Editing Worthington, Minnesota

{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Worthington, Minnesota
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = {{multiple image
 | border           = infobox
 | total_width      = 275
 | image_style      = border:1;
 | perrow           = 1/1/2
 | caption_align    = center
 | image1           = Worthington Minnesota.jpg
 | caption1         = Tenth Street in downtown Worthington in 2007
 | image2           = Worthington City Hall-02.jpg
 | caption2         = City Hall
 | image3           = Nobles County History Center, Worthington, MN.jpg
 | caption3         = Nobles County Heritage Center
 | image4           = George D. Dayton House.jpg
 | caption4         = Dayton House
}}
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Nobles_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Worthington_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Worthington in [[Nobles County, Minnesota|Nobles County]], [[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        = [[Nobles County, Minnesota|Nobles]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=City Council|url=http://www.ci.worthington.mn.us/city-council|publisher=City of Worthington, Minnesota|accessdate=November 14, 2024}}</ref>
|government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Rick von Holdt
|leader_title1            = [[At-large]]
|leader_name1             = Chad Cummings
|leader_title2            = [[Councillor|Councilmembers]]
|leader_name2             = Larry Janssen<br>Amy Ernst<br>Chris Kielblock<br>Mike Kuhle
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1871
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = April 29, 1872
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web|title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=November 14, 2024}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 24.183
|area_land_km2            = 20.596
|area_water_km2           = 3.588
|area_total_sq_mi         = 9.337
|area_land_sq_mi          = 7.952
|area_water_sq_mi         = 1.385
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 13614
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 13947
|population_density_km2   = 661.99
|population_density_sq_mi = 1714.57
|population_urban         = 13800<ref name="urban area">{{cite web|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/29/2022-28286/2020-census-qualifying-urban-areas-and-final-criteria-clarifications|title=2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=Federal Register|date=December 29, 2022}}</ref>
|population_metro         = 21727 (US: [[Micropolitan statistical area|496th]])
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = –6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = –5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 479
|elevation_ft             = 1572
|coordinates              = {{coord|43|37|40.68|N|95|35|57.56|W|region:US-MN_type:city|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 56187
|area_code                = [[Area codes 507 and 924|507 and 924]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-71734
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2397378<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397378}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 7.875%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/minnesota/cities/worthington.html|title=Worthington (MN) sales tax rate|access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.ci.worthington.mn.us/|ci.worthington.mn.us}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Worthington''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Nobles County, Minnesota|Nobles County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 13,947 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Worthington_city,_Minnesota?g=160XX00US2771734 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 10, 2024}}</ref>

==History==
 [[File:Worthington 1893.jpg|thumb|left|Worthington in 1893]]The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the [[Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway]], later the [[Chicago and North Western Railway]] (now part of unicorn).

The first European likely to have visited the Nobles County area of southwestern Minnesota was French explorer [[Joseph Nicollet]]. Nicollet mapped the area between the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] and [[Missouri River|Missouri]] Rivers in the 1830s. He called the region "Sisseton Country" in honor of the Sisseton band of [[Sioux|Dakota Indians]] then living there. It was a rolling sea of wide open prairie grass that extended as far as the eye could see. One small lake in Sisseton Country was given the name "[[Lake Okabena]]" on Nicollet's map, "Okabena" being a [[Dakota language|Dakota]] word meaning "nesting place of the herons".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8AMwAAAAYAAJ|pages=34–35|title=An Illustrated History of Nobles County, Minnesota|isbn=9780598471659|last1=Rose|first1=Arthur P.|year=1908}}</ref>

The town of Worthington was founded by "Yankees" (immigrants from [[New England]] and [[upstate New York]] who were descended from the English [[Puritans]] who settled New England in the 1600s).<ref name="New England page 247">The expansion of New England: the spread of New England settlement and institutions to the Mississippi River, 1620–1865 page 247</ref>

