Mankato ( ) is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the state of

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over t ...

. The population was 44,488 according to the 2020 census, making it the 21st-largest city in Minnesota, and the 5th-largest outside of the

Minneapolis–Saint Paul Minneapolis–Saint Paul is a metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States centered around the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi, Minnesota River, Minnesota and St. Croix River (Wisconsin–Minnesota) ...

metropolitan area. It is along a large bend of the

Minnesota River The Minnesota River ( dak, Mnísota Wakpá) is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles (534 km) long, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It drains a watershed of in Minnesota and about in South Dakota and Iowa. It ris ...

at its

confluence In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...

with the

Blue Earth River The Blue Earth River ( dak, Makhátho Wakpá) is a tributary of the Minnesota River, long, in southern Minnesota in the United States. Two of its headwaters tributaries, the Middle Branch Blue Earth River and the West Branch Blue Earth Rive ...

. Mankato is across the Minnesota River from North Mankato. Mankato and North Mankato have a combined population of 58,763 according to the 2020 census. It completely encompasses the town of

Skyline A skyline is the outline or shape viewed near the horizon. It can be created by a city’s overall structure, or by human intervention in a rural setting, or in nature that is formed where the sky meets buildings or the land. City skylin ...

. North of

Mankato Regional Airport Mankato Regional Airport is a public airport located five miles (8 km) northeast of the central business district of Mankato, a city in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States. This airport is publicly owned by the city of Mankato. The ...

, a tiny non-contiguous part of the city lies within Le Sueur County. Most of the city is in Blue Earth County. Mankato is the larger of the two principal cities of the Mankato-North Mankato metropolitan area, which covers Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties and had a combined population of 103,566 at the 2020 census. The U.S. Census Bureau designated Mankato a Metropolitan Statistical Area in November 2008. In 2017, Schools.com named Mankato the second-best small college town in the United States.

History

Execution of 38 Sioux Indians at Mankato Minnesota 1862

Mankato Township was not settled by European Americans until

Parsons King Johnson Parsons King Johnson (May 8, 1816 – November 23, 1907) was an American pioneer. Born in Brandon, Vermont, he settled in St. Paul, Minnesota Territory in 1849. He was the first person to settle in what is now Mankato, Minnesota Mankato ...

in February 1852, as part of the 19th-century migration of people from the east across the Midwest. New residents organized the city of Mankato on May 11, 1858, the day Minnesota became a state. The city was organized by Johnson, Henry Jackson,

Daniel A. Robertson Daniel A. Robertson (May 13, 1812 – March 16, 1895) was a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician, newspaper proprietor, and lawyer who served in local and state politics in Ohio and Minnesota. Robertson served in the Ohio Consti ...

, Justus C. Ramsey, and others. A popular story says that the city was supposed to have been named ''Mahkato'', but a typographical error by a clerk established the name as Mankato. According to

Warren Upham Warren Upham (March 8, 1850 – January 29, 1934) was an American geologist, archaeologist, and librarian who is best known for his studies of glacial Lake Agassiz. Biography Warren Upham was born in Amherst, New Hampshire and attended Dartmout ...

, quoting historian Thomas Hughes of Mankato, "The honor of christening the new city was accorded to Col. Robertson. He had taken the name from Nicollet's book, in which the French explorer compared the 'Mahkato' or Blue Earth River, with all its tributaries, to the water nymphs and their uncle in the German legend of Undine...No more appropriate name could be given the new city, than that of the noble river at whose mouth it is located." While it is uncertain that the city was intended to be called Mahkato, the Dakota called the river ''Makato Osa Watapa'' ("the river where blue earth is gathered"). The Anglo settlers adapted that as "Blue Earth River".

Frederick Webb Hodge Frederick Webb Hodge (October 28, 1864 – September 28, 1956) was an American editor, anthropologist, archaeologist, and historian. Born in England, he immigrated at the age of seven with his family to Washington, DC. He was educated at America ...

