Excelsior, Minnesota
{{short description|Lakeside city in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Excelsior
| settlement_type = City
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_skyline = Water Street, Excelsior, MN Sept 2019.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Water Street in Excelsior
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Minnesota
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = Hennepin
| government_type =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Todd Carlson[http://www.ci.excelsior.mn.us/index.aspx?nid=74 Excelsior, MN - Official Website - City Council]
| established_title = Founded
| established_title2 = Incorporated
| established_date = 1853
| established_date2 = 1878
| pushpin_map = Minnesota#USA
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| image_map = ExcelsiorHennepin.PNG
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location of Excelsior within Hennepin County and the U.S. state of Minnesota
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 2.27
| area_land_km2 = 1.63
| area_water_km2 = 0.64
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.88
| area_land_sq_mi = 0.63
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.25
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 2355
| population_density_km2 = 1444.23
| population_density_sq_mi = 3738.10
| timezone = Central (CST)
| utc_offset = -6
| timezone_DST = CDT
| utc_offset_DST = -5
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft = 945
| coordinates = {{coord|44|54|12|N|93|33|59|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type = ZIP Code
| postal_code = 55331
| area_code = 952
| blank_name = FIPS code
| blank_info = 27-20078
| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
| blank1_info = 643477{{gnis|643477|Excelsior}}
| website = {{URL|www.ci.excelsior.mn.us}}
| footnotes =
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
}}
Excelsior ({{IPAc-en|ɛ|k|ˈ|s|ɛ|l|s|i|ər|}} {{respell|ek|SEL|see|ər}}) is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. A western suburb of the Twin Cities, Excelsior is about {{convert|16|mi}} southwest of downtown Minneapolis. Its population was 2,414 as of the 2020 census.{{cite web |title=Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US2720078-excelsior-mn/ |access-date=May 19, 2022}}
Excelsior's commercial district along Water Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town has many historic Victorian-era houses.{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Katy Read Star |title=Downtown Excelsior, the Steamboat Minnehaha named to the National Register of Historic Places |url=https://www.startribune.com/downtown-excelsior-the-steamboat-minnehaha-named-to-the-national-register-of-historic-places/600111572/ |access-date=2021-11-08 |website=Star Tribune |date=October 30, 2021}} Located on Lake Minnetonka's southern shore, the city serves as a local destination for shoppers, boaters, and restaurant-goers.
History
The first Euro-Americans known to have visited Lake Minnetonka were two teenage boys, Joe Brown and Will Snelling, who canoed up Minnehaha Creek from Fort Saint Anthony in 1822.{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.edina.mn.us/PDFs/AboutTown/L4-91_AboutTown_2002Winter.pdf |title= |website=www.ci.edina.mn.us |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718121451/http://www.ci.edina.mn.us/PDFs/AboutTown/L4-91_AboutTown_2002Winter.pdf |archive-date=July 18, 2011}}
Minnesota's territorial governor Alexander Ramsey officially named Lake Minnetonka in 1852. He had been informed that the Dakota called the lake Mní iá Tháŋka ("the-water-they-speak-of-is-large").{{cite book | last=Durand | first=Paul | title=Where the waters gather and the rivers meet : (ó-ki-zu wa-kpá) (to meet, to unite) : an atlas of the eastern Sioux | publisher=P.C. Durand | location=Prior Lake, MN | year=1994 | isbn=978-0-9641469-0-7 | oclc=32050105 | page=60}} The next year, a group of settlers from New York established Excelsior, the lake's first white settlement. The former Excelsior Township was named after the hamlet.
During the late 19th century, the Excelsior and Lake Minnetonka area was home to several popular summer lake resorts.
