Mankato, Minnesota

{{short description|City in Minnesota, United States}} {{Redirect|Mankato}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Mankato, Minnesota | settlement_type = City | nickname = Key City | motto = "Leading the way..." | image_skyline = {{multiple image | border = infobox | total_width = 280 | perrow = 1/1/2 | caption_align = center | image1 = 2009-0805-Mankato-NFrontStDist.jpg | caption1 = Downtown Mankato | image2 = Minnesota State University (cropped).jpg | caption2 = Minnesota State University, Mankato | image3 = Blue Earth County Courthouse.jpg | caption3 = Historic Blue Earth County Courthouse | image4 = Verizon Wireless Center.jpg | caption4 = Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center }} | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_blank_emblem = Mankato, Minnesota Logo.png | blank_emblem_size = 75px | blank_emblem_type = Logo | mapframe = yes | mapframe-point = none | pushpin_map = Minnesota#USA | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Minnesota##Location within the United States | pushpin_label = Mankato | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Minnesota | subdivision_type2 = Counties | subdivision_name2 = Blue Earth, Nicollet, Le Sueur | government_footnotes = | government_type = City charter | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Najwa Massad<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mankato City Council {{!}} Mankato, MN |url=https://www.mankatomn.gov/your-government/city-council |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=www.mankatomn.gov |language=en }}</ref> | leader_title1 = City manager | leader_name1 = Susan Arntz<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Manager's Office {{!}} Mankato, MN |url=https://www.mankatomn.gov/your-government/city-manager-s-office |access-date=June 29, 2023 |website=www.mankatomn.gov |language=en }}</ref> | leader_title2 = Councilmembers | leader_name2 = Mike Laven Michael McLaughlin Dennis Dieken Kevin Mettler Jenn Melby-Kelley Jessica Hatanpa | established_title = Founded | established_date = February 1852 | established_title1 = Incorporated | established_date1 = March 6, 1868 | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web|title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 31, 2024}}</ref> | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 52.393 | area_land_km2 = 51.487 | area_water_km2 = 0.905 | area_total_sq_mi = 20.229 | area_land_sq_mi = 19.879 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.350 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_est = 45742 | pop_est_as_of = 2023 | pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/> | population_footnotes = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/> | population_total = 44488 | population_density_km2 = 887.79 | population_density_sq_mi = 2299.39 | population_rank = US: 876th MN: 22nd | population_urban = 60206 (US: 453rd) | population_metro = 104248 (US: 352nd) | population_demonym = Mankatoans | timezone = Central (CST) | utc_offset = −6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = −5 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_m = 307 | elevation_ft = 1007 | coordinates = {{coord|44|09|53|N|94|00|50|W|region:US-MN_type:city|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = ZIP Codes | postal_code = 56001, 56002, 56003 | area_codes = 507 and 924 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 27-39878 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2395831<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395831}}</ref> | blank2_name = Sales tax | blank2_info = 7.875%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/minnesota/cities/mankato.html|title=Mankato (MN) sales tax rate|access-date=April 28, 2024}}</ref> | website = {{URL|https://www.mankatomn.gov/|mankatomn.gov}} | footnotes = }} '''Mankato''' ({{IPAc-en|m|æ|n|ˈ|k|eɪ|t|oʊ|audio=En-us-Mankato.ogg}} {{respell|man|KAY|toh}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |title=Minnesota Pronunciation Guide |website=Associated Press |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722194213/http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |archive-date=July 22, 2011}}</ref> is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is the county seat of Blue Earth County. It is the 21st-largest city in Minnesota and fourth-largest outside of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area, with a population of 44,488 at the 2020 census.<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Mankato_city,_Minnesota?g=160XX00US2739878 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 28, 2024}}</ref> The Mankato–North Mankato metropolitan area has an estimated 105,000 residents.<ref name=PopEstCBSA>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#v2024 |title=Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau, Population Division |date=March 13, 2025 |access-date=March 13, 2025 }}</ref>