, in the ''Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico'', said the town was named after the older of the two like-named chiefs of the

Mdewakanton The Mdewakanton or Mdewakantonwan (also spelled ''Mdewákhaŋthuŋwaŋ'' and currently pronounced ''Bdewákhaŋthuŋwaŋ'') are one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti (Santee) Dakota ( Sioux). Their historic home is Mille Lacs Lake (Dakota: ''Mde W� ...

nation of the Santee Dakota, whose village stood on or near the site of the present town. '' Ishtakhaba'', also known as Chief Sleepy Eye, of the

Sisseton Sisseton is a city in Roberts County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,479 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Roberts County. Sisseton is the home to a number of tourist attractions, including the Nicollet Tower, and ...

band, was said to have directed settlers to this location. He said the site at the confluence of the Minnesota and

s was well suited to building and river traffic, and yet safe from flooding. On December 26, 1862,

United States Volunteers United States Volunteers also known as U.S. Volunteers, U.S. Volunteer Army, or other variations of these, were military volunteers called upon during wartime to assist the United States Army but who were separate from both the Regular Army and t ...

of the State of Minnesota carried out the largest mass execution in U.S. history at Mankato after the Dakota War of 1862. Companies of the 7th, 8th, 9th,

10th Minnesota Infantry Regiment The 10th Minnesota Infantry Regiment was a Minnesota USV infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 10th Minnesota Infantry Regiment was recruited into Federal service at Garden City, Winnebag ...

s, and Minnesota Cavalry oversaw the hanging of 38 men: 35 Santee Sioux and 3 biracial French/native American, for their involvement in the war crimes committed during the uprising. 9th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, The Civil War - Battle Unit Details, Union Minnesota Volunteers, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior websit

/ref>10th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Battle Unit Details, Union Minnesota Volunteers, National Park Service, Department of the Interior websit

/ref> The crimes included intentional killings, mutilations and rapes of hundreds of unarmed civilians. A USV military tribunal reviewed nearly 500 cases, of which 303 received a death sentence, but Abraham Lincoln, President Lincoln requested the court files. He reviewed them, placing the rape cases at the top, and pardoning 265. Episcopal Bishop

Henry Benjamin Whipple Henry Benjamin Whipple (February 15, 1822 – September 16, 1901) was the first Episcopal bishop of Minnesota, who gained a reputation as a humanitarian and an advocate for Native Americans. Summary of his life Born in Adams, New York, he was ...

urged leniency to which Lincoln responded that he had to take a balanced approach. His position and dismissals were unpopular in Minnesota. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the event a large granite marker was erected that stood at the site until 1971, when the city took it down. Today, a different monument marks the execution site. Across the street are two monuments to the indigenous people in what it called Reconciliation Park. The Blue Earth County Library, Main street and Reconciliation Park cover the immediate vicinity of the execution site. In 1880, Mankato was Minnesota's fourth-most populous city, with 5,500 residents. Former Vice President

Schuyler Colfax Schuyler Colfax Jr. (; March 23, 1823 – January 13, 1885) was an American journalist, businessman, and politician who served as the 17th vice president of the United States from 1869 to 1873, and prior to that as the 25th speaker of the Hous ...

died while traveling through Mankato on January 13, 1885.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The

, Blue Earth, and Le Sueur rivers all flow through or near the city.

Climate

Mankato has a

humid continental climate A humid continental climate is a climatic region defined by Russo-German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1900, typified by four distinct seasons and large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and freez ...

, type ''Dfa'' (hot summer subtype). Winters are cold, with snow cover (continuous most winter seasons) beginning typically between mid-November and mid-December, ending in March most years. However, Mankato often receives less snow than areas to its north and east. For example,

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origin ...

, northeast of Mankato, averages over of snow per winter season, compared to Mankato's seasonal average of . The coldest month, January, has an average monthly temperature around . Dangerously low wind-chill temperatures are a significant hazard during the winter months, as Arctic air outbreaks rush into the area from Canada, borne on high winds; this can bring about ground blizzard conditions, especially in nearby rural areas. Summers are warm, with occasional but usually brief hot, humid periods, often interspersed with pushes of cooler air from Canada, often preceded by showers and thunderstorms. The hottest month, July, has an average monthly temperature around . Precipitation falls year round, but falls mostly as snow from December to February, sometimes March, and as showers and thunderstorms during the warmer season, from May to September. Mankato's average wettest months are from June to August, with frequent thunderstorm activity. Mankato lies on the northern fringe of the central United States’ main tornado belt, with lower risk than in Iowa and Missouri to the south. The highest-risk months for severe thunderstorms and (rarely) tornadoes, are May through July. However, a very unusual early tornado outbreak affected areas within of Mankato on March 29, 1998, when an F3 tornado hit St. Peter, to Mankato's north. On August 17, 1946, tornadoes struck southwestern areas of Mankato and the town of Wells to the southeast, killing 11 people.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2020, there were 44,693 people and 17,196 households residing in the city. The city's racial makeup was 85.7%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 6.9%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.1% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 1.3% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 2.6% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino people of any race were 4.4% of the population. The city's gender makeup was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.

