Hawley, Minnesota

Hawley is a town in Clay County, Minnesota, along the Buffalo River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 1,882. The town went through 6 name changes since 1871 until, in 1872, it was finally named after Thomas Hawley Canfield (soldier, journalist, and statesman). General Custer visited the town in 1876.

Geography

Location of Hawley, Minnesota

Hawley is east of Moorhead, at the intersection of the Buffalo River, U.S. Highway 10, and the Burlington Northern Railroad. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 km² (2.5 mi²). 6.4 km² (2.5 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

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

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 1,882 people, 744 households, and 514 families residing in the city. The population density was 295.4/km² (764.8/mi²). There were 787 housing units at an average density of 123.5/km² (319.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.46% White, 0.11% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.21% Asian, and 0.85% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

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

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

Hawley Culture

The Buffalo River in Hawley

Annual events in the Hawley area include the Hawley Rodeo (and Rodeo Parade), Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion (WMSTR), and Hawley High School’s Homecoming.

The Hjemkomst The small town of Hawley might be best known for its Hjemkomst Viking Ship. The building of this ship began in November 1973 by Robert Asp. It was modeled after a Norwegian ship found south of Oslo that dated back from about 950 A.D. called the “Gokstad.” The Hjemkomst ship sailed from Duluth, Minnesota to Bergen, Norway in 1982. The event is considered one of Hawley’s finest. The Ship is now located in a museum in nearby Moorhead, Minnesota.

Hawley Public Schools' first graduation was in 1904. The school building was devastated by fire in 1897. The school was rebuilt and has continued growing since then, and is now made up of an Elementary building and a High School building. There is also a school in the Spring Prairie Hutterite colony that works in a joint effort with the Hawley Public School system.

Hawley’s Man of the Century was Rev. S. G. Hague (1875-1964). He was the pastor of the Hawley Lutheran Parish. (Other area churches include Gran Lutheran Church, Hawley Alliance Church, Hawley Lutheran Church, Hawley United Methodist Church, Hegland Lutheran Church, Lysne Lutheran Church, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Rollag Lutheran Church, Solem Lutheran Church, and St. Andrew’s Catholic Church).

The oldest Hawley resident was Mrs. Nickolie Hovelsrud. She was formerly known as Sophie Berg and came from Oslo, Norway at the age of 20. She died on May 24 1971 at the age of 100 years. (Note: several other residents have lived to the age of 100).

Hawley’s newspaper, The Hawley Herald, was involved in the production of the books Journey Back to Hawley (1972) and The Journey Continues…(1997) to signify the town’s anniversaries. These two books contain a seemingly endless collaboration of priceless information concerning Hawley’s History.

External links

• http://www.hawley.k12.mn.us/html Hawley's School Site
• http://www.hawley.govoffice.com/ Hawley's Official Site
• Hjemkomst Center Site