Pipestone is a city in and the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
of
Pipestone County, Minnesota. The population was 4,215 at the
2020 census.
The city is also the site of the
Pipestone National Monument.
History
Pipestone was
plat
In the United States, a plat ( or ) (plan) is a cadastral map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. United States General Land Office surveyors drafted township plats of Public Lands Survey System, Public Lands Surveys to ...
ted in October, 1876, incorporated as a village on February 10, 1881, and as a city on July 23, 1901.
Pipestone took its name from Pipestone County.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , all land.
Climate
The town has a humid continental climate similar to the rest of the state; though near the southern border, Pipestone is on measurably higher ground than many areas to the north and east.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2010, there were 4,317 people, 1,923 households, and 1,084 families living in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...
was . There were 2,134 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 90.2%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 0.9%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 1.9%
Native American, 1.1%
Asian, 3.5% from
other races, and 2.4% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race were 5.2% of the population.
There were 1,923 households, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.6% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age in the city was 40.8 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.6% male and 53.4% female.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 4,280 people, 1,900 households, and 1,138 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 2,097 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.23%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 0.28%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 2.94%
Native American, 0.75%
Asian, 0.05%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 0.35% from
other races, and 1.40% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.
There were 1,900 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.9% 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 2.89.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,412, and the median income for a family was $40,194. Males had a median income of $28,180 versus $21,349 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $17,253. About 8.3% of families and 9.7% 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 ...
, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
In 2006,
Suzlon Energy of
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
began building
wind farm
A wind farm, also called a wind park or wind power plant, is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electricity. Wind farms vary in size from a small number of turbines to several hundred wind turbines covering an exten ...
blades at its subsidiary Suzlon Rotor Corporation in the town. Among the companies buying the blades is
Wind Capital Group
Wind Capital Group was a wind power developer founded in 2005 by Missouri native Tom Carnahan.
Developed wind farms Blue Grass Ridge Wind Farm
On January 31, 2006, Wind Capital Group announced the planned construction of Blue Grass Ridge Win ...
which is developing the biggest wind farm in Minnesota.
They have closed down.
Ellison meats was founded in 1934 and has been a part of the Pipestone community since the early 1980s and moved to its current facility in 1990. In 2007, Ellison's was acquired by the J&B Group of St Michael, MN. J&B, founded in 1979, is the producer of "No Name" and "Midwest Pride" brand name products.
Arts and culture
Museums and other points of interest

The
Calumet Inn in downtown Pipestone is a restored historical building from 1888. It still operates as a functioning hotel. It features turn-of-the-century (19th to 20th) antiques and interesting architecture. The building was constructed using
quartzite
Quartzite is a hard, non- foliated metamorphic rock that was originally pure quartz sandstone.Essentials of Geology, 3rd Edition, Stephen Marshak, p 182 Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tecton ...
both structurally and in the facade. It is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
.
The county
Courthouse
A courthouse or court house is a structure which houses judicial functions for a governmental entity such as a state, region, province, county, prefecture, regency, or similar governmental unit. A courthouse is home to one or more courtrooms, ...
, also made of local quartzite stone, was built in 1899. The building is the most stylized of the quartzite buildings. It is rectangular in shape with a 110-ft clock tower topped with a dome and a statue of Lady Justice. It was restored in 1995 and rededicated in 1996. It is also listed in the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
.
In March 1905 the First Presbyterian Church had
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator, and politician. He was a dominant force in the History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, running three times as the party' ...
as a speaker. He drew hundreds to Pipestone to hear his lecture.
Native Americans have used the pipestone quarries located at the
Pipestone National Monument for centuries to obtain materials for pipe making, a practice that continues today. On the site are a visitor and cultural center, 3/4 mile walking trail along Pipestone Creek, and Winnewissa Falls set in the tallgrass prairie. Pipestone Indian Shrine Association provides visitors with a selection of American Indian art and craft items. The
pipestone quarry is described in Native American legends as a square-cut jewel lying upon folds of shimmering green velvet. This is an accurate depiction of the red quartzite almost hidden by prairie grass. It was
designated a national monument by the United States in 1937.
Song of Hiawatha Pageant
Although he never visited the site,
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include the poems " Paul Revere's Ride", '' The Song of Hiawatha'', and '' Evangeline''. He was the first American to comp ...
was inspired to write of the area in the poem, "Song of Hiawatha". The Song of Hiawatha Pageant, which spins out Longfellow's vision of the American Indian, played in Pipestone for 60 years. The pageant was held at a small quarry lake on a natural amphitheater with a cast of 200 principals, chieftains, warriors, and dancers in their colorful costumes. Summer of 2008 was the last year for the pageant.
Politics and government
Federal government
Minnesota is represented in the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
by
Democrats Amy Klobuchar
Amy Jean Klobuchar ( ; born May 25, 1960) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from Minnesota, a seat she has held since 2007. A member o ...
and
Tina Smith
Christine Elizabeth Smith (née Flint, born March 4, 1958) is an American politician, retired Democratic political consultant, and former businesswoman serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, junior United States Senate, United Sta ...
. In the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...
, Pipestone is located in the
7th congressional district.
State government
Pipestone is represented by
Republican Bill Weber
William Weber (May 8, 1957 – December 13, 2024) was an American television sports commentator best known for his work on TNT and NBC NASCAR broadcasts. Weber was also the lead announcer for Champ Car World Series events and other auto ra ...
in the
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house of the Minnesota Legislature, Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. At 67 members, half as many as the Minnesota House of Representatives, it is the largest upper house of any State legislature (Unite ...
and
Republican Joe Schomacker
Joseph "Joe" Roy Schomacker (born March 25, 1986) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2011. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Schomacker represents District 21A in the southwestern corne ...
in the
Minnesota House.