2010 census

As of the

of 2010, there were 39,309 people, 14,851 households, and 7,093 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 15,784 housing units at an average density of . The city's racial makeup was 89.9%

, 4.0%

, 0.3% Native American, 2.8% Asian, 0.8% from

, and 2.1% from two or more races.

or Latino people of any race were 2.9% of the population. There were 14,851 households, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age in the city was 25.4 years. 16.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 32.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 16.6% were from 45 to 64; and 10.6% were 65 years of age or older. The city's gender makeup was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 32,427 people, 12,367 households, and 6,059 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,132.5 people per square mile (823.2/km). There were 12,759 housing units at an average density of 839.1 per square mile (323.9/km). The city's racial makeup was 92.55%

, 1.90%

, 0.34% Native American, 2.81% Asian, 0.10%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 0.94% from

, and 1.36% from two or more races.

or Latino people of any race were 2.22% of the population. There were 12,367 households, of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.0% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90. 16.9% of the city's residents were under the age of 18; 32.5% were between age 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 15.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were age 65 or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males. The city's median household income was $33,956, and the median family income was $47,297. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $22,081 for females. The city's per capita income in 2010 was $25,772. About 8.5% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over. In 2010, the

unemployment rate Unemployment, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), is people above a specified age (usually 15) not being in paid employment or self-employment but currently available for work during the refere ...

was 5.7%.

Economy

Top employers

According to the City's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Arts and culture

Major events

*Minnesota State University was home to the

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansi ...

summer training camp for 52 years. The Vikings announced their training camp would move to

Eagan Eagan may refer to: People * Daisy Eagan (born 1979), American actress * Dennis Eagan (1926–2012), British field hockey player * Eddie Eagan (1897–1967), American sportsman * James Eagan (1926-2000), American politician from Missouri * John ...

starting in 2018.

Places of interest

*The Betsy & Tacy Houses * Blue Earth County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (

NRHP The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

) * Federal Courthouse and Post Office (NRHP) *

First National Bank of Mankato The First National Bank of Mankato, also known as the Old First National Bank of Mankato and located at 229 South Front Street in Mankato, Minnesota, United States, is a fine example of Prairie School architecture in a commercial building, relatin ...

(NRHP) * First Presbyterian Church (NRHP) * Good Counsel Hill *

Happy Chef Happy Chef is a casual dining restaurant in Mankato, Minnesota. It is known for serving breakfast throughout the day and is similar to Denny's, Perkins Restaurant and Bakery, Perkins, and IHOP (restaurant), IHOP. History The first Happy Chef Res ...

original restaurant and company headquarters; Mankato also is home to the last surviving 36-foot Happy Chef statue *The Hubbard House Blue Earth County Historical Society – French Second Empire style built in 1871 (NRHP) *

ISG Field ISG Field is a stadium in Mankato, Minnesota with a capacity of 4,000. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Mankato Moondogs (formerly the Mankato Mashers) of the Northwoods League, a Collegiate summer baseball, collegi ...

, home of the Mankato Moondogs of the

Northwoods League The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. The league is amateur, and players are not paid, so as to maintain their college el ...

, a collegiate summer baseball league *The Cray Mansion (NRHP) * River Hills Mall *

Sibley Park Sibley Park is a city park located at the convergence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. The park was established in 1887 and was named for the state's first governor Henry Hastings Sibley Henry Hasti ...

is a city park along the river in Mankato. *The

Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center The Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center is a 5,280-seat (8,200 for concerts) multi-purpose arena in Mankato, Minnesota, built in 1994 and opened in early 1995. It is home to the Minnesota State Mavericks men's ice hockey team and women's ice ...

, an arena in downtown Mankato formerly operated under the names Mankato Civic Center, Midwest Wireless Civic Center, Alltel Center, Verizon Wireless Center, and Verizon Center

Government and politics

Mankato is in

Minnesota's 1st congressional district Minnesota's 1st congressional district extends across southern Minnesota from the border with South Dakota to the border with Wisconsin. It is a primarily rural district built on a strong history of agriculture, though this is changing rapidly d ...

