Worthington

History

The city's site was first settled in the 1870s as Okabena Station on a line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway, later the Chicago and North Western Railway (now part of Union Pacific).

The first European likely to have visited the Nobles County area of southwestern Minnesota was French explorer Joseph Nicollet. Nicollet mapped the area between the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in the 1830s. He called the region "Sisseton Country" in honor of the Sisseton band of Dakota Indians then living there. It was a rolling sea of wide open prairie grass that extended as far as the eye could see. One small lake in Sisseton Country was given the name "Lake Okabena" on Nicollet's map, "Okabena" being a Dakota word meaning "nesting place of the herons".

The town of Worthington was founded by "Yankees" (immigrants from New England, upstate New York, Northern Pennsylvania, and Northeast Ohio who were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s).

In 1871, the St. Paul & Sioux City Railway Company began connecting its two namesake cities with a rail line. The steam engines of that time required a large quantity of water, and water stations were needed every eight to twelve miles (13 to 19 km) along their routes. One of these stations, at the site of present-day Worthington, was designated "The Okabena Railway Station".

In the same year, Professor Ransom Humiston of Cleveland, Ohio, and Dr. A.P. Miller, editor of the Toledo Blade, organized a company to locate a colony of New England settlers who had already settled in Northern Ohio along the tracks of the Sioux City and St. Paul Railway. These people were "Yankee" settlers whose parents had moved from New England to the region of Northeast Ohio known as the Connecticut Western Reserve. They were primarily members of the Congregational Church, though due to the Second Great Awakening, many of them had converted to Methodism and Presbyterianism, and some had become Baptists before coming to what is now Minnesota. This colony, the National Colony, was to be a village of temperance, a place where evangelical Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists could live free of the temptations of alcohol. A town was plotted, and the name was changed from the Okabena Railway Station to Worthington, Miller's mother-in-law's maiden name.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.337 square miles (24.18 km2), of which, 7.952 square miles (20.60 km2) is land and 1.385 square miles (3.59 km2) is water.

Demographics

The U.S. Bureau of Census now classifies Worthington as a micropolitan area, with a population of 20,508. The area has had a relatively high level of immigration, mostly Hispanics, in the early 21st century. Some sources credit this immigration trend for revitalizing the city's economy, which had been constrained by a shrinking population.

As of the 2022 American Community Survey, there are 4,570 estimated households in Worthington with an average of 2.92 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $58,690. Approximately 15.4% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Worthington has an estimated 62.4% employment rate, with 15.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 70.3% holding a high school diploma.

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (54.5%), Spanish (32.7%), Indo-European (0.4%), Asian and Pacific Islander (7.0%), and Other (5.4%).

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Worthington had a population of 13,947. The median age was 31.7 years. 30.5% of residents were under the age of 18, 8.8% were under the age of 5, and 14.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.0 males age 18 and over.

98.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,503 households and 3,089 families in Worthington. Of all households, 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 46.4% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The population density was 1,773.8 inhabitants per square mile (684.9/km2). There were 4,737 housing units at an average density of 602.4 inhabitants per square mile (232.6/km2). Of the housing units, 4.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 12,764 people, 4,458 households, and 2,917 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,740.0 inhabitants per square mile (671.8/km2). There were 4,699 housing units at an average density of 640.2 inhabitants per square mile (247.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 62.17% White, 5.47% African American, 0.71% Native American, 8.65% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 20.53% from some other races and 2.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 35.42% of the population.

There were 4,458 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.36.

The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 21.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 11,283 people, 4,311 households, and 2,828 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,578.9 inhabitants per square mile (609.6/km2). There were 4,573 housing units at an average density of 639.9 inhabitants per square mile (247.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.81% White, 1.91% African American, 0.49% Native American, 7.06% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 11.49% from some other races and 2.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 19.28% of the population.

There were 4,311 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $44,643. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $20,880 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,078. About 9.1% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Worthington hosts many annual events: Windsurfing Regatta & Music Festival (June), International Festival (July), King Turkey Day (September), and Holiday Parade (November).

