Waseca, Minnesota

Waseca is a city in Waseca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 9,410 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Waseca County.

Transportation
U.S. Highway 14 and Minnesota Highway 13 are two of the main arterial routes in the city.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.9 sqmi, of which, 3.8 sqmi of it is land and 1.1 sqmi of it (22.42%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,493 people, 3,388 households, and 2,219 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,215.6 people per square mile (856.2/km²). There were 3,563 housing units at an average density of 929.5 per square mile (359.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.24% White, 1.39% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.50% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.10% of the population.

The ancestral makeup of the city is 44.6 % German, 21.3% Norwegian, 13.2% Irish, 5.2% English, 5.1% Swedish, and 4.6% French. There were 3,388 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,554, and the median income for a family was $49,163. Males had a median income of $35,701 versus $22,837 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,439. About 6.5% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Waseca High School (WHS) consistently has between 700 and 800 students yearly. It has a very strong music program, with its marching band (Marching Jays) consistently earning awards across the state and country, and also has a choir program. The school districts mascot is the bluejay. The school colors are blue and gold (yellow). Waseca is also home to the Waseca Junior High and Central Intermediate School (CIS). Waseca also has Hartley Elementary, a school ranging from kindergarten through third grade. Sacred Heart School is also a private elementary school ranging from kindergarten through fourth grade. Waseca also has a charter school called TEAM Academy, hosting students from kindergarten-6th grade. Until recently, TEAM Academy was sponsored by the Public Schools. Formerly, Waseca was home to the University of Minnesota Waseca two-year technical college (before it was converted to the Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca) and the Southern School of Agriculture boarding high school.

Economy
Waseca is home to Brown Printing, a subsidiary of Gruner + Jahr. Brown Printing is the fourth-largest magazine printer in the United States.

Waseca is home to the Federal Correctional Institution, Waseca, a low-security federal prison housing female inmates.

Waseca opened a waterpark in June 2007.

Waseca has finished a new bike path that surrounds Clear Lake.

Waseca is home to the Waseca Medical Center, part of the Mayo Health System.

History
The city of Waseca was founded in 1867.

On April 30, 1967, Waseca was severely damaged from the 1967 Southern Minnesota tornado outbreak.

A ticket bought in Faribault for the multi-state Powerball lottery for the May 3, 2008 drawing won the jackpot, worth approximately $180.1 million (annuity value.) The couple (who live in Waseca), married grandparents, chose the cash option of about $87.0 million.

Politics

 * Located in Minnesota's 1st congressional district represented by U.S. Representative Tim Walz (DFL).
 * Represented in the Minnesota State Senate by Mike Parry (R), District 26.
 * Represented in the Minnesota State House by Kory Kath (DFL), District 26A.
 * The current mayor is Roy Srp.

Notable residents

 * Ray J. Madden, member of the United States House of Representatives.
 * Peter McGovern, member of the Minnesota Senate.
 * Tim Penny, member of the United States House of Representatives.
 * Jeffrey Skilling, former Enron CEO, was imprisoned in the Federal Correction Institution, Waseca.
 * Leroy Shield, Composer, Conductor, Arranger of such works as Little Rascals, Laurel & Hardy,born in Waseca.*
 * Reverend E.H. Alden, founding pastor of First Congregational Church of Waseca, made famous in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series "Little House on the Prairie" where he was played by Dabbs Greer in the TV series.
 * Sean Donner, Author of "Unlucky" and "You're Actually Reading That!?" was born and raised in Waseca.