Cannon River (Minnesota)|Cannon River]] and rises to the east and west from it.

Interstate 35 is {{Cvt|6|mi|}} west of Northfield. Minnesota State Highways [[Minnesota State Highway 3|3]], [[Minnesota State Highway 19|19]], and [[Minnesota State Highway 246|246]] are three of Northfield's main routes.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 2296
|1890= 2659
|1900= 3210
|1910= 3265
|1920= 4023
|1930= 4153
|1940= 4533
|1950= 7487
|1960= 8707
|1970= 10235
|1980= 12562
|1990= 14684
|2000= 17147
|2010= 20007
|2020= 20790
|estyear=2022
|estimate=20924
|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=October 28, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 20,007 people, 6,272 households, and 3,946 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2337.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 6,832 housing units at an average density of {{convert|798.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 4.0% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.4% of the population.

There were 6,272 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 26.4 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 29% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.1% were from 25 to 44; 20.1% were from 45 to 64; and 12% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,452.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of {{convert|732.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.57% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.90% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.34% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.36% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.78% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.99% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.73% of the population.

There were 4,909 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 32.1% from 18 to 24 (a figure heavily influenced by the student population of [[St. Olaf College|St. Olaf]] and [[Carleton College]]), 21.0% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,972, and the median income for a family was $61,055. Males had a median income of $40,008 versus $28,456 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,619. About 2.8% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[Image:Ames-Mill-Northfield-Minnesota-Panorama.jpg|thumb|right|The Ames Mill on the Cannon River]]
Early in the city's history, local merchants created a small town square between Fourth Street to the north, Division Street to the east, the Cannon River to the west, and the southern storefronts. The old Ames Mill/[[Malt-O-Meal]] plant was also nearby, originally powered by the dam on the river. Bridge Square and the surrounding downtown area remain a strong cultural attraction for the city. The square has several amenities including a large fountain, a memorial statue, and a concession stand known as "the popcorn wagon" run by the senior center. Several scenic walkways follow the river, and numerous shops and boutiques can be found on the neighboring streets.

Businesses serving the growing senior citizen community of Northfield have expanded to include the Northfield Senior Center,  the Village on the Cannon, Millstream Commons, and new construction at the Northfield Retirement Center complex. The northern edge of the city has also been expanding with several residential and commercial developments.

[[Jesse James]]' and the [[James-Younger Gang]]'s 1876 attempt to rob the First National Bank of Northfield serves as a heritage tourism draw for the town. The original bank building was converted to a museum operated by the Northfield Historical Society.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.northfieldhistory.org/about-us/|title=About Us - Northfield Historical Society|work=Northfield Historical Society|access-date=2018-01-13|language=en-US}}</ref> The First National Bank of Northfield operates from a main office built half a block away from the historic site. In its front lobby, a glass case showcases a gun used during the robbery.

The Northfield Convention and Visitors Bureau provides comprehensive tourism information and visit planning services.