Nobles County History Center

After World War I, the Minnesota National Guard commissioned two dozen armories around the state to serve as community centers and bases. Worthington completed its armory in 1923: two brick buildings which contained administrative offices, a drill hall, a gymnasium with a balcony and bleachers, public restrooms, a mess hall, a shooting range, and equipment storage rooms. The building was used for community events including dances, concerts, lectures, exhibitions, sports tournaments, King Turkey Day events, send-offs for World War II draftees, polio vaccinations, and physical examinations for Vietnam War draftees.

In 1992, after Minnesota downsized its national guard, the building was decommissioned, bought by the city, and began being leased as a commercial space. In 2015, Nobles County bought the site, and in 2017 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Beginning in 2019, Nobles county offered the space to the Nobles County Historical Society for use as a museum, as long as the center could raise funds for the building's renovation, which it did. The building reopened as the Nobles County History Center in November 2022. Today it houses an exhibit and event space, a library, offices, meeting rooms, and climate-controlled artifact storage.

Government

Worthington is in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Brad Finstad of New Ulm. At the state level, Worthington is in Senate District 21, represented by Republican Bill Weber, and in House District 21B, represented by Republican Marj Fogelman.

Local politics

The mayor of Worthington is Rick von Holdt. City council members meet in City Hall on the second and fourth Mondays of every month to discuss objectives and goals for the city. The city is divided into two wards, with one at-large council member. The mayor and council members are elected to four-year terms.

Current Worthington city council members, in addition to Von Holdt, include:

Larry Janssen, 1st Ward

Chris Kielblock, 1st Ward

Mike Kuhle, 2nd Ward

Amy Ernst, 2nd Ward

Dennis Weber, At Large

Education

Worthington is served by Independent School District 518. Worthington's school mascot is the Trojan, and its high school athletic teams play in the Big South Conference. ISD 518 is known regionally for its robust music program offerings, with band, string orchestra, choir, and theater ensembles open to all students. Worthington Senior High School's 'Spirit of Worthington' Trojan Marching Band, with over 160 members, is an ensemble that has performed nationally 5 times. The Trojans' performances included two at the 75th and 78th annual McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago in 2008 and 2011, respectively. In 2019, the Trojans were a featured band at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia.

High School: Worthington Senior High School

Middle School: Worthington Middle School

Elementary School: Prairie Elementary School

Worthington's private, parochial schools include:

Worthington Christian School, which serves grades K-8.

St. Mary's Elementary School, which serves grades K-6.

Worthington's local higher education institution is Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Minnesota West's Worthington campus is a two-year college that offers associate degrees in a wide variety of majors, along with diplomas and certificates in areas from practical nursing to accounting, among others.

Worthington and the surrounding area are served by the Nobles County Library, part of the Plum Creek Library System, which is based in the city.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Prairieland Transit System

Interstate 90

U.S. Route 59

Minnesota State Highway 60

Minnesota State Highway 266 (decommissioned - designated as Nobles County Road 25)

Nobles County Road 25

Nobles County Road 35

Media

The Globe serves Worthington, Nobles County, and surrounding areas with a print newspaper, an e-paper and website. It was purchased by the Forum Communications Company in 1995 and publishes a print edition on Wednesdays and an e-edition on Saturdays.

Notable people

Dwayne Andreas, CEO of Archer Daniels Midland

Wayne R. Bassett Sr., Minnesota state representative

William Elijah Bloom, Minnesota state representative

Wendell Butcher, football player

George Dayton, businessman and founder of Dayton's

Matt Entenza, minority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives

Gordon Forbes, Minnesota state representative

Francis G. Judge, Minnesota state representative

Big Tiny Little, pianist and television personality

Peter Ludlow, analytic philosopher

Stephen Miller, fourth governor of Minnesota

David Minge, U.S. representative from Minnesota and judge

Gordon Moore, justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court

Lee Nystrom, football player

Tim O'Brien, novelist known for Vietnam War literature

John Olson, state senator

Sister city

There is a sister-city relationship between Worthington and Crailsheim, Germany, the first such relationship in history between an American and a German city. The relationship began in 1947, when Martha (Cashel) McCarthy and her parents led a campaign to collect clothing and food for Crailsheim's citizens (who had endured the destruction of 90% of their city ten days prior to the end of World War II).