Mankato lies along a large bend of the Minnesota River at its confluence with the Blue Earth River. The city is home to Minnesota State University, the state's second-largest university by enrollment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Minnesota State University overtakes St. Cloud as MnSCU enrollment continues decline|date=September 10, 2014 |publisher=Mankato Free Press |url=http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/article_1535815e-95e3-5701-b9d0-d06bc85af8c7.html |access-date=September 11, 2014}}</ref>

==History== [[File:Blue Earth County History Center and Museum SW.jpg|thumb|left|Blue Earth County History Center]] Mankato Township was not settled by European Americans until Parsons King Johnson in February 1852, as part of the 19th-century migration of people from the east across the Midwest. New residents organized the city of Mankato on May 11, 1858, the day Minnesota became a state. The city was organized by Johnson, Henry Jackson, Daniel A. Robertson, Justus C. Ramsey, and others.

A popular story says that the city was supposed to have been named ''Mahkato'', but a typographical error by a clerk established the name as Mankato.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.blueearthcountymn.gov/164/History |title=History of Blue Earth County |website=Blue Earth County, Minnesota |access-date=November 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814195748/https://www.blueearthcountymn.gov/164/History |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Warren Upham, quoting historian Thomas Hughes of Mankato, "The honor of christening the new city was accorded to Col. Robertson. He had taken the name from Nicollet's book, in which the French explorer compared the 'Mahkato' or Blue Earth River, with all its tributaries, to the water nymphs and their uncle in the German legend of Undine...No more appropriate name could be given the new city, than that of the noble river at whose mouth it is located."<ref name="Upham">{{Cite book |title=Minnesota Place Names, A Geographical Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition |last=Upham |first=Warren |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |year=2001 |isbn=0-87351-396-7 |location=Saint Paul, Minnesota |page=65 |author-link=Warren Upham}}</ref> While it is uncertain that the city was intended to be called Mahkato, the Dakota called the river ''Makato Osa Watapa'' ("the river where blue earth is gathered"). The Anglo settlers adapted that as "Blue Earth River".<ref name="Upham"/> Frederick Webb Hodge, in the ''Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico'', said the town was named after the older of the two like-named chiefs of the Mdewakanton nation of the Santee Dakota, whose village stood on or near the site of the present town.

Ishtakhaba, also known as Chief Sleepy Eye, of the Sisseton band, was said to have directed settlers to this location. He said the site at the confluence of the Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers was well suited to building and river traffic, and yet safe from flooding.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ish Tak Ha Be (Sleepy Eye) |work=Minnesota State University Mankato |access-date=July 5, 2021 |date=May 31, 2010 |url=http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mncultures/sleepyeye.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531190751/http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mncultures/sleepyeye.html |archive-date=May 31, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Execution of 38 Sioux Indians at Mankato Minnesota 1862 (cleaned).jpg|thumb|left|The mass execution of the 38 Sioux (Dakota) at Mankato, Minnesota, 1862]] On December 26, 1862, United States Volunteers of the State of Minnesota carried out the largest mass execution in U.S. history at Mankato after the Dakota War of 1862. Companies of the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Minnesota Infantry Regiments, and Minnesota Cavalry oversaw the hanging of 38 men: 35 Santee Sioux and 3 biracial French/native American, for their involvement in the war crimes committed during the uprising.<ref name="9NPS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UMN0009RI|title=Battle Unit Details - The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov|accessdate=March 20, 2025}}</ref><ref name="10NPS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=UMN0010RI|title=Battle Unit Details - The Civil War (U.S. National Park Service)|website=www.nps.gov|accessdate=March 20, 2025}}</ref> A USV military tribunal reviewed nearly 500 cases, of which 303 received a death sentence, but President Abraham Lincoln requested the court files. He reviewed them, placing the rape cases at the top, and pardoning 265. Episcopal Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple urged leniency, to which Lincoln responded that he had to take a balanced approach. His position and dismissals were unpopular in Minnesota. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the event a large granite marker was erected that stood at the site until 1971, when the city took it down. Today, a different monument marks the execution site. Across the street are two monuments to the Native Americans in what it called Reconciliation Park. The Blue Earth County Library, Main street and Reconciliation Park cover the immediate vicinity of the execution site.