Education
Pipestone Area School District #2689 serves the community of Pipestone and surrounding area.
Pipestone Area High School
Pipestone Area High School is the only public high school in Pipestone, Minnesota, United States. The high school is part of the Pipestone Area School District, Independent School District #2689. As of August 2017, there were 324 students enroll ...
, a middle and high school, opened in January 2003.
Minnesota West Community & Technical College operates a campus in Pipestone. May of 2023 Pipestone Area Middle School/High School was excited to hire Lori Gunnink, an author and Library Media Specialist. Gunnink is also well-known from her award winning Broadway performance as Blanche, from the 1932 performance of A Streetcar Named Desire.
Infrastructure
Transportation
U.S. Highway 75 and Minnesota State Highways
23 and
30 are three of the main routes in the city.
Notable people
*
Catrina Allen
Catrina Allen is an American professional disc golfer. She is a US Champion and 2 time World Champion, and has been ranked among the top four women in the world between 2012 and 2019.
In 2009, Allen was working as a bartender, and became intere ...
, professional disc golfer, two-time
PDGA
The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the promotion and sustainable growth of
disc golf. The PDGA is the global governing body of disc golf. The organization promotes the ...
World Champion
*
Joachim H. Appeldorn, former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
*
Adelaide George Bennett (1848–1911), poet and botanist
*
Eddie Bentz, bank robber
*
Harold Rawdon Briggs
Lieutenant General Sir Harold Rawdon Briggs, (24 July 1894 – 27 October 1952) was a senior British Indian Army officer, active during the First World War, Second World War and the Malayan Emergency.
Briggs was highly regarded by his superio ...
, senior British Indian Army officer
*
Phil Bruns
Philip Bruns (May 2, 1931 – February 8, 2012) was an American television and movie actor and writer. He portrayed George Shumway, the father of Mary Hartman on the 1970s comedic series '' Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,'' and Morty Seinfeld, the f ...
, actor and writer
*
Stanley Crooks, former chair,
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC; Dakota: ''Bdemayaṭo Oyate'') is a federally recognized, sovereign Indian tribe of Mdewakanton Dakota people, located southwest of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, within parts of the cities of Prior ...
*
Vern Ehlers
Vernon James Ehlers (February 6, 1934 – August 15, 2017) was an American physicist and politician who represented Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 until his retirement in 2011. A Republican, he also served eight years ...
, former
United States Representative
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
for
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
, was born in Pipestone.
*
Roy Alexander Gano, former
admiral
Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...
in the
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
*
Bill Hager, former member of the
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida Senate being the upper house. Article III, Section 1 of the C ...
*
Charles Tisdale Howard, a
United States attorney
United States attorneys are officials of the U.S. Department of Justice who serve as the chief federal law enforcement officers in each of the 94 U.S. federal judicial districts. Each U.S. attorney serves as the United States' chief federal ...
,
district court judge
District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations, some call them "small case court" usually as the lowest level of the hierarchy.
These courts generally work under a higher court which exercises control over the lower co ...
, and
speaker of the
South Dakota House of Representatives
The South Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Dakota Legislature. It consists of 70 members, two from each legislative district. Two of the state's 35 legislative districts, Districts 26 and 28, are each subdivided ...
, lived in Pipestone from 1911 until his death in 1936.
*
Akash Kapur, author, whose mother is from Pipestone and he spent many summers and other periods there.
*
Verne Long
Verne Everett Long (September 24, 1925 – March 21, 2022) was an American politician from the state of Minnesota.
Long was born in Pipestone, Minnesota
Pipestone is a city in and the county seat of Pipestone County, Minnesota. The populati ...
, former member of the
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the U.S. state of Minnesota's Minnesota Legislature, legislature. It operates in conjunction with the Minnesota Senate, the state's upper chamber, to write and pass legislation, whic ...
*
John Lutz
John Michael Lutz (born April 23, 1973) is an American actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He is best known for playing J. D. Lutz on the NBC sitcom ''30 Rock'', and for his work as a writer on the NBC series ''Saturday Night Live'' for seven ...
, actor, comedian and screenwriter
*
Mike Menning, former member of the
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the U.S. state of Minnesota's Minnesota Legislature, legislature. It operates in conjunction with the Minnesota Senate, the state's upper chamber, to write and pass legislation, whic ...
*
Loran B. Morgan, ophthalmologist and inventor of the
Morgan Lens
*
Donald Petersen
Donald Eugene Petersen (September 4, 1926 – April 24, 2024) was an American businessman who was employed by the Ford Motor Company for 40 years, most notably as its chief executive officer from 1985 to 1990.
Early life
Donald Eugene Peter ...
, former CEO of
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational corporation, multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. T ...
*
Kathleen Sekhon, Minnesota state legislator and educator
*
Hugh Smith, news anchor
*
Isaac Snell, football player
*
Harry E. Wheeler, geologist and
stratigrapher
Stratigraphy is a branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks.
Stratigraphy has three related subfields: lithostrati ...
References
External links
City of Pipestone County of PipestonePipestone Chamber of Commerce''Pipestone County Star'' newspaper sitePipestone, Minnesota, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel ItineraryMinnesota West Community & Technical College site - Pipestone campusePodunk: Profile for Pipestone, Minnesota, MN
{{Authority control
Cities in Pipestone County, Minnesota
Cities in Minnesota
County seats in Minnesota
Populated places established in 1876
1876 establishments in Minnesota