| Pipestone, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Location of Pipestone, Minnesota | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Pipestone |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor – Council |
| • Mayor | Laurie Ness |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.9 sq mi (10.2 km2) |
| • Land | 3.9 sq mi (10.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,736 ft (529 m) |
| Population (2010)[1] | |
| • Total | 4,317 |
| • Density | 1,090.8/sq mi (421.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 56164 |
| Area code(s) | 507 |
| FIPS code | 27-51388[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0649527[3] |
| Website | www.pipestoneminnesota.com |
Pipestone is a city in Pipestone County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2010 census.[1] It is the county seat of Pipestone County[4]. The city is also the site of Pipestone National Monument.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 square miles (10 km2), all of it land.
U.S. Route 75 and Minnesota State Highways 23 and 30 are three of the main routes in the city.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,232 |
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| 1900 | 2,536 | 105.8% | |
| 1910 | 2,475 | −2.4% | |
| 1920 | 3,325 | 34.3% | |
| 1930 | 3,489 | 4.9% | |
| 1940 | 4,682 | 34.2% | |
| 1950 | 5,269 | 12.5% | |
| 1960 | 5,324 | 1.0% | |
| 1970 | 5,328 | 0.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,887 | −8.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,554 | −6.8% | |
| 2000 | 4,280 | −6.0% | |
| 2010 | 4,317 | 0.9% | |
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As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,280 people, 1,900 households, and 1,138 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,090.8 people per square mile (421.6/km²). There were 2,097 housing units at an average density of 534.4 per square mile (206.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.23% White, 0.28% African American, 2.94% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.
There were 1,900 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,412, and the median income for a family was $40,194. Males had a median income of $28,180 versus $21,349 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,253. About 8.3% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Pipestone is located in southwestern Minnesota. It is a leader in wind technology with nearly 800 wind generator towers located nearby on one of the area's top resources.
Less than a mile north of the city of Pipestone lays a pipestone quarry, described in Native American legends as a square-cut jewel lying upon folds of shimmering green velvet. This is an accurate depiction of the red quartzite almost hidden by prairie grass. It was designated a national monument by the United States in 1937.
Although he never visited the site, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was inspired to write of the area in the poem, "Song of Hiawatha". The Song of Hiawatha Pageant, which spins out Longfellow's vision of the American Indian, played in Pipestone for 60 years. The pageant was held at a small quarry lake on a natural amphitheater with a cast of 200 principals, chieftains, warriors, and dancers in their colorful costumes. Summer of 2008 was the last year for the pageant.
Charles Bennett and Daniel Sweet founded Pipestone in 1876. Bennett was intrigued by the prospect of visiting the site he had read about in Longfellow's poem. Despite blizzards, prairie fires, droughts and grasshoppers, the young village survived. In 1879, 22 businesses were operating in Pipestone, and by the following year that number had grown to 53. Pipestone was incorporated as a village in 1881. By 1890, Pipestone had train service on four different rail lines and had become a travel and business center hub for southwestern Minnesota.
Pipestone was formerly home to a Native American Boarding School, which were known for their repression of Native American culture and contribution to the genocide and ethnocide of Native American people.
In 2006 Suzlon Energy of India began building wind farm blades at its subsidiary Suzlon Rotor Corporation in the town. Among the companies buying the blades is Wind Capital Group which is developing the biggest wind farm in Minnesota.[5]
Former United States Representative Vern Ehlers of Michigan was born in Pipestone.
The Calumet Inn in downtown Pipestone is a restored historical building from 1888. It still operates as a functioning hotel. It features turn-of-the-century (19th to 20th) antiques and interesting architecture. The building was constructed using quartzite both structurally and in the facade. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The county Courthouse, also made of local quartzite stone, was built in 1899. The building is the most stylized of the quartzite buildings. It is rectangular in shape with a 110-ft clock tower topped with a dome and a statue of Lady Justice. It was restored in 1995 and rededicated in 1996. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
American Indians have used the pipestone quarries located at the Pipestone National Monument for centuries to obtain materials for pipe making, a practice that continues today. 282 acres (1.14 km2) - visitor and cultural center, 3/4 mile walking trail along Pipestone Creek and Winnewissa Falls set in the tallgrass prairie. Pipestone Indian Shrine Association provides visitors with a selection of American Indian art and craft items.
Pipestone Area Schools, Independent School District #2689, serves the community of Pipestone and surrounding area, including the towns of Hatfield, Woodstock, Jasper, Trosky and Holland. Pipestone Area High School, a new 197,000-square-foot (18,300 m2) middle/high school/district office, was opened in January 2003 at the cost of 22.3 million dollars. Southwest Minnesota Christian High School and Edgerton Christian Elementary School are located in nearby Edgerton, in the southern portion of Pipestone County, and are an alternative to public education. Minnesota West Community & Technical College, based in Pipestone, offers post-secondary classes.
Pipestone is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, represented by Mankato educator Tim Walz, a Democrat. At the state level, Pipestone is located in Senate District 22, represented by Republican Doug Magnus, and in House District 22A, represented by Republican Joe Schomacker.
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