Frazee, Minnesota

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Frazee
City
Downtown Frazee
Downtown Frazee
Nickname(s): 
"The Hive" "Turkey Town"
Motto(s): 
"Home of the World's Largest Turkey", "Stingers up"
Coordinates: 46°43′42″N 95°42′4″W / 46.72833°N 95.70111°W / 46.72833; -95.70111
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyBecker
Government
 • MayorKen Miosek
Area
[1]
 • Total1.14 sq mi (2.96 km2)
 • Land1.10 sq mi (2.86 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,384 ft (422 m)
Population
 (2010)[3]
 • Total1,350
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
1,391
 • Density1,261.11/sq mi (486.73/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
56544
Area code(s)218
FIPS code27-22472[5]
GNIS feature ID0643899[2]
Websitewww.frazeecity.com

Frazee (/freɪˈziː/ fray-ZEE) is a city in Becker County, Minnesota, United States. It is the second-most-populous city in Becker County. The population was 1,350 at the 2010 census.[6]

History[edit]

The community was originally named Detroit and later Third Crossing before adopting its name of Frazee. With Becker County not formally organized until 1871, it was the earliest settlement in the area. The city was officially incorporated on January 6, 1891.[7] It was named after R. L. Frazee, owner of a sawmill.[8]

Frazee was the birthplace of Kieth Engen (1925-2004), a noted operatic bass who had a highly successful career in Germany.[9][10]

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.11 square miles (2.87 km2), of which 1.06 square miles (2.75 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[11]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
188097—
19001,000—
19101,64564.5%
19201,277−22.4%
19301,041−18.5%
19401,16712.1%
19501,021−12.5%
19601,0836.1%
19701,015−6.3%
19801,28426.5%
19901,176−8.4%
20001,37717.1%
20101,350−2.0%
2019 (est.)1,391[4]3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,350 people, 540 households, and 325 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,273.6 inhabitants per square mile (491.7/km2). There were 595 housing units at an average density of 561.3 per square mile (216.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.1% White, 1.6% African American, 5.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 540 households, of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.8% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 36.7 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.4% male and 54.6% female.

Government[edit]

The City of Frazee is governed by the Statutory City Plan A form of government (in Minnesota, 601 cities operate under Plan A). One of the features of this plan is that it removes the clerk from the council and replaces that position with a fourth (or sixth) elected council member. Another feature is that the council appoints the clerk and treasurer for indefinite terms of office. A mayor and four council members are elected to three-year terms. The city council meets on the second Monday of each month in the Fire Hall.[12]

Business and industry[edit]

Water tower

The three largest employers in Frazee are Frazee-Vergas Public Schools (160 employees), Frazee Care Center (160), and Daggett Truck Line (102). Daggett Truck Line has been operating for 80 years out of Frazee, carrying refrigerated and dry freight throughout the United States and southern Canada. The company transports frozen foods, snack foods, pet food, produce and manufactured goods from Minnesota to most major cities in the midwest and throughout the United States. These trucks return with processed foods or raw materials for local manufacturers.[13]

Transportation[edit]

Major roads are U.S. Route 10, a four-lane divided highway connecting the twin cities of Minneapolis-Saint Paul to the east and Fargo-Moorhead to the west; and Minnesota State Highway 87, a two-lane secondary road running east from the city.

Frazee is located on the Northern Pacific Railway's former main line, now the Northern Transcon of the BNSF. In 2015, this line was carrying an average of 49 trains per day.[14] Amtrak's Empire Builder runs through town in each direction in the early morning hours; its closest station shop is Detroit Lakes ten miles (16.1 km) away.[15]

The world's largest turkey[edit]

"Big Tom" in 2018

The city is best known as the home of "Big Tom: the World's Largest Turkey."[16] Frazee has long been a part of the turkey industry. In 1984, turkey growers and committee members got together and decided to put up a giant turkey statue to honor the town. At the cost of $20,000 to build, the group commissioned artist Shell Scott to construct the statue which was built on a metal frame and covered in cement, fiberglass, cardboard, and insulation. The statue, named "Big Tom", was finished in 1986 and stood 22 feet (6.7 m) tall earning Frazee the title of "Home of the world's largest turkey."

Due to Big Tom's physical makeup, the statue needed frequent repairs. There were also complaints that Big Tom was not proportioned like a real turkey. The area committee decided that they needed a new Big Tom and commissioned artist Dave Oswald. On July 1, 1998, during the removing process for Big Tom, the statue caught fire from a cutting torch, which was being used to remove the wings.

On September 19, 1998, a new statue arrived in Frazee in three pieces on a flatbed trailer. The new "Big Tom" took eight hours to assemble, standing over 20 feet (6.1 m) tall and 17 feet (5.2 m) wide. It weighs over 5,000 pounds, having 1,000 pounds of steel reinforcement. It has 3,000 to 4,000 separate fiberglass feathers, which took the D.W.O. Fiberglass Company over 2,000 hours to make.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Frazee, Minnesota
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ "2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census. Retrieved April 23, 2011.[dead link]
  7. ^ City history: The early years, City of Frazee.
  8. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 28.
  9. ^ Kammersänger Kieth Engen im Alter von 79 Jahren gestorben, Bayerische Staatsoper (September 10, 2004).
  10. ^ Ein Leben voller Musik, Münchner Merkur (as updated May 3, 2009).
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  12. ^ Government: Council, City of Frazee.
  13. ^ "Daggett Truck Line website".
  14. ^ Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (June 2015). "Minnesota Freight Railroad Map" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  15. ^ Empire Builder Schedule, Amtrak April 29, 2018.
  16. ^ "Official Website for the City of Frazee, Minnesota".

Coordinates: 46°43′41″N 95°42′03″W / 46.72806°N 95.70083°W / 46.72806; -95.70083

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