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Austin, Minnesota

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Austin is a city located in Mower County, Minnesota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 23,314. It is the county seat of Mower County6. The southern part of the city is in Austin Township while the northern part is in Lansing Township and it is politically independent of both. It is located at the intersection of Interstate 90 and U.S. 218 in the southeastern part of the state.

The Hormel Foods Corporation is the largest employer in Austin and it holds a yearly SPAM Jam in Austin. The 2005 event hosted such guests as, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Kurtwood Smith, and Jim Belushi. "SPAM Town USA", as Austin is sometimes called, is home to the SPAM Museum.

From August of 1984 until June of 1985, there was a major strike at Hormel which resulted in governor Rudy Perpich requesting National Guard intervention allowing replacement workers to enter the plant. This strike was documented in the Academy Award-winning Barbara Koppel film, "American Dream." The town still remains divided over the issue of labor unions at the plant.

Geography

Location of Austin, Minnesota
Location of Austin, Minnesota

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.1 km² (10.8 mi²). 27.8 km² (10.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.83% water. Its elevation is approximately 1,200 ft.

Settlement and History

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 23,314 people, 9,897 households, and 6,076 families residing in the city. The population density is 837.4/km² (2,168.2/mi²). There are 10,261 housing units at an average density of 368.5/km² (954.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.60% White, 0.81% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.09% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 6.12% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 9,897 households out of which 27.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% are married couples living together, 9.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% are non-families. 33.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 2.90.

In the city the population is spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $33,750, and the median income for a family is $42,691. Males have a median income of $31,787 versus $23,158 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,651. 10.9% of the population and 7.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 15.0% of those under the age of 18 and 5.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Landmarks and attractions

Government

Schools

Bars & Taverns

Bobbee Joe's, Brown Derby, B & J Bar, Charley's Lounge, Danny's, Hey Rube's, Hiawatha Bar, Lefty's Bar, Mapleview Lounge and Bottle Shop, Sportts Restaurant and Lounge, Smitty's Tavern, Thirty's Sports Lounge, Torge's , Tolly's Time Out Restaurant and Lounge, Trader's Bar and Grill, Twister Lounge/Echo Lanes, Windrift Lounge,

Churches

  • Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church,
  • Bethlehem Free Methodist Church,
  • Christ Episcopal Church,
  • Church of Christ,
  • Faith Evangelical Free Church,
  • First Baptist Church,
  • First United Methodist Church,
  • Grace Lutheran Church
  • New Life Vineyard Christian Fellowship,
  • Our Savior's Lutheran Church,
  • St. John's Lutheran Church,
  • St. Olaf Lutheran Church,
  • St. Paul's Evangenical Lutheran,
  • Six Mile Grove Church,
  • Westminster Presbyterian Church.
  • St. Augustine Catholic Church
  • St. Edward's Catholic Church
  • Queen of Angels Catholic Church

Media

The city has two newspapers, the Austin Daily Herald [1] and the Austin Edition of the Rochester Post-Bulletin. Two television stations are currently licensed to Austin, and the media market overlaps with northern Iowa and other parts of southern Minnesota.

Famous Austinians

Reference

"Mill on the Willow: A History of Mower County, Minnesota" by various authors. Library of Congress No. 84-062356

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