In 1880, Mankato was Minnesota's fourth-most populous city, with 5,500 residents.<ref>''Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia'', Minnesota Historical Society website. http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/index.cfm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620200046/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/index.cfm |date=June 20, 2007}}</ref>

Former Vice President Schuyler Colfax died while traveling through Mankato on January 13, 1885.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Glass |first1=Andrew |title=Former House Speaker Schuyler Colfax dies, Jan. 13, 1885 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/01/former-house-speaker-schuyler-colfax-dies-jan-13-1885-031410 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |work=Politico |date=January 13, 2010 |language=en }}</ref>

==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|20.229|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|19.879|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.350|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/> The Minnesota, Blue Earth, and Le Sueur rivers all flow through or near the city.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}} {{wide image|Mankato, Minnesota.jpg|350px||100%|center |alt=Mankato, Minnesota}}

===Climate=== {{more citations needed section|date=May 2015}} Mankato has a humid continental climate, type ''Dfa'' (hot summer subtype).<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Mankato, Minnesota Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase) |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=700612&cityname=North+Mankato,+Minnesota,+United+States+of+America&units= |access-date=January 18, 2023 |website=Weatherbase }}</ref> Winters are cold, with snow cover (continuous most winter seasons) beginning typically between mid-November and mid-December, ending in March most years. However, Mankato often receives less snow than areas to its north and east. For example, Minneapolis, {{convert|75|mi|km}} northeast of Mankato, averages over {{convert|54|in|cm}} of snow per winter season, compared to Mankato's seasonal average of {{convert|35|in|cm}}. The coldest month, January, has an average monthly temperature around {{convert|14|F|C|sigfig=2}}. Dangerously low wind-chill temperatures are a significant hazard during the winter months, as Arctic air outbreaks rush into the area from Canada, borne on high winds; this can bring about ground blizzard conditions, especially in nearby rural areas.

Summers are warm, with occasional but usually brief hot, humid periods, often interspersed with pushes of cooler air from Canada, often preceded by showers and thunderstorms. The hottest month, July, has an average monthly temperature of around {{convert|73|F|C|1}}. Precipitation falls year round, but falls mostly as snow from December to February, sometimes March, and as showers and thunderstorms during the warmer season, from May to September. Mankato's average wettest months are from June to August, with frequent thunderstorm activity. Mankato lies on the northern fringe of the central United States’ main tornado belt, with lower risk than in Iowa and Missouri to the south. The highest-risk months for severe thunderstorms and (rarely) tornadoes, are May through July. However, a very unusual early tornado outbreak affected areas within {{convert|20|mi|km}} of Mankato on March 29, 1998, when an F3 tornado hit St. Peter, {{convert|13|mi|km}} to the north. On August 17, 1946, tornadoes struck southwestern areas of Mankato and the town of Wells to the southeast, killing 11 people.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/memories-of-tornado-remain-vivid/article_1a50111b-5a55-510a-b44d-8240a64eb286.html |title=Memories of 1946 tornado remain vivid |last=Nienaber |first=Dan |date=May 31, 2006 |work=Mankato Free Press |access-date=November 21, 2019 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205032121/https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/memories-of-tornado-remain-vivid/article_1a50111b-5a55-510a-b44d-8240a64eb286.html |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Weather box |location = Mankato, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1954–present |single line = Yes

