Alexandria, Minnesota

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Alexandria, Minnesota
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nicknames                = Alex, Alec
|motto                    = "The Runestone City"<ref name="Alexandria, MN Website">{{cite web|url = https://alexandriamn.city/|title = Alexandria, MN}}</ref>
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Alexandria Post Office.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Alexandria Post Office (historic)
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
|image_blank_emblem       = Alexandria-MN-logo.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Douglas_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Alexandria_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of the city of Alexandria<br>within Douglas County, Minnesota
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Douglas County, Minnesota|Douglas]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Bobbie Osterberg
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Colonized
|established_date         = 1858
|established_title1       = Founded
|established_date1        = 1859
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = February 20, 1877
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 46.36
|area_land_km2            = 44.50
|area_water_km2           = 1.85
|area_total_sq_mi         = 17.90
|area_land_sq_mi          = 17.18
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.71
|area_water_percent       = 4.43
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 14861
|pop_est_as_of            = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 14335
|population_urban         = 18957
|population_metro         = 39668 (US: [[Micropolitan statistical area|319th]])
|population_density_km2   = 322.10
|population_density_sq_mi = 834.25
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = –6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = –5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 431
|elevation_ft             = 1414
|coordinates              = {{coord|45|52|39|N|95|22|36|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 56308
|area_code                = [[Area code 320|320]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-00928
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2393918<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393918}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 7.375%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/minnesota/cities/alexandria.html|title=Alexandria (MN) sales tax rate|access-date=January 8, 2024}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://alexandriamn.city/|alexandriamn.city}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Alexandria''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Douglas County, Minnesota|Douglas County]], [[Minnesota]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The population was 14,335 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Alexandria_city,_Minnesota?g=160XX00US2700928 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 8, 2024}}</ref> Alexandria is near [[Interstate 94 in Minnesota|I-94]], along Minnesota State Highways [[Minnesota State Highway 27|27]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 29|29]]. It is ten miles (16 km) south of [[Lake Carlos State Park]].

==History==
First settled in 1858, it was named after brothers Alexander and William Kinkead from [[Maryland]]. The form of the name alludes to [[Alexandria|Alexandria, Egypt]], a center of learning and civilization.<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n194 175]}}</ref> 

The village of Alexandria was incorporated February 20, 1877. Its city charter was adopted in 1908, and it was incorporated as a city in 1909. W. E. Hicks was pivotal to the town's early development. He purchased the townsite in 1868 and established a mill, hotel, newspaper, and store. He donated property for a courthouse, jail, and two churches: Methodist and Congregational.{{source?|date=January 2024}}

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|16.70|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|15.96|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.74|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 13, 2012|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref> Many of the people who live in Alexandria are not calculated into the population because they are spread out of the city and live on and around the many lakes.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}

===Climate===
Alexandria has a dry-winter [[warm-summer humid continental climate]]  ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dwb''),<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Beck|first1=Hylke E.|last2=Zimmermann|first2=Niklaus E.|last3=McVicar|first3=Tim R.|last4=Vergopolan|first4=Noemi|last5=Berg|first5=Alexis|author6-link=Eric Franklin Wood|last6=Wood|first6=Eric F.| date = October 2018 |title=Present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution|journal=Scientific Data|language=en|volume=5|issue=1|pages=180214|doi=10.1038/sdata.2018.214|issn=2052-4463|pmc=6207062|pmid=30375988|bibcode=2018NatSD...580214B}}</ref> with cold, snowy winters and warm (sometimes hot and humid) summers. The autumn and spring are generally pleasant. Average annual precipitation (both snow and rain) is about 25 inches.