[[File:First Org Train.jpg|thumb|First train on the St Paul & Sioux City Railway]]In 1871, the St. Paul & Sioux City Railway Company began connecting its two namesake cities with a rail line. The steam engines of that time required a large quantity of water, and water stations were needed every {{convert|8|to|12|mi|km|spell=in}} along their routes. One of these stations, at the site of present-day Worthington, was designated "The Okabena Railway Station".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ho23eS5qjNgC&pg=PA406|title=Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia|last=Upham|first=Warren|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press|year=2001|isbn=9780873513968|pages=406}}</ref>

In the same year, Professor Ransom Humiston of Cleveland, Ohio, and Dr. A.P. Miller, editor of the ''Toledo Blade'', organized a company to locate a colony of [[New England]] settlers who had already settled in Northern [[Ohio]] along the tracks of the Sioux City and St. Paul Railway. These people were "[[Yankee]]" settlers whose parents had moved from New England to the region of [[Northeast Ohio]] known as the [[Connecticut Western Reserve]]. They were primarily members of the [[Congregational church|Congregational Church]], though due to the [[Second Great Awakening]], many of them had converted to [[Methodism]] and [[Presbyterianism]], and some had become [[Baptists]] before coming to what is now [[Minnesota]]. This colony, the National Colony, was to be a village of [[temperance movement|temperance]], a place where evangelical Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists could live free of the temptations of alcohol. A town was plotted, and the name was changed from the Okabena Railway Station to Worthington, Miller's mother-in-law's maiden name.<ref>Worthington album : A project of the ''Worthington Daily Globe'' by Crippen, Raymond. Heritage House Publishers, 1998.</ref>

On April 29, 1872, regular passenger train service to Worthington started, and on that first train were the first of the National Colony settlers. One early arrival described the scene:

''We were among the first members of the colony to arrive at the station of an unfinished railroad… There was a good hotel, well and comfortably furnished, one or two stores neatly furnished and already stocked with goods, [and] several other[s] in process of erection… The streets, scarcely to be defined as such, were full of prairie schooners, containing families waiting until masters could suit themselves with "claims," the women pursuing their housewifely avocations meanwhile—some having cooking stoves in their wagons, others using gypsy fires to do their culinary work; all seeming happy and hopeful.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi00minngoog|title=An Illustrated History of Nobles County, Minnesota, page 161 |first=Northern History Publishing Company|last=Arthur P. Rose |date=April 11, 1908|publisher=Northern History|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

Some settlers from New England were drinking men, most of them Civil War veterans from [[Massachusetts]] and [[Maine]], and they came into conflict with the temperance movement.<ref>Nobles County - Minnesota Historical Records Survey Project - The Project - 1939</ref> A curious event took place on Worthington's very first [[Fourth of July]] celebration. Hearing that there was a keg of beer in the Worthington House Hotel, Humiston entered the hotel, seized the keg, dragged it outside, and destroyed it with an axe. A witness described what happened next:

''Upon seeing this, the young men of the town thought it to be rather an imposition, and collected together, procured the services of the band, and under the direction of a military officer marched to the rear of the hotel, and with a wheelbarrow and shovel took the empty keg that had been broken open, and playing the dead march with flag at half staff marched to the flagpole in front of Humiston's office where they dug a grave and gave the empty keg a burial with all the honors attending a soldier's funeral.''

''They then, with flag at full mast and with lively air, marched back to the ice house, procured a full keg of beer, returning to the grave, resting the keg thereon. Then a general invitation was given to all who desired to partake, which many did until the keg was emptied... In the evening they reassembled, burning Prof. Humiston in effigy about 10 p.m. Thus ended the glorious Fourth at Worthington, Minn.''<ref>''From New Cloth: The making of Worthington'' by Hudson, Lew. Published by American Legion Post #5, Worthington, MN 1976,</ref>

Despite tensions between pro- and anti-temperance factions, the town grew rapidly. By the end of summer in 1872, 85 buildings had been constructed where just one year before there had been only a field of prairie grass.

