View source for Caledonia, Minnesota

{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Caledonia
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = File:Caledonia, Minnesota.jpg
|imagesize                = 260px
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|nickname                 = 
|mottoes                  = "Wild Turkey Capital of Minnesota" and "The Heart of Quilt Country"

<!-- Images -->
|image_map = Houston_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Caledonia_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Caledonia<br>within [[Houston County, Minnesota|Houston County]] and state of [[Minnesota]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates              = {{coord|43|37|59|N|91|29|47|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Houston County, Minnesota|Houston]]

<!-- Government -->
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1854

<!-- Area -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Jeremy Leis
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 7.32
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.82
|area_land_km2            = 7.32
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.82
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 1155
|population_total         = 2847
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_density_km2   = 389.18
|population_density_sq_mi = 1008.14

<!-- General information -->
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 55921
|area_code                = [[Area code 507|507]]
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.caledoniamn.gov/|City website}}
|footnotes                = 
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-09226<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2393493<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393493}}</ref>
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}

[[File:HoustonCountyMinnesota2006.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Houston County Courthouse and Jail|Houston County Courthouse]] in Caledonia]]

'''Caledonia''' is a city and the [[county seat]] of [[Houston County, Minnesota|Houston County]], [[Minnesota]], United States and is part of the [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]], [[Wisconsin]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The population was 2,847 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020-census-2709226" /><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |accessdate=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archivedate=2011-05-31 }}</ref>

==History==
Caledonia was [[plat]]ted in 1854–1855.<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n257 238]}}</ref> The town was named by founder Colonel [[Samuel McPhail]] for the ancient Roman word for ''Scotland''.<ref>{{ cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=20894|title=Profile for Caledonia, Minnesota, MN|publisher=ePodunk|accessdate=2012-06-30}}</ref> A post office has been in operation at Caledonia since 1855.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Houston | title=Houston County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=5 July 2015}}</ref> Caledonia was incorporated in 1870, and was reincorporated in 1889.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://lakesnwoods.com/Caledonia.htm|title=Caledonia Minnesota Community Guide|publisher=LakesnWoods|accessdate=2012-06-30}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.84|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all  land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{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]] |accessdate=2012-11-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archivedate=2012-07-02 }}</ref>  Caledonia is located 17 miles southwest of [[La Crosse, Wisconsin|La Crosse]], [[Wisconsin]].

Minnesota Highway [[Minnesota State Highway 44|44]] and Minnesota Highway [[Minnesota State Highway 76|76]] are two of the main routes in the community.

===Climate===
{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Caledonia, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893&ndash;present

|Jan record high F = 58
|Feb record high F = 68
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 93
|Jun record high F = 97
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 96
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 75
|Dec record high F = 66

|Jan avg record high F = 42.5
|Feb avg record high F = 47.6
|Mar avg record high F = 64.5
|Apr avg record high F = 77.5
|May avg record high F = 85.2
|Jun avg record high F = 89.4
|Jul avg record high F = 90.6
|Aug avg record high F = 88.8
|Sep avg record high F = 85.8
|Oct avg record high F = 79.8
|Nov avg record high F = 62.4
|Dec avg record high F = 47.6
|year avg record high F = 92.4

<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =24.4
| Feb high F  =29.0
| Mar high F  =41.3
| Apr high F  =55.7
| May high F  =67.8
| Jun high F  =77.3
| Jul high F  =81.2
| Aug high F  =79.1
| Sep high F  =72.1
| Oct high F  =58.7
| Nov high F  =42.7
| Dec high F  =29.8
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =16.1
| Feb mean F  =20.1
| Mar mean F  =32.1
| Apr mean F  =45.3
| May mean F  =57.6
| Jun mean F  =67.7
| Jul mean F  =71.4
| Aug mean F  =69.2
| Sep mean F  =61.4
| Oct mean F  =48.7
| Nov mean F  =34.5
| Dec mean F  =22.3
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =7.7
| Feb low F  =11.3
| Mar low F  =22.9
| Apr low F  =35.0
| May low F  =47.4
| Jun low F  =58.0
| Jul low F  =61.7
| Aug low F  =59.3
| Sep low F  =50.7
| Oct low F  =38.6
| Nov low F  =26.4
| Dec low F  =14.8

|Jan avg record low F = -15.3
|Feb avg record low F = -11.7
|Mar avg record low F = 1.1
|Apr avg record low F = 20.8
|May avg record low F = 32.8
|Jun avg record low F = 45.1
|Jul avg record low F = 50.7
|Aug avg record low F = 49.1
|Sep avg record low F = 35.7
|Oct avg record low F = 23.9
|Nov avg record low F = 9.0
|Dec avg record low F = -8.8
|year avg record low F = -19.1

|Jan record low F = -37
|Feb record low F = -35
|Mar record low F = -32
|Apr record low F = 2
|May record low F = 19
|Jun record low F = 31
|Jul record low F = 41
|Aug record low F = 35
|Sep record low F = 20
|Oct record low F = 13
|Nov record low F = -16
|Dec record low F = -29

<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =1.12
| Feb precipitation inch  =1.16
| Mar precipitation inch  =2.00
| Apr precipitation inch  =3.96
| May precipitation inch  =4.84
| Jun precipitation inch  =6.06
| Jul precipitation inch  =4.31
| Aug precipitation inch  =4.47
| Sep precipitation inch  =4.04
| Oct precipitation inch  =2.96
| Nov precipitation inch  =1.80
| Dec precipitation inch  =1.60

