Monticello (/ˌmɒntɪˈsɛl/ MON-tiss-EL-oh)[7] is a city next to the Mississippi River in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 14,455 at the 2020 census.[3]

Monticello
Monticello City Hall/Community Center
Monticello City Hall/Community Center
Location of the city of Monticello within Wright County, Minnesota
Location of the city of Monticello
within Wright County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 45°18′2″N 93°47′48″W / 45.30056°N 93.79667°W / 45.30056; -93.79667
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyWright
Settled1852
Platted1854
FoundedMarch 1, 1856
Incorporated (village)March 9, 1875
Incorporated (city)April 30, 1906
Government
 • MayorLloyd Hilgart
Area
 • Total
9.33 sq mi (24.17 km2)
 • Land9.00 sq mi (23.32 km2)
 • Water0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2)
Elevation929 ft (283 m)
Population
 • Total
14,455
 • Estimate 
(2022)[4]
14,804
 • Density1,605.75/sq mi (619.97/km2)
Time zoneUTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55362[5]
Area code763
FIPS code27-43774
GNIS feature ID0648048[2]
Sales tax7.375%[6]
Websiteci.monticello.mn.us

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.94 square miles (23.15 km2), all land.[8] The city's latitude is 45.305 degrees North and its longitude is 93.793 degrees West. Its elevation is 922 feet. Monticello is in the Central time zone.

Parks

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The Mississippi River at Ellison Park in Monticello

Monticello has an extensive parks and pathway system, including 28 city-owned parks and miles of winding trails. Lake Maria State Park, Montissippi Regional Park and the Harry Larsen Memorial Park are three of the largest. At Swan Park, each winter between December and March, as many as 2,700 trumpeter swans nest near Mississippi Drive in Monticello, as the Mississippi River is heated from warm water discharged by the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant.[9]

The City of Monticello and Wright County partnered and acquired 1,200 acres of open space in Wright County, known as the Bertram Chain of Lakes. The Bertram Chain includes four lakes and acres of undisturbed shoreline, natural habitat, and oak forest, 812 of which are open for public enjoyment. It provides users access to 4 miles of hiking trails, 10 miles of single-track mountain biking trails, beach at Bertram Lake for swimming, and carry-in access to Long Lake, which allow the opportunity to paddle Long, Mud and First Lakes. Winter activities include fat-biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Summer activities include paddleboard classes, canoeing excursions, kids fishing programs, and guided moonlight hiking.[10]

History

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Monticello was platted in 1854.[11] A post office has been in operation at Monticello since 1855.[12] Monticello was incorporated in 1856.[11] The nearby village of Moritzious merged with Monticello in 1891.[13]

In 1971, the Monticello Nuclear Plant began operation.

In May 2006, the Monticello Middle School had an electrical fire from the large amount of rain settling on the roof. The smoke damage to the school caused the school to be closed for the rest of the school year. As a result, middle school and high school students had to share usage of the high school building on an alternate-day schedule. The school year did not get extended, and the clean-up was completed in time for the 2006–07 school year. [1][permanent dead link] [2][permanent dead link]

Economy

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Broadway and Pine Streets

In anticipation of rapid population growth, Monticello created a comprehensive growth plan in 1996. A new high school was constructed in 1999. A new highway interchange was completed in 2006 on the east end of town, allowing residents full access to Interstate 94 from Wright County Road 18. Since 2002, many retail outlets have been constructed. This planned growth has also brought new auto dealerships, hotels, and industrial development. A 2004 annexation agreement with Monticello Township is expected to help sustain Monticello's growth for the next twenty years.[citation needed]

Top employers

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According to Monticello's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR),[14] its top employers are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Xcel Energy (Northern States) 600
2 ISD No. 882 (Monticello) 576
3 CentraCare Medical Center (New River) 500
4 Cargill Kitchen Solutions (Sunny Fresh) 350
5 Wal-Mart Supercenter 300
6 City of Monticello 230
7* Home Depot 150
7* Target 150
9 Ultra Machine Corporation 140
10* Cub Foods 100
10* WSI Industries, Inc. 100

* denotes tied ranks

Education

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Monticello Public Library

Monticello is in the Monticello School District. Parts of nearby Monticello Township are in St. Michael-Albertville Schools.[15]

Monticello High School is Wright County's third-largest school, with an estimated attendance of 1,314. The school's athletic teams were formerly known as the Redmen and are now the Magic.[16]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880290
189050373.4%
190081862.6%
19108584.9%
19201,02419.3%
1930924−9.8%
19401,07616.5%
19501,23114.4%
19601,47720.0%
19701,63610.8%
19802,83073.0%
19904,94174.6%
20007,86859.2%
201012,75962.2%
202014,45513.3%
2022 (est.)14,804[4]2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
2020 Census[3]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880104
189016154.8%
U.S. Census for Moritzious[18]

2010 census

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As of the census of 2010, there were 12,759 people, 4,693 households, and 3,164 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,427.2 inhabitants per square mile (551.0/km2). There were 4,973 housing units at an average density of 556.3 per square mile (214.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 92.6% White, 1.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 2.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.4% of the population.

There were 4,693 households, of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.23.

The median age in the city was 31.4 years. 30.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 33.3% were from 25 to 44; 18.7% were from 45 to 64; and 9.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census

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As of the census of 2000, there were 7,868 people, the median income for a household in the city was $45,384, and the median income for a family was $53,566. Males had a median income of $41,057 versus $25,854 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,229. About 4.2% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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The City Council of Monticello consists of the mayor and four councilmembers, with the mayor serving an elected two-year and councilmembers serving four-year staggered terms. The current mayor is Lloyd Hilgart, who took office in January 2023.[19]

Media

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Newspapers

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The local newspaper is The Monticello Times.

Notable people

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  • Tobias Mealey – early Minnesota pioneer and politician. A significant reason that the Rand House was built in Monticello (for his daughter).
  • Joel Przybilla – an American professional basketball player, who last played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He is a Monticello High School alumnus.

References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Monticello, Minnesota
  3. ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "Monticello MN ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  6. ^ "Monticello (MN) sales tax rate". Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  9. ^ Marohn, Kirsti (October 18, 2019). "In Monticello, a city at the center of the nuclear energy debate". MPR News. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  10. ^ "Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park". Wright County, Minnesota. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 588.
  12. ^ "Wright County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  13. ^ Minnesota (1891). General Laws of the State of Minnesota. Earle S. Goodrich, State Printer. p. 733. Moritzious mn.
  14. ^ "2021 Monticello Annual Comprehensive Financial Report". City of Monticello. p. 105. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  15. ^ "SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Wright County, MN" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2020. - The page at: "About District 885". St. Michael-Albertville Schools. Retrieved May 28, 2020. Visit Us 11343 50th St. NE Albertville, MN 55301 states that it serves parts of Monticello but the census map shows only the township being covered.
  16. ^ Brooks, Jennifer (October 26, 2019). "Minnesota schools figured out how to play sports without stereotypes; why can't the NFL?". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  17. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  18. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  19. ^ "City of Monticello - Your Government - City Council". Retrieved March 16, 2023.
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45°18′20.52″N 93°47′39.12″W / 45.3057000°N 93.7942000°W / 45.3057000; -93.7942000