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA> {{cite web |url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00215073&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Mankato, MN |access-date = November 23, 2024 }} </ref> |source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData> {{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=mpx |publisher = National Weather Service |title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Minneapolis |access-date = November 23, 2024 }} </ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1870= 3482 |1880= 5550 |1890= 8838 |1900= 10599 |1910= 10365 |1920= 12469 |1930= 14039 |1940= 15654 |1950= 18809 |1960= 23797 |1970= 30895 |1980= 28651 |1990= 31477 |2000= 32427 |2010= 39309 |2020= 44488 |estyear=2023 |estimate=45742 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|date=October 31, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 31, 2024}}</ref> |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref> 2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/> | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable" |+'''Mankato, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} ! Race / ethnicity (''NH = non-Hispanic'') ! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mankato city, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US2739878|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 31, 2024}}</ref> ! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mankato city, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2739878&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 31, 2024}}</ref> ! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mankato city, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2739878&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 31, 2024}}</ref> ! % 2000 ! % 2010 ! {{partial|% 2020}} |- | White alone (NH) | 29,670 | 34,656 | style='background: #ffffe6; |34,381 | 91.50% | 88.16% | style='background: #ffffe6; |77.28% |- | Black or African American alone (NH) | 608 | 1,560 | style='background: #ffffe6; |3,652 | 1.87% | 3.97% | style='background: #ffffe6; |8.21% |- | Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 100 | 104 | style='background: #ffffe6; |162 | 0.31% | 0.26% | style='background: #ffffe6; |0.36% |- | Asian alone (NH) | 903 | 1,092 | style='background: #ffffe6; |1,698 | 2.78% | 2.78% | style='background: #ffffe6; |3.82% |- | Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 30 | 16 | style='background: #ffffe6; |21 | 0.09% | 0.04% | style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05% |- | Other race alone (NH) | 21 | 37 | style='background: #ffffe6; |184 | 0.06% | 0.09% | style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41% |- | Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 376 | 691 | style='background: #ffffe6; |1,801 | 1.16% | 1.76% | style='background: #ffffe6; |4.05% |- | Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 719 | 1,153 | style='background: #ffffe6; |2,589 | 2.22% | 2.93% | style='background: #ffffe6; |5.82% |- | '''Total''' | '''32,427''' | '''39,309''' | style='background: #ffffe6; |'''44,488''' | '''100.00%''' | '''100.00%''' | style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===American Community Survey=== As of the 2022 American Community Survey, there are 17,605 estimated households in Mankato with an average of 2.31 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $61,726. Approximately 22.5% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Mankato has an estimated 71.1% employment rate, with 37.6% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.6% 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 (89.5), Spanish (2.7%), Other Indo-European (1.6%), Asian and Pacific Islander (2.2%), and other (3.9%).

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, there were 44,488 people, 17,576 households, and 8,344 families residing in the city.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A39878&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 10, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL"/> The population density was {{convert|2305.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

The median age was 27.7 years; 5.0% of residents were under age 5, 18.3% were under the age of 18, and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.8 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020PL"/>

99.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.1% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A39878&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 10, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

Of the 17,576 households, 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 32.9% were married-couple households, 26.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 18,855 housing units at an average density of {{convert|977.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}; 6.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A39878&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 10, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | White || 35,156 || 79.0% |- | Black or African American || 3,744 || 8.4% |- | American Indian and Alaska Native || 238 || 0.5% |- | Asian || 1,703 || 3.8% |- | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 29 || 0.1% |- | Some other race || 1,044 || 2.3% |- | Two or more races || 2,574 || 5.8% |- | ''Hispanic or Latino (of any race)'' || 2,589 || 5.8% |}

===2010 census=== As of the 2010 census, there were 39,309 people, 14,851 households, and 7,093 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2195.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 15,784 housing units at an average density of {{convert|881.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup was 89.94% White, 4.03% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.78% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from some other races and 2.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.93% of the population.

There were 14,851 households, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 52.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 25.4 years. 16.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 32.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 16.6% were from 45 to 64; and 10.6% were 65 years of age or older. The city's gender makeup was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

===2000 census=== As of the 2000 census, there were 32,427 people, 12,367 households, and 6,059 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2132.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 12,759 housing units at an average density of {{convert|839.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. The racial makeup was 92.55% White, 1.90% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.81% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from some other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.22% of the population.

There were 12,367 households, of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.0% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90.

16.9% of the city's residents were under the age of 18; 32.5% were between age 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 15.4% were from 45 to 64; and 11.3% were age 65 or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,956, and the median income for a family was $47,297. Males had a median income of $30,889 versus $22,081 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,652. About 8.5% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over. ==Economy== [[File:Walmart distribution center in Mankato.jpg|thumb|Walmart distribution center in Mankato]]