, represented by

Brad Finstad Bradley Howard Finstad (born May 30, 1976) is an American farmer, agricultural consultant, and politician serving as the U.S. representative for . Finstad represents a large section of southern Minnesota situated along the border with Iowa. The ...

. It is in

Minnesota Senate The Minnesota Senate is the upper house of the Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. At 67 members, half as many as the Minnesota House of Representatives, it is the largest upper house of any U.S. state legislature. Floor sessions are h ...

district 19, represented by

Nick Frentz Nick A. Frentz (born June 29, 1963) is an American politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 19 in south-central Minnesota. Early life, education, and ...

, and Minnesota House district 19B, represented by Luke Frederick. Mankato voted overwhelmingly for Joe Biden in the

2020 presidential election This national electoral calendar for 2020 lists the national/ federal elections held in 2020 in all sovereign states and their dependent territories. By-elections are excluded, though national referendums are included. January *5 January: ** ...

Education

The Mankato Area Public Schools are consolidated to include the cities of Mankato, North Mankato, Eagle Lake, and Madison Lake. There are ten elementary schools (Franklin, Eagle Lake, Kennedy, Washington, Roosevelt, Jefferson, Monroe, Hoover, Rosa Parks, and Bridges); two middle schools (Dakota Meadows Middle School and Prairie Winds Middle School); and two high schools (

Mankato West High School Mankato West High School is a public secondary school located in Mankato, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. According to the school district in 2016, Mankato West enrolls about 1150 students in four grades, grades 9–12.

and Mankato East High School). Mankato has four parochial schools: Loyola Catholic School, Immanuel Lutheran Grade School and High School (K–12), Mount Olive Lutheran School (K–8) and Risen Savior Lutheran School (K–8). There is also a public

charter school A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located. It is independent in the sense that it operates according to the basic principle of autono ...

, Kato Public Charter School. The alternative school Central High, on Fulton Street, is another educational option. The Blue Earth County Library, part of the Traverse des Sioux Library System, serves the city.

Higher education institutions

Minnesota State University Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU, MSU, or Minnesota State) is a public university in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. It is Minnesota's second-largest university and has over 123,000 living alumni worldwide. Founded in 1868, it is t ...

was opened as the second state normal school in 1868 and is the second largest university in the state of Minnesota by enrollment. With an annual operating budget of over $200 million, Minnesota State provides a net economic benefit of over $452 million annually to Minnesota's south-central region. It is one of the largest employers in the Mankato area. *

South Central College South Central College (SCC) is a public community college in Faribault and North Mankato, Minnesota North Mankato ( ) is a city in Nicollet and Blue Earth counties in the State of Minnesota. The population was 14,275 at the 2020 census. M ...

Bethany Lutheran College Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) is a private Christian liberal arts college in Mankato, Minnesota. Founded in 1927, BLC is operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The campus overlooks the Minnesota River valley in a community of 53,000. ...

* Rasmussen University

Media

The major daily newspaper in the area is the ''

Mankato Free Press ''The Free Press'' is an American, English language daily newspaper published in Mankato, Minnesota. History On April 4, 1887, Editor L.P. Hunt published the first issue of the ''Mankato Daily Free Press'' and found it was not easy. In an apolo ...

''.

Television

KMNF-LD KMNF-LD (channel 7) is a low-power television station in Mankato, Minnesota, United States, affiliated with NBC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside dual CBS/Fox affiliate KEYC-TV (channel 12). Both stations share studios ...

(

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

) *

KEYC-TV KEYC-TV (channel 12) is a television station licensed to Mankato, Minnesota, United States, affiliated with CBS and Fox. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power, dual NBC/ CW+ affiliate KMNF-LD (channel 7). Both stations share st ...

(

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

)

Radio

FM

* 89.1 FM,

KTIS (AM) Faith Radio is a radio station network based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, owned and operated by University of Northwestern - St Paul and is a non-profit, listener-supported radio station relying on donations from the local community throughout th ...

, Christian talk and teaching * 89.7 FM,

KMSU KMSU (89.7 FM, "The Maverick") is a radio station operated by Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minnesota, United States, that carries a mixed news, talk, and music format. A repeater station, KMSK (91.3 FM), serves the city of Austin; ...

, college radio * 90.5 FM, KNGA,

Minnesota Public Radio Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), is a public radio network for the state of Minnesota. With its three services, News & Information, YourClassical MPR and The Current, MPR operates a 46-station regional radio network in the upper Midwest. MPR ha ...

