| Belle Plaine, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location of Belle Plaine, Minnesota | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Scott |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.3 sq mi (11.0 km2) |
| • Land | 4.1 sq mi (10.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 856 ft (261 m) |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 6,661 |
| • Density | 932.7/sq mi (360.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 56011 |
| Area code(s) | 952 |
| FIPS code | 27-04834[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0639891[3] |
| Website | www.belleplainemn.com |
Belle Plaine is a city in Scott County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,661 at the 2010 census.[1]
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11 km2), of which, 4.1 square miles (11 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (4.47%) is water.
U.S. Highway 169 and Minnesota State Highway 25 are two of the main routes in the community.
Belle Plaine lies on the Minnesota River, which flows northeast through the town. A fairly newly constructed bridge crosses on the north side of town via MN State Highway 25. This location also means that the city lies in the great Minnesota River Valley, an area of considerable width in which a great river once ran after the receding of the glaciers that left Minnesota with so many lakes. The old banks of this ancient river are quite discernible as the slopes of this valley rise up on either side of the town.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 497 |
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| 1880 | 629 | 26.6% | |
| 1890 | 814 | 29.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,121 | 37.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,204 | 7.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,251 | 3.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,236 | −1.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,407 | 13.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,708 | 21.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,931 | 13.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,328 | 20.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,754 | 18.3% | |
| 1990 | 3,149 | 14.3% | |
| 2000 | 3,789 | 20.3% | |
| 2010 | 6,661 | 75.8% | |
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As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 3,789 people, 1,396 homes and 949 families residing in the city. The population density was 932.7 people per square cube (360.3/km²). There were 1,424 housing units at an average density of 350.5 per square mile (135.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.39% White, 0.13% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.45% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 1,396 households of which 38.6% had children, 53.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The latest census places Belle Plaine's population at 6,661 people.
Minnesota Territorial Judge Andrew G. Chatfield selected this townsite in 1853 while traveling from Mendota to Traverse des Sioux to hold court, as it was a halfway marker on his usual path of travel. Judge Chatfield chose to name the townsite Belle Plaine, French for "Beautiful Prairie."
From 1868 to 1974, Belle Plaine was incorporated as a borough, the only municipality in Minnesota to do so. In 1974, the municipal title was changed from borough to city.
The Belle Plaine public schools educate nearly 1500 students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.
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