Cokato, Minnesota

Cokato ( ) is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,799 at the 2020 census.

History

Cokato was founded in 1869 when the First Division of the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad was extended to that point. The city was named after a Siouan word meaning 'amid'. Cokato was incorporated as a village in 1878.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Cokato had a population of 2,799. The median age was 38.2 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.6 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,054 households in Cokato, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.0% were married-couple households, 17.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Since 1950, Cokato has hosted the Cokato Corn Carnival annually during the second week of August in Peterson Park, near Cokato Elementary School. The festival's highlight is the serving of free corn-on-the-cob, along with a parade, midway and carnival rides, musical entertainment, the Miss Cokato coronation, and other events.

The Aho family of Cokato was featured by journalist Steve Hartman on CBS News Sunday Morning on December 9, 2012, for having 12 sons who all played football at the local high school over more than two decades.

The Miss Cokato Royalty program is a scholarship program offered to girls ages 16-18. This program encourages leadership, volunteerism, and an overall pride in one's community. The royalty program is a part of the larger umbrella of the Minneapolis Aquatennial Organization, another scholarship program for young women of Minnesota.

Government

Presidential elections

{| class=wikitable

|+ Precinct Results

! Year

! Republican

! Democratic

! Third parties

| |2020

| |68.7% 1,002

| |28.9% 421

| |2.4% 36

| |2016

| |63.4% 857

| |26.2% 354

| |10.4% 140

| |2012

| |58.2% 784

| |38.3% 516

| |3.5% 48

| |2008

| |60.1% 827

| |36.4% 501

| |3.5% 49

| |2004

| |62.2% 863

| |35.1% 487

| |2.7% 37

| |2000

| |58.6% 776

| |35.3% 467

| |6.1% 81

| |1996

| |44.2% 527

| |43.5% 518

| |12.3% 146

| |1992

| |39.2% 479

| |35.9% 438

| |24.9% 304

| |1988

| |55.1% 593

| |44.9% 484

| |0.0% 0

| |1984

| |58.4% 635

| |41.6% 452

| |0.0% 0

| |1980

| |51.4% 563

| |41.6% 455

| |7.0% 77

| |1976

| |54.5% 568

| |43.1% 449

| |2.4% 25

| |1968

| |54.5% 472

| |43.8% 379

| |1.7% 15

| |1964

| |52.2% 405

| |47.8% 371

| |0.0% 0

| |1960

| |73.2% 569

| |26.5% 206

| |0.3% 2

Education

Cokato is part of the Dassel-Cokato School District, ISD #466.

Infrastructure

U.S. Highway 12 serves as a main route in the city. The BNSF Railway serves the community as a part of the Wayzata Subdivision.

Notable people

thumb|right|The historic studio of noted Cokato photographer Gust Akerlund

Sydney Eckman Ahlstrom – university professor and historian of American religion. Graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College (B.A., 1941), the University of Minnesota (M.A., 1946), and Harvard University (Ph.D., 1952). Joined the history faculty of Yale University in 1954, where he taught until his retirement in 1984. In 1972 he published A Religious History of the American People; this landmark study won the National Book Award for Philosophy and Religion in 1973. Made a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1978. Born in Cokato 1919; Cokato High School class of 1937.
David Bromstad – interior designer and television personality. In 2006 he won the first season of HGTV Design Star. He is the host of Color Splash with David Bromstad, which debuted in 2007 on HGTV. He has also hosted HGTV's Color Splash Miami and My Lottery Dream Home. Born in Cokato 1973.
George August Borg - businessman and Minnesota state legislator
Steve Knapp – driver on the USF2000 and IndyCar circuits. USF2000 season champion in 1996. Competed in the Indianapolis 500 from 1998 to 2000. As one of only three drivers to complete all 200 laps of the 1998 Indianapolis 500, Knapp finished behind only Eddie Cheever and Buddy Lazier and won rookie of the year. Owns and operates Elite Engines, designer and manufacturer of customized racing power plants, in West Bend, WI. Dassel-Cokato High School class of 1982.

References

External links

City of Cokato Minnesota