Settlers poured into the region. At first they came almost exclusively from the six [[New England]] states due to issues of overpopulation combined with land shortages. Some had come from [[Upstate New York]] and had parents and grandparents who had moved to that region from New England during the early 1800s and late 1700s. Due to the large number of New Englanders and New England transplants from upstate New York, Worthington, like much of Minnesota at the time, was very culturally continuous with early New England culture for much of its early history.<ref name="New England page 247"/> It was the age of the [[Homestead Act of 1862|Homestead Act]], when {{convert|160|acre|km2}} of government land could be claimed for free. All one had to do was live on the land and "improve" it, a vague requirement. In such an atmosphere, settlers without connection to the National Colony also arrived in great number, and few of those were temperance activists. The ensuing winter was severe, and swarms of grasshoppers stripped farmers' fields bare in the summer of 1873. Still, settlers came. 1874 produced a bumper harvest, followed by another grasshopper invasion in 1875. 1876 and 1877 were both good farming years. Grasshoppers returned for the last time in 1879, and a bright future began for southwestern Minnesota. According to the 1880 census, Nobles County had 4,435 residents, 636 of them in Worthington.

In the early 1900s [[German-American|German immigrants]] began arriving in Worthington in large numbers, not directly from Germany, but mostly from other places in the midwest, especially [[Ohio]], where their communities had already been established.<ref name="ReferenceA">Nobles County History by Al Goff - Nobles County Historical Society, Minnesota - 1958</ref>

Unlike in other parts of the country, the Germans did not face xenophobia in Nobles County, but were welcomed by the Yankee population. This led to many writing back to Ohio, which led to chain migration to the region, greatly increasing the German-American population.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The "Yankee" population of Americans of [[English-American|English descent]] did not come into conflict with the German-American community for much of their early history together, but the two communities were divided on the issue of World War I, the Yankee community divided about and the Germans unanimously opposed to American entry into the war. The Yankee community was generally pro-British, but many also did not want the United States to enter the war. The Germans were sympathetic to Germany and did not want the United States to enter into a war against Germany, but the Germans were not anti-British. Before World War I, many German community leaders in Minnesota and Wisconsin spoke openly and enthusiastically about how much better America was than Germany, due primarily (in their eyes) to the presence of English law and the English political culture the Americans had inherited from the colonial era, which they contrasted with the turmoil and oppression in Germany they had so recently fled.<ref>The German Historians and England: A Study in Nineteenth-century Views by Charles E. McClelland pages 19, 136, 138. 176, 196</ref> Other immigrant groups followed the Germans, including settlers from Ireland, Norway and Sweden.

From 1939 to 1940, Worthington was home to the [[Worthington Cardinals]], a [[minor league baseball]] team. Worthington played as a member of the Class D [[Western League (1939–1941)|Western League]]. The Worthington Cardinals were an affiliate of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

On December 12, 2006, the [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE) staged a [[Swift raids|coordinated predawn raid]] at the [[Swift & Company]] [[Meat packing industry|meat packing plant]] in Worthington and five other Swift plants in western states, interviewing workers and hauling hundreds off in buses.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/13/us/13raid.html "U.S. Raids 6 Meat Plants in ID Case"], article ''[[New York Times]]'' by Julia Preston, December 13, 2006</ref><ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6620721 "Series of Immigration Raids Hits Identity-Theft Ring"], article [[NPR]] by Pam Fessler, December 13, 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.startribune.com/462/story/874641.html "Worthington shaken after ICE raid"], article ''[[Star Tribune]]'' by Richard Meryhew, December 14, 2006</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|9.337|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|7.952|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|1.385|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

