Local Geography:Settlement Factors in

Present-Day Wright County

Grade 8Buffalo Community Middle School

Fall 2009

• YELLOW = NOTEBOOKS

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Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

1) Land costs and taxes lower than in Twin Cities

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

1) Land costs and taxes lower than in Twin Cities

Most residents are “commuters” and 50%+ work in the Twin Cities

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

1) Land costs and taxes lower than in Twin Cities

Most residents are “commuters” and 50%+ work in the Twin Cities

Commuters trade-off larger houses/lots for longer drives

2) Accessibility to Twin Cities (and St. Cloud) important advantage

Towns along I-94 have grown fastest with their shorter “drive times”

Eastern parts of county have become a “bedroom” community

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

I-94 Corridor

Fastest Growing Wright County Cities 1990-2006

1990 2006%

Increase

St. Michael 2,506 14,150 465%

Albertville 1,251 5,615 349%

Hanover 518 1,716 240%

Clearwater 597 1,315 120%

Montrose 1,006 2,145 113%

Monticello 5,045 10,662 111%

Otsego 5,219 10,584 103%

2. Accessibility to Twin Cities (and St. Cloud) important advantageTowns along I-94 have grown fastest with their shorter “drive times”

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

St. Michael (#1 in MN)

Albertville (#4 in MN)

3) Concentration of retail in larger urban placesBig stores concentrated in larger cities

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

3) Concentration of retail in larger urban placesBig stores concentrated in larger cities

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

People willing to travel further to shop

Smaller stores cannot compete with larger ones

3) Concentration of retail in larger urban placesBig stores concentrated in larger cities

People willing to travel further to shop

Smaller stores cannot compete with larger ones

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

Most increases in retail sales have occurred in the “Golden Crescent”

Largest Cities inWright County 2008

1) St. Michael*** 14,150 2) Buffalo 13,251 3) Monticello 10,662 4) Otsego** 10,584 5) Albertville 5,615 6) Delano 4,612 7) Rockford* 3,512 8) Annandale 2,895

9) Cokato 2,72610) Montrose 2,14511) Howard Lake 1,96612) Maple Lake 1,87913) Hanover* 1,76214) Clearwater 1,31515) Waverly 92516) South Haven 208

* Does not include small numbers of Hennepin County residents** Otsego Township became Wright County’s newest city in 1995 *** Merged with Frankfort Township in 1996

Largest Cities inWright County 2008

1) St. Michael 14,150 2) Buffalo 13,251 3) Monticello 10,662 4) Otsego 10,584 5) Albertville 5,615 6) Delano 4,612 7) Rockford* 3,512 8) Annandale 2,895 9) Cokato 2,726

68,760

Distribution of Wright County’s Population

1920 Population: 18,104

Population of 9 Largest Cities: 1,760

% 1920 Population in 9 Largest Cities: 10%

2007 Population: 121,489

Population of 9 Largest Cities: 68,750

% 2008 Population in 9 Largest Cities: 57%

4) The county has become increasingly urbanized

Over 60% of the county’s residents live in cities

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

4) The county has become increasingly urbanized

Over 60% of the county’s residents live in cities

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County