Byron, Minnesota

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There are also two Byron Townships in Minnesota.
Byron, Minnesota
Location of Byron, Minnesota
Location of Byron, Minnesota
Coordinates: 44°1′55″N 92°38′52″W / 44.03194, -92.64778
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Olmsted
Area
 - Total 1.4 sq mi (3.7 km²)
 - Land 1.4 sq mi (3.7 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation 1,257 ft (383 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 3,500
 - Density 2,457.6/sq mi (948.9/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 55920
Area code(s) 507
FIPS code 27-09154[1]
GNIS feature ID 0640721[2]

Byron is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States, approximately 8 miles west of Rochester on U.S. Route 14. The population was 5,500 at the 2000 census.

Local industries are in the form of farm services and printing. A grain elevator is situated next to the rail line that runs through town, which is owned by the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad. The Schmidt printing company is part of Taylor Corporation.

The city was named for Byron, New York. The school mascot for Byron is a bear, supposedly because there was one living nearby in the city's early history.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,500 people, 1,179 households, and 979 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,457.6 people per square mile (951.7/km²). There were 1,206 housing units at an average density of 846.8/sq mi (327.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.77% White, 0.23% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.

There were 1,179 households out of which 53.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.9% were non-families. 13.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the city the population was spread out with 34.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $58,879, and the median income for a family was $63,164. Males had a median income of $38,387 versus $29,939 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,297. About 2.3% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

Byron possesses a bus stop and park-and-ride for transportation to and from Rochester. Bus services are provided by Rochester’s city-owned bus line.

[edit] Schools in Byron

There are three schools in Byron, Byron High School, Byron Middle School, and Byron Elementary School. The grades for the high school are now 9th through 12th grade. The grades for the middle school are now 5th through 8th grade and the grades for the elementary school are Pre-School through 4th grade. A new high school building had been recently constructed, and was opened for the 2006-2007 school year. The Byron Bears are an HVL (Hiawatha Valley League) school and in the MSHSL (Minnesota State High School League).

[edit] Byron Athletics

Byron has been consistently strong in football, volleyball, men's basketball, wrestling and women's track, although it should be noted that their baseball team has recently produced Owen Hoegh, who was signed by Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies and quickly released, following an exceptional career at Augustana College.

[edit] Parks and Recreation

[edit] Parks

One of the major parks in the county, Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo, is a few miles north of town. The zoo has dozens of animals from thirty different native species, including a number of birds, a mountain lion, wolves, otters, and some bison.

[edit] Golf

Byron is home to the Somerby Golf Club and Community - a private golf club and community, which is on the north side of the city and is home to the Links of Byron, which was Byron's first public golf course.

[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: 44°1′44.29″N, 92°38′43.30″W