History of Monticello
The area now known as Monticello was first settled beginning in 1852 , with the village of Monticello platted in 1854 . By 1855 , when the first post office began operating , the population had risen to 230 .
The name Monticello derives from the Italian word meaning “ little mountain ,” in recognition of a hill located 2 miles to the southeast of town , which is the highest point in the area . Monticello was founded in 1856 by second-generation Americans who migrated west in the mid 1800s and found the shallow banks of the Mississippi a natural place for settlement .
With the 1856 establishment of Wright County , Monticello became the first county seat . However , the county seat was later changed to Buffalo in 1868 .
The nearby village of Moritzious merged with Monticello in 1891 . Monticello was incorportated as a city on April 30 , 1906 . Monticello has a total land area of about 9 miles , and sits at an elevation of 929 feet .
Growing population
Monticello has a growing population , which has risen approximately 75 % since 2000 . The U . S . Census Bureau ’ s most recent data puts the total population at 14,831 , which makes Monticello the fourth-largest city in Wright County and the 75th-largest city in Minnesota .
Monticello has a median age of 34 and , as of 2022 , a median household income of $ 80,290 .
With 5,548 households in town , the median property value in Monticello was $ 279,600 in 2022 and the homeownership rate was 65 %. The median rental cost in recent years comes to $ 1,263 per month .
Xcel Energy ’ s Monticello Nuclear Generating Power Plant , Cargill Kitchen Solutions , the Monticello School District , CentraCare ’ s Monticello Hospital and Walmart Supercenter are among the city ’ s largest employers .
In addition , Monticello is home to approximately 37 manufacturing firms with more than 2,450 employees . The impact on wages and benefits that they provide in the local economy is significant .
Notable people hailing from Monticello include Tobias Mealey , an early Minnesota pioneer and politician ; and Joel Przybilla , a professional basketball player , who last played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA .
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