{{Weather box
|location = Alexandria, Minnesota ([[Alexandria Municipal Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1940–present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 58
|Feb record high F = 58
|Mar record high F = 78
|Apr record high F = 95
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 101
|Aug record high F = 104
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 91
|Nov record high F = 76
|Dec record high F = 58
|year record high F = 104

|Jan avg record high F = 40.1
|Feb avg record high F = 43.5
|Mar avg record high F = 58.7
|Apr avg record high F = 76.8
|May avg record high F = 87.1
|Jun avg record high F = 90.6
|Jul avg record high F = 91.3
|Aug avg record high F = 89.7
|Sep avg record high F = 85.9
|Oct avg record high F = 78.3
|Nov avg record high F = 59.8
|Dec avg record high F = 42.4
|year avg record high F = 93.7

|Jan high F = 19.0
|Feb high F = 23.7
|Mar high F = 36.6
|Apr high F = 52.4
|May high F = 66.3
|Jun high F = 75.7
|Jul high F = 80.2
|Aug high F = 78.3
|Sep high F = 69.9
|Oct high F = 54.5
|Nov high F = 37.6
|Dec high F = 24.2
|year high F = 51.5
|Jan mean F = 10.7
|Feb mean F = 14.9
|Mar mean F = 28.0
|Apr mean F = 42.5
|May mean F = 55.9
|Jun mean F = 66.0
|Jul mean F = 70.6
|Aug mean F = 68.5
|Sep mean F = 60.0
|Oct mean F = 45.7
|Nov mean F = 30.3
|Dec mean F = 16.9
|year mean F = 42.5
|Jan low F = 2.3
|Feb low F = 6.0
|Mar low F = 19.4
|Apr low F = 32.7
|May low F = 45.5
|Jun low F = 56.4
|Jul low F = 60.9
|Aug low F = 58.7
|Sep low F = 50.1
|Oct low F = 37.0
|Nov low F = 23.0
|Dec low F = 9.6
|year low F = 33.5

|Jan avg record low F = -20.6
|Feb avg record low F = -16.4
|Mar avg record low F = -5.3
|Apr avg record low F = 17.0
|May avg record low F = 32.6
|Jun avg record low F = 44.3
|Jul avg record low F = 50.6
|Aug avg record low F = 48.1
|Sep avg record low F = 35.0
|Oct avg record low F = 21.6
|Nov avg record low F = 4.4
|Dec avg record low F = -14.3
|year avg record low F = -23.3

|Jan record low F = −38
|Feb record low F = −34
|Mar record low F = −34
|Apr record low F = −2
|May record low F = 18
|Jun record low F = 33
|Jul record low F = 42
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 21
|Oct record low F = 9
|Nov record low F = −18
|Dec record low F = −32
|year record low F = -38
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.38
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.41
|Mar precipitation inch = 1.00
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.04
|May precipitation inch = 3.05
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.72
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.00
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.46
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.63
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.21
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.83
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.36
|year precipitation inch = 24.09
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.6
|Feb precipitation days = 3.7
|Mar precipitation days = 5.2
|Apr precipitation days = 9.0
|May precipitation days = 11.5
|Jun precipitation days = 12.3
|Jul precipitation days = 10.8
|Aug precipitation days = 9.5
|Sep precipitation days = 8.8
|Oct precipitation days = 8.6
|Nov precipitation days = 4.8
|Dec precipitation days = 4.5
|year precipitation days = 92.3
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mpx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 23, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014910&format=pdf
| title = Station: Alexandria Muni AP, MN
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 23, 2021}}</ref>
}}

