Dawson is a city in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,466 at the 2020 census.

History The land Dawson sits on was originally home to the Wahpekute, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, and Yanktonai people, three bands of the Dakota. Land was ceded to the US government by the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851. The treaties were signed on July 23 and August 6 in Traverse des Sioux and Mendota respectively. The land was ceded in exchange for $3,750,000, about 12 cents per acre. Little of the payment was actually received by the Dakota.

Dawson was platted in 1884. The city was named for William Dawson, a former mayor of St. Paul, and one of three partners in the Dawson Townsite Company.History, The First 100 Years, 1884–1984, p.3. A post office has been in operation at Dawson since 1884. The city was incorporated in 1885.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The West Branch of the Lac qui Parle River flows through the city. U.S. Route 212 serves as a main route in the city. The BNSF Railway runs through the city.

Demographics

2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 1,540 people, 682 households, and 412 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 768 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.4% White, 0.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 682 households, of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.78.

The median age in the city was 47.8 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.5% were from 25 to 44; 28% were from 45 to 64; and 25.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 1,539 people, 677 households, and 398 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 756 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.25% White, 0.19% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.32% Asian, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.

There were 677 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 3.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 29.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,442, and the median income for a family was $46,484. Males had a median income of $30,493 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,084. About 3.3% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

+ Precinct General Election Results Year Republican Democratic Third parties202456.0% 44042.0% 3302.0% 16202051.8% 40146.8% 3631.4% 11201649.9% 37644.0% 3326.1% 46201241.4% 31857.3% 4401.3% 10200841.0% 32656.6% 4502.4% 19200441.3% 36657.6% 5101.1% 10200038.2% 33455.4% 4846.4% 56199631.6% 29056.2% 51612.2% 112199232.9% 31945.0% 43722.1% 215198845.0% 39955.0% 4870.0% 0198454.4% 51945.6% 4350.0% 0198051.5% 51142.4% 4216.1% 61197642.4% 55255.8% 7261.8% 24197254.0% 52444.1% 4281.9% 19196852.3% 46345.8% 4061.9% 17196439.8% 36660.2% 5530.0% 0196061.0% 55039.0% 3520.0% 0

Notable people

Theodore Christianson - 21st governor of Minnesota from January 6, 1925, until January 6, 1931; publisher of the Dawson Sentinel.History, the First 100 Years, 1884-1984 Theodore Christianson - Minnesota Supreme Court justice and eldest son of Governor ChristiansonMinnesota State Law Library-Theodore Christianson Zach Durfee - NFL football player Phyllis Gates - Interior decorator and wife of Hollywood actor Rock Hudson (1955–1958) James Day Hodgson - United States Secretary of Labor (1970–1973) and United States Ambassador to Japan (1974–1977); born in Dawson Edor Nelson - baseball, football, wrestling, and hockey coach at Augsburg University Jeff Nordgaard - Second-round NBA draft pick in 1996 Roger Reinert - mayor of Duluth, Minnesota; raised in Dawson Howard Wads Rundquist - businessman, educator, and politician Rudie M. Saltness - member of the Minnesota House of Representatives Carrie Tollefson - Olympian at 1500 meters in 2004, NCAA cross country champion in 1997

Notable places

Dawson is home to the Dawson Bank Museum, a Carnegie Library building (now a law office), and an armory building (now a public library and apartments). All three of these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In culture The movie Sweet Land (2005) was partly filmed in Dawson."Sweet Land Filming Locations" IMDB Love Thy Neighbor, a 2019 memoir by Ayaz Virji and Alan Eisenstock recounts Virji's experience as a Muslim in the town in the wake of the 2016 presidential election.

Town culture

Riverfest Riverfest is Dawson's annual community festival, named after the Lac qui Parle River, which is held the last full weekend every June. Riverfest features events, like live music, sports tournaments, and canoe races, as well as the town's gnome unveiling ceremony.

Gnomes

Dawson, also known as Gnometown USA, commemorates its notable citizens by making them into 3-foot tall gnomes that are placed either in the Dawson Public Library or Gnome Park. The gnomes are revealed to the community during Riverfest. Each gnome gets its own legend. (found here) New gnomes have been added every year since 1989. There are more than 40 gnomes in Gnome Park with more being added every year. + Gnomes of DawsonYearName of Gnome(s)/TrollPerson/People/Thing RepresentedRef.1989Governor TedTheodore Christianson1990Postmaster BerthaBertha Swenson1991Scouter T.O.T.O. Vaala1992Doc BillDr. Vilhelm Johnson1993The MaestroJohn Solie1994Morrie and KayMorris and Kathryn Benson1995AretaAreta Schmoker Wold1996Farmer GerryGerald Michaelson1997Baker ElderElder Molstad1998RudyRudy Prestholdt1999Doc Phil and JeanDr. Phil and Jean Maus2000The Merchant and the MillerHarland and Gladys Thoen2001Principal VernVernon Stevens2002Coach Steve and IreneSteve and Irene Ruzich2003Joe and MaryJoe and Mary Givens2004Del the GnometographerDelbert Thielke2005The ReverendReverend G.S. Froiland2006Superintendent BobRobert Clay2007Harris and EloiseHarris and Eloise Ronning2008The Gnometown Fire DepartmentThe Dawson Fire Department2009The Founders of Dawson MillsGlen Blomquist, Art Lee, John C. Hanson, and Bert Dahl2010Mayor RichardRichard Pollei2011AlAllan Schacherer2012Alta, Ruth, and SharAlta Roesch, Ruth Solem, and Sharilyn Bates2013HUGs and TUGsThe EMTs and First Responders2014Bob and MarleneBob and Marlene Lee2015OleNorm Olson2016Doc RalphDr. Ralph Gerbig2017VirgVirgil Thompson2018CharlieCharlie Prestholdt2019Dennis and RubyDennis and Ruby Anderson2020Covidius Putrid Evilson the 19th (Triumph over the Troll)*The way the community came together and overcame the COVID-19 Pandemic20212022LorenLoren Femrite2023DebDeb Breberg2024Dan and LuanneDan and Luanne Fondell2025WoodyWoody Peet*denotes troll

References

External links

City of Dawson, MN -- Official site Dawson-Boyd Schools -- Official site Dawson Area Chamber of Commerce -- Official site City-Data.com