Streetcars were used in Excelsior as a part of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company system until 1932, when the line was cut back to Hopkins.{{cite web |url=https://www.steamboatminnehaha.org/history.html |title=Steamboat Minnehaha History |website=www.steamboatminnehaha.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523071627/http://www.steamboatminnehaha.org/history.html |archive-date=2015-05-23}}
=20th century=
A large ballroom called "Danceland" (later "Big Reggie's Danceland") stood across the street from Excelsior Amusement Park from the mid-1920s to 1973. Operated by Ray Colihan, it hosted performances by Lawrence Welk, Fred Waring, and the Andrews Sisters in the 1930s. On May 3, 1963, the Beach Boys performed at Danceland. Beach Boys singer Mike Love remembered the performance as a significant moment for the band in a 2019 interview. According to Love, people "were breaking the windows to get into [Danceland] because it was sold out... I said to one of my bandmates: 'This must be like when Elvis was starting out.'"{{cite web | url=http://www.startribune.com/how-the-beach-boys-caught-a-wave-on-lake-minnetonka/509644232/ | title=How the Beach Boys caught a wave on Lake Minnetonka | website=Star Tribune | date=May 9, 2019 }} On June 12, 1964, The Rolling Stones played Danceland for an audience of 283.{{cite book |author=Keller, Martin |title=Music Legends: A Rewind on the Minnesota Music Scene |year=2007 |publisher=D Media |url=http://www.minnesotaseries.com/ |isbn=978-0-9787956-1-0 |page=10 |access-date=January 3, 2010 |archive-date=May 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517145008/http://minnesotaseries.com/ |url-status=dead }} It has been speculated that Excelsior resident Jimmy Hutmaker inspired Mick Jagger to write the 1969 song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" after a chance encounter at a local drugstore earlier that day, but this claim has long been disputed.{{cite news|author=Thiede, Dana|title=Excelsior loses tie to rock and roll history|year=2007|url=http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=266626|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103164259/http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=266626|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 3, 2013|work=KARE 11|publisher=Multimedia Holdings|access-date=January 2, 2010}}
In 1974 President Gerald Ford purchased a golden retriever named Liberty from Excelsior resident Avis Friberg.[http://www.grweekly.com/cgi-bin/webdata_pro.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=print&keyval=dogdirectory.alphanumeric_name%3DHonorsFoxfireLibertyHume Honor's Foxfire Liberty Hume - Golden Retriever Weekly] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928161558/http://www.grweekly.com/cgi-bin/webdata_pro.pl?_cgifunction=form&_layout=print&keyval=dogdirectory.alphanumeric_name%3DHonorsFoxfireLibertyHume |date=2007-09-28 }}
=21st century=
Over the years, Excelsior's downtown historic district has been home to many businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and merchants. Since 2010, restaurants and eateries have come to dominate the town's commercial landscape. Excelsior is known for maintaining its historical identity. Beyond the downtown district, it also retains much of its Victorian-era housing stock. Strict building codes are enforced in order to preserve this identity.{{cite web | url=http://www.startribune.com/excelsior-grapples-with-preserving-its-quaint-identity-amid-new-construction/560282972/ | title=Excelsior grapples with preserving its historic identity amid new construction | website=Star Tribune | date=September 14, 2019 }}
The Excelsior Commons and Lake Minnetonka are central amenities to the community and major draws for tourists. The Minnesota Streetcar Museum, a local transportation museum, maintains a heritage streetcar line in Excelsior and operates three restored streetcars on the line: Twin City Lines No. 1239, Winona Power & Light Co. #10, and Duluth Street Railway No. 78.{{cite web|url=https://trolleyride.org/about/rolling-stock/|title=Rolling Stock|website=trolleyride.org|access-date=6 August 2019}}
Geography
Excelsior is in Hennepin County, Minnesota, on Lake Minnetonka's south shore. It is approximately {{convert|15|mi}} southwest of Minneapolis and bordered by Shorewood and Greenwood. According to the United States Census Bureau, Excelsior has an area of {{convert|0.69|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.63|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.06|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2012-11-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }} Minnesota State Highway 7 serves as a main route through the city, leading east-northeast {{convert|11|mi}} to Highway 100 in Saint Louis Park and west {{convert|41|mi}} to Hutchinson.
