St. James or Saint James[2] is a city in and the county seat of Watonwan County, Minnesota, United States.[4] The population was 4,793 at the 2020 census.[5]

St. James, Minnesota[citation needed]
The Watonwan County Courthouse in St. James
Location of St. James within Watonwan County and state of Minnesota
Location of St. James
within Watonwan County and state of Minnesota
Coordinates: 43°59′00″N 94°37′30″W / 43.98333°N 94.62500°W / 43.98333; -94.62500
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyWatonwan
Government
 • TypeMayor - Council
 • MayorJon Wilson [citation needed]
Area
 • Total2.36 sq mi (6.10 km2)
 • Land2.33 sq mi (6.04 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation1,073 ft (327 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,793
 • Density2,054.44/sq mi (793.34/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
56081
FIPS code27-57040[3]
GNIS feature ID2396493[2]
Websiteci.stjames.mn.us

Minnesota State Highways 4, 30, and 60 are three of the main routes in the city.

History

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In 1870, the directors of the St. Paul and Sioux City railroads chose the future townsite of St. James as the midpoint for a new railroad linking the two cities. Named for James Purington, an early settler,[6] the new city was incorporated in 1871.[7] It was the hometown of Minnesota Governor Winfield Scott Hammond, a Democrat who served in 1915. In the 1940s, Theodore S. Mondale, the father of future Vice President of the United States Walter Mondale, was the pastor at First Methodist Church of St. James. Tony Downs Foods Co. has been a major employer since 1947, processing poultry and frozen meals.

St. James has two properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Grand Opera House, completed in 1892, and the Watonwan County Courthouse, completed in 1896.[8]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 2.43 square miles (6.29 km2); 2.40 square miles (6.22 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) is water.[9]

Climate

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Climate data for St. James, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1958–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 64
(18)
67
(19)
84
(29)
93
(34)
102
(39)
104
(40)
105
(41)
101
(38)
98
(37)
92
(33)
82
(28)
68
(20)
105
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 42.8
(6.0)
47.9
(8.8)
65.4
(18.6)
80.3
(26.8)
89.4
(31.9)
93.5
(34.2)
93.3
(34.1)
91.5
(33.1)
89.2
(31.8)
81.7
(27.6)
65.5
(18.6)
47.6
(8.7)
96.3
(35.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 23.5
(−4.7)
28.2
(−2.1)
40.4
(4.7)
56.2
(13.4)
69.3
(20.7)
79.5
(26.4)
82.8
(28.2)
80.4
(26.9)
74.2
(23.4)
60.0
(15.6)
43.1
(6.2)
29.0
(−1.7)
55.6
(13.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 14.3
(−9.8)
19.1
(−7.2)
31.3
(−0.4)
45.4
(7.4)
58.4
(14.7)
68.9
(20.5)
72.4
(22.4)
69.7
(20.9)
62.4
(16.9)
48.6
(9.2)
33.9
(1.1)
20.5
(−6.4)
45.4
(7.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 5.2
(−14.9)
9.9
(−12.3)
22.2
(−5.4)
34.6
(1.4)
47.6
(8.7)
58.3
(14.6)
61.9
(16.6)
59.1
(15.1)
50.6
(10.3)
37.1
(2.8)
24.6
(−4.1)
12.0
(−11.1)
35.3
(1.8)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −15.2
(−26.2)
−9.9
(−23.3)
−0.7
(−18.2)
19.1
(−7.2)
33.5
(0.8)
46.4
(8.0)
51.1
(10.6)
48.2
(9.0)
35.2
(1.8)
21.6
(−5.8)
6.2
(−14.3)
−8.7
(−22.6)
−18.1
(−27.8)
Record low °F (°C) −30
(−34)
−30
(−34)
−26
(−32)
6
(−14)
19
(−7)
36
(2)
40
(4)
36
(2)
25
(−4)
10
(−12)
−13
(−25)
−27
(−33)
−30
(−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.09
(28)
0.80
(20)
1.82
(46)
3.14
(80)
4.65
(118)
4.89
(124)
4.12
(105)
3.95
(100)
3.43
(87)
2.52
(64)
1.58
(40)
1.13
(29)
33.12
(841)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 10.8
(27)
11.0
(28)
8.2
(21)
3.5
(8.9)
0.1
(0.25)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.6
(1.5)
4.9
(12)
11.2
(28)
50.3
(126.65)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 5.8 3.9 5.7 10.3 13.1 12.1 9.6 9.5 8.0 8.4 5.1 7.2 98.7
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 5.4 4.6 3.1 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 2.7 5.6 22.9
Source 1: NOAA[10]
Source 2: National Weather Service[11]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880444
1890939111.5%
19002,607177.6%
19102,102−19.4%
19202,67327.2%
19302,8085.1%
19403,40021.1%
19503,86113.6%
19604,1748.1%
19704,027−3.5%
19804,3467.9%
19904,3640.4%
20004,6957.6%
20104,605−1.9%
20204,7934.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
2020 Census[5]

2010 census

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As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 4,605 people, 1,839 households, and 1,145 families living in the city. The population density was 1,918.8 inhabitants per square mile (740.9/km2). There were 2,039 housing units at an average density of 849.6 units per square mile (328.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.8% White, 0.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 14.9% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.0% of the population.

