Mora, Minnesota

History

Mora was platted in 1882 by Myron Kent. The city was named after Mora, Sweden, when Israel Israelson suggested his hometown's name in Dalarna County, Sweden. The post office opened on February 27, 1883. Kent was Mora's first postmaster.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 5.27 sqmi, of which 5.00 sqmi is land and 0.27 sqmi is water.

Mora is 72 miles north of Minneapolis-St. Paul at the intersection of Minnesota highways 23 and 65. It is 52 miles northeast of St. Cloud and 91 miles southwest of Duluth.

Mora is along the Snake River.

Demographics

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2020 Census

As of the census of 2020, there were 3,665 people, and 1,481 households.

2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,571 people, 1,513 households, and 857 families living in the city. The population density was 714.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,684 housing units at an average density of 336.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.4% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Native American 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 1,513 households, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.4% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 39.6 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 21.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,139 people, 1,381 households, and 814 families living in the city. The population density in the year 2000 was 781.2 per square mile (301.4/km). There were 1,471 housing units at an average density of 359.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.71% White, 0.28% African American, 1.28% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 1.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,381 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.0% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,566, and the median income for a family was $40,577. Males had a median income of $32,222 versus $21,797 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,949. 9.0% of the population and 6.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Infrastructure

Historical

On October 27, 1882 the first train to arrive in Mora was a construction train pulled by a wood burner locomotive, eventually the town would be linked to the Hinckley branch of the Minneapolis- St. Cloud line.

Transportation

Mora is served by the Mora Municipal Airport and Timber Trails Transit, a bus service in Kanabec and Mille Lacs counties.

Major highways

The following routes run through Mora:

• [[Image:MN-23.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 23

• [[Image:MN-65.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 65 The following county roads also serve as important routes in Mora:

• [[File:Kanabec County 1 MN.svg|frameless|20x20px]] Kanabec County Road 1

• [[File:Kanabec County 6 MN.svg|frameless|20x20px]] Kanabec County Road 6

• [[File:Kanabec County 27 MN.svg|frameless|20x20px]] Kanabec County Road 27

Arts and Culture

Mora is the home of a gigantic Dala horse and a Mora clock commemorating the town's Swedish roots. Mora's sister city and namesake is Mora, Sweden, known as the endpoint of the Vasaloppet. They became sister cities in 1972 when the Dala horse was dedicated.

Each February, Mora hosts the Vasaloppet USA, Minnesota's largest cross-country skiing event. Mora also hosts the Snake River Canoe Race, the Mora Half-Marathon, and the Mora Bicycle Tour.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), its top employers are:

Climate

|Jan record high F = 54 |Feb record high F = 59 |Mar record high F = 80 |Apr record high F = 94 |May record high F = 107 |Jun record high F = 101 |Jul record high F = 108 |Aug record high F = 104 |Sep record high F = 105 |Oct record high F = 91 |Nov record high F = 75 |Dec record high F = 59

|Jan avg record high F = 40.7 |Feb avg record high F = 46.3 |Mar avg record high F = 60.6 |Apr avg record high F = 75.5 |May avg record high F = 85.4 |Jun avg record high F = 90.0 |Jul avg record high F = 91.0 |Aug avg record high F = 89.5 |Sep avg record high F = 85.5 |Oct avg record high F = 78.0 |Nov avg record high F = 59.9 |Dec avg record high F = 43.9 |year avg record high F = 93.2

|Jan avg record low F = -23.7 |Feb avg record low F = -18.2 |Mar avg record low F = -6.3 |Apr avg record low F = 17.2 |May avg record low F = 29.8 |Jun avg record low F = 39.8 |Jul avg record low F = 46.8 |Aug avg record low F = 45.1 |Sep avg record low F = 31.0 |Oct avg record low F = 20.7 |Nov avg record low F = 3.4 |Dec avg record low F = -14.9 |year avg record low F = -26.2

|Jan record low F = -48 |Feb record low F = -46 |Mar record low F = -35 |Apr record low F = -4 |May record low F = 15 |Jun record low F = 23 |Jul record low F = 33 |Aug record low F = 27 |Sep record low F = 13 |Oct record low F = 4 |Nov record low F = -26 |Dec record low F = -52

|access-date = May 12, 2023 |access-date = May 12, 2023

Notable people

• Roger Crawford, state representative
• Bill Diessner, state senator and physician
• Alice Frost, actress
• Gladys Nordenstrom, contemporary classical composer
• Henry Rines, Minnesota state treasurer and speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
• Judy Soderstrom, state representative and businesswoman
• Dan Stevens, state senator

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. {{GNIS. 2395396
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. "Explore Census Data".
6. Upham, Warren. (1920). "Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance". Minnesota Historical Society.
7. "Early Mora History {{!}} Mora, MN".
8. "Kanabec County". Jim Forte Postal History.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". [[United States Census Bureau]].
10. "Explore Census Data".
11. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
12. "Early Mora History {{!}} Mora, MN".
13. "AirNav: KJMR - Mora Municipal Airport".
14. "Mora's Swedish roots {{!}} Sr. Perspective".
15. "Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022".
16. "Stevens, Dan - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".