Osseo, Minnesota

Osseo is a small city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 2,430,[5] and in 2018 the estimated population was 2,757.[6]

Osseo
City
Location of the city of Osseo within Hennepin County, Minnesota
Coordinates: 45°7′2″N 93°23′58″W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Hennepin
Founded	1875
Government
• Mayor	Duane Poppe
Area [1]
• Total	0.74 sq mi (1.92 km^2)
• Land	0.74 sq mi (1.92 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	886 ft (270 m)
Population  (2010)	2,430
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	2,738
• Density	3,690.03/sq mi (1,424.09/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central)
ZIP codes	55311, 55369
Area code(s)	763
FIPS code	27-49012[3]
GNIS feature ID	0649024[4]
Website	www.discoverosseo.com

It is said that "Osseo" is derived from the Ojibwe name waaseyaa meaning "there is light", although more commonly known as "Son of the Evening Star". Henry W. Longfellow mentions Osseo in his poem The Song of Hiawatha.[7] It is claimed that Longfellow visited Osseo while in St. Anthony.[8]

History

Osseo in 1869

The area that is now Osseo was settled before organized local government. It was on what Pierre Bottineau named "Bottineau Prairie" in 1852, and the community was called Palestine. In 1856 part of the town was platted as Osseo and another part as "City of Attraction".[9][10] Official Minnesota Territory surveys placed the settlement on the border of two townships. When Brooklyn Township and Maple Grove Township organized, Osseo (and City of Attraction, which later merged) was governed by those two governments. Osseo incorporated on March 17, 1875.[11]

The ethnic groups that moved in after Native tribes were removed were mostly French Canadians, New Englanders, Swiss and Germans.[12] The pioneers' businesses included blacksmiths, wagonmakers, general merchandise stores, boots & shoemakers, harness makers, tin shops, cordwood suppliers, teamsters, saloons, and hotels (Niggler Hotel 1867, International Hotel 1874, Great Northern Hotel, 1907).[13] There was also a Catholic church (1858), a physician, school, post office, and calaboose (jail). Methodist and Lutheran pioneers were served in their homes until the 20th century.

In 1882 the Great Northern Railroad "came steaming through town", and in 1893 a telephone station appeared. A town hall was built in 1901. The city water system and fire department began in 1915. The original Indian trail—extending from St. Paul to St. Cloud—was the town's main street, and was paved in 1918 (Territorial Road). The Osseo Lutheran Church was built approximately 1915; the Methodist Church was built in 1922. The first Osseo High School was built in 1924. 1928 was the peak when "Osseo had one of the largest potato markets in the Northwest."[9]

"The Father of Osseo" was described in a newspaper article written at the death of John Hechtman, and informs the reader of Osseo's opportunities and social organizations of his time.[14]

Opposite today's City Hall are memorials to US military veterans from Osseo. In 1937 a large granite monument was erected in memory of Civil War soldiers. On Memorial Day 1945 another Honor Roll was constructed of granite with a bronze plate engraved with names of those who served during the Spanish–American War, World War I and World War II. In 1957 the memorial area was named Father Boerboom Park, after a pastor of St. Vincent Rectory and the principal of its parochial school who had served since 1917.[13]

The Osseo Water Tower, built in 1915, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.[15]

Geography

Osseo is in northeastern Hennepin County, bordered by Brooklyn Park to the east and Maple Grove to the west. It has an area of 0.73 square miles (1.9 km²), all of it land.[5]

There are three main transportation routes in the city. Jefferson Highway runs straight north/south through the city; the business stretch is Central Avenue. U.S. Highway 169 follows the east boundary. Bottineau Boulevard (County Road 81) runs northwest through the city.

Osseo City Hall and Library

Government

Osseo incorporated in 1875 as a village and became a statutory city in 1972. The city council is composed of a mayor (two-year term) and four councilors (four-year terms). City departments are Economic Development, Planning, Administration, Community Development, Fire, Parks/Recreation, Police, and Public Services. The Osseo Library is in the city hall building and is a branch of the Hennepin County Library System. The city publishes a quarterly newsletter, Osseo Outlook, and co-publishes an annual resident guide with Maple Grove; both are online.[16] City facilities include a community center. The city is a member of the North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce.[17]

Education

Schools within the city limits are Osseo Middle School and Osseo Senior High School.

