Excelsior, Minnesota

Excelsior
City
Water Street in Excelsior
Location of Excelsior within Hennepin County and the U.S. state of Minnesota
Excelsior Location of Excelsior within Hennepin County and the U.S. state of Minnesota Excelsior Excelsior (the United States) Show map of MinnesotaShow map of the United StatesShow all
Coordinates: 44°54′12″N 93°33′59″W / 44.90333°N 93.56639°W / 44.90333; -93.56639Coordinates: 44°54′12″N 93°33′59″W / 44.90333°N 93.56639°W / 44.90333; -93.56639
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Hennepin
Founded	1853
Incorporated	1878
Government
• Mayor	Todd Carlson[1]
Area [2]
• Total	0.88 sq mi (2.27 km2)
• Land	0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2)
• Water	0.25 sq mi (0.64 km2)
Elevation	945 ft (288 m)
Population  (2010)[3]
• Total	2,188
• Estimate  (2019)[5]	2,340
• Density	3,714.29/sq mi (1,435.03/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	55331
Area code(s)	952
FIPS code	27-20078
GNIS feature ID	643477[4]
Website	www.ci.excelsior.mn.us

Excelsior is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States.^[4] Its population was 2,188 as of the 2010 census.^[6] As of 2018, its estimated population was 2,345.^[7] The community is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) southwest of downtown Minneapolis on the southern shore of Lake Minnetonka.

History[]

Streetcars were used in Excelsior until 1932, when the line was cut back to Hopkins.^[8]

20th century[]

A large ballroom called "Danceland" (later "Big Reggie's Danceland") stood across the street from Excelsior Amusement Park from the mid-1920s to 1973. Operated by Ray Colihan, it hosted performances by Lawrence Welk, Fred Waring, and the Andrews Sisters in the 1930s. These acts were followed by the Beach Boys, who performed at Danceland on May 3, 1963. Beach Boys singer Mike Love remembered the performance as a significant moment for the band in a 2019 interview. According to Love, people "were breaking the windows to get into [Danceland] because it was sold out... I said to one of my bandmates: ‘This must be like when Elvis was starting out.’”^[9] One year later on June 12, 1964, The Rolling Stones played at Danceland for an audience of 283.^[10] It is speculated that Jimmy Hutmaker, a resident of Excelsior, inspired Mick Jagger to write the 1969 Rolling Stones song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" after a chance encounter with the star at a local drugstore earlier that day. However, this claim has long been disputed.^[11]

In 1974 President Gerald Ford purchased a golden retriever named Liberty from Excelsior resident Avis Friberg.^[12]

21st century[]

Through the years, downtown Excelsior historic district has been home to many businesses including hotels, restaurants, and merchants. Since 2010, restaurants and eateries have come to dominate the town's commercial landscape. While many businesses have come and gone, Excelsior is known for maintaining its historical identity. Beyond the downtown district, Excelsior also retains much of its Victorian era housing stock. Strict building codes are enforced in order to preserve this identity.^[13]

The Excelsior Commons and Lake Minnetonka are central amenities to the community and are major draws for tourists today. The Minnesota Streetcar Museum, a local transportation museum, maintains a heritage streetcar line in Excelsior and operates three restored streetcars on the line: Twin City Lines No. 1239, Winona Power & Light Co. #10, and Duluth Street Railway No. 78.^[14]

Geography[]

Excelsior is located within Hennepin County, Minnesota on the south shore of Lake Minnetonka. It is situated approximately 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Minneapolis and is bordered by the cities of Shorewood and Greenwood. According to the United States Census Bureau, Excelsior has a total area of 0.69 square miles (1.79 km²), of which 0.63 square miles (1.63 km²) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²) is water.^[15] Minnesota State Highway 7 serves as a main route through the city, leading east-northeast 11 miles (18 km) to Highway 100 in Saint Louis Park and west 41 miles (66 km) to Hutchinson.

Demographics[]

2010 census[]

Restored TCRT streetcar No. 1239, Excelsior Streetcar Line

Restored Express Boat Minnehaha

As of the 2010 census, there were 2,188 people, 1,115 households, and 494 families living in the city.^[3] The population density was 3,473.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,340.9/km²). There were 1,254 housing units at an average density of 1,990.5 per square mile (768.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.4% White, 2.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.9% of the population.

There were 1,115 households, of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 55.7% were non-families. 48.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.82.

The median age in the city was 42 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.4% were from 25 to 44; 30.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 census, there were 2,393 people, 1,199 households, and 547 families living in the city.^[17] The population density was 3,822.9 people per square mile (1,466.6/km²). There were 1,254 housing units at an average density of 2,003.3 per square mile (768.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.07% White, 0.75% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 1.55% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.13% of the population.

There were 1,199 households, out of which 22.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 54.3% were non-families. 45.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.95 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the city was 37 years. 19.5% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,598, and the median income for a family was $61,406. Males had a median income of $40,845 versus $28,717 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,127. About 3.6% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Politics[]

Parks and recreation[]

Excelsior Commons and marina

The Commons and Port of Excelsior is a 13-acre (5.3 ha) municipal park developed in 1854.^[19] Other notable recreation areas include Excelsior Parkland, and the shoreline on Lake Minnetonka.^[20]

Education[]

Former Excelsior Public School

Excelsior is located within Independent School District 276, also known as the Minnetonka School District. Newsweek ranked Minnetonka High School at #123 in their list of America's Top High Schools.^[21] The school was rated as the #1 public high school in Minnesota by Niche.^[22]

The only school operated by Minnetonka Public Schools in Excelsior is Excelsior Elementary School. The old Excelsior Public School and Excelsior High School buildings still stand, but are no longer used as schools.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people[]

• John Berkey, science fiction and film poster artist
• Jimmy Hutmaker, local celebrity
• Liberty, presidential dog
• Terry Katzman, music producer and sound engineer (Hüsker Dü, The Replacements)^[23]
• Ryan McCartan, actor and singer
• Haley Kalil, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model and Miss Minnesota USA
• Vinni Lettieri, professional hockey player
• John Mark Nelson, singer-songwriter
• Brent Sass, American Dog Musher
• Martha Sheldon, medical missionary
• Don Shelby, television personality
• Wesley So, Super Grandmaster (chess), two times United States Chess Championship Champion in 2017 and 2020.^[24]

In popular culture[]

It is speculated that Jimmy Hutmaker, a resident of Excelsior, inspired Mick Jagger to write the 1969 Rolling Stones song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" after a chance encounter with the star at a local drugstore in 1964. However, this claim has long been disputed.^[11]

Excelsior serves as the setting for the Needlecraft Mystery book series by Monica Ferris.^[25]

References[]

External links[]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Excelsior.

• City of Excelsior official website
• Chamber of Commerce