Holdingford, Minnesota

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Holdingford, Minnesota
settlement_type = City
nickname = Gateway to Lake Wobegon
motto =

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Holdingford, Minnesota


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

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 1.6
area_land_km2 = 1.6
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.6
area_land_sq_mi = 0.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 736
population_density_km2 = 456.4
population_density_sq_mi = 1182.1

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 360
elevation_ft = 1181
latd = 45 |latm = 43 |lats = 47 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 28 |longs = 22 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 56340
area_code = 320
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-29582GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0645075GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Holdingford is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 736 at the 2000 census. It claims to be "The Gateway to Lake Wobegon", the fictional central Minnesota town created by Garrison Keillor.

Holdingford is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 736 people, 286 households, and 197 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,182.1 people per square mile (458.3/km²). There were 297 housing units at an average density of 477.0/sq mi (185.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.18% White, 0.54% Asian, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population.

There were 286 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.The median income for a household in the city was $34,000, and the median income for a family was $42,788. Males had a median income of $31,053 versus $21,141 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,410. About 6.2% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

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History

3a During prohibition: Stearns County became a large producer of moonshine with a majority of the farmers in the area distilling spirits. Stearns County spirits made their way to Minneapolis, St. Paulk, Chicago and Canada The product was nicknamed "Minnesota 13" after the seed corn it was made from.
3b During prohibition: many say Holdingford was the unofficial moonshine capital of Minnesota."I think it was because we made the best moonshine, so there was more of a demand for it, so more was made." said Elmer Ebnet , 67, of Holdingford "It seems that almost everyone around here was making it."Prohibition officially started Jan. 16, 1920, and Holdingford was a community that pulled together to break the law.

Notable Natives

*Kenny Benkowski better known as "Sodbuster" Kenny Jay born March 27, 1937 in Holdingford, Minnesota. He was a professional wrestler who competed primarily in the American Wrestling Association.
*Joseph Brinkman (born April 9, 1944 in Little Falls, Minnesota) was raised in Holdingford, Minnesota and graduated from Holdingford High School. He is a former umpire in Major League Baseball Umpire who worked in the American League from 1973 to 1999 and throughout both major leagues from 2000 until his retirement during the 2006 season.

References

3a St. Cloud Times March-29-1996- Prohibition in Stearns County Produced a Different Cash Crop-Jerry L. Carter
3b St. Cloud Times March-29-1996- Holdingford stayed 'wet' during dry spell-Jerry L. Carter

External links

* [http://www.holdingfordmn.us Official City of Holdingford web site]
* [http://www.hermansfairview.blogspot.com Holdingford Historical] Holdingford Area Historical Society
* [http://www.exit153.blogspot.com Exit153] News of what's Happening in Holdingford Today