Cambridge, Minnesota

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Cambridge, Minnesota
Location of Cambridge, Minnesota
Location of Cambridge, Minnesota
Coordinates: 45°33′52″N 93°13′42″W / 45.56444, -93.22833
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Isanti
Area
 - Total 6.3 sq mi (16.2 km²)
 - Land 6.2 sq mi (16.0 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²)
Elevation 961 ft (293 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 5,520
 - Density 894.1/sq mi (345.2/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 55008
Area code(s) 763
FIPS code 27-09370[1]
GNIS feature ID 0640789[2]

Cambridge is a city in Isanti County, Minnesota, United States, located at the junction of Minnesota State Highways 65 and 95. The population was 5,520 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Isanti County[3]. It is located along the Rum River and the BNSF Railway. Cambridge is notable for having the highest percentage of Swedish Americans of any city in the country with a population over 5,000 people.[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] History

The city of Cambridge was established in the late 1800s along the railroad from Minneapolis to Duluth. It was named by settlers from New England, although the surrounding area was heavily populated with Swedish immigrants, as were many areas of Minnesota.

In the early 1900s, Cambridge had a potato starch factory, a 1300-barrel flour mill, a wool carding and spinning mill, an electric lighting plant, and local and long-distance telephone systems. [4]

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.2 km²), of which, 6.2 square miles (16.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.28%) is water.

The Rum River flows north to south through the middle of Cambridge. Camping, canoeing, and fishing are popular attractions of the Rum River.

[edit] Economy

Cambridge is a local commercial center. The recently expanded Cambridge Medical Center serves as the regional health care center.

[edit] Education

Cambridge-Isanti High School, Cambridge Middle School, and Cambridge Elementary serve the community. Two new schools, Cambridge Middle School and Isanti Intermediate School, were built in the fall of 2006 to house the expanding school population.

Cambridge Christian School, founded in 1978, has new facilities in the city of Cambridge. Cambridge is also home to Cambridge Community College, a branch of Anoka Ramsey Community College.

[edit] Athletics

Luke Becker, an alumnus of Cambridge-Isanti High School, held the state all-time wins record in wrestling. He went on to win a national championship at the University of Minnesota.

Cambridge is the home of the 2nd winningest high school football coach in Minnesota. George Larson (307-66-6) has accomplished 500 plus wins, 5 state appearances, and 3 state titles in 1986, 1987, and 2000. Brainerd High School coach Ron Stolski now holds the record as winningest coach, eclipsing Larson in 2007.

The High School Boy's Basketball team made it to the Minnesota State Basketball tournament in 1991, but lost their first game to Minneapolis Roosevelt, led by future University of Minnesota standout John Thomas.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 5,520 people, 2,237 households, and 1,353 families residing in the city. The population density was 894.1 people per square mile (345.4/km²). There were 2,373 housing units at an average density of 384.4/sq mi (148.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.21% White, 0.31% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population. 24.7% were of Swedish, 24.6% German, 14.6% Norwegian and 5.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,237 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,313, and the median income for a family was $53,381. Males had a median income of $34,836 versus $23,681 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,697. About 5.8% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 45°34′22″N, 93°13′28″W