===Top employers=== According to the City's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mankatomn.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/13492/638252063282800000 |title=City of Mankato 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report |format=PDF |page=223 |date=April 28, 2024}}</ref> the largest employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable" |- ! # ! Employer ! # of employees ! Percentage |- | 1 | Mankato Area Public Schools ISD #77 | 2,123 | 8.06% |- | 2 | Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato | 1,300 | 4.94% |- | 3 | Minnesota State University, Mankato | 1,300 | 4.94% |- | 4 | Walmart Distribution Center | 525 | 1.99% |- | 5 | Blue Earth County | 491 | 1.86% |- | 6 | Mankato Clinic | 425 | 1.61% |- | 7 | Mankato Rehabilitation Center Inc. Industrial Operation | 375 | 1.42% |- | 8 | Compeer Financial | 362 | 1.37% |- | 9 | Johnson Outdoors-Mankato | 360 | 1.37% |- | 10 | The City of Mankato | 313 | 1.19% |- |— |'''Total employers''' |'''7,574''' |'''28.75%''' |}

==Arts and culture== ===Major events=== *Minnesota State University was home to the Minnesota Vikings summer training camp for 52 years.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/23/mankato-readies-for-vikings-training-camp/ |title=Mankato readies for Vikings training camp |work=The Washington Times |access-date=November 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121041940/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/23/mankato-readies-for-vikings-training-camp/ |archive-date=November 21, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Vikings announced their training camp would move to Eagan starting in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-mankato-part-ways-after-one-final-training-camp-beginning-next-week/435183473/#1 |title=Minnesota Vikings, Mankato part ways after one final training camp beginning next week |last=Olson |first=Rochelle |date=July 19, 2017 |website=Star Tribune |access-date=August 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731070612/http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-mankato-part-ways-after-one-final-training-camp-beginning-next-week/435183473/#1 |archive-date=July 31, 2017 |url-status=live}}Vikings-Mankato-Part-Ways</ref>

===Places of interest=== [[File:HappyChef.jpg|thumb|The original Happy Chef Restaurant and corporate offices on U.S. Highway 169]]

*The Betsy & Tacy Houses *Blue Earth County Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) *Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota *Federal Courthouse and Post Office (NRHP) *First National Bank of Mankato (NRHP) *First Presbyterian Church (NRHP) *Good Counsel Hill *Happy Chef original restaurant and company headquarters; Mankato also is home to the last surviving {{Convert|36|ft|adj=on}} Happy Chef statue *The Hubbard House Blue Earth County Historical Society – French Second Empire style built in 1871 (NRHP) *ISG Field, home of the Mankato Moondogs of the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league *The Cray Mansion (NRHP) *River Hills Mall *Sibley Park is a city park along the river in Mankato. *The Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, an arena in downtown Mankato formerly operated under the names Mankato Civic Center, Midwest Wireless Civic Center, Alltel Center, Verizon Wireless Center, and Verizon Center<ref name="VZCenter">{{Cite news |url=http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/civic-center-to-be-alltel-center/article_efdf94f4-d787-50d6-a832-ee241330328f.html |title=Civic center to be Alltel Center |last=Linehan |first=Dan |date=June 25, 2007 |work=Mankato Free Press |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321182539/http://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/civic-center-to-be-alltel-center/article_efdf94f4-d787-50d6-a832-ee241330328f.html |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> *Vetter Stone Amphitheater<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Robb |date=May 26, 2023 |title=Ready to rock? Concert season heating up at Vetter Stone Amphitheater |url=https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/lifestyles/ready-to-rock-concert-season-heating-up-at-vetter-stone-amphitheater/article_8be17df0-fb3e-11ed-99a0-e7a179d2ba2f.html |access-date=May 12, 2024 |work=Mankato Free Press }}</ref>

===Library=== The Blue Earth County Library, part of the Traverse des Sioux Library System, serves the city.