===Climate===
{{Weather box 
|location = Worthington 2 NNE, Minnesota (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1971−present)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 63
|Feb record high F = 65
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 103
|Jul record high F = 103
|Aug record high F = 104
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 92
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 64
|year record high F = 104
|Jan avg record high F = 42.9
|Feb avg record high F = 48.3
|Mar avg record high F = 66.2
|Apr avg record high F = 79.8
|May avg record high F = 88.2
|Jun avg record high F = 92.8
|Jul avg record high F = 92.4
|Aug avg record high F = 91.2
|Sep avg record high F = 88.0
|Oct avg record high F = 81.4
|Nov avg record high F = 64.3
|Dec avg record high F = 47.1
|year avg record high F = 95.3
|Jan high F = 22.6
|Feb high F = 27.3
|Mar high F = 39.7
|Apr high F = 55.1
|May high F = 68.0
|Jun high F = 78.4
|Jul high F = 82.0
|Aug high F = 79.4
|Sep high F = 72.9
|Oct high F = 58.9
|Nov high F = 41.8
|Dec high F = 27.9
|year high F = 54.5
|Jan mean F = 14.0
|Feb mean F = 18.4
|Mar mean F = 30.5
|Apr mean F = 43.9
|May mean F = 56.9
|Jun mean F = 67.9
|Jul mean F = 71.4
|Aug mean F = 68.6
|Sep mean F = 61.0
|Oct mean F = 47.6
|Nov mean F = 32.5
|Dec mean F = 19.8
|year mean F = 44.4
|Jan low F = 5.3
|Feb low F = 9.6
|Mar low F = 21.2
|Apr low F = 32.7
|May low F = 45.8
|Jun low F = 57.4
|Jul low F = 60.8
|Aug low F = 57.8
|Sep low F = 49.1
|Oct low F = 36.3
|Nov low F = 23.2
|Dec low F = 11.8
|year low F = 34.3
|Jan avg record low F = -16.9
|Feb avg record low F = -11.3
|Mar avg record low F = -1.6
|Apr avg record low F = 17.9
|May avg record low F = 31.6
|Jun avg record low F = 44.9
|Jul avg record low F = 49.2
|Aug avg record low F = 46.2
|Sep avg record low F = 33.7
|Oct avg record low F = 20.8
|Nov avg record low F = 4.9
|Dec avg record low F = -10.3
|year avg record low F = -19.5
|Jan record low F = −31
|Feb record low F = −30
|Mar record low F = −20
|Apr record low F = 4
|May record low F = 23
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 36
|Aug record low F = 36
|Sep record low F = 24
|Oct record low F = 10
|Nov record low F = −12
|Dec record low F = −28
|year record low F = -31
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.71
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.82
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.46
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.07
|May precipitation inch = 4.09
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.24
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.54
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.85
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.21
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.38
|Nov precipitation inch = 1.27
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.88
|year precipitation inch = 30.52
|Jan snow inch = 9.8
|Feb snow inch = 10.9
|Mar snow inch = 5.7
|Apr snow inch = 4.2
|May snow inch = 0.2
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 1.0
|Nov snow inch = 4.6
|Dec snow inch = 8.6
|year snow inch = 45.2
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 7.9
|Feb precipitation days = 6.9
|Mar precipitation days = 7.7
|Apr precipitation days = 10.4
|May precipitation days = 13.6
|Jun precipitation days = 12.5
|Jul precipitation days = 8.8
|Aug precipitation days = 9.8
|Sep precipitation days = 9.1
|Oct precipitation days = 8.8
|Nov precipitation days = 6.1
|Dec precipitation days = 7.4
|year precipitation days = 109.0
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 6.3
|Feb snow days = 5.7
|Mar snow days = 3.4
|Apr snow days = 1.9
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.9
|Nov snow days = 3.2
|Dec snow days = 5.7
|year snow days = 27.2
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=fsd
| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = October 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00219170&format=pdf
| title = Station: Worthington 2 NNE, MN
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = October 18, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 636
|1890= 1164
|1900= 2386
|1910= 2385
|1920= 3481
|1930= 3878
|1940= 5918
|1950= 7923
|1960= 9015
|1970= 9916
|1980= 10243
|1990= 9977
|2000= 11283
|2010= 12764
|2020= 13947
|estyear=2023
|estimate=13614
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=November 14, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=November 14, 2024}}</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|publisher=census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