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 6.8
|Feb precipitation days = 5.8
|Mar precipitation days = 8.2
|Apr precipitation days = 11.0
|May precipitation days = 13.3
|Jun precipitation days = 12.5
|Jul precipitation days = 10.3
|Aug precipitation days = 10.2
|Sep precipitation days = 9.6
|Oct precipitation days = 9.6
|Nov precipitation days = 7.0
|Dec precipitation days = 7.4

<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =10.4
| Feb snow inch  =10.6
| Mar snow inch  =7.4
| Apr snow inch  =3.2
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.3
| Nov snow inch  =2.8
| Dec snow inch  =10.1

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 6.8
|Feb snow days = 5.9
|Mar snow days = 3.7
|Apr snow days = 1.5
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.3
|Nov snow days = 2.5
|Dec snow days = 6.7

|Jan snow depth inch = 9.2
|Feb snow depth inch = 9.4
|Mar snow depth inch = 7.3
|Apr snow depth inch = 1.4
|May snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0
|Oct snow depth inch = 0.1
|Nov snow depth inch = 1.4
|Dec snow depth inch = 6.2
|year snow depth inch = 13.1

<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00211198&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Caledonia, MN
|access-date = February 24, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=arx
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS La Crosse
|access-date = February 24, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 470
|1880= 894
|1890= 927
|1900= 1175
|1910= 1372
|1920= 1570
|1930= 1554
|1940= 1985
|1950= 2243
|1960= 2563
|1970= 2619
|1980= 2691
|1990= 2846
|2000= 2965
|2010= 2868
|2020= 2847
|align-fn=center
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]
| align = right
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Caledonia had a population of 2,847.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A09226&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 29, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> The median age was 41.5 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.0 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A09226&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 29, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A09226&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 29, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 1,275 households in Caledonia, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.9% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,008.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}, and housing unit density was {{convert|483.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}.<ref name="2020-census-2709226">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census: Caledonia city, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US2709226&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20%28PL%2094-171%29 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=3 August 2022}}</ref> There were 1,366 housing units, of which 6.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.9%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/>
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| [[White Americans|White]] || 2,694 || 94.6%
|-
| [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 33 || 1.2%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 8 || 0.3%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 12 || 0.4%
|-
| [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 4 || 0.1%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 96 || 3.4%
|-
| ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 45 || 1.6%
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2012-11-13}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,868 people, 1,247 households, and 740 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1009.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,344 housing units at an average density of {{convert|473.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 1,247 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.7% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 40.5 years. 22.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 24.2% were from 45 to 64; and 20.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,965 people, 1,223 households, and 754 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,037.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,286 housing units at an average density of {{convert|449.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.35% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.40% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.17% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.30% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.74% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 1,223 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% 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 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,455, and the median income for a family was $45,679. Males had a median income of $30,302 versus $20,091 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,953. About 5.2% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
==Education==
Caledonia is home to [[Caledonia High School (Minnesota)|Caledonia High School]]. St. Mary's Catholic School (K-8) and St. John's Lutheran School (Pre-K-8) are private schools.

{{wide image|Caledonia High School.jpg|700px|[[Caledonia High School (Minnesota)|Caledonia High School]]
|alt=Caledonia High School}}

==See also==
*[[Caledonia Public Library]]

==Notable people==

*[[William F. Dunbar]], first Minnesota state auditor.
*[[Isaac Fruechte]], wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/isaacfruechte/2553883/profile|title = Isaac Fruechte Stats, News and Video - WR|website = [[NFL.com]]}}</ref>
*[[Karl Klug]], defensive end for the Tennessee Titans<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/karlklug/2495300/profile|title = Karl Klug Stats, News and Video - DE|website = [[NFL.com]]}}</ref>
*[[Dave Kunst]], first person to walk around the earth<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hometownargus.com/2013/04/09/hbo-making-film-about-caledonia-native/|title=HBO making film about Caledonia native|date=April 9, 2013 }}</ref>
*[[George Harold Lommen]], Minnesota state legislator and lawyer
*[[Maurice J. McCauley]], Minnesota state representative
*[[Ken Nelson (United States record producer)|Ken Nelson]], Country Music Hall of Fame inductee
*[[Samuel A. Rask]], Minnesota state senator and businessman
*[[Al Sheehan]], American entertainment businessman and radio host<ref>{{cite news|title=Showman Sheehan|last=Murphy|first=Bob|date=May 20, 1951|newspaper=[[Minnesota Star Tribune|Star Tribune]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|page=F1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-showman-sheehan/173943982/}}; {{cite news|title=Sheehan (Continued from Page One)|last=Murphy|first=Bob|date=May 20, 1951|newspaper=[[Minnesota Star Tribune|Star Tribune]]|location=Minneapolis, Minnesota|page=F2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-showman-sheehan/173944055/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Alvin B. Sheehan, Show Producer, Succumbs at 66|date=January 17, 1967|newspaper=[[Winona Daily News]]|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-obituary-for-al-sh/173943434/}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.caledoniamn.gov/ City of Caledonia]

{{Houston County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Houston County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:County seats in Minnesota]]