The story
History
Mankato Township was not settled by European Americans until Parsons King Johnson 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, 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, 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, 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 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 band, was said to have directed settlers to this location. He said the site at the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers was well suited to building and river traffic, and yet safe from flooding.
On December 26, 1862, United States Volunteers 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 Regiments, 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. A USV military tribunal reviewed nearly 500 cases, of which 303 received a death sentence, but President Abraham Lincoln requested the court files. He reviewed them, placing the rape cases at the top, and pardoning 264. Episcopal Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple 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 Native Americans 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 died while traveling through Mankato on January 13, 1885.
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 44,488 people, 17,576 households, and 8,344 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,305.2 inhabitants per square mile (890.0/km2).
The median age was 27.7 years; 5.0% of residents were under age 5, 18.3% were under the age of 18, and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older.
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For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.8 males age 18 and over.
99.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.1% lived in rural areas.
Of the 17,576 households, 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 32.9% were married-couple households, 26.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 18,855 housing units at an average density of 977.0 inhabitants per square mile (377.2/km2); 6.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 39,309 people, 14,851 households, and 7,093 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,195.3 inhabitants per square mile (847.6/km2). There were 15,784 housing units at an average density of 881.3 per square mile (340.3/km2). The racial makeup was 89.94% White, 4.03% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.78% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from some other races and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.93% 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 2000 census, there were 32,427 people, 12,367 households, and 6,059 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,132.5 inhabitants per square mile (823.4/km2). There were 12,759 housing units at an average density of 839.1 inhabitants per square mile (324.0/km2). The racial makeup was 92.55% White, 1.90% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.81% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from some other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic 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 median income for a household in the city was $33,956, and the median income for a family was $47,297. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $22,081 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,652. 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.
From Wikipedia’s article on Mankato, Minnesota, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4