| Baxter, Minnesota | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Crow Wing |
| Area | |
| - Total | 19.7 sq mi (50.9 km²) |
| - Land | 17.3 sq mi (44.9 km²) |
| - Water | 2.4 sq mi (6.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,207 ft (368 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 5,555 |
| - Density | 320.7/sq mi (123.8/km²) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 56401, 56425 |
| Area code(s) | 218 |
| FIPS code | 27-04042GR2 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0639737GR3 |
Baxter is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,555 at the 2000 census.
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Geography
Baxter is located just north of the geographical center of Minnesota, in a terminal moraine area created by the Superior Lobe of the Labradorian ice sheet. The city is home to numerous lakes and ponds. Baxter is bordered on the west by Cass County and on the east by Brainerd. The Mississippi River marks the current southern border but expansion both north and south is possible. Along with the rest of Crow Wing County and parts of the adjoining counties, Baxter is part of the so-called Brainerd Lakes Area. Many residents of Baxter work in Brainerd or consider themselves Brainerd residents. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.7 square miles (50.9 km²), of which, 17.3 square miles (44.9 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (6.1 km²) of it (11.95%) is water.
History
A suburb of nearby Brainerd, Baxter owes its existence to the Northern Pacific Railroad, which operated a large tie-treating plant, since closed, in the area during the 1920s. Farming was also an important early industry. Baxter was incorporated on May 25, 1939. The town is named after Luther Baxter, an attorney for the railroad who served in the Minnesota Legislature and as a colonel in the Civil War. Tourism and various service industries have become Baxter's biggest employers, and numerous housing subdivisions have been developed in the wooded area west of Minnesota State Highway 371, which passes through the town. Owing to the amount of unused land in the area, commercial development along the highway itself has also increased in recent years, though it has tended to conform to the pattern of urban sprawl.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 5,555 people, 1,921 households, and 1,586 families residing in the city. The population density was 320.7 people per square mile (123.8/km²). There were 1,979 housing units at an average density of 114.3/sq mi (44.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.63% White, 0.02% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population. There were 1,921 households out of which 45.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.4% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.17. In the city the population was spread out with 31.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $52,289, and the median income for a family was $55,838. Males had a median income of $38,375 versus $26,667 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,772. About 2.3% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
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