* 91.5 FM, KGAC, classical * 93.1 FM,

KATO-FM KATO-FM (93.1 MHz) is a radio station in Mankato ( licensed to New Ulm) and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The station airs a classic hits radio format. KATO is owned by Linder Radio Group. History This station was originally KNUJ-FM, a ...

, classic hits * 94.1 FM,

KXLP KXLP (94.1 FM) is a radio station in Mankato, Minnesota (licensed to Eagle Lake) and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The 94.1 FM frequency went on the air September 21, 2007, airing a classic rock format that migrated from a sister station ...

, classic rock * 94.9 FM,

KTIS-FM KTIS-FM (98.5 FM) is a contemporary Christian music formatted radio station located in Minneapolis, Minnesota owned and operated by Northwestern Media, a ministry of the University of Northwestern - St. Paul. The station's studios are located ...

, contemporary Christian music * 95.3 FM,

KCMP KCMP (89.3 FM, 89.3 The Current) is a radio station owned by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) that broadcasts a AAA music format including a significant rotation of songs by local artists. Licensed to Northfield, Minnesota and covering the Minnea ...

, adult album alternative * 95.7 FM,

KMKO-FM KMKO-FM (95.7 FM) is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, broadcasting to the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. The station airs an active rock format. The station is rebroadcast in M ...

, active rock * 96.7 FM,

KDOG KDOG (96.7 FM, "Hot 96.7") is a radio station serving Mankato, Minnesota. The station airs a Top 40 (CHR) format. They are licensed to North Mankato, Minnesota and serves the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. KDOG is owned by Linder ...

, top 40 * 99.1 FM,

KEEZ-FM KEEZ-FM (99.1 MHz, "Mix 99.1") is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of Mankato, Minnesota and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The station broadcasts a hot adult contemporary format. The station is owned by Alpha Medi ...

, adult contemporary * 100.5 FM,

KXAC KXAC (100.5 FM, "Minnesota 100") is a radio station in Mankato, Minnesota serving south central Minnesota with a Country music format. The station is licensed to St. James and serves the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. The station ...

, country * 101.5 FM,

KEMJ KEMJ (101.5 FM, "101-5 The Emoji") is a radio station broadcasting a Hot Adult Contemporary format serving the St. James/ Fairmont, Minnesota area. The station is currently owned by Linder Radio Group. On April 1, 2020, the then-KRRW changed it ...

, adult contemporary * 101.7 FM,

, active rock * 102.7 FM,

KTOE KTOE (1420 AM) is a radio station licensed to Mankato, Minnesota and serving the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. The 1420 AM frequency went on the air in 1950, airing a news/talk format. The station simulcasts via two FM translators ...

, news/talk * 103.1 FM,

KFSP *''See also KFAN Sports Radio Network KFSP (1230 AM) is a radio station licensed to Mankato, Minnesota and serving the greater Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley with a sports format. The station is an affiliate of the regional KFA ...

, sport talk * 103.5 FM,

KYSM-FM KYSM-FM (103.5 FM, "Country 103.5") is an American radio station licensed to Mankato and serving the Minnesota River Valley. The station currently airs a country music format. Country 103.5 was purchased by Three Eagles Communications from its ...

, country * 104.5 FM, KJLY, Christian * 105.1 FM,

, adult album alternative * 105.5 FM,

KRBI-FM KRBI-FM (105.5 FM, "River 105") is an American radio station licensed to serve the community of St. Peter, Minnesota and broadcasting to the Mankato area and the Minnesota River Valley. It currently airs a classic hits music format. The station i ...

, adult contemporary * 107.1 FM, KJLY, Christian

AM

* 860,

KNUJ (AM) KNUJ (860 AM) is a radio station in New Ulm, Minnesota. The station airs a full service news/talk format and is owned by James Ingstad. KNUJ also has a sister station, KNUJ-FM. History KNUJ went on the air May 22, 1949 by Mickelson Media, owne ...

, news/talk * 1230,

, sports talk * 1420,

, news/talk

Notable people

* Barry Anderson, Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court *

Walter Jackson Bate Walter Jackson Bate (May 23, 1918 – July 26, 1999) was an American literary critic and biographer. He is known for Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography-winning biographies of Samuel Johnson (1978) and John Keats (1964).

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made ...

