Hawley, Minnesota

Hawley is a town in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, along the Buffalo River. The population was 2,219 at the 2020 census.[3] The town went through six quick name changes after 1871 until, in 1872, it was finally named after Thomas Hawley Canfield, an officer in the Northern Pacific Railway, which laid out the town.[5] General George Custer visited the town in 1876. The incident was recalled in WCCO Television's short film Incident at Hawley, which aired during America's bicentennial year of 1976.

Hawley
City
Hawley's grain elevator
Hawley's grain elevator
Motto: 
A Family Friendly Community
Location of Hawley, Minnesota
Location of Hawley, Minnesota
Coordinates: 46°52′37″N 96°19′05″W
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyClay
Government
 • MayorSean Mork
Area
[1]
 • Total2.46 sq mi (6.38 km2)
 • Land2.46 sq mi (6.37 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,145 ft (349 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total2,219
 • Estimate 
(2021)[4]
2,233
 • Density901.67/sq mi (348.13/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
56549
Area code218
FIPS code27-27746
GNIS feature ID2394332[2]
Websitehawley.gov
Park bench in a Hawley city park.
Hawley High School
Hawley High School

In 2007, the town started an ad campaign called "Hawley Would" (a pun on "Hollywood"). The campaign focuses on both Hawley's small-town atmosphere and its proximity to the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area; Hawley is 22 miles from downtown Fargo.

Hawley was at one time settled by a colony of immigrants from Yeovil, Somerset; among these was Elisabeth Chant, later a painter in Minneapolis.[6]

Geography

Hawley is east of Moorhead, at the intersection of the Buffalo River, U.S. Route 10, and the Burlington Northern Railroad. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 2.53 square miles (6.55 km2), all land.[7] A number of pastures and farmlands are nearby.

The land is flat (mostly treeless) farmland west of the city, with hillier and more forested land to the east. There is much wildlife, including deer, moose, waterfowl, raccoon, skunk, wolf, fox, and other indigenous species. The indigenous trees in the forests are mostly leafy, with very few natural evergreens.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
188077—
1890270250.6%
190052694.8%
191080052.1%
192093917.4%
19309582.0%
19401,12217.1%
19501,1966.6%
19601,2706.2%
19701,3718.0%
19801,63419.2%
19901,6551.3%
20001,88213.7%
20102,0679.8%
20202,2197.4%
2021 (est.)2,233[4]0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
2020 Census[3]
Bringing harvest potatoes into Hawley, fall 1916

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,067 people, 854 households, and 553 families living in the city. The population density was 817.0 inhabitants per square mile (315.4/km2). There were 891 housing units at an average density of 352.2 per square mile (136.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.3% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 854 households, of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.2% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 34.9 years. 29.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.5% were from 25 to 44; 21.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,882 individuals, 744 households, and 514 families living in the city. The population density was 764.8 inhabitants per square mile (295.3/km2). There were 787 housing units at an average density of 319.8 per square mile (123.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.46% White, 0.11% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.21% Asian, and 0.85% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 744 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,652, and the median income for a family was $47,188. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $21,284 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,178. About 7.2% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under the age of 18 and 12.2% of those 65 and older.

Arts and culture
The Buffalo River in Hawley

Hawley may be best known as the site of construction of the Viking ship Hjemkomst, which sailed from Duluth, Minnesota, to Bergen, Norway, in 1982. Robert Asp began constructing the ship in November 1973 in the former Leslie Welter Potato Warehouse (renamed Hawley Shipyard) in downtown Hawley. The building was demolished on July 17, 1980, to remove the ship and is now marked by a memorial. The ship is on display at the Heritage Hjemkomst Center in nearby Moorhead.

Hawley has a country club with a golf course.[9]

Education

The Hawley School district has a school building for grades K-6, and a separate building for grades 7-12. Its football team has won numerous conference and section championships.[10]

Media

Hawley has one radio station, KNNZ. Hawley's newspaper is the Hawley Herald.[11]

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hawley, Minnesota
  3. "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  4. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". United States Census Bureau. June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  5. Gilman, Rhonda R. (1989). The Story of Minnesota's Past. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society Press. pp. 23–33. ISBN 0-87351-267-7.
  6. "Who is Elisabeth Chant? - MyReporter.com". April 22, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  7. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  8. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  9. "Hawley Golf & Country Club". Explore Minnesota Golf. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  10. "Activity Page". www.mshsl.org. Archived from the original on June 21, 2011.
  11. "Home". Hawley Herald. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
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