===Lakes===
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* Lake Agnes
* Lake Alvin
* Lake Andrew
* Blackwell Lake
* Lake Brophy
* Lake Burgen
*[https://www.lakecarlos.com Lake Carlos]
* Cork Lake
* Lake Cowdry
*[https://www.lakedarling.com Lake Darling]
* Echo Lake
* Lake Geneva
* Lake George
* Grant Lake
* Lake Henry
* Lake Ida
* Lake Irene
* Lake Jessie
*[https://www.latoka.com Lake Latoka]
* Laura Lake
*[https://www.lehommedieu.com Lake Le Homme Dieu]
* Lake Louise
* Maple Lake
* Lake Mary{{source?|date=January 2024}}
* Mill Lake
* Lake Miltona
* Lake Mina
* Mud Lake
* North Union Lake
* Lake Oscar
* Pocket Lake{{source?|date=January 2024}}
* Rachel Lake
* Lake Reno
* Smith Lake
* Lobster Lake
* Stony Lake
* Taylor Lake
* Lake Charley
* Union Lake
* Lake Winona
* Vermont Lake
* Lake Victoria<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.minnesotalakes.net/douglas_county_lakes.html|title=Douglas County Minnesota Lakes - Alexandria Lakes Fishing|website=www.minnesotalakes.net|access-date=February 5, 2017}}</ref>
{{Div col end}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Big Ole.JPG|thumb|left|Statue of Big Ole the Viking, greeting visitors to Alexandria]]
{{US Census population
|1880= 1355
|1890= 2118
|1900= 2681
|1910= 3001
|1920= 3388
|1930= 3876
|1940= 5051
|1950= 6319
|1960= 6713
|1970= 6973
|1980= 7608
|1990= 7838
|2000= 8820
|2010= 11070
|2020= 14335
|estyear=2022
|estimate=14861
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |date=January 8, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 8, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 11,070 people, 5,298 households, and 2,552 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|693.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,821 housing units at an average density of {{convert|364.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 5,298 households, of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 51.8% were non-families. 41.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age in the city was 38.8 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 13.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 22.1% were from 45 to 64; and 22% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 8,820 people. The census listed 4,047 households and 2,011 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|992.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,311 housing units at an average density of {{convert|485.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The city's racial makeup was 97.94% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.42% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.34% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.57% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.18% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.50% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 4,047 households, of which 23.7% had children under 18 living with them, 36.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.3% were non-families. 41.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who 65 or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% over 66. The median age was 37. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.

The median income for a household was $26,851, and the median income for a family was $38,245. Males had a median income of $27,871 versus $20,254 for females. The [[per capita income]] was $16,085.  About 7.8% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.2% of those under 18 and 15.7% of those 65 or older.

==Tourism==
===Resorts===
The city is located along a chain of lakes, which makes it a popular resort destination for water and land activities. There are cabin B&Bs and chain hotels along the lakes. Water sporting activities include motorboats, wake surfing, sailing, paddleboarding. Fishing was also historically popular in the city. There are [[beaches]], like in the Pilgrim Point Park on [[Lake Ida (Douglas County, Minnesota)|Lake Ida]]. Other park areas include Lake Brophy County Park and Kensington Rune Stone Park. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/general/making-memories-in-alexandria/ |title=Making Memories in Alexandria |website=minnesotamonthly.com |publisher=Minnesota Monthly |date=May 19, 2023}}</ref><ref name=ALM>{{cite web |url=https://alexandrialivingmagazine.com/travel/the-other-alexandrias-louisiana-minnesota-kentucky-2023/ |title=From 'Big Ole' to the Bayou: The Other Alexandrias |last=Lawton |first=Beth |date=May 19, 2023 |publisher=Alexandria Living}}</ref>

===Events===
Local tourism events include:
* [[Grape Stomp]] hosted by the Carlos Creek Winery every September
* An Apple Fest in October
* The Douglas County Fair every August
* Big Ole Paddlefest every July, a kayaking race on Lake Miltona
* Art in the Park every July.
* Red Willow Arts Coalition Outdoor hosts concerts every Thursday in summer.<ref name=ALM />

===Attractions===
The city has a museum housing the [[Kensington Runestone]]. Outside the museum stands Big Ole, a 25-foot-tall statue of a Viking built for the 1965 [[World's Fair]] in [[New York City]].<ref name="nyt-big-ole">{{cite news |title=Highway 61, Visited |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/11/travel/highway-61-visited.html?exprod=permalink&sec=travel&partner=permalink |access-date=September 4, 2008 |last=Dougherty |first=Steve |date=September 11, 2005 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Extensive repairs to Big Ole were completed in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.echopress.com/news/4081485-end-near-big-ole-repairs|title=End is near for Big Ole repairs|last=Edenloff|first=Celeste|date=July 27, 2016|work=Echo Press|access-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref> [[Legacy of the Lakes Museum]], a [[maritime museum]], is located in the city.

