Wells, Minnesota

Wells, Minnesota
City
Location of Wells, Minnesota
Coordinates: 43°44′33″N 93°43′40″W / 43.74250°N 93.72778°W / 43.74250; -93.72778
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Faribault
Government
• Type	Mayor - Council
• Mayor	Ron Gaines
Area[1]
• Total	1.99 sq mi (5.15 km2)
• Land	1.99 sq mi (5.15 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,158 ft (353 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	2,343
• Estimate (2012[3])	2,289
• Density	1,177.4/sq mi (454.6/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	56097
Area code(s)	507
FIPS code	27-69106[4]
GNIS feature ID	0653904[5]
Website	www.CityOfWells.net

Wells is a city in Faribault County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,343 at the 2010 census.^[6]

History

Wells was laid out in 1869.^[7] The city was named for J.W. Wells, father in law of Clark W. Thompson.^[8]

The city contains a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot and Lunchroom.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.99 square miles (5.15 km²), all of it land.^[1]

Minnesota State Highways 22 and 109 are two of the main routes in the city. Interstate 90 is located 6 miles south of Wells on Highway 22.

Demographics

Wells, Minnesota is the home of the United South Central Rebels. The High School and Elementary Buildings are in Wells and approximately 700 students total attend the two schools. The grades in the Elementary are Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade. The High School grades are 7th grade, 8th grade, 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, and 12th grade. Grades 5-8 were in Kiester, MN but at a school board meeting they decided to move the Middle school to Wells and put 5th and 6th grades in the Elementary and 7th and 8th grades in the High school. In a sense, they got rid of the Middle School. Also, the St. Casimir's School is in Wells. About 180 kids attend St. Casimir's, which has a K-8th grade student body.

The town also has a grocery store, Wells Marketplace Foods. Restaurants include Dairy Queen, Jake's Pizza, Wildcats Bar and Grill, and Subway. Wells has three banks: Wells Federal Bank, Paragon Bank, and People's State Bank. Hair salons are Shear Artistry and Ultimate Design Salon Day Spa and Tanning. Wells lone theater is the "Flame Theater." Wells has a Landromat, Di's Wash and Dry. Other businesses include True Value Hardware, USA Window Depot, and Lamperts Lumber.

Wells is the home of "Wells Kernel Days", held every year in late August. Wells also has their own Fire Department, Community Ambulance Service, and Police Department. Wells Concrete Products (WCP) is in Wells, MN, Forks, and Albany, MN. All three specialize in beams made of prestressed concrete. Cemstone a the new ready mix company in Wells, MN, Blue Earth, MN, Mapleton, MN, Mankato, MN, and Medford, MN. Cemstone bought out the ready mix division of Wells Concrete Products. The current mayor of Wells is Ron Gaines.

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 2,343 people, 1,013 households, and 635 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,177.4 inhabitants per square mile (454.6/km²). There were 1,133 housing units at an average density of 569.3 per square mile (219.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.3% of the population.

There were 1,013 households of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 45.3 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.6% were from 45 to 64; and 22.6% 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^[4] of 2000, there were 2,494 people, 1,032 households, and 665 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,846.5 people per square mile (713.3/km²). There were 1,097 housing units at an average density of 812.2 per square mile (313.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.31% White, 0.04% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 2.17% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 4.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,032 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 32.2% 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 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,463, and the median income for a family was $38,523. Males had a median income of $27,969 versus $19,873 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,614. 9.8% of the population and 5.9% of families were below the poverty line. 7.4% of those under the age of 18 and 15.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Notable people

• Carl W. Riddick, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the Second District of Montana^[10]

• Larry Buendorf, US Secret Service agent who subdued Squeaky Fromme. On the morning of September 5, 1975, Fromme went to Sacramento's Capitol Park (reportedly to plead with President Gerald Ford about the plight of the California redwoods) dressed in a nun-like red robe and armed with a Colt M1911 .45 semi-automatic pistol that she pointed at Ford. The pistol's magazine was loaded with four rounds, but there was no bullet in the firing chamber. She was immediately restrained by Larry Buendorf, a Secret Service agent.
• Gerald Dean Schultz, US Air Force Staff Sergeant 1948-1952. "Jerry" was a rawinsonde operator involved in Operation Ranger and witnessed  five atomic tests.  All the bombs were dropped by B-50D bombers and exploded in the open air over Frenchman Flat (Area 5) Nevada. He was commended on his duty and then sent on to Eniwetok Atoll for Operation Greenhouse and further testing of the atomic bomb.

References

External links

• City of Wells, MN -- Official site
• United South Central Schools site
• Wells Chamber of Commerce site

Municipalities and communities of Faribault County, Minnesota, United States County seat: Blue Earth Cities Blue Earth Bricelyn Delavan Easton Elmore Frost Kiester Minnesota Lake‡ Walters Wells Winnebago Townships Barber Blue Earth City Brush Creek Clark Delavan Dunbar Elmore Emerald Foster Jo Daviess Kiester Lura Minnesota Lake Pilot Grove Prescott Rome Seely Verona Walnut Lake Winnebago City Unincorporated communities Guckeen Huntley Marna Ghost towns Clayton Homedahl Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Coordinates: 43°44′46″N 93°43′44″W / 43.74611°N 93.72889°W / 43.74611; -93.72889