Falcon Heights, Minnesota

History

Heman Gibbs settled in the 1850s near the modern intersection of Cleveland and Larpenteur Avenues. His homestead is on the National Register of Historic Places and his home is a county museum.

On September 2, 1901, then-Vice President Theodore Roosevelt first publicly used the African proverb "Speak softly and carry a big stick" in a speech at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, which was still a part of St. Paul at the time. Roosevelt became president just two weeks later, upon the assassination of William McKinley, and built the phrase into his concept of Big Stick Diplomacy.

Between the 1910s and 1930s, Curtiss Northwest Airport was located at the intersection of Snelling and Larpenteur Avenues. The airfield was important in Minnesota aviation history, hosting Charles Lindbergh, Speed Holman, and Phoebe Fairgrave. Part of the land is now a city park named Curtiss Field.

In the 1930s, a real estate agent named Faulkner developed land owned by a 3M executive and named this development—Falcon Heights—after himself. The first house arose in 1937.

In 1949 residents rejected annexation by Roseville or St. Paul, and voted to incorporate themselves. The expanded Falcon Heights included the University of Minnesota Golf Course and Test Fields as well as the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Two-thirds of Falcon Heights is public land, chiefly the university and state fair (Minnesota State Fair).

Parks

Falcon Heights Community Park and Curtiss Field have recreational sports in the summer for kids and an ice rink and warming house in the winter. The community park also has a soccer field and a fitness course. Grove Park, in University Grove, also has a temporary warming house and ice rink in the winter.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.240 sqmi, of which 2.233 sqmi is land and 0.007 sqmi is water.

Minnesota Highway 51 / Snelling Avenue serves as a main route in the community.

Falcon Heights is bordered by Lauderdale to the west, St. Paul to the south and east and Roseville to the north and east.

Climate

| Jan record high F = 55 | Feb record high F = 62 | Mar record high F = 82 | Apr record high F = 91 | May record high F = 100 | Jun record high F = 101 | Jul record high F = 105 | Aug record high F = 105 | Sep record high F = 95 | Oct record high F = 90 | Nov record high F = 77 | Dec record high F = 67 | year record high F = 105 | Jan avg record high F = 42.0 | Feb avg record high F = 46.4 | Mar avg record high F = 63.0 | Apr avg record high F = 77.9 | May avg record high F = 87.5 | Jun avg record high F = 92.2 | Jul avg record high F = 92.8 | Aug avg record high F = 91.0 | Sep avg record high F = 87.4 | Oct avg record high F = 80.2 | Nov avg record high F = 61.9 | Dec avg record high F = 46.2 | year avg record high F = 95.1 | Jan avg record low F = -15.4 | Feb avg record low F = -10.2 | Mar avg record low F = 0.9 | Apr avg record low F = 20.9 | May avg record low F = 34.4 | Jun avg record low F = 45.4 | Jul avg record low F = 52.4 | Aug avg record low F = 50.1 | Sep avg record low F = 36.2 | Oct avg record low F = 24.5 | Nov avg record low F = 8.9 | Dec avg record low F = -8.2 | year avg record low F = -17.8 | Jan record low F = -30 | Feb record low F = -32 | Mar record low F = -18 | Apr record low F = 1 | May record low F = 23 | Jun record low F = 36 | Jul record low F = 44 | Aug record low F = 39 | Sep record low F = 26 | Oct record low F = 15 | Nov record low F = -15 | Dec record low F = -27 | year record low F = -32 |access-date = March 28, 2024}}{{cite web |access-date = March 28, 2024}}

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2020 Census

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 5,369 people, 2,203 households, 1,290 families residing in the city. The population density was 2404.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,336 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 68.4% White, 10.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 12.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other races and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,321 people, 2,131 households, and 1,259 families living in the city. The population density was 2386.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,254 housing units at an average density of 1010.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 8.0% African American, 0.5% Native American, 15.0% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.

There were 2,131 households, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.9% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 31.8 years. 19.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.7% were from 25 to 44; 21.8% were from 45 to 64; and 12.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 5,572 people, 2,103 households, and 1,434 families living in the city. The population density was 2487.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 953.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 77.66% White, 3.36% African American, 0.43% Native American, 14.95% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.33% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.09% of the population.

There were 2,103 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 17.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,382, and the median income for a family was $59,415. Males had a median income of $43,693 versus $34,757 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,370. About 8.8% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Education

Falcon Heights is served by the Roseville Area School District. Falcon Heights Elementary is the only school within the city boundary. The elementary school features a park with two playgrounds, one of them built in 2006.

In popular culture

The 2001 film Sugar & Spice was partly filmed in Falcon Heights.

A small part of the 1996 film Jingle All the Way starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was filmed at Falcon Heights Elementary.

References

References

1. "Falcon Heights City Council". City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota.
2. "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
3. {{GNIS. 2394738
4. "Falcon Heights (MN) sales tax rate".
5. "Explore Census Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. "History of Falcon Heights". City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota.
7. Lee, Linda. (January 5, 1989). "St. Paul's Architectural Time Capsule". [[The New York Times]].
8. "Sept. 3, 1901: Roosevelt 'Big Stick' speech at State Fair". [[Star Tribune]].
9. Bergerson, Roger. (2008). "Winging It at a Country Crossroads: The Ups and Downs of Minnesota's First Real Airport: Snelling & Larpenteur, Rose Township 1919-1930". Bergerson & Cunningham.
10. Prather, Shannon. (June 19, 2010). "Why do tiny cities like Lauderdale, Landfall and Falcon Heights exist?". [[Minneapolis Star Tribune]].
11. "Park and Facility Reservations". City of Falcon Heights, Minnesota.
12. (August 26, 2024). "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau.
13. "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau.
14. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Falcon Heights city, Minnesota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Falcon Heights city, Minnesota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
16. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Falcon Heights city, Minnesota". [[United States Census Bureau]].
17. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau.
18. "How many people live in Falcon Heights city, Minnesota". USA Today.
19. "Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State - Election Results".
20. "Sugar & Spice (2001)".
21. "Jingle All the Way (1996)".