Rice is a city in Benton County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,975 at the 2020 census. Its zip code also encompasses Graham, Langola, and Watab townships.

Rice is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Originally an Ojibwe territory, Sand Prairie, saw its first settlers of European origin in the autumn of 1844.

Under a mandate of the United States government and after the Ojibwe ceded their land in the Treaty of 1837, the Territory of Minnesota was established in 1849. Benton County became one of nine organized counties. The village of Rice was named after Massachusetts born hotelier and mill owner, George T. Rice. Rice migrated to the village of Langola in 1864 to develop the area. In 1877, the Northern Pacific Railroad came through, and George T. Rice hired F.W. Earl to build the Luther hotel. The village of Rice became officially incorporated within Benton County, on July 18, 1890, as a farming community.

On April 14, 1886, Rice, along with Sauk Rapids and St Cloud, were hit by the Sauk Rapids Tornado. It is the deadliest in the history of Minnesota.

In 1993, Rice was named a Tree City USA by The National Arbor Day Foundation.

Rice has been awarded the "Minnesota Star City" designation for economic development.

Geography

thumb|left|A pine stand in Rice, MN. The city was named a Tree City USA in 1993

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

U.S. Highway 10 serves as a main route in the community.

The Mississippi River is located west of Rice, and Little Rock Lake is located east.

The terrain is largely sandy and flat and was historically prairie grassland and oak savannah. Today, numerous pine and poplar intersperse irrigated farm fields with small areas of prairie terrain.

Climate

Culture

Historical sites

  • Immaculate Conception Church
  • Old Rice Village Hall

Festivals and special activities

  • Rice Loves Its Kids Month (February)
  • Memorial Day Remembrance
  • Summerfest (takes place in June)
  • Little Rock Lake 4 July Pontoon Parade
  • Rice Fun Day and Kiddie Parade (takes place on the third Saturday in August)
  • Arts and Craft Show (takes place on the first weekend of September)
  • 9/11 Remembrance
  • Veteran's Day Remembrance
  • Pearl Harbor Remembrance

Outdoor activities

  • Benton Beach on Little Rock Lake is frequented by campers, fishermen and boaters during the summer, and ice fishermen in the winter. The lake itself is maintained by the Little Rock Lake Association.
  • Rice has its own game preserve and two taxidermy shops. Meat raffles are a typical fundraising activity.
  • Oak Hill Golf Course offers 18 holes of golf
  • Rice is also home to Benton Beach Course, an 18-hole disc golf course that was host to the 2008 Minnesota Disc Golf Championship. Another disc golf course, Mississippi Park Course, is in Rice.
  • Athletic sports, snowmobiling, all-terrain vehicles, bicycling, and motorcycling are commonly enjoyed activities as well.

Churches

  • Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
  • Shepherd of the Pines Lutheran Church
  • Graham Methodist Church
  • Living Hope Church

Other attractions

Other attractions include the Great River Bike Trail, several parks, softball fields and an ice skating rink.

Education

K–12

The Sauk Rapids–Rice Schools system operates three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school (Sauk Rapids-Rice High School), and has a District Office for Home School. Rice Elementary School is the only one of these schools located within the city of Rice. Many students living in Rice and within the boundaries of the Sauk Rapids–Rice School District attend Royalton schools as their proximity to Rice is significantly closer than most Sauk Rapids–Rice schools. As with other Minnesota school systems, the Sauk Rapids–Rice Schools system has open enrollment. The athletic team for the middle and high school is the Storm[http://www.isd47.org/]

Demographics

thumb|left|Rice viewed from the Highway 10 and Benton Beach Road/County Road 2 intersection, prior to the construction of the Highway 10 overpass that eliminated the intersection.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Rice had a population of 1,975. The median age was 31.0 years. 33.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 6.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 105.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.5 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 695 households in Rice, of which 48.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.8% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 16.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 1,275 people, 462 households, and 340 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 490 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.3% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 462 households, of which 49.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.4% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.18.

The median age in the city was 28.8 years. 32.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 39.6% were from 25 to 44; 15.7% were from 45 to 64; and 4.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 52.7% male and 47.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census