Editing Waite Park, Minnesota

{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{For|the neighborhood in Minneapolis|Waite Park, Minneapolis}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Waite Park
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = "The City With A Smile"
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Stearns_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Waite_Park_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Waite Park<br>within [[Stearns County, Minnesota|Stearns 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        = [[Stearns County, Minnesota|Stearns]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Rick Miller
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Incorporated
|established_date         = 1893
<!-- 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           = 32.92
|area_land_km2            = 32.71
|area_water_km2           = 0.22
|area_total_sq_mi         = 12.71
|area_land_sq_mi          = 12.63
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.08
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 8360
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2021"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 8341
|population_density_km2   = 255.02
|population_density_sq_mi = 660.52
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1089
|coordinates              = {{coord|45|33|53|N|94|15|10|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code              = 56387, 56388
|area_code                = [[Area code 320|320]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-67612<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              = 2397165<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397165}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.ci.waitepark.mn.us/|ci.waitepark.mn.us}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Waite Park''' is a city in [[Stearns County, Minnesota|Stearns County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 8,341 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=1600000US2767612 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=July 4, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
Waite Park was incorporated in 1893.<ref name="Upham 528">{{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/n545 528]}}</ref> It was named for [[Henry Chester Waite]], a state legislator.<ref name="Upham 528" /> A post office was established at Waite Park in 1897, and remained in operation until 1972.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Stearns | title=Stearns County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=August 8, 2015}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Quarry Park-20060819.jpg|thumb|left|Quarry Park, 2006]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|8.94|sqmi|sqkm|2}}; {{convert|8.90|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|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}}</ref>

[[Minnesota State Highway 23]] and County 75 are two of Waite Park's main routes.

Minnesota Highway [[Minnesota State Highway 15|15]] skirts Waite Park's southeastern border. Interstate Highway [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|94]] is immediately southwest of Waite Park.

Waite Park borders the west side of St. Cloud. Stearns County Quarry Park, a former granite quarry, is on Waite Park's south side.<ref>Kelly Smith, [https://www.startribune.com/quarry-park-near-st-cloud-celebrates-20-years-this-month-as-it-grows-in-popularity/484995751/ "Quarry Park near St. Cloud celebrates 20 years this month as it grows in popularity It draws an estimated 150,000 visitors each year, a turnout that keeps growing.]", Star Tribune, June 9, 2018.</ref>

"The Ledge", a city-owned 6,000-seat outdoor amphitheater, opened in Waite Park in 2021. It hosts national acts, smaller concerts, and community events.<ref>[https://www.theledgeamp.com/ The Ledge Amphitheatre website]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 317
|1910= 406
|1920= 953
|1930= 1318
|1940= 1427
|1950= 1639
|1960= 2016
|1970= 2824
|1980= 3496
|1990= 5020
|2000= 6568
|2010= 6715
|2020= 8341
|estyear=2021
|estimate=8360
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=July 4, 2022|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 4, 2022}}</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=January 7, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Waite Park, Minnesota - Demographic Profile'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000Census>{{Cite web|title=HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2000-Minnesota|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=bliorXz9m0cC&pg=GBS.PA265&hl=en|website=[[Google Books]]}}</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) - Waite Park, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=1600000US2767612&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) - Waite Park, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=1600000US2767612&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|6,047
|5,531
|4,809
|92.07%
|82.37%
|57.66%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|46
|435
|2,199
|0.70%
|6.48%
|26.36%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|32
|35
|40
|0.49%
|0.52%
|0.48%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|230
|240
|202
|3.50%
|3.57%
|2.42%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|3
|1
|3
|0.05%
|0.02%
|0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|2
|10
|23
|0.03%
|0.15%
|0.28%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|76
|161
|251
|1.16%
|2.40%
|3.01%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|132
|302
|814
|2.01%
|4.50%
|9.76%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''6,568'''
|'''6,715'''
|'''8,341'''
|'''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]] of 2010, there were 6,715 people, 3,127 households, and 1,538 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|754.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,424 housing units at an average density of {{convert|384.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 83.6% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.7% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.5% of the population.

There were 3,127 households, of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.8% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the city was 32.6 years. 19.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 20.1% were from 45 to 64; and 17.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 6,568 people, 2,967 households, and 1,536 families living in the city.  The population density was {{convert|841.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 3,065 housing units at an average density of {{convert|392.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 92.74% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.72% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.56% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.50% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.20% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.23% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.01% of the population.

There were 2,967 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.2% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.6% under the age of 18, 21.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 16.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,803, and the median income for a family was $43,415. Males had a median income of $27,066 versus $21,481 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,796.  About 7.9% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
In the 2020 presidential election, [[Joe Biden]] won a 3% majority of Waite Park votes. In 2016, [[Donald Trump]] won by a 13% margin.<ref>[https://www.sctimes.com]|"Which St. Cloud suburb went for Democrat Joe Biden? And other election take-aways", Nora Hertel, Government Watchdog Report, St Cloud Times, November 14, 2020</ref>

==Education==
Waite Park is in the [[St. Cloud Area School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27145_stearns/DC20SD_C27145.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Stearns County, MN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-11-07}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st27_mn/place/p2767612_waite_park/DC20BLK_P2767612.pdf Waite Park detail map]</ref>

Most residents are zoned to Discovery Elementary School,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.isd742.org/cms/lib/MN01909691/Centricity/domain/78/boundaries/elemboundrymap.pdf|title=Elementary Attendance Areas|publisher=[[St. Cloud Area School District]]|accessdate=2022-11-08}} - [https://www.isd742.org/cms/lib/MN01909691/Centricity/domain/78/boundaries/discoveryboundary.pdf Detail map] [https://www.isd742.org/Page/863 which is linked from here] - Compare to census maps.</ref> while some blocks north of 3rd Street are zoned to Westwood Elementary School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.isd742.org/cms/lib/MN01909691/Centricity/domain/78/boundaries/westwoodboundary.pdf|title=WESTWOOD Versatrans Base Map|publisher=[[St. Cloud Area School District]]|accessdate=2022-11-08}} - [https://www.isd742.org/Page/863 Linked from here] - Compare to census maps.</ref> The zoned middle school is North Middle School,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.isd742.org/cms/lib/MN01909691/Centricity/domain/78/boundaries/northboundary.pdf|title=NORTH Versatrans Base Map|publisher=[[St. Cloud Area School District]]|accessdate=2022-11-08}} - [https://www.isd742.org/Page/863 Linked from here] - Compare to census maps.</ref> and the zoned high school is [[Apollo High School (Minnesota)|Apollo High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.isd742.org/cms/lib/MN01909691/Centricity/domain/78/boundaries/apolloboundary.pdf|title=APOLLO Versatrans Base Map|publisher=[[St. Cloud Area School District]]|accessdate=2022-11-08}} - [https://www.isd742.org/Page/863 Linked from here] - Compare to census maps.</ref>

Waite Park was formerly home to the St. Cloud area campus of [[Minnesota School of Business & Globe University|Globe University/Minnesota School of Business]], a private career college.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ci.waitepark.mn.us/ City Website]

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

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Stearns County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:St. Cloud, Minnesota metropolitan area]]