==Government== {{PresHead|place=Mankato, Minnesota|whig=no|source=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/ |title=Minnesota Election Results |website=Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State |access-date=August 13, 2024}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|2000|Democratic|6,465|7,349|1,446|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2004|Democratic|8,224|10,573|304|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|8,099|12,632|575|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2012|Democratic|7,942|11,901|812|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2016|Democratic|8,056|9,922|2,297|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2020|Democratic|8,032|12,651|628|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2024|Democratic|9,175|12,079|527|Minnesota}} {{PresFoot}}Mankato is in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, represented by Brad Finstad.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3598486-republican-rep-brad-finstad-sworn-in-to-finish-hagedorns-house-term/ |title=Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term |date=August 12, 2022 }}</ref> It is in Minnesota Senate district 19, represented by Nick Frentz, and Minnesota House district 19B, represented by Luke Frederick. Mankato voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news |title=An Extremely Detailed Map of the 2020 Election |last1=Park |first1=Alice |last2=Smart |first2=Charlie |last3=Taylor |first3=Rumsey |last4=Watkins |first4=Miles |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.html |date=January 3, 2019 |access-date=February 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202111549/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/upshot/2020-election-map.htmle |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Education== [[File:2009-0805-BLC-OldMain.jpg|thumb|right|Old Main, Bethany Lutheran College]] The Mankato Area Public Schools are consolidated to include the cities of Mankato, North Mankato, Eagle Lake, and Madison Lake. There are ten elementary schools (Franklin, Eagle Lake, Kennedy, Washington, Roosevelt, Jefferson, Monroe, Hoover, Rosa Parks, and Bridges); two middle schools (Dakota Meadows Middle School and Prairie Winds Middle School); and two high schools (Mankato West High School and Mankato East High School).

Mankato has four parochial schools: Loyola Catholic School, Immanuel Lutheran Grade School and High School (K–12), Mount Olive Lutheran School (K–8) and Risen Savior Lutheran School (K–8). There is also a public charter school, Kato Public Charter School. The alternative school Central High, on Fulton Street, is another educational option.

===Higher education institutions=== * Minnesota State University was opened as the second state normal school in 1868 and is the second largest university in the state of Minnesota by enrollment. With an annual operating budget of over $200 million, Minnesota State provides a net economic benefit of over $452 million annually to Minnesota's south-central region.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.advancement.mnscu.edu/resources/publications/economicimpact/docs/MinnesotaStateUniversityMankato_EconomicImpact.pdf |title=The Economic Impact of Minnesota State University, Mankato |publisher=Amherst H. Wilder Research Foundation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426221522/http://www.advancement.mnscu.edu/resources/publications/economicimpact/docs/MinnesotaStateUniversityMankato_EconomicImpact.pdf |archive-date=April 26, 2016 |access-date=October 23, 2015 }}</ref> It is one of the largest employers in the Mankato area.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://tcbmag.com/news/articles/2018/may/how-mankato-came-to-be-minnesota-s-hottest-economi |title=How Mankato Came to Be Minnesota's Hottest Economic Region |last=Stavig |first=Vicky |date=April 25, 2018 |access-date=August 16, 2018 |publisher=Twin Cities Business Magazine |agency=MSP Communications |quote=Top Five Employers: Taylor Cos. (2,400 employees), Mayo Clinic Health System (1,830 employees), Minnesota State University Mankato (1,700 employees), Mankato Area Public Schools (1,200 employees), MRCI (1,200 employees), Source: Greater Mankato Growth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817023156/http://tcbmag.com/news/articles/2018/may/how-mankato-came-to-be-minnesota-s-hottest-economi |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> * South Central College * Bethany Lutheran College * Rasmussen University

==Media== The major daily newspaper in the area is the ''Mankato Free Press''.

===Television=== * KMNF-CD 7 (NBC/CW) * KEYC-TV 12 (CBS/Fox) * K14KE-D 14 (independent, repeater of KSTC) * K26CS-D 26 (PBS, repeater of KTCA) * K29IE-D 29 (PBS, repeater of KTCI) * K30FN-D 30 (ABC, repeater of KSTP-TV)

===Radio=== ====FM==== {{colbegin}} * 89.1 FM, KTIS (AM), Christian talk and teaching * 89.7 FM, KMSU, college radio * 90.5 FM, KNGA, Minnesota Public Radio * 91.5 FM, KGAC, classical * 93.1 FM, KATO-FM, classic hits * 94.1 FM, KXLP, classic rock * 94.9 FM, KTIS-FM, contemporary Christian music * 95.3 FM, KCMP, adult album alternative * 95.7 FM, KMKO-FM, active rock * 96.7 FM, KDOG, top 40 * 99.1 FM, KEEZ-FM, adult contemporary * 100.5 FM, KXAC, country * 101.5 FM, KEMJ, adult contemporary * 101.7 FM, KMKO-FM, active rock * 102.7 FM, KTOE, news/talk * 103.1 FM, KFSP, sport talk * 103.5 FM, KYSM-FM, country * 104.5 FM, KJLY, Christian * 105.1 FM, KCMP, adult album alternative * 105.5 FM, KRBI-FM, adult contemporary * 107.1 FM, KJLY, Christian {{colend}}

