2010 census

As of the census^[6] of 2010, there were 1,209 people, 491 households, and 333 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,089.2 inhabitants per square mile (420.5/km²). There were 537 housing units at an average density of 483.8 per square mile (186.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% White, 0.4% African American, 1.2% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.

There were 491 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.2% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.

The median age in the city was 42.6 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 28.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 1,234 people, 493 households, and 330 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,111.5 inhabitants per square mile (429.2/km²). There were 527 housing units at an average density of 474.7 per square mile (183.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.43% White, 0.24% African American, 0.32% Asian, 1.94% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.

There were 493 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,927, and the median income for a family was $44,125. Males had a median income of $30,972 versus $21,042 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,925. About 3.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.

Name

Portrait of Mrs. Adrian Iselin, by John Singer Sargent

Railroad company history states that the city was named after Adrian Iselin, a large stockholder in the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad.^[8] A copy of a portrait of Iselin's wife, painted by John Singer Sargent, has been displayed for years in Adrian City Hall.^[7]

Railroad era

Adrian's early development was largely fostered by the efforts of John Ireland, bishop of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Diocese. Through the Catholic press, he encouraged Catholics from eastern cities to come to Minnesota, and he used his personal wealth to buy land near Adrian to sell to the new arrivals. In 1877, he bought 20,000 acres (81 km²) of land; seven months later he made an additional purchase of 35,000 acres (140 km²).^[7]

In 1877, 100,000 bushels of grain were shipped from the Adrian station, and the town population totaled 193 people as of 1880. By 1882 the local parish reported 250 Catholic families living in the area. The town population increased to 671 in 1890 and 1,258 in 1900. Growth slowed thereafter, as some of Adrian's rail trade had shifted to the towns of Ellsworth, Lismore and Wilmont. In 1893, Adrian tried but failed to split Nobles County into two parts in order to become a county seat.^[7]

St. Adrian Catholic Church

The first St. Adrian Catholic Church was established in 1877.^[7] The building burned to the ground Christmas Eve, 1899. The young town responded by building the current church, which was completed in 1901. St. Adrian Church is on the National Register of Historic Places along with the Hotel Slade.

Interstate highway era

At 2:00 p.m., November 4, 1967, the section of Interstate Highway 90 passing Adrian officially opened to traffic. The previously used highway, U.S. Highway 16, passed directly through town. The by-passing of all east/west traffic forever sealed the character of Adrian as a small town.