Goodbye!!!

 It was fun to work on this class project, and although my technologically challenged self had at times many frustrating moments with this site, i'm pretty happy with the final result-- I DID IT AND Its not bad if i may say so myself... i'm a little proud.. ;) 
ok ok so I had a little challenge for myself which was to find actual pictures of when i lived in  Park Rapids.. and after much much searching I did manage to find one! its too small i know... but its all I got!

my look at how much i've grown!!!... i guess you can't tell... nevermind... but i was the one in the blue suit!! I'll miss you guys and wish you all the best, I'm sure i'll run into most of the Coms majors at some point or another!!! :) 
thank you professor for all we learned it was enjoyable- challenging and always interesting!
-Laura Catalina Ortiz

Chapter Eighteen: Hawaii

Did YOU know that in Honolulu within the limits of any public park, it is unlawful to annoy any bird!?

When one thinks of Hawaii we think of sun, beach, surfing and sometimes volcanoes, but we never think of them erupting! Mount St. Helens is actually an active volcano that is very popular with tourists and yes i said STILL ACTIVE-- Tourism is a billion BILLION i said B.I.L.L.I.O.N dollar industry in Hawaii!!! speaking of tourism, Park Rapids also has lots of water to have fun in and many people are attracted to it, although it is no island with tropical climate it is a city with many seasons and lots of outdoor fun!

Chapter Sixteen: The North Pacific Coast

Reading about the pacific northwest reminded me a bit of Park Rapids-- I think just as  both Seattle and Portland have been voted as the "most livable city", Park rapids  could fall into this category as well... ok ok so its freeezing there most of the time BUT in terms of the locals and friendliness and seclusion from the rest of MN, i could manage to relate Park Rapids to this coast.. plus its not completely secluded drive 45 mins north or south and you find bigger cities, and drive 2 1/2 hours north and we're in Canadialand!  but the locals like it small and its a great place to grow up! yup yup, i know u agree with me ;)

CA CA CA CALIFORNIA!! CH 15

Chapter 15 was fun to read through because i have gotten to experience California, Though i' ve only been here for a few years I have gotten to experience a few tiny fun earthquakes. Although there was one earthquake in Park rapids back in 1975 which measures 4.6 they are extremely rare The Park Rapids-area historical earthquake activity is significantly below Minnesota state average. It is 100% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

Although Park Rapid does have much aquatic vegetation, we do not share the same array of non aquatic vegetation that Californians enjoy such as Almonds, apricots, artichokes, avocados, broccoli, celery, dates, figs, grapes, kiwis, plums, and walnuts.. (wow im hungry:) above is a california salad with most all those ingredients and in the spirit of California this video is for all my homies:

Chapter Fourteen: The Southwest Border Area

(Arizona)

The Southwest Border is home to people three main ethnicities:  Spanish American, North European, and American Indian ancestry. Although Park Rapids by no means represents any “melting pot ” It was the place where I first heard of “Indians” specifically the Chippewa tribe (because my brother had a Chippewa friend and the looked like TWINS—anyway we used to tell him we would leave him with them) One of the largest tribes North of Mexico, whose range was formerly along both shores of Lake Huron and Superior, extending across Minnesota Turtle Mountains, North Dakota. — They sure traveled… but I guess I did too!!!

Chippewans 

Chapter Thirteen: The Empty Interior

The Empty Interior may have the Grand Canyon, which ups their tourism, but as stated in other ports we claim “Itasca Park”—hey it could be a canyon. Why not?

The empty Interior may be filled with Paltus but sometimes when you live in MN for too long you feel like you’ve hit a plateau… (bad joke? or genius joke? ;) )
OHHH, pretty!!!

Chapter Twelve: The Great Plains and Prairies

Tornado's scare me, and I became quite familiar with them living in Prak Rapids.. some may say TOO FAMILIAR!... by that I mean I once saw a funnel cloud and lots of rain, but TRUST ME , it was enough for me to be “ TOO FAMILIAR” They always came around  spring – which makes sense because it is  when the warm moist air from the south mixes with cold air from the north.

(unfortunatley I'm pretty sure i've seen this, luckily I survived (if you dont agree then you're mean!))

Most of Minnesota, except for small areas in the southeast, was covered by ice during the glacial ages. When the ice melted, it left behind a body of water known as Lake Agassiz, which extended into what we now call the Dakotas and Canada and was larger than the combined Great Lakes are today; additional melting to the north caused the lake to drain away, leaving flat prairie in its wake. The glaciers also left behind large stretches of pulverized limestone, enriching Minnesota's soil, and the numerous shallow depressions that have developed into its modern-day lakes and streams. YAY LAKES!!!

LOOK LAKE Agassiz!!

Chapter 11-- Agricultural Core!

