Warren is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,605 at the 2020 census.
History
Warren was platted in 1879, and named for Charles H. Warren, a railroad official. A post office has been in operation at Warren since 1880.
Although several times larger than the next largest city in the county, Warren's prominence as the county seat has been threatened several times in its history. The original plan for the Soo Line Railroad (completed in 1905) branch line that passes through Warren called for it to run from Thief River Falls to Argyle and then west. Argyle interests hoped the establishment of a railroad junction there would lead to the removal of the county seat from Warren to Argyle. Other interests prevailed, although the railroad line forms a parabola extending north from Thief River Falls, and then south to Warren, as if the plan changed while the line was being built. In 1974, citizens of the eastern part of the county, noting Warren's location in the western quarter of the long county, and very nearly at its southern boundary, petitioned twice for the relocation of the county seat to Newfolden. Neither effort that year resulted in the question being put on the ballot, and in fact, voters in the interim had approved the construction of an addition to the courthouse in Warren.
Warren was featured on a 2006 episode of the History Channel's UFO Files episode "Alien Encounters." The unsolved case of a mysterious object impacting a county sheriff's car on August 27, 1979, was featured (see Val Johnson Incident). This same case was also featured in 2012 on the Travel Channel's Mysteries at the Museum episode "MGM Fire; UFO Car, Prophecy Sword"
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The Snake River flows in serpentine fashion through the city (hence its name), and both banks are developed, which has proved problematic as the city attempts flood control. Some major floods in the city's history took place in 1896 (twice), 1969, 1974, 1979, 1996 (twice), and 1997.
The streets of the original townsite of Warren are laid out on a grid parallel and perpendicular to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Some newer additions, particularly those south of Bridge Street (Minnesota Highway 1) are laid out on a conventional north–south grid. The BNSF is the dividing line for the street system east and west, and Bridge Street is the dividing line north and south.
U.S. Highway 75 and Minnesota State Highway 1 are two of the main routes in the city.
Climate
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, the city had 1,563 people, 681 households, and 743 families. The population density was . The 743 housing units were at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 0.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.
Of the 681 households, 27.8% had children under 18 years, 46.1% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.6% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 44.5 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 23.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, 1,678 people, 699 households, and 432 families were in the city. The population density was . The city had 785 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 98.27% White, 0.12% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 1.01% from other races, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.62% of the population.
Of the 699 households, 28.8% had children under 18 years, 49.6% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90.