==Arts and culture==

===Defeat of Jesse James Days Celebration===
[[Image:Northfield First National.jpg|thumb|left|The First National Bank in the Scriver Building in Northfield, Minnesota, site of the attempted robbery]]
[[File:Scriver Building.jpg|thumb|left|The Scriver Building in Northfield, Minnesota]]
On September 7, 1876, Northfield experienced one of its most important historical events, when The James-Younger Gang attempted a robbery on the First National Bank of Northfield.<ref>{{cite news|title=Raid by robbers|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6562843/northfield_bank_robbery_1876/|access-date=September 9, 2016|work=The Worthington Advance|date=September 14, 1876|location=Worthington, Minnesota|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Local citizens, recognizing what was happening, armed themselves and resisted the robbers and successfully thwarted the theft. The gang killed the bank's cashier, [[Joseph Lee Heywood]] and a Swedish immigrant, [[Nicholas Gustafson]]. A couple of members of the gang were killed in the street, while Cole, Bob, and Jim Younger were cornered near [[Madelia, Minnesota]]. Jesse and Frank James escaped west into the Dakota Territory, while the remaining gang members were killed or taken into custody. Considering the James gang as related to postwar [[insurgency]], the raid has sometimes been called the last major event of the [[American Civil War]]. Two popular Northfield slogans are "Jesse James Slipped Here", based on the raid's failure, and "Get your guns boys, they're robbing the bank!", which was the alarm sounded by hardware store merchant J.S. Allen that spurred Northfield men into action, arming themselves with long guns in a street shootout that lasted around seven minutes, leaving two gang members dead in the street. Bob Younger's horse was killed and Frank James assassinated First National Bank acting cashier Joseph Lee Heywood. Swedish immigrant Nicolaus Gustafson was shot in the head by Cole Younger and died of his injuries four days later. Bank teller Alonzo Bunker was shot in the shoulder as he tried to escape.

The events have become the basis of an annual outdoor heritage festival called ''The Defeat of Jesse James Days''.<ref name = djjd>{{cite web | title = The Defeat of Jesse James Days Celebration | publisher = DJJD Committee, Inc. | year = 2006 | url = http://djjd.org | access-date = September 9, 2007}}</ref> It is held the weekend after Labor Day and is among the largest outdoor celebrations in Minnesota. Thousands of visitors witness reenactments of the robbery, which are staged on Division Street, outside of the First National Bank of Northfield. Other activities during the festival include a championship rodeo, carnival, car show, and parade, as well as arts and crafts expositions, and musical performances. Many food stations are set up in Bridge Square, and during the evenings live music is played in the Entertainment Center tent on Water Street. A horseshoe hunt takes place the week before the celebration: an antique horseshoe is hidden somewhere within the city on public grounds and the finder claims that year's cash purse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.djjd.org/horse-shoe-hunt/ |title=Horse Shoe Hunt - Defeat of Jesse James Days |website=Djjd.org |date=April 13, 2011 |access-date=September 9, 2016}}</ref>

==In popular media==
* Films based on the failed raid include ''[[True Story of Jesse James|The True Story of Jesse James]]'' (1957), ''[[The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid]]'' (1972), and ''[[The Long Riders]]'' (1980).
* Northfield was also the setting of the TV-movie ''[[Love Always, Santa]]'' (2016).<ref>{{cite web|title=Love Always, Santa|website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6085974/|access-date=August 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Weyhe|first1=Philip|title=Northfield set for early movie premiere of 'Love Always, Santa'|url=http://www.southernminn.com/northfield_news/news/article_30a75c05-5f9c-5049-a4a6-fc8195cfd597.html|access-date=August 30, 2017|work=Northfield News|date=October 25, 2016}}</ref>
* In the fourteenth episode of the 1979 TV series, [[Spider-Woman (TV series)|Spider-Woman]], Doctor T. transports himself into Northfield during the Bank Raid of 1876 in order to rob Jesse James.<ref>{{Cite episode
 | title          = A Crime in Time
 | series         =Spider-Woman (TV series)
 | date           = December 22, 1979
 | season         = 1
}}</ref>

==Parks and recreation==
[[Image:Bridge-No-8096.jpg|thumb|right|Bridge No. 8096 over Spring Creek, which runs through the [[Carleton College Cowling Arboretum]]]]The city owns 35 parks consisting of over {{convert|400|acre|km2}} of land.<ref name="Nfld_Parks">{{cite web|title=Parks |work=Streets, Parks and Facilities Division |publisher=City of Northfield |year=2008 |url=http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/parksandrec/parks |access-date=July 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421214025/http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/parksandrec/parks |archive-date=April 21, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>  Three of these parks have picnic shelters.<ref name="Nfld_Parks" />

The [[Carleton College Cowling Arboretum]] is a well-established [[arboretum]] and nature preserve of {{Cvt|800|acres|km2}} adjacent to and owned by [[Carleton College]]. It offers extensive trails for walking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.

