Danube is a city in Renville County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 529 at the 2000 census. Danube was founded in 1901 and held a celebration for its centennial in 2001 where it recorded its first-ever fireworks display.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 529 people, 214 households, and 156 families residing in the city. The population density was 425.5/km² (1,094.1/mi²). There were 223 housing units at an average density of 179.4/km² (461.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.35% White, 0.38% Native American, 2.08% from other races, and 0.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.24% of the population.
There were 214 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $35,781 versus $22,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,807. About 3.8% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Danube Fun Days
Danube Fun Days, the city's annual celebration, is an extended weekend with lots of traditional events taking place during the second weekend in July. The Wednesday night ice cream social at the United Methodist Church kicks off the celebration and always draws a good turnout. For the athletes, Fun Days hosts one of the area's best volleyball tournaments and a softball tournament. The parade typically draws 50+ floats and is a favorite for the locals. There is also a flea market in the park and a treasure hunt in which a medallion is hidden and the finder gets a prize. The street dance brings live music to town and ropes off a beer garden with burgers and hot dogs. After the band calls it a night, the younger adults typically find themselves at one of the many late-night house parties hosted throughout town. Fun Days serves as a homecoming of sorts for many of the city's former residents and a great chance to catch up with some long-lived camaraderie.[3]
Danube Pride
While the people of Danube may appear to be normal small-town dwellers, they in fact have a very rare and highly regarded sense of pride for their quaint city in Minnesota. Many residents have been noted as saying proudly, "Danube is the heart of God's Country." or a blunt reply, "This is Danube, of course it's awesome." This is most evident in the people who were born and raised in or near Danube. This sense of pride typically continues into adulthood and in many cases it continues even after they have moved away from their hometown.
Activities
The youth of Danube enjoy some unique activities that help to keep Danube special. The youth ride bicycles as their way of getting around, and typically have ridden their bikes through the streets and sidewalks of Danube enough to accumulate 5,000 miles (unofficially). Skinned knees are an epidemic with these youth. Summer Rec is also a pastime in Danube - a "little league" baseball organization that runs through most of the summer alongside swimming lessons at a neighboring town's public pool. In their teenage years, residents will typically discover that the Danube water tower can be climbed (much to the chagrin of the city maintenance workers and the lone police officer) for a great view of the city and the surrounding area. These youth also discover the quonset building just North of town which they "tag" with their name, last name, or nickname.
Adult activities include "going up town" for lunch at the cafe, catching up with the gossip at "The 1-Stop", "going up town" to get the mail, or attending the high school's various sporting events. Nightlife is monopolized by Miller's on Main - the residents' only choice for a place to sing some karaoke.
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Coordinates: 44°47′31″N 95°05′50″W / 44.79194°N 95.09722°W / 44.79194; -95.09722