Demographics
{{US Census population
|align=left
|1880= 417
|1890= 619
|1900= 717
|1910= 1015
|1920= 790
|1930= 1072
|1940= 1422
|1950= 1763
|1960= 2020
|1970= 2563
|1980= 2523
|1990= 2367
|2000= 2393
|2010= 2188
|2020= 2414
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}
}}
=2010 census=
File:TCRT Express Boat Minnehaha.jpg]]
As of the 2010 census, there were 2,188 people, 1,115 households, and 494 families living in the city.{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-11-13}} The population density was {{convert|3473.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,254 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1990.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.4% White, 2.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.9% of the population.
There were 1,115 households, of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 55.7% were non-families. 48.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 42 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.4% were from 25 to 44; 30.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.
=2000 census=
As of the 2000 census, there were 2,393 people, 1,199 households, and 547 families living in the city.{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }} The population density was {{convert|3,822.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,254 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,003.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.07% White, 0.75% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 1.55% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.13% of the population.
There were 1,199 households, out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.3% were non-families. 45.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.80.
The median age in the city was 37 years. 19.5% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,598, and the median income for a family was $61,406. Males had a median income of $40,845 versus $28,717 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,127. About 3.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#ccccff|title=Presidential election results}}
| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Precinct General Election Results{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/|title=Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - Election Results}} |
| bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2024
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.6% 534 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|60.4% 858 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.0% 20 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2020
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.0% ''615 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|58.7% 925 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.3% 37 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2016
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.4% 522 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|52.7% 716 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|8.9% 120 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2012
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.1% 564 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|54.5% 712 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.4% 32 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2008
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.9% 553 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|56.4% 762 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.7% 37 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2004
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.6% 580 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|55.1% 732 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.3% 17 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|2000
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.6% 562 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.7% 615 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|8.7% 113 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1996
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.0% 485 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.0% 568 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|11.0% 131 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1992
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.2% 462 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.5% 581 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|27.3% 392 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1988
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.6% 600 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|52.4% 660 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.0% ''0' |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1984
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|53.8% 739 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.2% 635 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.0% 0 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1980
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.4% 566 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.5% 580 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|12.1% 157 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1976
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|49.0% 684 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.6% 678 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.4% 33 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1972
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|55.6% 713 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.2% 554 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|1.2% 15 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1968
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|51.3% 541 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.0% 485 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|2.7% 28 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|1964
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|49.8% 492 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|50.2% 496 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.0% 0 |
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|1960
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|61.3% 562 | style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.4% 416 | style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;"|0.3% 3 |
{{Hidden end}}
Parks and recreation
File:Excelsior, Minnesota (2018).jpg
The Commons and Port of Excelsior is a {{convert|13|acre|ha|abbr=on|adj=on}} municipal park developed in 1854.{{cite news | last = Kieffer | first = Paige | date = August 26, 2018 | title = Excelsior Approves Adopt-A-Tree, Adopt-A-Seat Programs | url = https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/community/excelsior_southlake/excelsior-approves-adopt-a-tree-adopt-a-seat-programs/article_d60df026-a773-11e8-a5c7-4bf056d12d2f.html | work = Sun Sailor}} Other notable recreation areas include Excelsior Parkland and the Lake Minnetonka shoreline.{{cite web | title = City of Excelsior 2009 Master Parks, Trails, and Walkways Plan | publisher =City of Excelsior | date = 2009 | url = http://www.ci.excelsior.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/166/Master-Park-Plan?bidId=}}
Since 1935, the Apple Days festival has been held in Excelsior annually to celebrate apple-picking season.{{Cite web |title=Apple Day |url=https://www.excelsiorlakeminnetonkachamber.com/apple-day/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce |language=en-US}}
Education
Excelsior is in Independent School District 276, also known as the Minnetonka School District. Newsweek ranked Minnetonka High School 123rd on its list of America's Top High Schools.{{cite web | url=http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-high-schools-2016 | title=America's Top High Schools 2016 | website=Newsweek | date=11 August 2016 }} Niche rated the school the state's best public high school.{{cite web | url=https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-public-high-schools/s/minnesota/ | title=2022 Best Public High Schools in Minnesota | work=Niche }}
The only school Minnetonka Public Schools operates in Excelsior is Excelsior Elementary School. The old Excelsior Public School and Excelsior High School buildings still stand, but are no longer used as schools.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
Religion
File:Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Excelsior.jpg
Excelsior is home to many churches and places of worship, of which the majority are denominations of Christianity. Its largest churches by membership and attendance are Westwood Community Church and Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.