St. Olaf College also owns around {{convert|430|acre}} called the St. Olaf Natural Lands.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands/|title=Natural Lands - St. Olaf College|publisher=[[St. Olaf College]] |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |date=2024}}</ref> Of that, {{Cvt|150|acres|km2}} is restored prairie with 10 species of native grasses, and 25-40 species of wildflowers,<ref>{{cite web|title=Prairies|url=https://wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands/prairies/|access-date=August 30, 2017|archive-date=August 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831000735/https://wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands/prairies/|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{Cvt|15|acres|km2}} of [[Big Woods|big woods]] habitat,<ref>{{cite web|title=Forest|url=https://wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands/woodlands/|access-date=August 30, 2017|archive-date=August 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831000952/https://wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands/woodlands/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and up to {{Cvt|9|acres|km2}} of surface wetlands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wetlands|url=https://wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands/wetlands/|access-date=August 30, 2017}}</ref> The St. Olaf Natural Lands are open to the public all year long and visitors are welcome to walk the trails and explore the Natural Lands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Map of St. Olaf Natural Lands trails and features|url=https://wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands/files/2023/06/St-Olaf-Natural-Lands-20230401-1.pdf|access-date=April 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=St. Olaf Natural Lands Visitor Information and Rules|url=https://wp.stolaf.edu/naturallands/visitor-information-and-rules/|access-date=April 21, 2024}}</ref>

The [[Mill Towns Trail|Mill Towns State Trail]] was built in 1998 as a joint effort of the cities of Northfield and [[Dundas, Minnesota|Dundas]].

==Government and politics==
The City of Northfield has a [[mayor-council government]]. The City Administrator is responsible for managing daily operations. The current mayor is Erica Zweifel.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Council |url=https://www.northfieldmn.gov/Directory.aspx?did=27 |access-date=March 14, 2025 |publisher=City of Northfield}}</ref> The city council consists of six members, four of whom represent city districts and two of whom are at-large members serving four year terms.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northfield City Charter: Section 3.3. - Council Composition and Election.|url=https://library.municode.com/mn/northfield/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTINOCH_CHTHREEFOGO_S3.3COCOEL|access-date=August 30, 2017}}</ref>

Northfield is represented by Minnesota State Senator [[Bill Lieske]] ([[Republican Party of Minnesota|R]]) in District 58 and State Representative [[Kristi Pursell]] ([[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|DFL]]) in District 58A.

In the United States Congress, Northfield is part of [[Minnesota's 2nd congressional district]], represented by [[Angie Craig]] ([[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|DFL]]) since 2019, and in the Senate by [[Tina Smith]] and [[Amy Klobuchar]], both members of Minnesota's [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]], an affiliate of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#ccccff|title=Presidential election results}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Precinct General Election Results<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/|title=Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - Election Results}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|25.4% ''2,966''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''72.4%''' ''8,436''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.2% ''254''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|25.4% ''2,764''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''66.9%''' ''7,280''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|7.7% ''841''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|29.6% ''3,307''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''67.7%''' ''7,569''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.7% ''309''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|27.8% ''3,065''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''70.7%''' ''7,795''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.5% ''161''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.7% ''3,234''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''67.0%''' ''6,839''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.3% ''136''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.2% ''2,752''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.4%''' ''5,245''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|9.4% ''834''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|27.5% ''2,006''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''65.4%''' ''4,769''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|7.1% ''519''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|24.8% ''1,852''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.4%''' ''4,277''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|17.8% ''1,329''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.4% ''2,601''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''62.6%''' ''4,354''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.0% ''0''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.5% ''3,029''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.5%''' ''3,780''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.0% ''0''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.7% ''1,841''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''45.1%''' ''2,618''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|23.2% ''1,352''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.4% ''2,420''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.2%''' ''2,732''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|3.4% ''183''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.1%''' ''2,202''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.9% ''2,149''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.0% ''42''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.3%''' ''1,608''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.5% ''1,457''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.2% ''68''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.7% ''1,322''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.2%''' ''1,630''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.1% ''4''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''68.0%''' ''2,126''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.6% ''990''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.4% ''12''
|}