==Economy==
===Top employers===
According to the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://livingalexarea.org/demographics/|title=Demographics - Living Alexandria Area - Minnesota}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://livingalexarea.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/issue-version-copy.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205204326/https://livingalexarea.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/issue-version-copy.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Douglas County Economic Development Profile - 2021|page=3|date=May 4, 2022}}</ref> the area's top employers are:

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
| Alomere Health
|868
|-
|2
| Douglas Machine, Inc.
|737
|-
|3
| Alexandria Public Schools
|609
|-
|4
| Knute Nelson
|482
|-
|5
| Alexandria Industries 
|437
|-
|6
| [[3M]] 
|400
|-
|7
| Central Specialties
|325
|-
|8
| Douglas County
|308
|-
|9
| Brenton Engineering
|265
|-
|10
| Aagard 
|264
|}
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://livingalexarea.org/area-largest-employers/|title = Area Largest Employers}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Alexandria Technical and Community College.jpg|thumb|[[Alexandria Technical & Community College]]]]
Most children in Alexandria attend school at [[Alexandria Public Schools (Minnesota)|Alexandria Public Schools]], which consists of six kindergarten–5th grade [[Elementary School|elementary schools]] (Lincoln, Voyager, Woodland, Carlos, Miltona, Garfield), one 6th–8th grade junior high school (Discovery Middle School), and one new{{when|date=May 2021}} 9th–12th grade senior high school ([[Alexandria Area High School]]), which replaced Jefferson High School, which was built in the late 1950s. There are also several independent K–8 Christian schools in the area. [[Alexandria Technical & Community College]] offers post-secondary education, including certificate programs, 2-year associate degrees and transferable credits towards 4-year degrees.

==Transportation==
[[County Road 82 SE]] connects Alexandria to [[Nelson, Minnesota|Nelson]], [[Osakis, Minnesota|Osakis]] and western Minnesota. [[Minnesota State Highway 29]] connects Alexandria to [[Glenwood, Minnesota|Glenwood]] and [[Parkers Prairie, Minnesota|Parkers Prairie]]. [[Interstate 94]]/[[U.S. Highway 52]] passes through the south end of Alexandria, which allows access to [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]] and [[Fargo-Moorhead]].

Public transportation in town (and within the surrounding area) is provided by Rainbow Rider.

===Airport===
The [[Alexandria Municipal Airport]], also known as Chandler Field, is a city-owned public-use airport two nautical miles (3.7&nbsp;km) southwest of Alexandria's central business district.

==Media==
{{main|Media in Alexandria, Minnesota}}

===Newspaper===
''[[Alexandria Echo Press]]'' is Alexandria's twice-weekly newspaper, owned by the [[Forum Communications Company]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Zaleski|first=Jack|title=Forum Communications Company: A Narrative History 1980-2018|publisher=Forum Communications Company}}</ref>

===Television===
From 1958 until 2012, Alexandria had at least one local television station, either [[KCCO]] or [[KSAX]], and both are still satellites of [[Minneapolis, MN]] television stations. KCCO had a presence, first as KCMT, in 1958, as an NBC and ABC affiliate. It switched to CBS affiliation in 1982. Five years later, KSAX regained ABC's presence as a semi-satellite of [[KSTP-TV]]. In that same year, KCCO was bought out and became a semi-satellite of [[WCCO-TV]]. In 1992, KCCO became a CBS [[Owned-and-operated station|O&O]] when CBS acquired WCCO and its two satellites.

During KCCO and KSAX's time as semi-satellites, they broadcast local news, weather, and sports through ten-minute cut-in segments during their parent station's newscast. In 2002, KCCO removed its local presence and became a full satellite of WCCO. In June 2012, cost-cutting measures at KSAX resulted in the layoff of all but two employees and the ending of local cut-in broadcasts by any Alexandria television station.<ref>{{cite web|title=KSAX-TV Alexandria drops local news programming|url=http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2012-06-26/ksax-tv-alexandria-drops-local-news-programming|website=brainerddispatch.com|access-date=April 11, 2016|archive-date=March 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312025054/http://www.brainerddispatch.com/news/2012-06-26/ksax-tv-alexandria-drops-local-news-programming|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Alexandria area is also served by [[Selective TV, Inc.]], a non-profit, viewer-supported organization which transmits several cable channels [[free-to-air]] over standard [[UHF]] television frequencies, viewable in any area home without subscription.  Selective TV operates under low power television rules of the FCC and as such was not subject to the analog to digital conversion in 2009. Residents still need a converter box to view KCCO and KSAX on the digital band, though KSAX is still rebroadcast via Selective TV.

