Editing St. Charles, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = St. Charles
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = Gateway to Whitewater
|motto                    = City with a Smile

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = File:Whitewater Ave Commercial HD 02.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Historic [[Whitewater Avenue Commercial Historic District|Whitewater Avenue]] in St. Charles
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Winona_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_St._Charles_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of St. Charles, 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        = [[Winona County, Minnesota|Winona]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = Mayor - Council
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = Administrator
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 26, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 9.79
|area_land_km2            = 9.79
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.78
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.78
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total         = 3990
|population_footnotes     = <ref name ="wwwcensusgov"/>
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_density_km2   = 383.98
|population_density_sq_mi = 994.44

<!-- 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             = 1132
|coordinates              = {{coord|43|58|07|N|92|03|33|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 55972
|area_code                = [[Area code 507|507]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-56788<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              = 2396477<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396477}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.stcharlesmn.org/ www.stcharlesmn.org]
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''St. Charles''' is a city in [[Winona County, Minnesota|Winona County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 3,990 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up from 3,735 in 2010.<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]]|access-date=27 April 2011}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> It promotes itself as the gateway to [[Whitewater State Park]], which is {{convert|7|mi|km}} north of the city on [[Minnesota State Highway 74]].

==History==
St. Charles was laid out in 1854, and named for Saint [[Charles Borromeo]] (1538–1584), an Italian saint and cardinal.<ref name="Upham 583">{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog | title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance | publisher=Minnesota Historical Society | last=Upham | first=Warren | year=1920 | page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n600 583]}}</ref> A post office has been in operation at St. Charles since 1855.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Winona | title=Winona County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref> St. Charles was incorporated in 1870.<ref name="Upham 583" />

The city was evacuated on April 17, 2009, when a large fire at North Star Foods, a poultry processing plant, threatened [[anhydrous ammonia]] tanks.<ref>{{cite news |first= Kevin |last= Behr |title=St. Charles Evacuated: Fire increased risk of chemical release; residents forced from their homes |url= http://www.winonadailynews.com/articles/2009/04/18/news/00lead.txt |work= Winona Daily News |date= 2009-04-18 }}</ref> Residents were allowed to return the next day.<ref>{{cite news |first=Riggs |last=Liz |title=St. Charles residents return home |work=[[Rochester Post-Bulletin]] |date=18 April 2009 |access-date=18 April 2009 |url=http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=47&a=395137 }}</ref>

Three properties in St. Charles are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]: the 1874 [[Trinity Episcopal Church (St. Charles, Minnesota)|Trinity Episcopal Church]], the 1876 [[St. Charles City Bakery]], and the 1890s [[Whitewater Avenue Commercial Historic District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Minnesota National Register Properties Database |url=http://www.mnhs.org/preserve/nrhp/ |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |year=2009 |access-date=2017-12-25}}</ref>

==Geography and transportation==
[[File:St. Charles, Minnesota.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|left|St. Charles, Minnesota]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|3.86|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]]|access-date=2012-11-13|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=2011-02-20}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 14 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 14]] bisects the city from east to west, as does the [[Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad]]. [[Minnesota State Highway 74]] goes through the city from south to north, running along Whitewater Avenue, also known as Main Street. A freeway entrance to [[Interstate 90 in Minnesota|Interstate 90]] is immediately south of the city.

The [[Whitewater River (Minnesota)|Whitewater River]] runs through the northern part of the city.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1870= 1151
|1880= 1155
|1890= 1178
|1900= 1304
|1910= 1159
|1920= 1351
|1930= 1311
|1940= 1507
|1950= 1548
|1960= 1882
|1970= 1942
|1980= 2184
|1990= 2642
|2000= 3295
|2010= 3735
|2020= 3990
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
}}

{{Clear}}

===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 3,735 people, 1,416 households, and 985 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|967.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,532 housing units at an average density of {{convert|396.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 3.0% 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 8.8% of the population.

There were 1,416 households, of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.15.

The median age in the city was 35.8 years. 28% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,295 people, 1,238 households, and 870 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|1,005.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,276 housing units at an average density of {{convert|389.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 91.62% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.97% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.61% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.09% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.70% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.73% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.95% of the population.

There were 1,238 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,813, and the median income for a family was $50,375. Males had a median income of $31,653 versus $23,173 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,727.  About 7.5% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
St. Charles is part of the [[St. Charles Public Schools]] and houses both the elementary and [[St. Charles High School, Minnesota|St. Charles High School]]. There is also [[St. Charles Public Library]].

==Art and culture==
The annual city festival is [[Gladiolus]] Days, held the weekend before [[Labor Day]]. It honors [[Carl H. Fischer]], a resident who created a business, Noweta Gardens, that developed hundreds of different varieties of gladiolus. St. Charles is known as the Gladiolus Capitol of the World.

==Notable people==
*[[Erastus Milo Cravath]] (1833–1900), field secretary with the American Missionary Association, spent his last years at St. Charles
*[[Pilot Officer|P/O]] [[Arthur Donahue]] (1913–1942), pilot who fought with the [[Royal Air Force]] and died during the [[Battle of Britain]] in the [[Second World War]].
*[[George W. Kiefer]] (1891–1943), lawyer and Minnesota state legislator
*[[Carl H. Fischer]] (1907–2005), floriculturalist
*[[Brad Nessler]], [[CBS]] college sports commentator

==Images==
<gallery class="center">
File:FrontTrinityStCharlesMN.jpg|Historic [[Trinity Episcopal Church (St. Charles, Minnesota)|Trinity Episcopal Church]], now a city park
File:HouseHiddenTreasure.jpg|House of Hidden Treasure, one of the oldest homes in the city, now an antique shop
File:NorthStarFoodsAfterFire.JPG|North Star Foods the day after it was destroyed by fire
File:St. Charles MN downtown.jpg|Downtown
File:St. Charles MN sign.jpg|Sign
File:St. Charles MN water tower.jpg|Water tower
File:St. Charles City Hall.jpg|City hall
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|St. Charles, Minnesota}}
*[http://www.stcharlesmn.org City Website]

{{Winona County, Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Charles Borromeo}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Charles, Minnesota}}
[[Category:Charles Borromeo]]
[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Winona County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in Minnesota Territory]]