- Christ Community Church{{Cite web |title=Christ Community Church |url=https://www.cccmn.org/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Christ Community Church |language=en-US}}
- Congregational Church of Excelsior (UCC){{Cite web |title=Congregational Church of Excelsior |url=https://www.excelsiorcongregational.org/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Congregational Church of Excelsior |language=en-US}}
- Excelsior Covenant Church (ECC){{Cite web |title=Excelsior Covenant Church |url=https://www.excelcov.org/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Excelsior Covenant Church |language=en-US}}
- Excelsior United Methodist Church{{Cite web |title=Excelsior United Methodist Church |url=https://excelsiorumc.org/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Excelsior United Methodist Church |language=en}}
- Faith Church{{Cite web |title=Faith Church Excelsior |url=https://faithmn.com/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Faith Church |language=en-US}}
- Mount Calvary Lutheran Church (ELCA){{Cite web |title=Homepage |url=https://mountcalvary.org/homepage/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Mount Calvary Lutheran Church |language=en}}
- New Life Sanctuary (UPCI)
- Our Savior Lutheran Church (LCMS){{Cite web |title=Our Savior Lutheran Church and School {{!}} Home |url=https://www.oslcs.org/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=OSLCS |language=en-US}}
- St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish{{Cite web |title=St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish {{!}} Excelsior, MN |url=https://stjohns-excelsior.org/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish |language=en-US}}
- Trinity Episcopal Church{{Cite web |title=Trinity Excelsior |url=https://www.trinityexcelsior.org/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=www.trinityexcelsior.org}}
- Westview Seventh-Day Adventist Church{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://westviewmn.adventistchurch.org/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=westviewmn.adventistchurch.org |language=en-US}}
- Westwood Community Church{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.westwoodcc.org/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Westwood Community Church |language=en-US}}
Notable people
- John Berkey, science fiction and film poster artist
- Jimmy Hutmaker, local celebrity
- Haley Kalil, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model and Miss Minnesota USA
- Terry Katzman, music producer and sound engineer{{cite news |last=Riemenschneider |first=Chris |url=http://www.startribune.com/hsker-d-and-replacements-sound-man-garage-d-or-operator-terry-katzman-dies/564736152/ |title=Hüsker Dü and Replacements sound tech, Garage D'Or operator Terry Katzman dies |work=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul |date=2019-11-10 |access-date=2019-11-11 }}
- Vinni Lettieri, professional hockey player
- Liberty, presidential dog
- Ryan McCartan, actor and singer
- John Mark Nelson, singer-songwriter
- Brent Sass, dog musher
- Martha Sheldon, medical missionary
- Don Shelby, television personality
- Wesley So, chess grandmaster{{cite web |last1=Doggers |first1=Peter |title=Wesley So Officially Becomes U.S. Citizen |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/wesley-so-us-citizen |website=Chess.com |date=March 5, 2021 |access-date=5 March 2021}}
In popular culture
Excelsior is the setting of Monica Ferris's Needlecraft Mystery book series.{{cite web|url=https://monica-ferris.com/about/|title=Monica Ferris|date=5 April 2011 |access-date=6 August 2019}}
References
External links
{{wikivoyage|Excelsior}}
- [http://www.ci.excelsior.mn.us City of Excelsior official website]
- [https://www.excelsior-lakeminnetonkachamber.com Chamber of Commerce]
{{Hennepin County, Minnesota}}
{{authority control}}