{{Hidden end}}

==Education==
Northfield is home to [[St. Olaf College|St. Olaf]] and [[Carleton College|Carleton]] colleges. Their student and staff populations account for a large portion of the town's year-round population.{{source?|date=January 2024}}

The [[Northfield Public Schools|Northfield Public School district]] operates three elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and an alternative learning center. In addition, Northfield has public charter schools: [[Arcadia Charter School|Arcadia]] (grades 6–12) and [[Prairie Creek Community School]] (grades K–5) in nearby [[Castle Rock, Minnesota|Castle Rock]]. They receive state funding from the State of Minnesota.{{source?|date=January 2024}}

==Transportation==
Northfield is at the intersection of [[Minnesota State Highway 3]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 19]]. The nearest interstate highway is [[Interstate 35 in Minnesota|I-35]], west of the city. Northfield is also the site of one of the first roundabouts with grade-separated paths for bikes and pedestrians in the United States at the intersection of TH 246 and Jefferson Parkway.<ref>Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (2022, June 17). Northfield roundabout transformation. Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.sehinc.com/portfolio/northfield-roundabout-transformation</ref>

Historically, Northfield was served by four railroads: the [[Chicago Great Western Railway]], [[Milwaukee Road]], the [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad|Rock Island]], and the [[Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway]]. Today, the freight-only [[Albert Lea Subdivision]] of the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] runs north–south through Northfield. [[Progressive Rail]], a short-line railroad, operates several branch lines radiating from Northfield. Resumption of passenger service over the [[Dan Patch Corridor]] has been studied.

