St. James, Minnesota

Overview

As a regional transportation hub in St. James, Minnesota, Saint James Municipal Airport occupies a central position within the regional infrastructure. This airport connects residents across multiple incorporated places, making it a focal point for the surrounding area. Analyzing the population within a 30-minute drive sheds light on how this location fits into the broader community network.

Population catchment

The catchment area surrounding Saint James Municipal Airport includes 17 incorporated communities with a combined population of roughly 16,006. St. James anchors this population base at 4,793 residents, comprising approximately 30% of the total. Lake Crystal and Madelia, with populations of 2,539 and 2,396 respectively, round out the top three communities by population in the 30-minute radius. The distribution of population across these communities paints a picture of the regional demographic landscape.

Regional dependence

The data reveals that 17 communities out of 17 near Saint James Municipal Airport have fewer than 5,000 residents. These smaller incorporated places look to St. James and its surrounding infrastructure for commerce, employment, and civic services. This hub-and-spoke dynamic underscores how locations like Saint James Municipal Airport function as critical nodes in the regional network of Minnesota.

Geographic interpretation

The rural nature of the area around Saint James Municipal Airport is reflected in the population data. With limited communities above 10,000 residents, the region displays a rural settlement pattern where populations are spread across numerous small incorporated places. With St. James as the primary urban anchor and numerous smaller places in the vicinity, the region displays a dispersed demographic pattern. The median community size of 339 residents reveals that the majority of incorporated places in the area are substantially smaller relative to St. James. These geographic factors contribute to the significance of Saint James Municipal Airport within the surrounding community network.