===Broadcast===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
!style="background:#ccccff;" |Channel
!style="background:#ccccff;" rowspan="2" |Callsign
!style="background:#ccccff;" rowspan="2" |Affiliation
!style="background:#ccccff;" rowspan="2" |Branding
!style="background:#ccccff;" colspan="2" |Subchannels
!style="background:#ccccff;" rowspan="2" |Owner
|-
!style="background:#ffcccc;" | (Virtual)
!style="background:#ffcccc;" | Channel
!style="background:#ffcccc" | Programming
|-
| 4.1
| K33DB-D<br><small>([[WCCO-TV|WCCO]] Translator)</small>
| [[CBS]]
| ''WCCO 4''
| 4.2<br />4.3
| style="text-align:left" | [[Start TV]]<br />[[Dabl]]
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 5.2
| K16CO-D<br><small>([[KSTC-TV|KSTC]] Translator)</small>
| Ind.
| ''45 TV''
| 5.3<br />5.4<br />5.6
| style="text-align:left" | [[Me-TV]]<br />[[Antenna TV]]<br />[[This TV]]
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 9.2
| K30AF-D<br><small>([[WFTC]] Translator)</small>
| Ind.
| ''FOX 9 Plus''
| 9.3<br />9.1
| style="text-align:left" | [[Movies!]]<br />[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]]
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 9.9
| K32EB-D<br><small>([[KMSP-TV|KMSP]] Translator)</small>
| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]]
| ''FOX 9''
| 9.4<br />9.5<br />9.6
| style="text-align:left" | [[Buzzr]]<br />[[TheGrio|Light TV]]<br />[[Decades (TV network)|Decades]]
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 10.1
| K27KN-D<br><small>([[Pioneer Public TV|KWCM]] Translator)</small>
| [[PBS]]
| ''Pioneer Public TV''
| 10.2<br />10.3<br />10.4<br />10.5
| style="text-align:left" | [[Create (TV network)|Create]]<br />[[Minnesota Channel]]<br />[[World (TV channel)|World]]<br />[[PBS Kids]]
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 11.1
| K26CL-D<br><small>([[KARE (TV)|KARE]] Translator)</small>
| [[NBC]]
| ''KARE 11''
| 11.2<br />11.3<br />11.4
| style="text-align:left" | [[Court TV]]<br />[[True Crime Network]]<br />[[Quest (TV channel)|Quest]]
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 17.1
| K17NW-D
| [[NASA TV]]
| 
| 
| style="text-align:left" | 
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 18.1
| K18DG-D<br><small>([[KSTP-TV|KSAX]] Translator)</small>
| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| ''5 Eyewitness News''
| 
| style="text-align:left" | 
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 20.1
| K20AC-D
| Escape (TV network)|Escape
| 
| 20.2<br />20.3<br />20.4<br />20.5
| style="text-align:left" | [[Newsmax TV]]<br />[[C-SPAN]]<br />[[MSNBC]]<br />[[Bounce TV]] 
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 21.1
| K21GN-D
| KOOL-TV
| 
| 21.2<br />21.3<br />21.4<br />21.5
| style="text-align:left" | [[ReelzChannel|Reelz-TV]]<br />[[Grit (TV network)|Grit]]<br />LALA-TV<br />[[Laff (TV network)|Laff]] 
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 22.1
| K36KH-D<br><small>([[Lakeland PBS|KAWB]] Translator)</small>
| [[PBS]]
| ''Lakeland PBS''
| 22.2<br />22.3<br />22.4<br />22.5<br />22.6
| style="text-align:left" | [[First Nations Experience]]<br />[[PBS Kids]]<br />[[Create (TV network)|Create]]<br />PBS Encore<br />[[Minnesota Channel]]
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 23.1
| K14LZ-D<br><small>([[WUCW]] Translator)</small>
| [[The CW|CW]]
| ''CW 23''
| 23.2<br />23.3<br />23.4
| style="text-align:left" | [[Comet (TV network)|Comet]]<br />[[Charge! (TV network)|Charge!]]<br />[[TBD (TV network)|TBD]]
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 41.1
| K34AF-D<br><small>([[KPXM-TV|KPXM]] Translator)</small>
| [[Ion Television|ION]]
| ''ION''
| 41.2<br />41.3<br />41.4<br /> 41.5<br />41.6
| style="text-align:left" | [[Bounce TV]]<br />[[Grit (TV network)|Grit]]<br />[[Court TV Mystery]]<br />[[QVC]]<br />[[Home Shopping Network|HSN]]
| style="text-align:left" | Selective TV, Inc.
|-
| 42.1
| [[KSTP-TV|KSAX]]<br><small>([[KSTP-TV|KSTP]]/[[KSTC-TV|KSTC]] Satellite)</small>
| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| ''5 Eyewitness News''
| 42.2<br />42.3
| style="text-align:left" | 45TV<br />[[MeTV]]
| style="text-align:left" | [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
|-
| 44.1
| K44GH-D
| [[Three Angels Broadcasting Network|3ABN]]
| 
| 44.2<br />44.4<br />44.5<br />44.6<br />44.7
| style="text-align:left" | 3ABN Proclaim<br />3ABN Spanish<br />3ABN Radio<br />3ABN Radio Spanish<br />[[Radio 74 Internationale|Radio 74]]
| style="text-align:left" | Edge Spectrum, Inc.
|-
|}

