Editing Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Sauk Rapids
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Sauk rapids sign.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Benton_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Sauk_Rapids_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Sauk Rapids<br>within [[Benton County, Minnesota|Benton County]] and 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|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Benton County, Minnesota|Benton]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|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           = 16.89
|area_land_km2            = 16.28
|area_water_km2           = 0.61
|area_total_sq_mi         = 6.52
|area_land_sq_mi          = 6.29
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.23
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 13862
|population_density_km2   = 851.22
|population_density_sq_mi = 2204.52
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1079
|coordinates              = {{coord|45|35|53|N|94|09|14|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 56379
|area_code                = [[Area code 320|320]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-58684<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2396542<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396542}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us/|ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Sauk Rapids''' ({{IPAc-en|s|ɔː|k}} {{respell|SAWK}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |title=Minnesota Pronunciation Guide |website=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722194213/http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }}</ref> is a city in [[Benton County, Minnesota|Benton County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 13,862 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2758684 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=June 19, 2022}}</ref> and is 13,896 according to 2021 census estimates,<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|date=June 16, 2022|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 19, 2022}}</ref> about a third of Benton County's population. It is on a set of rapids on the [[Mississippi River]] near its [[confluence]] with the [[Sauk River (Minnesota)|Sauk River]].

Sauk Rapids is part of the [[St. Cloud metropolitan area]].

==History==
[[File:BNSF Railroad and Railway Avenue - Sauk Rapids, Minnesota - Winter (23894354550).jpg|thumb|right|[[BNSF Railway]] in Sauk Rapids]]

Sauk Rapids was originally little more than a forest of [[oak]], [[maple]] and [[basswood]] trees along the [[Mississippi River]] until the first home was constructed there in 1851, a large mansion named Lynden Terrace erected by W.H. Wood. Soon other settlers followed and the town was named Sauk Rapids after the [[rapids]] just below the Sauk River's mouth on the Mississippi. The new settlement was along the [[Red River Trails]].<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Gilman
 | first = Rhoda R.
 | author2 = Carolyn Gilman |author3=Deborah M. Stultz
 | year = 1979
 | title = The Red River Trails: Oxcart Routes Between St. Paul and the Selkirk Settlement, 1820–1870
 | publisher = Minnesota Historical Society Press
 | location = St. Paul
 | pages = 55–68; 71–75
 | isbn = 0-87351-133-6
}}</ref>

Soon a general store was built, then a hotel, and a large jail. The first settlers organized a church that was soon followed by a [[Methodist]], an [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopalian]] and a [[Lutheran]] church. The first paper outside of [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]] was the ''Sauk Rapids Frontiersman'', founded in 1854.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://98country.com/tags/sauk-rapids-frontiersman/|title=Sauk Rapids Frontiersman - 98.1 - Minnesota's New Country|website=98.1 - Minnesota's New Country|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>

A flour mill was erected in 1875, but was destroyed in 1886. The first bridge was built in 1876, was destroyed later in 1876, and was rebuilt in 1879. The first school was built in 1886.

In 1874, Sauk Rapids was the end of the line for the new railroad. Settlers from as far away as the [[Red River Valley]] brought their produce there to ship it. A six-horse [[stage coach]] made biweekly trips between [[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. Cloud]] and Crow Wing.

In 1856, the county seat moved to [[Watab]], then returned to Sauk Rapids in 1859. A new courthouse was built, but in 1897 the seat moved to [[Foley, Minnesota|Foley]], where it remains. In 1917 the courthouse burned down.

Sauk Rapids was one of Minnesota's most important cities until 1886, when, on April 14 at approximately 4:00&nbsp;p.m., [[1886 Sauk Rapids tornado|a tornado]] struck the town. It swept through the center of the city, destroying all the stores. In Sauk Rapids, 44 people were killed and several hundred were injured.

The [[Sauk Rapids Regional Bridge]] was completed in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnweeks.com/river_mississippi/pages03/newsaukrapids.html|title=Sauk Rapids Bridge, Sauk Rapids, MN|website=www.johnweeks.com|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref> The new bridge links to 2nd Street rather than 1st Street, as the original [[Sauk Rapids Bridge]] did. Several buildings had to be demolished during the construction process, and some were rebuilt. Some sidewalks were repaved with [[cobblestone]] and the medians were filled with granite blocks.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|6.35|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|6.10|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.25|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/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=February 20, 2011}}</ref>