The U.S. Bureau of Census now classifies Worthington as a micropolitan area, with a population of 20,508. The area has had a relatively high level of immigration, mostly Hispanics, in the early 21st century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=September 17, 2011|title=Worthington, Minn., was dying. Then, enter the immigrants.|url=https://www.twincities.com/2011/09/17/worthington-minn-was-dying-then-enter-the-immigrants/|access-date=March 9, 2021|website=Twin Cities|language=en-US}}</ref> Some sources credit this immigration trend for revitalizing the city's economy, which had been constrained by a shrinking population.<ref name=":0" />

As of the 2022 [[American Community Survey]], there are 4,570 estimated households in Worthington with an average of 2.92 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $58,690. Approximately 15.4% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Worthington has an estimated 62.4% employment rate, with 15.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 70.3% holding a high school diploma.

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (54.5%), Spanish (32.7%), Indo-European (0.4%), Asian and Pacific Islander (7.0%), and Other (5.4%).

The median age in the city was 33.1 years.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Worthington, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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 may be of any race.''}}</small>
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Worthington city, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US2771734|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 14, 2024}}</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) – Worthington city, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2771734&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 14, 2024}}</ref>
! {{partial|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) – Worthington city, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2771734&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 14, 2024}}</ref>
! % 2000
! % 2010
! {{partial|% 2020}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 7,934
| 6,238
| style='background: #ffffe6; |4,864
| 70.32%
| 48.87%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |34.88%
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 205
| 682
| style='background: #ffffe6; |946
| 1.82%
| 5.34%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |6.78%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 33
| 51
| style='background: #ffffe6; |38
| 0.29%
| 0.40%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 783
| 1,081
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1,248
| 6.94%
| 8.47%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |8.95%
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| 0
| 7
| style='background: #ffffe6; |31
| 0.00%
| 0.05%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 9
| 21
| style='background: #ffffe6; |28
| 0.08%
| 0.17%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| 144
| 163
| style='background: #ffffe6; |233
| 1.28%
| 1.28%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1.67%
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 2,175
| 4,521
| style='background: #ffffe6; |6,559
| 19.28%
| 35.42%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |47.03%
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''11,283'''
| '''12,764'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''13,947'''
| '''100.00%'''
| '''100.00%'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 13,947 people, 4,503 households, and 3,089 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Worthington%20city,%20Minnesota%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=November 14, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1773.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,737 housing units at an average density of {{convert|602.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 40.53% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.79% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.88% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 9.14% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.22% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 28.72% from some other races and 11.71% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 47.03% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Worthington city, Minnesota |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/worthington-city-minnesota/160-2771734 |access-date=November 14, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref> 29.0% of residents were under the age of 18, 8.8% were under 5 years of age, and 15.6% were 65 and older.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 12,764 people, 4,458 households, and 2,917 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1740.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,699 housing units at an average density of {{convert|640.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 62.17% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.47% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.71% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 8.65% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 20.53% from some other races and 2.40% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 35.42% of the population.

There were 4,458 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.36.

The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 11,283 people, 4,311 households, and 2,828 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,578.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,573 housing units at an average density of {{convert|639.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 76.81% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.91% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.49% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 7.06% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.13% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 11.49% from some other races and 2.11% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 19.28% of the population.

There were 4,311 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $44,643. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $20,880 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,078. About 9.1% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
Worthington hosts many annual events: Windsurfing Regatta & Music Festival (June), International Festival (July), King Turkey Day (September), and Holiday Parade (November).

==Government==
Worthington is in [[Minnesota's 1st congressional district]], represented by [[Republican Party of Minnesota|Republican]] [[Brad Finstad]] of [[New Ulm, Minnesota|New Ulm]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3598486-republican-rep-brad-finstad-sworn-in-to-finish-hagedorns-house-term/ | title=Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term | date=12 August 2022 }}</ref> At the state level, Worthington is 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 22B, represented by Republican [[Rod Hamilton]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Who Represents Me?|url=http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/|website=Legislative Coordinating Commission - Geospatial Information|publisher=LCC-GIS Office|access-date=February 2, 2016}}</ref>