===Radio===
{| class="wikitable"
!align="center" colspan="5"|'''[[AM radio]] stations'''
|-
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Name
!Format
!Owner
|-
|1490||[[KXRA (AM)|KXRA]]|| ||[[Talk radio|News/Talk]]||Paradis Broadcasting Inc.
|}

{| class="wikitable"
!align="center" colspan="5"|'''[[FM radio]] stations'''
|-
!Frequency
!Call sign
!Name
!Format
!Owner
|-
|90.9||[[KSJR-FM|K215BL]]<br><small>([[KSJR-FM|KSJR]] Translator)</small>||Classical MPR||[[Classical music|Classical]]||Minnesota Public Radio
|-
|91.7||[[WJFM|K219FA]]<br><small>([[WJFM]] Translator)</small>||SonLife Radio||[[Christian radio|Christian]]||Jimmy Swaggart Ministries
|-
|92.3||[[KXRA-FM|KXRA]]||KX92||[[Classic rock]]||Paradis Broadcasting Inc.
|-
|94.3||[[KULO]]||Cool 94.3||[[Oldies]]||[[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
|-
|97.3||[[KRVY-FM|KRVY]]||97.3 The River||[[Adult Contemporary]]||Iowa City Broadcasting Company, Inc.
|-
|98.5||[[KLKX-LP|KLKX]]||K-Lakes 98.5||[[Adult Standards]]|| Alexandria Community Radio Educational Organization, Inc.
|-
|99.3||[[KXRZ]]||Z-99||[[Hot Adult Contemporary|Hot AC]]||Paradis Broadcasting Inc.
|-
|100.3||[[KXRA (AM)|K262AT]]<br><small>([[KXRA (AM)|KXRA-AM]] Translator)</small>|| ||[[Talk radio|News/Talk]]||Paradis Broadcasting Inc.
|-
|100.7||[[KIKV-FM|KIKV]]||KIK FM 100.7||[[Country music|Country]]||[[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
|-
|}

===Other forms===
The city's unofficial mascot "Big Ole" is featured on the cover of the debut album of the National Beekeepers Society.

==Culture==
The city hosts the annual [[Vikingland Band Festival]] parade marching championship.

In the 2000s, Justine Harman, an employee of ''[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]'' and the host of the ''Broken Harts'' podcast said, "It was a bit more progressive than rural South Dakota, but it wasn't exactly the most tolerant of places, either" in regard to [[LGBT people]].<ref name=BrokenHartsp1>{{cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/broken-harts-podcast-episode-1-transcript|title=''Broken Harts'' Podcast, Episode 1: Full Transcript|work=[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]|date=December 4, 2018|accessdate=May 30, 2021}}</ref>

A 2018 article in ''[[The Oregonian]]'' described Alexandria as "conservative-leaning".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2018/04/hart_children_immediately_pull.html|title=Hart children immediately pulled from public schools after mother's abuse conviction |newspaper=[[The Oregonian]]|date=April 3, 2018|accessdate=May 31, 2021}}</ref>

==Sports==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2023}}
The [[Alexandria Blizzard]] is a [[junior ice hockey#Tier III|Tier III junior]] [[ice hockey]] team in the [[North American 3 Hockey League]] and play out of the [[Runestone Community Center]]. From 2006 to 2012, the organization had a Tier II team in the [[North American Hockey League]]. The NAHL franchise relocated to [[Brookings, South Dakota]] and the current NA3HL franchise took its place.

