Editing Wilmont, Minnesota

{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Wilmont
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = WilmontMN.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Wilmont in 2016
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Nobles County Minnesota Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Wilmont Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Wilmont, 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        = [[Nobles County, Minnesota|Nobles]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = Mayor – Council
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Daryl Behrends{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
|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           = 1.80
|area_land_km2            = 1.80
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.69
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.69
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 332
|population_density_km2   = 184.71
|population_density_sq_mi = 478.39

<!-- 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             = 1729
|coordinates              = {{coord|43|45|50|N|95|49|35|W|type:city_region:US-MN|display=title,inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 56185
|area_code                = [[Area code 507|507]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-70582<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2397329<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397329}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}

'''Wilmont''' is a city in [[Nobles County, Minnesota|Nobles County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 339 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<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]]|accessdate=27 April 2011}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
[[File:Wilmont Topo Map.jpg|thumb|Topographic Map of Wilmont before the removal of the Rock Island Railroad tracks]]

== Geography ==
[[File:Main Street Wilmont 1904.jpg|thumb|left|Main Street Wilmont, 1904]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|1.14|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]]|accessdate=2012-11-13}}</ref>  By elevation, Wilmont is the highest incorporated community in [[Nobles County, Minnesota|Nobles County]].

'''Main highways include:'''
* [[File:MN-266.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 266]]
: ('''Discontinued in 2003—renamed Nobles County Road 25''')
* [[File:County 25.png|20px]] Nobles County Road 25
* [[File:County 16.png|20px]] Nobles County Road 16
* [[File:County 13.png|20px]] Nobles County Road 13

== History ==
[[File:Wilmont plat.jpg|thumb|left|1900 plat map of Wilmont when lots for the new town were being sold]]
The town of Wilmont was established in 1899.  The town was named in a roundabout way after the township in which it was located.

[[Wilmont Township, Minnesota|Willmont Township]] (note the double-L) was established in  1878.  There was a general disagreement over the township name, one faction wishing to call it Willumet, and the other favoring Lamont. On November 22, 1878, a compromise was reached, and the township was formally named Willmont.

For twenty-one years, the residents of [[Wilmont Township, Minnesota|Willmont Township]] lacked convenient railroad transport.  That all changed in the summer of 1899 when the [[Burlington Northern Railroad|Burlington Railway]] surveyed a new route extending northwest from [[Worthington, Minnesota|Worthington]].  Railroad right-of-way man Thomas H. Brown selected a site for a new town and named it Wilmont.  He made a point of spelling the new town with one L to distinguish it from [[Wilmont Township, Minnesota|Willmont Township]].  The railroad was completed on December 16, 1899, and hundreds of newcomers soon took up residence.

The survey was made, and the plat was dedicated on January 22, 1900.  A Post Office was established on February 13, 1900.  In April 1900, the first saloon was established in Wilmont by the Stuntebeck Brothers.  Construction of a new school was approved in September 1900 with the school opening two years later.  When the town celebrated its first birthday in December 1900, the town boasted two churches ([[Presbyterian]] and [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]), three saloons, and nearly two dozen other businesses. The date and reason for [[Wilmont Township, Minnesota|Willmont Township]]'s name change from Willmont (double-L) to Wilmont (single-L) remains obscure.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rose|first=Arthur P.|title=An Illustrated History of Nobles County, Minnesota|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedhisto00rose|year=1908|publisher=Northern History}}</ref>

[[Minnesota State Highway 266]] was constructed in 1949, connecting Worthington, Reading, and Wilmont. Responsibility for this highway was transferred to Nobles County in 2003. It has been renamed Nobles County Road 25.  The [[Burlington Northern Railroad|Burlington Railway]] later was taken over by the [[Rock Island Railroad]].  This line was closed, and the tracks torn up, in the 1970s.

Wilmont once boasted both public and Catholic schools.  However, the town's last school closed in the 1970s.  Children are currently bused to schools in [[Worthington, Minnesota|Worthington]], [[Adrian, Minnesota|Adrian]], or [[Fulda, Minnesota|Fulda]].  Minnesota's open-enrollment law allows Wilmont residents this choice.

Despite having no school, railroad, or state highway connection, Wilmont remains a thriving community of 332 residents.  As in 1900, life in Wilmont revolves around the town's churches and saloons.

[[File:Wilmont, one year old.jpg|900px|center|The village of Wilmont, exactly one year after the arrival of the railroad and construction of the first buildings and houses.]]

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1910= 258
|1920= 376
|1930= 374
|1940= 361
|1950= 473
|1960= 473
|1970= 390
|1980= 380
|1990= 351
|2000= 332
|2010= 339
|2020= 332
|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|accessdate=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]]|accessdate=2012-11-13}}</ref> of 2010, there were 339 people, 143 households, and 97 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|297.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 152 housing units at an average density of {{convert|133.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% 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 1.2% of the population.

There were 143 households, of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.2% were non-families. Of all households 28.0% were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the city was 36.9 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 30.5% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

=== 2000 census ===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 332 people, 142 households, and 93 families residing in the city.  The population density was {{convert|291.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 155 housing units at an average density of {{convert|136.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the city was 99.40% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.30% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 0.30% from two or more races.

There were 142 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. Of all households 28.9% were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,464, and the median income for a family was $37,344. Males had a median income of $28,194 versus $14,375 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,160.  About 4.9% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

== Politics ==
Wilmont is located in [[Minnesota's 1st congressional district]], represented by [[Jim Hagedorn]], a [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]]. At the state level, Wilmont is located in [[Minnesota Senate|Senate]] District 22, represented by [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]] [[Bill Weber (Minnesota politician)|Bill Weber]], and in [[Minnesota House of Representatives|House]] District 22A, represented by Republican [[Joe Schomacker]].

=== Local politics ===
The mayor of Wilmont is Daryl Behrends.  Council members are Ryan Huisman, Deb Vaske, Kevin Spartz, and Dennis Hebig.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Wilmont.htm|title=Guide to Wilmont Minnesota|website=www.lakesnwoods.com}}</ref>  The city of Wilmont is located within Wilmont Township and is represented by Nobles County Commissioner Gene Metz.<ref>{{cite web | title=Commissioners | website=Nobles County Minnesota | url=http://www.co.nobles.mn.us/commissioners/ | access-date=2019-09-27}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Nobles County, Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Nobles County, Minnesota]]