Editing Nowthen, Minnesota

{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Nowthen
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| image_skyline            = 
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = "Where It Still Feels Like Country."

<!-- Images -->
| image_map                = Anoka Cnty Minnesota Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Nowthen Highlighted.png
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of the city of Nowthen<br />within Anoka County, Minnesota
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = <!-- Location -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|45|19|57|N|93|26|48|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka]]

<!-- Government -->
| established_title        = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date         = 2008

<!-- Area -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Jeff Pilon 2015 -  present,                    William "Bill" Schulz                        2008 - 2014
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| 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           = 91.15
| area_total_sq_mi         = 35.19
| area_land_km2            = 87.17
| area_land_sq_mi          = 33.66
| area_water_km2           = 3.98
| area_water_sq_mi         = 1.54

<!-- Population -->
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 925
| population_total         = 4536
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_density_km2   = 52.04
| population_density_sq_mi = 134.78
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| postal_code_type         = 
| postal_code              = 55303
| area_code                = 763
| website                  = https://www.cityofnowthen.com/[https://www.cityofnowthen.com/]
| footnotes                = 
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 27-47536<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              = 2437910<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2437910}}</ref>
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
}}

'''Nowthen''' is a city in [[Anoka County, Minnesota|Anoka County]], [[Minnesota]], United States.  The population was 4,536 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2010 Census">{{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=U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census|access-date=23 April 2011}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|35.10|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|33.56|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|1.54|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=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>  Nowthen is located in the northwestern section of Anoka County.

[[Minnesota State Highway 47]] and County Road 22 are two of the main routes in the community.

Nearby places include [[St. Francis, Minnesota|St. Francis]], [[Oak Grove, Minnesota|Oak Grove]], [[Andover, Minnesota|Andover]], [[Ramsey, Minnesota|Ramsey]], and [[Elk River, Minnesota|Elk River]].  Nowthen is located 12 miles north-northwest of the city of [[Anoka, Minnesota|Anoka]].

==History==
In 1869, Burns Township broke off from St. Francis Township.<ref>https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-18.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>

The city was formerly known as ''Burns Township'' until June 30, 2008, when it was incorporated as the city of Nowthen.  The drive toward incorporation started at the township's annual meeting in March 2007, when residents decided to incorporate in order to prevent annexation by other nearby cities.  The name originated from an unincorporated community named ''Nowthen'' near the intersection of County Roads 5 and 22 within the former township.<ref name="strib">{{cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/22741904.html|title=That was then, this is Nowthen|last=Baca|first=Maria Elena|newspaper=[[Minneapolis Star Tribune]]|date=2008-07-01}}</ref>  "Nowthen" was coined by the town's first postmaster, James Hare, who had the habit of saying "Now, then" in conversation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/otheritem.cfm?PlaceNameID=2224&BookCodeID=44&County=2&SendingPage=Results.cfm|title=Minnesota Place Names - Other Item Information|access-date=2008-07-01|publisher=[[Minnesota Historical Society]]|archive-date=June 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615054329/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/otheritem.cfm?PlaceNameID=2224&BookCodeID=44&County=2&SendingPage=Results.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 340
|1880= 522
|1890= 650
|1900= 920
|1910= 926
|1920= 974
|1930= 899
|1940= 868
|1950= 806
|1960= 966
|1970= 1129
|1980= 1976
|1990= 2429
|2000= 3557
|2010= 4443
|2020= 4536
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===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 4,443 people, 1,450 households, and 1,227 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|132.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,494 housing units at an average density of {{convert|44.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 1,450 households, of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 15.4% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.27.