===Presidential election results===
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#ccccff|title=Presidential election results}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Precinct General Election Results<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/|title=Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - Election Results}}</ref>
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.2%''' ''2,121''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.2% ''1,591''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.7% ''63''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.0%''' ''2,160''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.5% ''1,892''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.5% ''105''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''49.8%''' ''2,056''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.9% ''1,768''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|7.3% ''301''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.0% ''1,907''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.6%''' ''2,094''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.4% ''55''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.3% ''2,031''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.7%''' ''2,267''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.0% ''86''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.0%''' ''2,443''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.4% ''2,007''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.6% ''72''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.0%''' ''2,281''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.5% ''1,870''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|3.6% ''153''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.7% ''1,889''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.5%''' ''2,149''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|10.8% ''491''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''39.5%''' ''1,937''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.3% ''1,877''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|22.2% ''1,087''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.0%''' ''2,283''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.9% ''2,280''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|4.1% ''195''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.8%''' ''2,542''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.5% ''2,229''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|4.7% ''235''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.6% ''2,268''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''46.0%''' ''2,284''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|8.4% ''418''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.9% ''2,426''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.6%''' ''2,667''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.5% ''79''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.4%''' ''2,579''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.9% ''2,311''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.7% ''33''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.8%''' ''2,109''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.7% ''2,064''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|3.5% ''152''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.8% ''1,711''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.1%''' ''2,478''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.1% ''4''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''62.7%''' ''2,693''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.2% ''1,595''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.1% ''4''
|}
{{Hidden end}}

===Local politics===
The mayor of Worthington is Rick von Holdt. City council members meet in City Hall on the second and fourth Mondays of every month to discuss objectives and goals for the city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ci.worthington.mn.us/city-council|title=City Council {{!}} City of Worthington, Minnesota|website=www.ci.worthington.mn.us|language=en|access-date=February 6, 2017}}</ref> The city is divided into two wards, with one at-large council member. The mayor and council members are elected to four-year terms.
Current Worthington city council members, in addition to Von Holdt, include:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ci.worthington.mn.us/city-council |title=City Council &#124; City of Worthington, Minnesota}}</ref>
* Larry Janssen, 1st Ward
* Chris Kielblock, 1st Ward
* Mike Kuhle, 2nd Ward
* Amy Ernst, 2nd Ward
* Dennis Weber, At Large

==Education==
Worthington is served by Independent School District 518. Worthington's school mascot is the Trojan, and its high school athletic teams play in the [[Big South Conference (Minnesota)|Big South Conference]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebigsouthconference.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=742 |title=The Big South Conference}}</ref> ISD 518 is known regionally<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isd518.net/spirit-of-worthington-trojan-marching-band |title=Spirit of Worthington Trojan Marching Band {{!}} Independent School District 518 |website=www.isd518.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105043514/http://www.isd518.net/spirit-of-worthington-trojan-marching-band |archive-date=January 5, 2019}}</ref> for its robust music program offerings, with band, string orchestra, choir, and theater ensembles open to all students.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isd518.net/performing-arts |title=Performing Arts}}</ref> Worthington Senior High School's 'Spirit of Worthington' Trojan Marching Band, with over 160 members, is an ensemble that has performed nationally 5 times. The Trojans' performances included two at the 75th and 78th annual McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago in 2008 and 2011, respectively.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dglobe.com/opinion/editorial-marching-to-success | title=marching to success |website=Daily Globe |date=December 4, 2008 |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dglobe.com/news/trojan-band-in-chicago |title=Trojan band in Chicago |website=Daily Globe |date=November 28, 2011 |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref> In 2019, the Trojans were a featured band at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isd518.net/atlanta-peach-bowl-2019 |title=Atlanta Peach Bowl 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isd518.net/whs-band |title=WHS Band}}</ref> 
* High School: Worthington High School [[Worthington Senior High School]]
* Middle School: Worthington Middle School
* Elementary School: Prairie Elementary School

Worthington's private, parochial schools include:
#Worthington Christian School, which serves grades K-8. 
#St. Mary's Elementary School, which serves grades K-6.