Viking Speedway hosts weekly Saturday night dirt track racing from April–September and also periodic special, weekend events throughout the year. Five WISSOTA classes run there: Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Super Stocks, Modifieds, and Late Models. Viking Speedway was awarded WISSOTA's "2005 Track of the Year".

One night per summer, a [[Northwoods League]] baseball game is held at [[Knute Nelson Memorial Park]]. The [[Willmar Stingers]] become the [[Alexandria Beetles]] to pay homage to the time when Alexandria had its own team. The Beetles were in operation from 2001 to 2012 and were renamed the [[Alexandria Blue Anchors]] in 2013. The team folded after the 2015 season.

==Notable people==
{{div col}}
*[[Lars K. Aaker]], state legislator
*[[Richard Battey]], judge
*[[Hilda Bettermann]], state representative 
*[[Marvin W. Bursch]], state legislator and businessman
*[[Dave Dalby]], center for the [[Oakland Raiders]] 
*[[Walter H. Campbell]], state legislator, businessman and lawyer
*[[Frederick J. Foslien]], state legislator, farmer, and businessman
*[[John Hammergren]], CEO of [[McKesson Corporation]]
*[[Duane Hanson]], sculptor
*[[Edward Hanson]], 28th [[governor of American Samoa]]
*Jennifer and Sarah Hart, perpetrators of the [[Hart family murders]]<ref name=BrokenHartsp1/> 
*[[Hal Haskins]], professional basketball player
*[[John Hawkes (actor)|John Hawkes]], actor
*[[Todd Hendricks]], professional football player
*[[Jed Johnson (designer)|Jed Johnson]], interior designer and film director
*[[Peter Krause]], actor
*[[Tom Lehman]], [[Professional Golfers' Association of America|PGA]] golfer
*[[Brock Lesnar]], professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist
*[[Clifford Lofvegren]], state legislator, businessman, and farmer
*[[Knute Nelson]], U.S. senator
*[[Julian O. Newhouse]], businessman and state legislator
*[[Richard A. Peterson (aviator)|Richard Peterson]], architect, [[fighter ace]]
*[[Walter Roth (Minnesota politician)|Walter Roth]], farmer and state legislator
*[[Gary Serum]], pitcher for the [[Minnesota Twins]]
*[[Henrik Shipstead]], U.S. senator
*[[Bruce P. Smith]], halfback for the [[Green Bay Packers]] and the [[Los Angeles Rams]]
*[[Cliff Sterrett]], cartoonist
*[[Hill H. Wilson]], businessman and state legislator
*[[Theodore G. Winkjer]], businessman, farmer, and state legislator
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Alexandria Lakes AVA]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Alexandria (Minnesota)}}
{{commons category|Alexandria, Minnesota}}
* [https://alexandriamn.city/ City of Alexandria Official Website]
* [http://www.alexandria.k12.mn.us/ Alexandria Independent School District]
* [http://www.alexandriamn.org/ Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.explorealex.com/ Alexandria Hotel & Hospitality, Convention & Visitor's Bureau]
* [http://www.vacationalexandriamn.com/ Alexandria Tourism Official Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141020180623/http://www.alexmn.org/ Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission Website]
* [http://www.alexmn.com/ Alexandria, Minnesota Real Estate]
* [http://www.alexandriapolice.com/ Alexandria, Minnesota Police Department]
* [explorealex.com/big-ole-live-camera Live camera of Big Ole]

{{Alexandria, Minnesota}}
{{Douglas County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Douglas County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:County seats in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1858]]
[[Category:1858 establishments in Minnesota]]