====AM==== * 860, KNUJ (AM), news/talk * 1230, KFSP, sports talk * 1420, KTOE, news/talk

==Infrastructure== ===Transportation=== Public transportation in Mankato is provided by the Mankato Transit System. The city is served by Mankato Regional Airport, which has no commercial flights. Under MnDOT's 2015 State Rail Plan, Mankato is listed as a Tier 1 Corridor for regional rail service from Minneapolis and/or St. Paul. U.S. Highways 14 and 169 and Minnesota State Highways 22 and 60 are four of Mankato's main routes.

====Major highways==== The following routes are within the city of Mankato. * 20px U.S. Highway 14 * 20px U.S. Highway 169 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 22 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 60 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 83

==In popular culture== The protagonist of Sinclair Lewis's 1920 novel ''Main Street'', Carol Milford, is a former Mankato resident. Lewis describes Mankato as follows: "In its garden-sheltered streets and aisles of elms is white and green New England reborn", alluding to its many migrants from New England, who brought their culture with them. Lewis wrote a substantial portion of the novel while staying at the J.W. Schmidt House at 315 South Broad Street, as now marked by a small plaque in front of the building.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitgreatermankato.com/visitors-attractions-hist.php |title=Historical Attractions |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714062942/http://www.visitgreatermankato.com/visitors-attractions-hist.php |archive-date=July 14, 2013 |access-date=June 4, 2013}}</ref>

In 1996, Don Descy created the website city-mankato.us, which was filled with a wildly inaccurate portrayal of the city. Descy described it as a tool for teaching that not everything on the internet should be believed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dyslin |first=Amanda |title=Parody Web site fools two into visiting Mankato |url=https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/parody-web-site-fools-two-into-visiting-mankato/article_9865ee98-4068-5740-857a-32b10ae261da.html |access-date=April 20, 2021 |website=Mankato Free Press |date=August 21, 2007 |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Tina |date=March 4, 1999 |title=Whales in the Minnesota River |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/04/technology/whales-in-the-minnesota-river.html |access-date=May 30, 2021 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US }}</ref>

