Local Geography: Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County Grade 8 Buffalo Community Middle School Fall 2009

YELLOW = NOTEBOOKS WHITE = READ ONLY

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

1)Land costs and taxes lower than in Twin Cities

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County 1)Land costs and taxes lower than in Twin Cities Most residents are commuters and 50%+ work in the Twin Cities

Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County 1)Land costs and taxes lower than in Twin Cities Most residents are commuters and 50%+ work in the Twin Cities Commuters trade-off larger houses/lots for longer drives

Where has the fastest growth occurred in the county?

2)Accessibility to Twin Cities (and St. Cloud) important advantage Towns along I-94 have grown fastest with their shorter drive times Eastern parts of county have become a bedroom community Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

I-94 Corridor

Fastest Growing Wright County Cities % Increase St. Michael2,50614,150465% Albertville1,2515,615349% Hanover5181,716240% Clearwater5971,315120% Montrose1,0062,145113% Monticello5,04510,662111% Otsego5,21910,584103%

2.Accessibility to Twin Cities (and St. Cloud) important advantage Towns along I-94 have grown fastest with their shorter drive times Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County St. Michael (#1 in MN) Albertville (#4 in MN)

3)Concentration of retail in larger urban places Big stores concentrated in larger cities Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

3)Concentration of retail in larger urban places Big stores concentrated in larger cities Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County People willing to travel further to shop Smaller stores cannot compete with larger ones

3)Concentration of retail in larger urban places Big stores concentrated in larger cities People willing to travel further to shop Smaller stores cannot compete with larger ones Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County Most increases in retail sales have occurred in the Golden Crescent

Largest Cities in Wright County ) St. Michael*** 14,150 2) Buffalo 13,251 3) Monticello 10,662 4) Otsego** 10,584 5) Albertville 5,615 6) Delano 4,612 7) Rockford* 3,512 8) Annandale 2,895 9) Cokato 2,726 10) Montrose 2,145 11) Howard Lake 1,966 12) Maple Lake 1,879 13) Hanover* 1,762 14) Clearwater 1,315 15) Waverly ) South Haven 208 * Does not include small numbers of Hennepin County residents ** Otsego Township became Wright Countys newest city in 1995 *** Merged with Frankfort Township in 1996

Largest Cities in Wright County ) St. Michael14,150 2) Buffalo13,251 3) Monticello10,662 4) Otsego10,584 5) Albertville 5,615 6) Delano 4,612 7) Rockford* 3,512 8) Annandale 2,895 9) Cokato 2,726 68,760

Distribution of Wright Countys Population 1920 Population: 18,104 Population of 9 Largest Cities: 1,760 % 1920 Population in 9 Largest Cities: 10% 2007 Population: 121,489 Population of 9 Largest Cities: 68,750 % 2008 Population in 9 Largest Cities: 57%

4)The county has become increasingly urbanized Over 60% of the countys residents live in cities Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

4)The county has become increasingly urbanized Over 60% of the countys residents live in cities Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County