==Notable people==
* [[Peter Agre]] (born January 30, 1949), Nobel laureate in chemistry
* [[Adelbert Ames]] (October 31, 1835 – April 13, 1933), [[Union Army]] general during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]
* [[Cyril Archibald]] (1837 – April 13, 1914), member of Canadian Parliament
* [[Ian Barbour]] (October 5, 1923 – December 24, 2013), winner of 1999 [[Templeton Prize]]
* [[Steven Brust]] (born November 23, 1955), author and musician
* [[Mataeo Bunbury]] (born June 13, 2005), soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mataeo Bunbury |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/mataeo-bunbury/ |access-date=February 16, 2025 |website=[[Major League Soccer]]}}</ref>
* [[Lincoln Child]] (born 1957), author
* [[F. Melius Christiansen]] (April 1, 1871 – June 1, 1955), pioneer of ''[[a cappella]]'' choral music
* [[Raymond Cox]] (1951–2017), Minnesota state legislator and businessman
* [[Michael Dorris]] (January 30, 1945 – April 10, 1997), author
* [[Joan N. Ericksen]] (born 1954), United States District Court judge
* [[Ralph B. Goodhue]] (January 27, 1878 - January 18, 1960), Minnesota state senator and farmer
* [[Laurence McKinley Gould]] (August 22, 1896 – June 21, 1995), geologist, educator, polar explorer
* [[Joel Heatwole]] (August 22, 1856 – April 4, 1910), [[U.S. House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]]
* [[Lucius Roy Holbrook]] (April 30, 1875 – October 19, 1952), [[U.S. Army]] [[major general]]
* [[Alexandra Holden]] (born April 30, 1977), actress
* [[Siri Hustvedt]] (born February 19, 1955), author, poet, and essayist
* [[Justin Kloos]], NHL player for the [[Anaheim Ducks]]
* [[Thomas M. Neuville]] (January 31, 1950 – January 26, 2022), Minnesota state senator and judge
* [[Grace Fallow Norton]] (October 29, 1876 – 1962), poet
* [[Karl Rolvaag]] (July 18, 1913 – December 20, 1990), governor of Minnesota
* [[Ole Edvart Rølvaag]] (April 22, 1876 – November 5, 1931), author
* [[Gilmore Schjeldahl]] (June 1, 1912 – March 10, 2002), inventor and entrepreneur
* [[Peter Schjeldahl]] (March 20, 1942 - October 21, 2022), art critic and writer
* [[Marilyn Sellars]] (born 1944), country music singer
* [[Chad Setterstrom]] (born June 13, 1980), professional football player
* [[Mark Setterstrom]] (born March 3, 1984), professional football player
* [[Edward Sövik]] (June 9, 1918 – May 4, 2014), architect, liturgist
* [[Steve Strachan (sheriff)|Steve Strachan]] (born January 26, 1965), former member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]]
* [[Edward John Thye]] (April 26, 1896 – August 28, 1969), governor of Minnesota and U.S. Senator
* [[Thorstein Veblen]] (July 30, 1857 – August 3, 1929), economist and sociologist
* [[Paul Wellstone]] (July 21, 1944 – October 25, 2002), U.S. Senator
* [[Jon Wee]] (born 1965?), professional juggler
* [[Johnny Western]] (born October 28, 1934), singer-songwriter, actor, radio host
* [[Charles Augustus Wheaton]] (July 1, 1809, - March 14, 1882), major figure in the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]] movement and [[Underground Railroad]]
* [[William Cullen Wilcox|Ida Belle Clary Wilcox]] (August 6, 1850 – January 26, 1928), missionary honored by South Africa in 2009<ref name=northfield>{{cite news|last=Cohn|first=Jacob|title=Professor Cherif Keita's Documentary Film "Cemetery Stories" Links South Africa to Northfield|url=http://apps.carleton.edu/community/news/?story_id=939608|access-date=August 1, 2013|newspaper=Carleton College|date=January 25, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Jerome J. Workman Jr.]] (born August 6, 1952), American spectroscopist, editor, author

==Media==
===Radio===
{| class="wikitable"
! align="center" colspan="5" | '''[[AM radio]] stations'''
|-
! Frequency
! Call sign
! Name
! Format
! Owner
|-
| 1080 || [[KYMN]] || 95.1 The One || [[News/Talk]] & [[Adult album alternative|Adult Album Alternative]] || Northfield Radio, Inc.
|}

{| class="wikitable"
! align="center" colspan="5" | '''[[FM radio]] stations'''
|-
! Frequency
! Call sign
! Name
! Format
! Owner
|-
| 88.1||[[KRLX]]|| ||[[Campus radio]]||[[Carleton College]]
|-
| 89.3<br />89.3 HD-2 || [[KCMP]] || 89.3 The Current<br />Local Current || [[Adult Album Alternative]]<br />[[Adult Album Alternative]] || [[Minnesota Public Radio]]
|-
| 93.1 || KSTO|| ||[[Campus radio]]||[[St. Olaf College]]
|-
| 95.1 || [[KYMN|K236CO]]<br><small>([[KYMN|KYMN-AM]] Translator)</small> || 95.1 The One || [[News/Talk]] & [[Adult Album Alternative]] || Northfield Radio, Inc.
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Northfield (Minnesota)|Northfield, Minnesota}}
{{EB1911 poster|Northfield (Minnesota)|Northfield, Minnesota}}
* [https://www.northfieldmn.gov/ City of Northfield – Official Website]
* [http://northfield.org/ Northfield.org]
* [http://www.visitingnorthfield.com/ Northfield Convention and Visitors Bureau – Visitor Information]

{{Northfield, Minnesota}}
{{Dakota County, Minnesota}}
{{Rice County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Northfield, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Dakota County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Rice County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:James–Younger Gang]]