[[U.S. Highway 10]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 15]] are two of the main routes in Sauk Rapids. Other nearby routes include [[Interstate 94]]/[[U.S. Highway 52]], [[Minnesota State Highway 23]], and County Road 75. Sauk Rapids is immediately northeast of the city of [[St. Cloud, Minnesota|St. Cloud]], on the east bank of the Mississippi River.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 167
|1870= 412
|1880= 598
|1890= 1185
|1900= 1391
|1910= 1745
|1920= 2349
|1930= 2656
|1940= 2981
|1950= 3410
|1960= 4038
|1970= 5051
|1980= 5793
|1990= 7825
|2000= 10213
|2010= 12773
|2020= 13862
|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=June 17, 2016}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Sauk Rapids, Minnesota - Demographic Profile'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000Census>{{Cite book|title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2000-Minnesota|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=bliorXz9m0cC&pg=GBS.PA257&hl=en|website=[[Google Books]]| year=2002 | publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau | isbn=9780160672132 }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sauk Rapids, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=1600000US2758684&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sauk Rapids, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=1600000US2758684&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|9,848
|11,978
|12,050
|96.43%
|93.78%
|86.93%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|58
|147
|327
|0.57%
|1.15%
|2.36%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|27
|58
|78
|0.26%
|0.45%
|0.56%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|80
|147
|256
|0.78%
|1.15%
|1.85%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|4
|2
|4
|0.04%
|0.02%
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|3
|8
|46
|0.03%
|0.06%
|0.33%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|83
|204
|626
|0.81%
|1.60%
|4.52%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|110
|229
|475
|1.08%
|1.79%
|3.43%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''10,213'''
|'''12,773'''
|'''13,862'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

===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=November 13, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 12,773 people, 4,960 households, and 3,222 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2093.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,219 housing units at an average density of {{convert|855.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 4,960 households, of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.0% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% 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 3.03.

The median age in the city was 32.8 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.2% were from 25 to 44; 22.4% were from 45 to 64; and 10.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 10,213 people, 3,921 households, and 2,599 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,234.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,017 housing units at an average density of {{convert|878.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.11% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.57% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.31% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.78% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.23% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.96% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.08% of the population.

There were 3,921 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% 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 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,857, and the median income for a family was $53,938. Males had a median income of $36,074 versus $24,657 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,510. About 2.8% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Parks and recreation==
City recreational facilities include 22 parks, nature preserves, paved walking paths, playgrounds, tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, a golf course, public splash pad, and a wading pool.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={89EE0580-1F55-4E49-B008-884207FB3AC1}|title= Parks|access-date=September 5, 2009 |publisher= City of Sauk Rapids website}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={89EE0580-1F55-4E49-B008-884207FB3AC1}|title= Park Amenities|access-date=September 5, 2009 |publisher= City of Sauk Rapids}}</ref>

==Government==
Sauk Rapids's city council consists of a mayor and four [[city council]] members elected at large to represent the community and legislate citywide policy. The mayor is Kurt Hunstiger, and the council members are Steve Heinen, Nick Sauer, Jason Ellering, and Ellen Thronson. They have the authority to pass and enforce ordinances, establish public and administrative policies, create advisory boards and commissions, and limit the number of garbage trucks traversing the city streets. The city council also appoints a city administrator, who oversees the city's day-to-day operations and implements the council's policies.

==Education==
Sauk Rapids has four public schools and one private:{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Mississippi Heights Elementary, Pleasantview Elementary, Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School, Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, and Petra Lutheran School.

==Media==
The ''[[Sauk Rapids Herald]]'' is a weekly newspaper published on Saturday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mna.org/assets/2019-MNA-Directory-August.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126175248/http://mna.org/assets/2019-MNA-Directory-August.pdf |archive-date=2020-01-26 |url-status=live|title=Sauk Rapid Herald, Minnesota Newspaper Directory|website=Minnesota Newspaper Association|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref>

==Notable people==

*[[Raymond H. Bares]], Minnesota state senator and educator<ref>[https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=11135 Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-Raymond H. Bares]</ref>
*[[Jerry Bauerly]], Minnesota state representative, businessman, and educator<ref>[https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=10031 Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-Gerald J. Bauerly "Jerry"]</ref>
*[[James Beatty (Minnesota pioneer)|James Beatty]], Minnesota pioneer and territorial legislator<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=11193|title=Beatty, James - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present|website=www.leg.state.mn.us|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>
*[[Oliver Chirhart]], mayor of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota state representative, teacher, and businessman<ref>[https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=11639 Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-Oliver Chirhart]</ref>
*[[Lewis Mayo (politician)|Lewis Mayo]], Minnesota state senator, physician, and lawyer<ref>[https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?ID=13926 Minnesota Legislators Past & Present-Lewis Mayo]</ref>
*[[Bridget Jones Nelson]], screenwriter and actress for [[Mystery Science Theater 3000]] and [[RiffTrax]]
*[[Rip Repulski]], MLB All-Star baseball player
*[[Walter F. Rogosheske]], Minnesota jurist and legislator<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mn.gov/lawlib/judgebio.html#rogosheske|title=Minnesota State Law Library-Walter F. Rogosheske|website=mn.gov|access-date=April 22, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105045051/http://mn.gov/lawlib/judgebio.html#rogosheske|archive-date=January 5, 2014}}</ref>
*[[Jeremiah Russell (Minnesota politician)|Jeremiah Russell]], pioneer and territorial legislator<ref>{{cite web|url=http://genealogytrails.com/minn/benton/bios.htm|title=Benton County Minnesota Genealogy and History|website=genealogytrails.com|access-date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us/ City Website]

{{Benton County, Minnesota}}
{{St. Cloud metropolitan area}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Benton County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Minnesota populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:St. Cloud, Minnesota metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1851]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in Minnesota Territory]]