Local Geography: Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

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

2. YELLOW = NOTEBOOKS • WHITE = READ ONLY

3. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County

6. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County • Land costs and taxes lower than in Twin Cities

8. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County • Land costs and taxes lower than in Twin Cities Most residents are “commuters” and 50%+ work in the Twin Cities

12. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County • 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

15. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County • 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

16. I-94 Corridor

17. Fastest Growing Wright County Cities 1990-2006

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

19. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County • Concentration of retail in larger urban places Big stores concentrated in larger cities

20. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County • 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

21. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County • 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 Most increases in retail sales have occurred in the “Golden Crescent”

22. Largest Cities inWright County 2008 1) St. Michael***14,150 2) Buffalo 13,251 3) Monticello 10,662 4) Otsego** 10,584 5) Albertville5,615 6) Delano 4,612 7) Rockford* 3,512 8) Annandale 2,895 9) Cokato 2,726 10) Montrose 2,145 11) Howard Lake1,966 12) Maple Lake1,879 13) Hanover* 1,762 14) Clearwater 1,315 15) Waverly 925 16) South Haven208 * Does not include small numbers of Hennepin County residents ** Otsego Township became Wright County’s newest city in 1995 *** Merged with Frankfort Township in 1996

23. Largest Cities inWright County 2008 1) 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 68,760

24. Distribution of Wright County’s 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%

25. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County • The county has become increasingly urbanized Over 60% of the county’s residents live in cities

26. Settlement Factors in Present-Day Wright County • The county has become increasingly urbanized Over 60% of the county’s residents live in cities