| Named for | Mora, Sweden |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Kanabec |
| Mayor | Jake Mathison |
| Mayor-Protem | Dave Youngquist |
| Unit pref | Imperial |
| Area total | 14.04 km² |
| Area land | 13.38 km² |
| Area water | 0.66 km² |
| Area total | 5.42 sq mi |
| Area land | 5.16 sq mi |
| Area water | 0.26 sq mi |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population total | 3665 |
| Population density | 274.01 km² |
| Population density | 709.72 sq mi |
| Demonym | Moran |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| Time zone (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Elevation | 1011 ft |
| Coordinates | 45°52′26″N 93°17′32″W |
| ZIP code | 55051 |
| Area code | 320 |
| FIPS code | 27-44044[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395396[2] |
| Website | ci.mora.mn.us |
Mora is a city and the county seat of Kanabec County, Minnesota.[3] It is at the junction of Minnesota highways 23 and 65 and is along the Snake River. The population was 3,665 at the 2020 census.[4]
History
Mora was platted in 1882[5] by Myron Kent.[6] The city was named after Mora, Sweden, when Israel Israelson suggested his hometown's name in Dalarna County, Sweden.[6][5] The post office opened on February 27, 1883. Kent was Mora's first postmaster.[6][7]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 5.27 square miles (13.65 km2), of which 5.00 square miles (12.95 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.70 km2) is water.[8]
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
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Mora had a population of 3,665.[9] The median age was 42.1 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 86.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 82.0 males age 18 and over.[10]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[11]
There were 1,555 households, of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 33.6% were married-couple households, 19.9% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 35.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 39.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]
There were 1,676 housing units, of which 7.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.2%.[10][9]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 3,395 | 92.6% |
| Black or African American | 29 | 0.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 50 | 1.4% |
| Asian | 16 | 0.4% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 0 | 0.0% |
| Some other race | 10 | 0.3% |
| Two or more races | 165 | 4.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 66 | 1.8% |
2010 Census
As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 3,571 people, 1,513 households, and 857 families living in the city. The population density was 714.2 inhabitants per square mile (275.8 /km2). There were 1,684 housing units at an average density of 336.8 inhabitants per square mile (130.0 /km2). 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[1] 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/km2). There were 1,471 housing units at an average density of 359.9 inhabitants per square mile (139.0 /km2). 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.[13]
Transportation
Mora is served by the Mora Municipal Airport[14] and Timber Trails Transit, a bus service in Kanabec and Mille Lacs counties.
Major highways
The following routes run through Mora:
The following county roads also serve as important routes in Mora:
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.[15]
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),[16] its top employers are:
| Employer |
| |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welia Health | 589 |
| 2 | Mora Public Schools | 354 |
| 3 | Commercial Plastics | 254 |
| 4 | Kanabec County | 217 |
| 5 | St. Clare Living Community | 125 |
| 6 | Coborns, Inc. | 121 |
| 7 | Lakes & Pines Community Action Council | 109 |
| 8 | Recovering Hope Treatment Center | 82 |
| 9 | OlymPak | 76 |
| 10 | RJ Mechanical | 76 |
Notable people
- Roger Crawford, Minnesota state representative
- Bill Diessner, Minnesota state senator
- Alice Frost, actress
- Gladys Nordenstrom, contemporary classical composer
- Henry Rines, Minnesota state treasurer and speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
- Judy Soderstrom, Minnesota state representative
- Dan Stevens, Minnesota state senator[17]
References
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
- ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 266
- ^ "Early Mora History | Mora, MN". www.ci.mora.mn.us. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
- ^ "Kanabec County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2026.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
- ^ "Early Mora History | Mora, MN". www.ci.mora.mn.us. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
- ^ "AirNav: KJMR - Mora Municipal Airport". www.airnav.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
- ^ "Mora's Swedish roots | Sr. Perspective". www.srperspective.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-25.
- ^ "Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022". City of Mora, Minnesota. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
- ^ "Stevens, Dan - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-03.