==Hotdish== In 2016 ''Food & Wine'' credited a 1930 Mankato church congregation cookbook as the first written record of a hotdish recipe. Many churches publish cookbooks with recipes submitted by their congregation as fund raisers.<ref>{{cite web |title=The enduring love for church cookbooks |url=https://www.livinglutheran.org/2021/04/the-enduring-love-for-church-cookbooks/ |website=Living Lutheran |date=April 21, 2021 |access-date=March 4, 2023 }}</ref> The source included neither the name of the woman who invented the recipe nor the source. Mankato resident Joyce Nelson had a copy of the 1930 Lutheran church recipe book and it was found that the recipe was indeed included in that year's cookbook. Mrs. C. W. Anderson had submitted a recipe for a "HOT DISH" made with hamburger, onions, Creamette pasta, celery, a can of peas, tomato soup and tomatoes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Christman |first1=Pat |title=Mankato cookbook gets credit for first hot dish recipe |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/03/12/mankato-cookbook-gets-credit-for-first-hot-dish-recipe |website=MPR News |date=March 12, 2016 |access-date=March 4, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sharing Food: Minnesota's own hot dish |url=https://mndaily.com/264301/arts-entertainment/sharing-food-minnesotas-own-hot-dish/ |website=The Minnesota Daily |access-date=March 4, 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people== {{Unreferenced section|date=March 2026}} {{div col}} *Daniel Akerson, former CEO of General Motors *Barry Anderson, associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court *Walter Jackson Bate, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, born in Mankato in 1918 *Daniel Buck, Minnesota jurist and politician *Con Bunde, Alaska state legislator and educator *Frederick Russell Burnham, "father of the international scouting movement", born near Mankato in 1861 *Howard Burnham, mining engineer, born near Mankato in 1870 *Joseph Francis Busch, Roman Catholic prelate, Diocese of Rapid City, Diocese of Saint Cloud, Minnesota *Jimmy Chin, professional climber and mountaineer, Academy Award winner for Best Documentary *George Contant, outlaw of the American West, brother of John Sontag *Marvel Cooke, journalist, writer and civil rights activist *David R. Cummiskey, Minnesota legislator *Craig Dahl, NFL safety, New York Giants *Adolph Olson Eberhart, seventeenth governor of Minnesota *William S. Ervin, attorney general of Minnesota<ref>{{cite book |date=1937 |title=The Legislative Manual of the State of Minnesota |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OLsqAAAAMAAJ&q=%22william+s.+ervin%22+%22university+of+minnesota%22 |location=Saint Paul, MN |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State |page=482 |via=Google Books |ref={{sfnRef|''Legislative Manual'' (1937)}} }}</ref> *Ronald G. Evans, Minnesota legislator and businessman *Cliff Fagan, basketball referee, Basketball Hall of Fame *Sal Frederick, Minnesota legislator and businessman *Kelly Gage, Minnesota legislator and lawyer *Milton Hanna, Civil War veteran, Medal of Honor recipient *Justin Hartwig, former NFL center *Geoff Herbach, novelist *Robert Louis Hodapp, Roman Catholic bishop *Ron Johnson, U.S. senator for Wisconsin<ref>{{cite web |title=JOHNSON, Ron |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/J000293 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=November 12, 2025}}</ref> *Jack Kodell, stage magician *Sinclair Lewis, author *Mike Lindell, founder of MyPillow *Maud Hart Lovelace, author of the Betsy-Tacy series of books *Bob Paffrath, professional football player *Melissa Peterman, actress and comedian, graduated from Minnesota State University *Mark Piepho, Minnesota politician and businessman *Mike Ploog, comic book and film-production artist *Edmund Mann Pope, United States military officer, businessman, and Minnesota state senator * Jeanne Audrey Powers, leader within the United Methodist Church and advocate for women and LGBTQ+ people in the church *Dudley Riggs, Brave New Workshop, graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato *Joseph Rosser, secretary of Minnesota Territory and lawyer *Daniel L. Ryan, Roman Catholic bishop *Ervin Harold Schulz, businessman, newspaper editor, and Minnesota politician *Roy F. Schulz, farmer and Minnesota politician *Julia Sears, pioneering feminist and suffragette *John Sontag, outlaw, born in Mankato; crimes in Minnesota and California *Steven B. Szarke, born in Mankato, Minnesota state legislator and lawyer *Glen Taylor, owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx basketball teams *Adam Thielen, NFL wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings, graduated from Minnesota State University *Arthur S. Thomas, chief of chaplains of the U.S. Air Force *John Eaton Tourtellotte, lawyer, Civil War general *Alma Wagen, first female guide at Mount Rainier National Park *Tim Walz, 41st governor of Minnesota, former U.S. representative for Minnesota's 1st congressional district, and running mate for Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election *Cedric Yarbrough, actor, graduated from Minnesota State University *Steve Zahn, actor and comedian, was raised in Mankato {{div col end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline}} *{{Wikivoyage inline}} *{{Official website|https://www.mankatomn.gov/ }} * [https://greatermankato.com/ Mankato Chamber of Commerce] * [https://greatermankato.com/visit-mankato/ Greater Mankato Convention & Visitors Bureau]

{{Blue Earth County, Minnesota}} {{Le Sueur County, Minnesota}} {{Nicollet County, Minnesota}} {{Mankato North Mankato MSA}} {{Minnesota}} {{Minnesota county seats}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Mankato, Minnesota Category:Cities in Blue Earth County, Minnesota Category:Cities in Le Sueur County, Minnesota Category:Cities in Nicollet County, Minnesota Category:Mankato–North Mankato metropolitan area Category:Cities in Minnesota Category:County seats in Minnesota Category:Dakota toponyms Category:1852 establishments in Minnesota Territory Category:Minnesota placenames of Native American origin Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1852