Worthington's local higher education institution is [[Minnesota West Community and Technical College]]. Minnesota West's Worthington campus is a two-year college that offers associate degrees in a wide variety of majors, along with diplomas and certificates in areas from practical nursing to accounting, among others.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnwest.edu/programs-courses/degrees-awards/worthington |title=Worthington}}</ref>

Worthington and the surrounding area are served by the Nobles County Library, part of the [[Plum Creek Library System]], which is based in the city.

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
====Transit====
* [[Prairieland Transit System]]

====Highways====
* [[File:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 90 in Minnesota|Interstate 90]]
* [[File:US 59.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 59 in Minnesota|U.S. Route 59]]
* [[File:MN-60.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 60]]
* [[File:MN-266.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 266]] (decommissioned - designated as Nobles County Road 25)
* [[File:County 25 (MN).svg|20px]] Nobles County Road 25
* [[File:County 35 (MN).svg|20px]] Nobles County Road 35

==Media==
[[The Globe (Minnesota Newspaper)|''The Globe'']] serves Worthington, [[Nobles County, Minnesota|Nobles County]], and surrounding areas with a print newspaper, an e-paper and website. It was purchased by the [[Forum Communications Company]] in 1995 and publishes a print edition on Wednesdays and an e-edition on Saturdays.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/2017202124/|title=About The Globe|website=Chronicling America|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=January 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124180729/https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/2017202124/|archive-date=January 24, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=MNA2>{{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=January 26, 2020 |url-status=live|title=Minnesota Newspaper Directory|website=Minnesota Newspaper Association|access-date=January 25, 2020}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Dwayne Andreas]], CEO of [[Archer Daniels Midland]] and political donor, was born in Worthington
* [[Wayne R. Bassett Sr.]], librarian and Minnesota state legislator
* [[William Elijah Bloom]], Minnesota state legislator
* [[Wendell Butcher]], football player
* [[George Dayton]], banker and real estate developer in Worthington before moving to Minneapolis
* [[Matt Entenza]], former minority leader of [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] and 2010 [[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|DFL]] candidate for governor of Minnesota
* [[Gordon Forbes (Minnesota politician)|Gordon Forbes]], lawyer and Minnesota state legislator
* [[Francis G. Judge]], electrician, businessman, and Minnesota state legislator
* [[Big Tiny Little]], pianist and television personality
* [[Peter Ludlow]], prominent analytic philosopher
* [[Stephen Miller (Minnesota governor)|Stephen Miller]], fourth [[Governor of Minnesota]]
* [[Gordon Moore (judge)]], Associate Justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]]
* [[Lee Nystrom]], [[NFL]] player, was born in Worthington
* [[Tim O'Brien (author)|Tim O'Brien]], novelist known for [[Vietnam War]] literature
* [[John Olson (Minnesota politician)|John Olson]], state senator and Worthington native

==Sister city==
There is a sister-city relationship between Worthington and [[Crailsheim]], Germany, the first such relationship in history between an American and a German city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Worthington,%20Minnesota |publisher=Sister Cities International |title=Worthington, Minnesota |access-date=June 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623231307/http://sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Worthington,%20Minnesota |archive-date=June 23, 2015}}</ref> The relationship began in 1947, when Martha (Cashel) McCarthy and her parents led a campaign to collect clothing and food for Crailsheim's citizens (who had endured the destruction of 90% of their city ten days prior to the end of [[World War II]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dglobe.com/news/crailsheim-worthington-celebrate-70-years-of-sister-city-friendship |website=dglobe.com |title=Crailshem, Worthington celebrate 70 years of sister city friendship |access-date=April 25, 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the meat industry in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Worthington, Minnesota}}
* [http://www.ci.worthington.mn.us/ City of Worthington – official website]
* [https://www.lakesnwoods.com/Worthington.htm Worthington Community Guide]
* [https://www.lakesnwoods.com/WorthingtonGallery.htm Worthington Gallery]

{{Nobles County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota county seats}}

{{authority control}}

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