Ashby, Minnesota

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Ashby, Minnesota
Location of Ashby, Minnesota
Location of Ashby, Minnesota
Coordinates: 46°5′27″N 95°49′1″W / 46.09083, -95.81694
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Grant
Area
 - Total 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²)
 - Land 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²)
Elevation 1,296 ft (395 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 472
 - Density 883.9/sq mi (341.3/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 56309
Area code(s) 218
FIPS code 27-02422[1]
GNIS feature ID 0639472[2]
Website: www.ashbyminnesota.org

Ashby is a city in Grant County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 472 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²), of which, 0.5 square miles (1.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (7.02%) is water.

Minnesota State Highway 78 serves as a main route in the community. Interstate 94 is nearby.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 472 people, 185 households, and 113 families residing in the city. The population density was 883.9 people per square mile (343.8/km²). There were 202 housing units at an average density of 378.3/sq mi (147.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.67% White, 0.21% African American, 0.21% Native American, and 1.91% from two or more races.

There were 185 households out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 27.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 19.3% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 32.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 75.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,333, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,104 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,296. About 8.7% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Community

Ashby's public school is K-12. Known as the "Ashby Arrows", its sports teams' colors are maroon and gold.

Each year, a local sporting group which calls itself "Coots Unlimited " -- a parody of Ducks Unlimited -- holds a fundraising event with proceeds to rebuild local wildlife habitat. A metal statue of a coot (a duck-like creature) was erected on the south border of the city, as shown here.

Ashby is on the eastern fringe of the Red River Valley, which was carved out by ancient glaciers. As a result it is nested in gently rolling hills and amongst many good fishing lakes, most prominent among them is Pelican Lake to the direct south of the city.

Ashby was the boyhood home of author/illustrator Chuck Dewey, aka Uncle Hyggly, who penned a regional favorite about a dairy farmer who filled in one Christmas for an ailing Santa Claus -- "Mr. Gonopolis And His 12 Holsteins -- A Christmas Story." The publishing company is called Wounded Coot Greetings, an apparent homage to the local sporting group.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 46°05′35″N, 95°49′03″W