There were 1,839 households, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.7% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.17.

The median age in the city was 37.8 years. 27.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

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As of the census of 2000, there were 4,695 people, 1,845 households, and 1,186 families living in the city. The population density was 2,050.3 inhabitants per square mile (791.6/km2). There were 2,006 housing units at an average density of 876.0 units per square mile (338.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 83.24% White, 0.40% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 14.27% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.77% of the population.

There were 1,845 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,196, and the median income for a family was $40,993. Males had a median income of $30,036 versus $19,391 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,336. About 9.0% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Presidential election results
Precinct General Election Results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 50.7% 924 47.6% 867 1.7% 32
2016 48.8% 880 44.3% 799 6.9% 125
2012 42.1% 756 55.5% 997 2.4% 44
2008 42.3% 801 54.8% 1,039 2.9% 56
2004 49.1% 982 48.9% 977 2.0% 41
2000 44.5% 795 48.8% 872 6.7% 120
1996 32.3% 617 54.3% 1,038 13.4% 255
1992 31.6% 635 41.4% 831 27.0% 541
1988 51.2% 980 48.8% 933 0.0% 0
1984 56.5% 1,158 43.5% 893 0.0% 0
1980 49.7% 1,139 42.8% 981 7.5% 171
1976 49.7% 1,105 49.3% 1,097 1.0% 23
1968 51.4% 1,062 45.0% 928 3.6% 75
1964 43.1% 877 56.8% 1,154 0.1% 1
1960 65.1% 1,341 34.6% 713 0.3% 5

Transport

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The city owns and operates the St. James Municipal Airport.[15]

Notable people

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Media

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Television

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Channel Callsign Affiliation Branding Subchannels Owner
(Virtual) Channel Programming
2.1 K26CS-D
(KTCA Translator)
PBS TPT 2 2.2
2.4
Minnesota Channel
PBS Kids
Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
2.3 K29IE-D
(KTCI Translator)
PBS TPT Life 2.5 TPT Now Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
4.2 K35KI-D Start TV Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
5.1 K30FN-D
(KSTP Translator)
ABC 5 Eyewitness News 5.7 Heroes & Icons Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
5.2 K14KE-D
(KSTC Translator)
Ind. 45 TV 5.3
5.4
5.6
Me-TV
Antenna TV
This TV
Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
7.1 KMNF-LD NBC KEYC 7.2 The CW+ Gray Television
9.2 K23MF-D
(WFTC Translator)
Ind. FOX 9 Plus 9.3
9.1
Movies!
FOX
Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
9.9 K35KI-D
(KMSP Translator)
FOX FOX 9 9.4
9.5
Buzzr
Light TV
Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
11.4 K32GX-D
(KARE Translator)
NBC KARE 11 11.5
11.6
11.7
Court TV
True Crime Network
Quest
Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
12.1 KEYC-TV CBS KEYC 12.2 Fox Gray Television
16.1 K31KV-D CTV 16.2
16.3
16.4
16.5
23.5
Action
Heartland
AMG
Biz
Grit
Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
17.1 K17MW-D Youtoo America Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
18.1 K18NE-D Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
19.1 K19LI-D Laff Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
23.1 K34JX-D
(WUCW Translator)
CW CW 23 23.2
23.3
23.4
Comet
Charge!
TBD
Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
23.6 K21DG-D CTV 2 Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
24.1 K24JV-D Retro TV Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
28.1 K28OH-D Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
41.1 K20LP-D
(KPXM Translator)
ION ION 41.2
41.3
41.4
41.5
41.6
Qubo
Ion Plus
ION Shop
QVC
HSN
Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota
45.1 K22MQ-D TBN 45.2
45.3
45.4
45.5
Hillsong Channel
JUCE TV
Smile
Enlace
Cooperative Television Association of Southern Minnesota

References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: St. James, Minnesota
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  6. ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 165.
  7. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 576.
  8. ^ "Minnesota National Register Properties Database". Minnesota Historical Society. 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  10. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: ST James WWTP, MN". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  11. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Minneapolis". National Weather Service. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  14. ^ "Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - Election Results".
  15. ^ "St. James Municipal Airport". Retrieved March 12, 2019.
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