-winning biographer, born in Mankato in 1918 *

Daniel Buck Daniel Buck (November 9, 1753 – August 16, 1816) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a United States representative from Vermont. Biography Buck was born in Hebron, Connecticut, the son of Thomas and Jane Buck. He served as a ...

, Minnesota jurist and politician * Con Bunde, Alaska state legislator and educator *

Frederick Russell Burnham Frederick Russell Burnham DSO (May 11, 1861 – September 1, 1947) was an American scout and world-traveling adventurer. He is known for his service to the British South Africa Company and to the British Army in colonial Africa, and for teach ...

, "father of the international scouting movement" born near Mankato in 1861 * Joseph Francis Busch, Roman Catholic prelate, Diocese of Rapid City, Diocese of Saint Cloud, Minnesota *

Howard Burnham Mather Howard Burnham (May 27, 1870 – May 4, 1917),Report of Death of American Citizens Abroad, no. 554, dated May 11, 1917, American Consulate, Nice, France. was an American who went by the name of Howard; his brother was the celebrated scout ...

, mining engineer, born near Mankato in 1870 *

Jimmy Chin Jimmy Chin (born ) is an American professional mountain athlete, photographer, film director, and author. Chin has been a professional climber and skier on The North Face Athlete team for over 20 years. In 2006, Chin achieved the first succes ...

, professional climber and mountaineer, Academy Award winner for Best Documentary *

George Contant George C. Contant, aka George Sontag (April 10, 1864 - 1930), was an outlaw of the American West known mostly for train robberies. Like his older brother, John Sontag, he was originally from Mankato, Minnesota. Background Contant was the younge ...

, outlaw of the American West, brother of

John Sontag John Sontag (May 27, 1861 – July 3, 1893) was an outlaw of the American West known for train robberies. Background John Sontag was the oldest son of Maria (Bohn) and Jacob Contant of Mankato, Minnesota. After the death of his father in 1867, hi ...

* Marvel Cooke, journalist, writer and civil rights activist * David R. Cummiskey, Minnesota legislator * Craig Dahl, NFL safety, New York Giants *

Adolph Olson Eberhart Adolph Olson Eberhart (June 30, 1870 – December 6, 1944) was an American politician, who served as the 17th Governor of Minnesota. Background Adolph Olson Eberhart was born in Kil, in Värmland, Sweden, the son of Andrew and Louise Olso ...

, seventeenth

Governor of Minnesota The governor of Minnesota is the head of government of the U.S. state of Minnesota, leading the state's executive branch. Forty people have been governor of Minnesota, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. ...

* William S. Ervin,

Attorney General of Minnesota The attorney general of Minnesota is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. State of Minnesota. Thirty individuals have held the office of Attorney General since statehood. The incumbent is Keith Ellison, a DFLer. Election ...

* Ronald G. Evans, Minnesota legislator and businessman *

Cliff Fagan Clifford B. Fagan (March 3, 1911 – January 18, 1995) was a high school basketball referee who became executive director of the National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations (NFHS) and eventually president of the Basketball Hall ...

, basketball referee, Basketball Hall of Fame * Sal Frederick, Minnesota legislator and businessman *

Kelly Gage Fred Kelton Gage, Jr. (June 20, 1925 – October 5, 2017) was an American lawyer and politician. Kelly Gage was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. Gage received his law degree from Univ ...

, Minnesota legislator and lawyer * Albert P. Halfhill, tuna packing industry * Milton Hanna,

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government polici ...

veteran,

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of val ...

recipient * Justin Hartwig, former NFL center *

Geoff Herbach Geoff Herbach is an American novelist. Born in Dubuque, Iowa on October 30, 1969, Herbach grew up in Platteville, Wisconsin. He is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin--Madison and Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he earned ...

, novelist * Robert Louis Hodapp, Roman Catholic bishop * Ron Johnson, Republican U.S. Senator * Jack Kodell, stage magician *

Sinclair Lewis Harry Sinclair Lewis (February 7, 1885 – January 10, 1951) was an American writer and playwright. In 1930, he became the first writer from the United States (and the first from the Americas) to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, which was ...

, author *

Mike Lindell Michael James Lindell (born June 28, 1961), also known as the My Pillow Guy, is an American businessman, political activist, and conspiracy theorist. He is the founder and CEO of My Pillow, Inc., a pillow, bedding, and slipper manufacturing ...

