Frontenac, Minnesota

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Frontenac
Census-designated place (CDP) and Unincorporated community
Winona Cottage, a c. 1854 house from Frontenac's days as a 19th-century resort town[1]
Winona Cottage, a c. 1854 house from Frontenac's days as a 19th-century resort town[1]
Frontenac is located in Minnesota
Frontenac
Frontenac
Location of the community of Frontenac
within Florence Township, Goodhue County
Coordinates: 44°31′26″N 92°19′52″W / 44.52389°N 92.33111°W / 44.52389; -92.33111
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyGoodhue County
TownshipFlorence Township
Area
[2]
 • Total1.85 sq mi (4.78 km2)
 • Land1.84 sq mi (4.78 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
[3]
720 ft (220 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total249
 • Density135.03/sq mi (52.14/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55026
Area code651
FIPS code27-22904
GNIS feature ID643972[3]
Old Frontenac Historic District
Sign denoting Frontenac's historic district
Area120 acres (49 ha)
MPSRural Goodhue County MRA (AD)
NRHP reference No.73000978[4]
Added to NRHPJune 4, 1973

Frontenac (/ˈfrɒtɛnæk/ FRON-teh-nak)[5] is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Florence Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 census, its population was 249.[6]

History[edit]

James Wells established a trading post in the location that would become Frontenac before 1850. He dealt mostly with Native Americans until the railroad was built in the early 1870s. In 1854, the Garrard brothers came upon the area during a hunting trip and bought large tracts of land. By 1857, the community was permanently established with the name of Westervelt in 1855 to honor the then postmaster, Evert V. Westervelt.[7]

The name was changed to Frontenac in 1860 by the Garrard brothers after Frenchman, Louis de Buade de Frontenac, who was born in 1622. He was the French colonial governor of Canada in 1672–82 and 1689–98. He died in Quebec, Canada on November 28, 1698. There is not a record of him actually traveling to the Mississippi River.[7]

Frontenac housed a station of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and the picturesque scenery soon began attracting wealthy residents. It became a community of summer homes with lakeside views.[7] The railway line outside the community ran from north to south, connected the remote area with larger cities, but it was far enough away from the bluffs not to detract from the vacation destination. There are actually two communities that comprise Frontenac. The railway line attracted some residents, while the bluffs attracted others. The houses along the railway line, and later the highway, became known as Frontenac Station while the bluff residences are called Old Frontenac. Both are in Florence Township and are listed as one location in the U.S. Census.[7]

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, Frontenac has an area of 1.846 miles (2.971 km); 1.844 miles (2.968 km) of this is land, and 0.002 miles (0.0032 km) is water.[8]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880104—
2010282—
2020249−11.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

The 2010 Census only includes the Frontenac Station part.[10]

At the census[11] of 2010, there were 282 people in 114 households in Frontenac.

Religion[edit]

St John Lutheran Church is a Christian church of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Frontenac.[12] Christ Episcopal Church is also located in Old Frontenac, and features an outdoor amphitheater.[13]

Attractions[edit]

Mississippi River from nearby Frontenac State Park

Mount Frontenac Ski and Golf[edit]

The Mount Frontenac Ski Resort [14] was located on the north-western edge of Frontenac Station. It had 17 named runs, 6 lifts, and 80 acres (320,000 m2) of skiable area. Its longest run was 4,000 feet (1,200 m) in length.[15] The ski runs have been closed and are now part of an 18-hole golf course.[16]

Frontenac State Park[edit]

The land between Frontenac Station and Old Frontenac, as well as much of the land to the north and some to the south, was set aside as a State Park in 1957. Frontenac State Park includes the floodplain along the Mississippi River, bluffs which are a flyway for many migratory bird species, prairies and hardwood forests. It is within the Mississippi Flyway and is also part of the Driftless Area of the north central United States.

Transportation[edit]

Frontenac is located along U.S. Highway 61, which also carries U.S. Highway 63 at that point.

Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which operates between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, passes through the town on BNSF tracks, but makes no stop. The nearest station is located in Red Wing, 10 miles (16 km) to the northwest.

The Frontenac Airport is located 1 mi (1.6 km) south of Frontenac Station, and is administered by a private agency.[17]

Notable person[edit]

  • John F. Hager, Wisconsin State Assemblyman and businessman, was born in Frontenac.[18]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Thomas Lutz (March 21, 1973). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory — Nomination Form: Old Frontenac Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved April 20, 2015. Photos
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Frontenac, Minnesota". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  5. ^ "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  6. ^ "Frontenac CPD, Minnesota - Census Bureau Profile". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota Place Names database, June 2009.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  10. ^ "TIGERweb". TIGERweb. Census.gov. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ "St John Lutheran Church". Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  13. ^ "Welcome to a Faith Home: Christ Church Old Frontenac". April 26, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  14. ^ Ski slope closing a loss to communities. Republican-Eagle.com. Retrieved on 2019-7-14.
  15. ^ Mount Frontenac Ski and Snowboard Area. SkiEngine.com. Retrieved on 2009-6-16.
  16. ^ Mount Frontenac Golf Course-official site. Retrieved on 2009-6-16.
  17. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Frontenac Airport (Minnesota)
  18. ^ 'john F. Hager, 82, Former Assemblyman, Dies in Whitehall,' Eau Claire Leader, November 4, 1955, pg. 3
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