The median age in the city was 39.9 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 33% were from 45 to 64; and 7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.1% male and 47.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,557 people, 1,123 households, and 985 families residing in the township.  The population density was {{convert|105.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,136 housing units at an average density of {{convert|33.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 98.54% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.20% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.28% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.17% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.14% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.67% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 1,123 households, out of which 47.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.2% were non-families. 8.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 3.16 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the township the population was spread out, with 32.7% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $63,819, and the median income for a family was $65,843. Males had a median income of $42,374 versus $31,454 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $21,569.  About 4.1% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

==Law enforcement==
Historically the community did not have its own law enforcement agency and instead relied on the Anoka County Sheriff's Office. In 2011, the Sheriff’s Office asked the city to pay for non-emergency law enforcement services. The city council voted 3–2 to not do this, which led to the city only having emergency law enforcement as it chose not to establish its own police force.<ref>{{cite web|author=Baca, Maria Elena|url=https://www.startribune.com/police-services-are-left-out-of-nowthen-budget/135632848/?refresh=true|title=Police services are left out of Nowthen budget|newspaper=[[Minneapolis Star Tribune]]|date=2011-12-14|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref> The department's request would have meant a 27% increase in property taxes.<ref>{{cite web|author=Curtis, Gilbert|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2011/11/03/forced-to-choose-nowthen-police-taxes|title=Nowthen weighs the price of police after sheriff's ultimatum|work=[[Minnesota Public Radio]]|date=2011-11-03|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref>

===First responders===
Nowthen built their first [[fire department]] in 2021. [[Ramsey, Minnesota|Ramsey]] wanted to charge Nowthen about $160,000 in administrative costs, the mayor thought that was too high. Nowthen will take a fire engine, tanker, rescue rig, hoses and other equipment from Ramsey and they also gain a fire station that they can now use. They will pay the city of [[St. Francis, Minnesota|St. Francis]] about $75,000 a year for the next three years to have the assistance chief, Dave Schmidt, oversee the startup and head the department.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Tim Harlow Star |title=Largely rural town of Nowthen now has its own fire department |url=https://www.startribune.com/largely-rural-town-of-nowthen-now-has-its-own-fire-department/600050833/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>

They currently have 12 members working for the Fire Department, and are expecting eight more to join.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire Department |url=https://www.cityofnowthen.com/fire-station-3 |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=City of Nowthen |language=en}}</ref>

==Culture==

===Parks===
The city of Nowthen has two parks, Nowthen Memorial Park and Twin Lakes City Park.

Nowthen Memorial Park includes baseball, softball and soccer fields, as well as a volleyball and a basketball court.  Horse shoes, a playground, picnic area, and a walking path are also at the park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nowthen Memorial Park - City of Nowthen|url=http://www.nowthenmn.govoffice2.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={F3BF790F-EE69-4493-B15E-E88E58E02E0D}|publisher=City of Nowthen|access-date=15 April 2013}}</ref>

Twin Lakes City Park includes a beach, a fishing pier, a boat dock and a sand volleyball court.  The park also has a playground, many walking paths and picnic shelters which all contain at least one grill.  A new disc golf course is also available.<ref>{{cite web|title=Twin Lakes City Park - City of Nowthen|url=http://www.nowthenmn.govoffice2.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={9ADFF1A0-39E0-46DC-B35B-74398380A445}|publisher=City of Nowthen|access-date=15 April 2013}}</ref>

===Churches===
Nowthen Alliance Church is the largest church within Nowthen and is a part of the [[Christian and Missionary Alliance]] denomination.  It is located at the intersection of Nowthen Boulevard and Viking Boulevard.

===Nowthen Threshing Show===
The Nowthen Threshing Show has been an annual event for over 40 years.  It is a three-day event that takes place during the third full weekend in August.  There are many attractions including tractor pulls, music, sawmill demonstrations and more.  Guests can see blacksmithing, corn chopping and walking through old restored buildings including a town church, general store, train depot, log cabin and log barn, and an old one-room school house.  There are many antique machines and tractors guests can walk around and look at.  The theme of the Nowthen Threshing Show is “Bringing the Past to the Present.”<ref>{{cite web|title=Nowthen Threshing Show|url=http://www.nowthenthreshing.com/|access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.cityofnowthen.com/ Nowthen City Website]

{{Anoka County, Minnesota}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Anoka County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 2008]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Defunct townships in Minnesota]]