, founder of

MyPillow My Pillow, Inc. (stylized as MyPillow) is an American pillow-manufacturing company based in Chaska, Minnesota.Michael J Lindell"MyPillow HQ moves to Chaska,"Chaska Herald', June 16, 2015. The company was founded in 2009 by Mike Lindell, who in ...

and conspiracy theorist * Maud Hart Lovelace, author of the

Betsy-Tacy The ''Betsy-Tacy ''books are a series of semi-autobiographical novels by American novelist and short-story writer Maud Hart Lovelace (1892-1980), which were originally published between 1940 and 1955 by the Thomas Y. Crowell Co. The books are no ...

series of books *

Bob Paffrath Robert William Paffrath (July 3, 1918 – May 21, 2005) was an American former professional football player who was a halfback. He played for the Miami Seahawks and the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference, for the Ottawa Roug ...

, professional football player *

Mark Piepho Mark J. Piepho (born November 28, 1952) was an American politician and businessman. Piepho was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He lived in Rochester, Minnesota with his family and graduated from Rochester Lourdes High School in 1971 and then graduat ...

, Minnesota politician and businessman *

Mike Ploog Michael G. Ploog (; born July 13, 1940 or 1942) is an American storyboard and comic book artist, and a visual designer for films. In comics, Ploog is best known for his work on Marvel Comics' 1970s '' Man-Thing'' and '' The Monster of Frankenste ...

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

and film-production artist * Edmund Mann Pope, United States military officer, businessman, and Minnesota state senator *

Dudley Riggs Dudley Riggs (January 18, 1932 – September 22, 2020) was an improvisational comedian who created the Instant Theater Company in New York, which later moved to Minneapolis to become the Brave New Workshop comedy troupe. Family and early care ...

Brave New Workshop The Brave New Workshop (BNW), based in Minneapolis, Minnesota was founded by Dudley Riggs in 1958 and is the longest running sketch and improvisational comedy theater in the US. BNW continues the tradition, of writing, producing, and performing ...

, graduated from

Minnesota State University Mankato Minnesota State University, Mankato (MNSU, MSU, or Minnesota State) is a public university in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. It is Minnesota's second-largest university and has over 123,000 living alumni worldwide. Founded in 1868, it is t ...

Joseph Rosser Joseph Travis Rosser (J. Travis Rosser, J. Traverse Rosser) was an American politician. From Mankato, Minnesota, Rosser served as the Secretary of the Minnesota Territory The Territory of Minnesota was an organized incorporated territory of t ...

, Secretary of

Minnesota Territory The Territory of Minnesota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1849, until May 11, 1858, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Minnesota and west ...

and lawyer * Daniel L. Ryan, Roman Catholic bishop *

Ervin Harold Schulz Ervin Harold Schulz (April 21, 1911 – February 25, 1978) was an American newspaper editor, businessman, and politician. Schulz was born in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota Blue Earth is a city in Faribault County, Minnesota, United States, ...

, businessman, newspaper editor, and Minnesota politician * Roy F. Schulz, farmer and Minnesota politician *

Julia Sears Julia Sears (1839–1929) was a pioneering academic and suffragist, achieving a milestone early in her career as she became the first woman to head a public college in the United States, in 1872. The school was Mankato Normal School, now Minnesot ...

, pioneering feminist and suffragette *

, outlaw, born in Mankato; crimes in Minnesota and California * Steven B. Szarke, born in Mankato, Minnesota state legislator and lawyer *

Glen Taylor Glen Allen Taylor (born April 20, 1941) is an American billionaire business magnate and politician from Minnesota. A self-made businessman, Taylor made his fortune from being the founder and owner of Minnesota-based Taylor Corporation, one of th ...

, owner of the

Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. Founded in 19 ...

and

Minnesota Lynx The Minnesota Lynx are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team won the WNBA title in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Founded p ...

basketball teams * John Eaton Tourtellotte, lawyer, Civil War general *

Adam Thielen Adam John Thielen (born August 22, 1990) is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Minnesota State and signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free ag ...

, NFL wide receiver,

, graduated from Minnesota State University * Arthur S. Thomas, Chief of Chaplains of the

US Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sig ...

* Alma Wagen, first female guide at

Mount Rainier National Park Mount Rainier National Park is an American national park located in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington state. The park was established on March 2, 1899, as the fourth national park in the United States, preservin ...

