Harmony, Minnesota

Harmony, Minnesota
City
Motto: "Biggest Little Town in Southern Minnesota"[1]

Location of Harmony, Minnesota
Coordinates: 43°33′10″N 92°0′34″W / 43.55278°N 92.00944°WCoordinates: 43°33′10″N 92°0′34″W / 43.55278°N 92.00944°W
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Fillmore
Area[2]
 • Total 1.13 sq mi (2.93 km2)
 • Land 1.13 sq mi (2.93 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 1,352 ft (412 m)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 1,020
 • Estimate (2012[4]) 1,007
 • Density 902.7/sq mi (348.5/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 55939
Area code(s) 507 Exchange: 886
FIPS code 27-27188[5]
GNIS feature ID 0644677[6]
Website http://www.harmony.mn.us/
Main Avenue, Harmony
Greenfield Lutheran Church
Harmony, Minnesota signpost

Harmony is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,020 at the 2010 census.[7] The town bills itself as the "Biggest Little Town in Southern Minnesota"[1] and features the largest Amish community in the state.

History

Amish came to Minnesota in the 1970s from Wayne County, Ohio, where they were becoming over-populated. They could buy land in southern Minnesota for $300–$700 an acre-Now 4,000+ per acre. Harmony is the hub of Minnesota's Amish Country, with many Amish owned and operated businesses in the area providing a wide range of Amish goods & services.

Geography

Harmony is located at 43°33′37″N 92°0′35″W / 43.56028°N 92.00972°W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.13 square miles (2.93 km2), all of it land.[2]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,020 people, 479 households, and 273 families residing in the city. The population density was 902.7 inhabitants per square mile (348.5/km2). There were 541 housing units at an average density of 478.8 per square mile (184.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 479 households of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.0% were non-families. 38.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.63.

The median age in the city was 53.3 years. 17.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 33.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,080 people, 477 households, and 299 families residing in the city. The population density was 948.9 people per square mile (365.8/km²). There were 500 housing units at an average density of 439.3 per square mile (169.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.98% White, 0.19% African American, 0.09% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.

There were 477 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 30.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,260, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $27,188 versus $22,768 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,859. About 8.4% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Museums and other points of interest

Harmony is the starting point of Amish Tours of Harmony for a tour of Amish country. The Amish are the focal point of local tourism & shopping with many Amish owned businesses in the surrounding area.

The JEM Theatre, a recently renovated movie theater originally built in 1940, is the only one operating in Fillmore County. There are three antique shops in town. Generations of Harmony- A 50 dealer mall on hwy 52- North side of town. OLD Crow Antiques on hwy 52/corner of Main-A house full of primitives & garden decor(w/a Furniture warehouse on Main st).I Love Antiques-on South Main across from the bank- a traditional antique store.

Nearby Niagara Cave is one of the largest caves in the Midwest. Rated among the top 10 best caves by various nationally recognized organizations Niagara Cave features ancient fossils embedded in limestone that is older than the dinosaurs, a 60-foot (18 m) waterfall in the largest room in the cave, and a wedding chapel where there have been over 400 weddings performed since it opened. Outside the cave there is a gift shop, 10 acres (40,000 m2) of picnic grounds, an 18-hole mini golf course, and a sluice box where people can mine for gems and fossils.

Parks and recreation

Harmony is the southern terminus of the Harmony-Preston Valley segment of the Blufflands State Trail. The Harmony-Preston State Trail connects the town to the renowned Root River Trail system.

Education

Fillmore Central School District (#2198) is a public district that has one school in Harmony, the High School (7-12th grade). The Elementary (PK-4th grade) and the Middle School (5-6th grade) are located in nearby Preston. Fillmore Central's total enrollment for the school years of 2005-2006 are 641 students.

Libraries

The Harmony Public Library is the public library in Harmony.[8] It is a member of Southeastern Libraries Cooperating, the SE Minnesota library region.[9]

Infrastructure

Transportation

U.S. Highway 52 and Minnesota Highway 139 are two of the main routes in the community.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Harmony Minnesota Chamber of Commerce". Harmony Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  4. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  8. ↑ Address: 225 3rd Avenue SE, Harmony, MN 55919. Phone number: 507-886-8133
  9. ↑ Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harmony, Minnesota.