Osseo and surrounding communities are served free public education from primary level to secondary level by the Osseo Area School District 279. The school district also provides free public education for Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Corcoran, Dayton and Hassan. The District's superintendent is Kate Maguire.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	206		—
1890	353		71.4%
1900	346		−2.0%
1910	390		12.7%
1920	433		11.0%
1930	561		29.6%
1940	738		31.6%
1950	1,167		58.1%
1960	2,104		80.3%
1970	2,908		38.2%
1980	2,974		2.3%
1990	2,704		−9.1%
2000	2,434		−10.0%
2010	2,430		−0.2%
Est. 2019	2,738	[2]	12.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,430 people, 1,128 households, and 575 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,240.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,251.0/km²). There were 1,217 housing units at an average density of 1,622.7 per square mile (626.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.3% White, 4.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.6% of the population.

There were 1,128 households of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.0% were non-families. 42.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the city was 46.1 years. 16.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 23.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.0% male and 54.0% female.

Annual events

Osseo has multiple social clubs and ongoing activities:

Concerts in the Park

A recent effort led by a few of Osseo's citizens has enabled the construction of a bandshell in the northeast corner of Boerboom Park at the center of downtown. The bandshell is a popular place during June, July and August. During those months, each Tuesday evening musicians perform in the bandshell followed at dusk by a movie. This activity is supported by local donations and all but one or two events are free to the public.

Osseo Marching Band Festival

The Osseo Marching Band Festival is a street marching competition between high school bands along a route through the city. Popular in northern midwestern states including Minnesota and Wisconsin, street marching band competitions are held in May, June and July. The Osseo Marching Band Festival is held each year on Saturday of the last full weekend in June. An award ceremony is held afterward in the High School Stadium and is free for the public to attend. This activity is organized by the Osseo Band Boosters and funded by local donations, corporate sponsorship and fund-raising activities.

Lions Roar

The Osseo Lions Roar, hosted by the Osseo Lions Club, is held on the Friday and Saturday after Labor Day. It includes a street fair with crafts, a carnival in the parking lots near Central Avenue and 3rd Street, and a parade at noon on Saturday beginning at Sipe's Park and ending at the Osseo Senior High School. The parade features local organizations such as sports teams from the high school, girl scout and boy scout troops, and the Osseo Marching Band.

Osseo Lions Kiddie Costume Parade

Osseo Lions Kiddie Costume Parade is held on Saturday at the end of October each year at noon. The parade starts at North Clinic on Central Avenue and ends at Boerboom Park.

Tree Lighting and Santa in the Park

Each December, usually the first Friday in December, the community celebrates the upcoming holidays with horse-drawn wagon rides, hot beverages and a chance for the kids to meet Santa and get a free goodie bag. This activity is sponsored by the Osseo Business Association.[18] It is free and open to the public.

Notable people

• Caleb Truax, boxer

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Osseo city, Minnesota". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 15, 2019.
7. "Poets' Corner - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - The Song of Hiawatha". www.theotherpages.org. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-08-14. Retrieved 2017-05-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. Boerboom, Reverend Henry J. (1952). 1852-1952 History of 100 Years of Osseo and Souvenir of the Dedication of the New Rectory and Parochial School. Engravings by E. J. Krueger. Weston Engraving Company, Minneapolis. p. 9.
10. Foote, Chas. M.; Neill, Edward; Williams, J. Fletcher; Warner, Geo. E. (1881). History of Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota (By Rev. D. Neill) and Outlines of the History of Minnesota, (by J. Fletcher Williams). Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Company. pp. 294–297.
11. Ewing, Clerk Wm. Village of Osseo Minute Book. Osseo City Hall, Osseo, Minnesota (accessed Fall, 2008).CS1 maint: location (link)
12. "Minnesota State Census, 1875". Family Search. 15 November 2014.
13. North Hennepin Pioneer Society; Osseo Lionelles (1975). 100 Year History of the City of Osseo; Osseo Centennial 1875 - 1975. Souvenir Edition. Minnesota Historical Society: Merit Printing, Minneapolis. pp. 6, 8.
14. Minneapolis Tribune, October 22, 1902.
15. Eric Roper (2017-01-07). "Osseo water tower primed for position on national historic register". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
16. "Osseo city newsletter, Osseo Outlook, read Osseo newsletter online, advertising information". www.discoverosseo.com. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
17. "Discover Osseo".
18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2020-03-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

• City website
• Osseo Area School District #279
• North Hennepin Area Chamber of Commerce