Warren, Minnesota

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Warren, Minnesota
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Warren, Minnesota


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Minnesota
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Marshall

government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 3.7
area_land_km2 = 3.7
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.4
area_land_sq_mi = 1.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1678
population_density_km2 = 453.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1174.1

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 261
elevation_ft = 856
latd = 48 |latm = 11 |lats = 49 |latNS = N
longd = 96 |longm = 46 |longs = 15 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 56762
area_code = 218
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-68170GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0653783GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Warren is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Minnesota, United States.GR|6 The population was 1,678 at the 2000 census.

U.S. Route 75 and Minnesota Highway 1 are two of the main arterial routes in the city.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²). 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²) of it is land and none of it is covered by surface water. The Snake River flows in serpentine fashion through the city (hence its name), and there is development on both banks. This has proved problematic as the city attempts flood control. Some major floods in the city's history occurred in 1896 (twice), 1969, 1974, 1979, 1996 (twice), and 1997.

The streets of the original townsite of Warren are laid out on a grid parallel and perpendicular to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Some newer additions, particularly those south of Bridge Street (Minnesota Highway 1) are laid out on a conventional north-south grid. The BNSF is the dividing line for the street system east and west, and Bridge Street is the dividing line north and south.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,678 people, 699 households, and 432 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,174.1 people per square mile (453.1/km²). There were 785 housing units at an average density of 549.3/sq mi (212.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.27% White, 0.12% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 1.01% from other races, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.62% of the population.

There were 699 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $45,063. Males had a median income of $32,216 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,547. About 6.5% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

History

Warren was first settled in 1879 by Charles Wenzel. The coming of the Great Northern Railroad (now Burlington Northern Santa Fe) led to the establishment of a permanent settlement. It was named for a ticket agent for the railroad who probably never set foot in Warren. Warren was incorporated as a village in 1881 and as a city in 1892. There has always been some doubt surrounding the actual date of Warren's founding. Hence, the city celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1956 and its centennial in 1980.

Although several times larger than the next largest city in the county, Warren's prominence as the county seat has been threatened several times in its history. The original plan for the Soo Line Railroad (completed in 1905) branch line that passes through Warren called for it to run from Thief River Falls to Argyle and then west. Argyle interests hoped the establishment of a railroad junction there would lead to the removal of the county seat from Warren to Argyle. Other interests prevailed, although the railroad line forms a parabola extending north from Thief River Falls, and then south to Warren, as if the plan changed while the line was being built. ^{[http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Warren,+MN,+United+States+of+America&ie=UTF8&ll=48.263084,-96.622696&spn=0.203412,0.462799&z=11&om=1]} In 1974, citizens of the eastern part of the county, noting Warren's location in the western quarter of the long county, and very nearly at its southern boundary, petitioned twice for the relocation of the county seat to Newfolden. Neither effort that year resulted in the question being put on the ballot, and in fact, voters in the interim had approved the construction of an addition to the courthouse in Warren.

Economy

Agriculture and agribusiness have been the mainstays of Warren throughout its history. In fact, for most of its history, there has been no other industry at all. Although the Red River Valley has a short growing season, which is often made even shorter due to floods, the area has excellent crop yields which help make farming in the area less risky than in other areas with poorer soil. The principal crops are wheat, soybeans, potatoes, and sugar beets. Warren was at one time home to the largest independent elevator in Minnesota. Northwest Grain Cenex Harvest States Cooperative has a large elevator on the Soo Line, and the American Crystal Sugar Co. operates a beet terminal just north of Warren during harvest. Warren has three bank branches, the largest being a branch of Community Bank of the Red River Valley, headquartered in East Grand Forks.

Education and Culture

Warren is home of the Warren-Alvarado-Oslo school district. The district has one six-year high school and one elementary school, both located in Warren. Both buildings have been called superior facilities for a district its size. The high school, built in 1954, includes a 1000-seat auditorium. The elementary school, built in 1970, was originally an "open school" design where the classrooms were separated by chalkboard partitions rather than walls, although a few walls were installed in 1987.

Warren has a public library, the Godel Memorial Library, and is home to the Marshall County Historical Society, the Marshall County Fair, and the Warren Riverside Country Club (9-hole, par 4, grass greens).

Religion

The city has three Lutheran churches (two affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and one affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod), a Roman Catholic parish and cemetery, an Evangelical Covenant Church, a United Methodist church, and an Assembly of God church. In the rural area surrounding the city, there are three small Lutheran churches.

People

Some famous people who have lived in Warren are ophthalmologist Harold Scheie, founder of the Scheie Eye Institute, abstract painter Gerome Kamrowski, and rock critic Paul Nelson. Serial killer Carl Panzram was born south of the city in rural Polk County but his connection to Warren is unknown.

References

Further reading

Solum, Nancy, ed. "Self-Portrait of Marshall County: A History of One Minnesota County and Many People Who Made That History." Dallas: Taylor, 1976.

Stevens, Charles L. "Warren and Vicinity in the Eighties: Some Recollections of Happenings in This Section Nearly Fifty Years Ago." Warren, Minn.: Warren Register, 1928.

"Warren, Plains to Plenty: A Story of 75 Eventful Years", Warren, Minn: Sheaf Printing, 1956.

External links

* [http://www.warrenminnesota.com/ WarrenMinnesota.com - website - Link]
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Warren-Minnesota.html City-data.com -- demographic website -- INCLUDES SATELLITE PHOTO - Link]
* [http://www.marshallcountyfair.org/ MarshallCountyFair.org - website - Link]