Chatfield, Minnesota

Chatfield, Minnesota
City
Motto: "The Gateway to Bluff Country" and "The Chosen Valley"
Location of Chatfield, Minnesota (Olmsted County)
Location of Chatfield, Minnesota (Fillmore County)
Coordinates: 43°50′46″N 92°11′13″W / 43.84611°N 92.18694°W / 43.84611; -92.18694
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Counties	Fillmore, Olmsted
Area[1] =
• Total	2.64 sq mi (6.84 km2)
• Land	2.64 sq mi (6.84 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,010 ft (308 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	2,779
• Estimate (2012[3])	2,777
• Density	1,052.7/sq mi (406.4/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	55923
Area code(s)	507
FIPS code	27-11008[4]
GNIS feature ID	0641133[5]

Chatfield is a city in Fillmore and Olmsted counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 2,779 at the 2010 census.^[6] The city's area is split almost equally between the two counties. Chatfield is known as "The Gateway to Bluff Country" and "The Chosen Valley".

History

The city was named after Judge Andrew G. Chatfield.^[7] It was founded in 1853 by Andrew Twiford, and originally served as the Fillmore county seat prior to the county being further divided. During the American Civil War, the Chatfield Guards militia distinguished themselves as Company A of the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and their commander, former engineer and newspaperman Captain (later promoted to Colonel) Judson W. Bishop, later commanded the entire regiment.^[8]

Geography

Main Street.

Chatfield Public Library (also home to the Chatfield Historical Museum), originally built as a Carnegie library.

St. Mary's Catholic Church.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.64 square miles (6.84 km²).^[1] It is also the home of the only stop light in Fillmore County, at the intersection of 3rd Street (Fillmore County Road 2) and Main Street. Chatfield has two waterways within its borders, the North Branch of the Root River and a tributary, Mill Creek.^[9]

U.S. Highway 52, State Highway 30, State Highway 74, and Fillmore County Road 2 are four of the main routes in the city.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 2,779 people, 1,092 households, and 741 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,052.7 inhabitants per square mile (406.4 /km²). There were 1,174 housing units at an average density of 444.7 per square mile (171.7 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.1% White, 27.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 1,092 households of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 36.9 years. 28.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 22% were from 45 to 64; and 16.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 2,394 people, 930 households, and 633 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,201.8 people per square mile (464.5/km²). There were 959 housing units at an average density of 481.4 per square mile (186.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.66% White, 0.46% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 930 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,023, and the median income for a family was $53,625. Males had a median income of $32,174 versus $27,697 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,145. About 4.9% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

Entertainment

Because Chatfield is not connected to the Blufflands State Trail it does not have many tourist attractions like many of the neighboring towns such as Harmony and Lanesboro. However, once a year on the second weekend in August the town holds its annual "Western Days" celebration. Chatfield also has a bed and breakfast known as "Oakenwald Terrace". Oakenwald Terrace, built in 1897, is one of the oldest standing houses in the area. Another unique feature of Chatfield is the Chatfield Brass Band & Music Lending Library, a public institution dedicated to the preservation and use of sheet music from the brass band era.

References

^[10]

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chatfield, Minnesota.

• The Chatfield News - Local newspaper
• The Chatfield News - Current articles
• www.ci.chatfield.mn.us
• www.chatfieldmn.com
• Chosen Valley Public Schools
• City-data.com
• www.oakenwaldterrace.com

v t e Municipalities and communities of Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States County seat: Preston Cities Canton Chatfield‡ Fountain Harmony Lanesboro Mabel Ostrander Peterson Preston Rushford Village Rushford Spring Valley Whalan Wykoff Townships Amherst Arendahl Beaver Bloomfield Bristol Canton Carimona Carrolton Chatfield Fillmore Forestville Fountain Harmony Holt Jordan Newburg Norway Pilot Mound Preble Preston Spring Valley Sumner York Unincorporated communities Cherry Grove Etna Fillmore Granger Greenleafton Hamilton Prosper Ghost town Forestville Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v t e Municipalities and communities of Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States County seat: Rochester Cities Byron Chatfield‡ Dover Eyota Oronoco Pine Island‡ Rochester Stewartville Townships Cascade Dover Elmira Eyota Farmington Haverhill High Forest Kalmar Marion New Haven Orion Oronoco Pleasant Grove Quincy Rochester Rock Dell Salem Viola Unincorporated communities Chester Danesville‡ Douglas Genoa High Forest Pleasant Grove Post Town Potsdam Ringe Salem Corners Shanty Town Simpson Viola Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Coordinates: 43°50′44″N 92°11′21″W / 43.84556°N 92.18917°W / 43.84556; -92.18917