Williams is a city in

Lake of the Woods County Lake of the Woods County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,763, making it the second-least populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Baudette. The county co ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

, United States. The population was 191 at the 2010 census.

History

Williams was incorporated in 1922. It developed with the Minnesota and Manitoba Railroad as a shipping center for timber products. It was named for William Mason and George Williams, who had followed the track roadbed in 1901 to stake claims at the site. Its post office began in 1903 with William H. Dure as postmaster. Williams was burned in the Baudette Fire of 1910. It was rebuilt after.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the city has a total area of , all land. Williams is located along

Minnesota State Highway 11 Minnesota State Highway 11 (MN 11) is a highway in northwest and north-central Minnesota, which runs from North Dakota Highway 66 at the North Dakota state line (near Drayton, North Dakota) and continues east to its eastern terminus at the commun ...

and County Road 2. Williams is a gateway to nearby Zippel Bay State Park on the South Shore of Lake of the Woods.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 191 people, 86 households, and 46 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was . There were 110 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.3%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 1.0%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.5% Native American, 2.6%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, and 0.5% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 86 households, of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.7% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.5% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age in the city was 42.5 years. 27.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.4% were from 25 to 44; 27.8% were from 45 to 64; and 18.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 210 people, 92 households, and 57 families living in the city. The

was 214.6 people per square mile (82.7/km). There were 115 housing units at an average density of 117.5 per square mile (45.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 97.62%

, 1.43%

, and 0.95% from two or more races.

of any race were 1.90% of the population. There were 92 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were

living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $26,364, and the median income for a family was $28,958. Males had a median income of $25,375 versus $24,063 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $11,888. About 11.3% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 27.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 20.0% of those 65 or over.

Arts and Culture

Festival

The second weekend in July is "Back Home Days". During this week there are a lot of activities for returning residents, family and friends. The annual Potato Day Festival takes place at Williams in October. The tradition began when potato farmers would gather and have a celebration that harvest was over. The festivities include a parade, dance, and the naming of the Potato Day Queen.

Media

Television

References

{{Coord, 48, 46, 06, N, 94, 57, 19, W, type:city_region:US-MN, display=title Cities in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota Cities in Minnesota