* Tim Walz, 41st

, former

US Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

for

Cedric Yarbrough Cedric Percelle Yarbrough (born March 20, 1973) is an American actor and comedian who stars in series '' Reno 911!'' as Deputy S. Jones and as Kenneth on the ABC sitcom '' Speechless'', as well as voicing Gerald Fitzgerald on the Netflix comedy ...

, actor, graduated from Minnesota State University *

Steve Zahn Steven James Zahn (; born November 13, 1967) is an American actor and comedian. His film roles include ''Reality Bites'' (1994), ''That Thing You Do!'' (1996), ''Stuart Little'' (1999), '' Shattered Glass'' (2003), ''Sahara'' (2005), '' Chicken Li ...

, actor and comedian, was raised in Mankato

Infrastructure

Transportation

Public transportation in Mankato is provided by the

Mankato Transit System The Mankato Transit System is the primary provider of mass transportation in Mankato and North Mankato, Minnesota. 7 standard weekday and 2 standard Saturday local routes are provided, plus 8 lines affiliated with Minnesota State University, Man ...

. The city is served by

which has no commercial flights. Under MnDOT's 2015 State Rail Plan, Mankato is listed as a Tier 1 Corridor for regional rail service from Minneapolis and/or St. Paul. U.S. Highways 14 and

169 Year 169 ( CLXIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Senecio and Apollinaris (or, less frequently, year 922 ''Ab urbe co ...

and Minnesota State Highways 22 and 60 are four of the main routes in Mankato.

Major highways

The following routes are within the city of Mankato. *

U.S. Highway 14 U.S. Route 14 (abbreviated U.S. 14 or US 14), an east–west route, is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It currently has a length of 1,398 miles (2,250 km), but it had a peak length of 1,429 miles (2,300 km). For ...

U.S. Highway 169 U.S. Route 169 (US 169) is a north-south U.S highway that currently runs for 966 miles (1,555 km) from the city of Virginia, Minnesota to Tulsa, Oklahoma at Memorial Drive. Route description Oklahoma US 169 is a major north–south ...

Minnesota State Highway 22 Minnesota State Highway 22 (MN 22) is a highway in south-central and central Minnesota, which runs from Winnebago County Road R50 at the Iowa state line near Kiester and continues north to its northern terminus at its intersection with St ...

Minnesota State Highway 60 Trunk Highway 60 (MN 60) is a highway in southern Minnesota, which runs from Iowa Highway 60 at the Iowa state line (at Bigelow) and continues east-northeast to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line (at Wabasha), where the route ...

In popular culture

Mankato was the basis for Deep Valley in Maud Hart Lovelace's ''

'' series of children's books and novels. The children's/young adult wing of the Blue Earth County Library is named in her honor. In

's 1920 novel '' Main Street'', heroine Carol Milford is a former Mankato resident. Lewis describes Mankato as follows: "In its garden-sheltered streets and aisles of elms is white and green New England reborn", alluding to its many migrants from New England, who brought their culture with them. Lewis wrote a substantial portion of the novel while staying at the J.W. Schmidt House at 315 South Broad Street, as now marked by a small plaque in front of the building. In the ''

Little House on the Prairie The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books is a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adolescence in the American Midwest (Wisconsin, Kansas, ...

'' television series, Mankato is a trading town that the citizens of Walnut Grove visit. It does not appear in the

Laura Ingalls Wilder Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American writer, mostly known for the '' Little House on the Prairie'' series of children's books, published between 1932 and 1943, which were based on her childhood ...

books. The 1972 film '' The New Land,'' a sequel to '' The Emigrants'' (1971), both by Swedish director

Jan Troell Jan Gustaf Troell (born 23 July 1931) is a Swedish writer-director, and cinematographer. His realistic films, with a lyrical photography in which nature is prominent, have placed him in the first rank of modern Swedish film directors along with ...

, depicts the mass execution of 38 Dakota Indians at the end of the 1862 Dakota War. In 1996, Don Descy created city-mankato.us as a teaching tool and example that not everything on the Internet should be believed.

References

External links

City of Mankato official websiteMankato Chamber of CommerceGreater Mankato Convention & Visitors Bureau
{{Authority control Cities in Blue Earth County, Minnesota Cities in Le Sueur County, Minnesota Cities in Nicollet County, Minnesota Mankato – North Mankato metropolitan area Cities in Minnesota County seats in Minnesota Dakota toponyms 1852 establishments in Minnesota Territory