Moving to Waite Park, Minnesota

by btobers · Published June 19, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Waite Park is a city located in Stearns County, Minnesota. It is located near the Mississippi River and the Sauk River, and is part of the larger St. Cloud Metropolitan Area. The city covers an area of 6.2 square miles, with a population of 6,724 as of 2019.

The geography of Waite Park is dominated by its flat terrain, which is typical for this region in Minnesota. The terrain consists mostly of grasslands and agricultural land, as well as some lowland areas along the Sauk River. The climate in Waite Park is characterized by cold winters and warm summers, with temperatures ranging from -10 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. Snowfall typically occurs between November and April, while rainfall usually takes place during the spring and summer months.

The history of Waite Park dates back to 1875 when it was founded by William Waite as a small farming community. In recent years, the city has seen rapid growth due to its close proximity to St. Cloud and other nearby cities in Central Minnesota.

Waite Park has a mayor-council form of government with six council members representing each ward in the city limits. The economy of Waite Park consists mainly of retail businesses such as stores and restaurants, but there are also some manufacturing companies located within its borders that employ local residents.

The education system in Waite Park includes two public schools: Waite Park Elementary School for grades K-5 and Apollo High School for grades 9-12. There are also several private schools located within its borders that offer higher education opportunities for students who are looking to further their studies beyond high school level courses.

One popular landmark in Waite Park is Quarry Park & Nature Preserve which offers hiking trails, picnic areas, fishing spots, playgrounds and more than 20 acres worth of natural beauty that can be explored year round by visitors from all around Central Minnesota!

Population: 6,568. Estimated population in July 2024: 6,832 (+4.0% change)
Males: 3,198 (48.7%), Females: 3,370 (51.3%)

Stearns County

Zip code: 56387

Demographics

Median resident age: 29.2 years
Median household income: $33,803
Median house value: $93,900

Population by Race

Races in Waite Park:

White Non-Hispanic (92.1%)
Hispanic (2.0%)
Vietnamese (1.7%)
Two or more races (1.2%)
Other race (1.2%)
American Indian (1.2%)
Other Asian (1.0%)
Black (0.7%)

Ancestries: German (49.8%), Norwegian (12.0%), Irish (9.0%), Polish (8.3%), Swedish (5.5%), French (5.0%).

Elevation: 1070 feet

Land area: 7.8 square miles

Population by Education

Waite Park, Minnesota is a small city located in Stearns County, with a population of 6,719 according to the 2010 Census. It is bordered by the cities of St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids, and is part of the larger St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population is made up of mostly white residents (92%), followed by Hispanic/Latino (2%), African American (2%) and Asian (1%). The median household income in Waite Park is $42,922, which is slightly lower than the national average. The unemployment rate in Waite Park was 4.1% in 2018, which was lower than both the national average and state average at that time. Education levels are also higher than average with 82% of residents over 25 having at least some college education or higher.

The city has experienced steady growth since 2000 with its population increasing by 16%. Much of this growth can be attributed to its location near major highways such as Interstate 94 and US Highway 10 which connects it to larger cities like Minneapolis-St Paul. In addition to these highways Waite Park also has an airport located nearby called St Cloud Regional Airport making it a great option for those looking to commute via air travel or simply visit family or friends who live farther away. The city also has numerous parks and recreational areas such as Quarry Park where visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as swimming, fishing or hiking along trails that wind through old-growth forests.

For population 25 years and over in Waite Park

High school or higher: 85.9%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.5%
Unemployed: 5.2%
Mean travel time to work: 16.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Waite Park city

Never married: 40.6%
Now married: 42.6%
Separated: 1.5%
Widowed: 5.6%
Divorced: 9.8%

4.0% Foreign born (3.0% Asia, 0.6% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +1,583 (+31.8%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Waite Park:

ST CLOUD HOSPITAL (about 3 miles; SAINT CLOUD, MN)
ALBANY AREA HOSPITAL (about 26 miles; ALBANY, MN)
ST GABRIELS HOSPITAL (about 33 miles; LITTLE FALLS, MN)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Waite Park:

ST CLOUD REGIONAL (about 13 miles; ST CLOUD, MN; Abbreviation: STC)
BRAINERD LAKES RGNL (about 58 miles; BRAINERD, MN; Abbreviation: BRD)
MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL INTL/WOLD-CHAMBERLAIN/ (about 85 miles; MINNEAPOLIS, MN; Abbreviation: MSP)

Other public-use airports nearest to Waite Park:

LEADERS CLEAR LAKE (about 20 miles; CLEAR LAKE, MN; Abbreviation: 8Y6)
LITTLE FALLS/MORRISON COUNTY-LINDBERGH FLD (about 28 miles; LITTLE FALLS, MN; Abbreviation: LXL)
MAPLE LAKE MUNI (about 28 miles; MAPLE LAKE, MN; Abbreviation: MGG)

Amtrak station near Waite Park:

6 miles: ST. CLOUD (555 E. ST. GERMAIN ST.). Services: fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Waite Park:

SAINT CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY (about 3 miles; ST CLOUD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 12,913)
SAINT CLOUD TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 3 miles; ST CLOUD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,183)
CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE-BRAINERD (about 56 miles; BRAINERD, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,364)
RIDGEWATER COLLEGE (about 65 miles; WILLMAR, MN; Full-time enrollment: 2,711)
HENNEPIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE (about 66 miles; BROOKLYN PARK, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,138)
NORTH HENNEPIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 66 miles; BROOKLYN PARK, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,097)
ANOKA-RAMSEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 68 miles; COON RAPIDS, MN; Full-time enrollment: 3,627)

Public primary/middle school in Waite Park:

DISCOVERY COMMUNITY EL. (Students: 660; Location: 700 S. 7TH ST.; Grades: KG – 06)

Private primary/middle schools in Waite Park:

ST JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 135; Location: 108 SIXTH AVENUE NORTH; Grades: KG – 6)
HOLY INNOCENTS SIS (Students: 18; Location: 1705 COUNTY ROAD 137; Grades: KG – 9)
APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 5; Location: 301 S 7TH ST; Grades: 4 – 9)