Learning about the agricultural core was pretty interesting for me. The states included in this section feel like home to me, although i do not know them all, i am familiar with the midwest since i spent most of my childhood there. There are farms, lakes and not much else but the fun you can have with those are endless Reading about the area I  grew up in and couldn't wait to leave, made me a little homesick and it made me appreciate it even if it was just a bit more:) ohhh Park Rapids... we didn't quite make the agricultural core!!!

Chapter 10!! COASTLANDS!!

Chapter 10 was pretty interesting with describing the coastlands. It was nice to read about Hurricanes, and lucky in the fact that we don't have to worry about them.

I lived in Florida for a whole before making the move to LA and right before I left I was hit with Hurricane Charlie and Hurricane-e… we had no water no light no food… I love camping but never realized how much everything around you starts to smell awful, its humid so humid u cant sleep.  (ick..) THis is humidity... Imgine this all over everything and yourself. UGH

CHAPTER 9 – THE CHANGING SOUTH!!!

Park Rapids has not changed much, in recent years- there are no Huge controversies that have occurred, however because it is a mainly "white" and small town, when my family went there, my brother who is definitely darker skinned than I am did not have the same "fun/celebrity" feeling I had when we moved. Unfortunately it wasn't until year later that I found out many of his friends where told to not hang out with him because he was "brown" and not even native American, It seems that because that Native Americans have lived around Park Rapids they have been accepted-- but "us" the "new: people were not completely. Not quite as drastic as what went on in the south, though.

Des Moines' location in the center of the nation's agricultural heartland gives it something in common with large parts of the Changing South.

Socially however, The lifestyle in Park rapids is very “country” and families are very important and close knit. 


He's different... 

CHAPTER 8 -- Appalachia and the Ozarks

Mountain Ranges in Park rapids

Although you could go mountain biking in MN the highest points

Eagle Mountain is the highest point in Minnesota, at 2,301 feet (701 m). It is located in northern Cook County;[1] the summit is inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest in the Misquah Hills, northwest of the community of Grand Marais. It is a Minnesota State Historic Site.

Eagle Mountain is only about 15 miles (24 km) from Minnesota's lowest point, Lake Superior, at 607 feet (185 m); it is part of the Canadian Shield, Confusingly, there is another, much shorter, peak named Eagle Mountain in northern Minnesota. The shorter peak is part of the Lutsen Mountains ski resort.

The hike to the summit can be made in about two and a half hours. The distance to the peak is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) with an elevation gain of 550 feet (168 m); the trail is rocky and moderately strenuous. Whale Lake is located about halfway along the trail and offers two campsites to hikers. The peak of the mountain is marked with a plaque. As the peak is located in a national wilderness area, a permit is required. Self-issued permits are available at any Superior National Forest ranger station or at the trailhead.

CHAPTER 7 THE BYPASSED EAST

Bypassed East coastland can be compared to Park Rapids widning trail… ok not really. But I tried… However we too have some  lush forests that give the region its defining features, we like the bypassed eats havemuch beautiful wildlife and greenery, Minnesota is already lying at the northern rim of the Central Plains region, consists mainly of flat prairie, and it only seems to get flatter up north up to Park Rapids. Ist a place where it is easy to see  its extensive wetlands, rivers, and streams.
SO RELAXING!!! oh... i miss you PR!!!

.

CHAPTER 5 MANUFACTURING

With companies such as

 AND

(more info on businesses in general are http://www.lakesnwoods.com/ParkRapidsBusiness.htm )

Park Rapids has a Manufacturing, 15% industry.

Average Income

Median for all male full-time

$28,718

Median for all female full-time

$21,827

Household Income

Less than $10,000

16%

$10,000 to $14,999

15%

$15,000 to $24,999

23%

$25,000 to $34,999

11%

$35,000 to $49,999

16%

$50,000 to $74,999

10%

$75,000 to $99,999

5%

$100,000 to $149,999

2%

$150,000 to $199,999

1%

$200,000 or more

1%

CHAPTER 4 Megalopolis?

Although Park Rapids  maybe not a megalopolis, it does share some basic qualities… well it tries…

FIREDEPRTMENT:  It has one Volunteer Fire Department which provides Fire Protection and Emergency Rescue to the residents of Park Rapids, MN and surrounding communities in and around Hubbard County, MN.  However with 0 Career and 0 Volunteer Firefighters (YAY!?)

POLICE?

Park Rapids Police Employees

Officers: 9

Civilian Employees: 10

Hubbard County Police Employees

Officers: 13

Civilian Employees: 37

MEDICAL!! (I know they have this because its where my mommy worked!)

THERE ARE TWO PLACES IF YOU GET SICK!!

Erickson Medical Clinic         Rural Health Clinic         205 7th St. W.

Sebeka, MN         (218) 837-5333

Saint Josephs Area Health Services         Hospital         600 Pleasant Ave

Park Rapids, MN         (218) 732-3311

City hall

The Park Rapids City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month throughout the year. All meetings are held in the lower level of the public library in Park Rapids.

AIRPORT: Has its own airport located at

301 airport RD highway 71 SOUTH

Park Rapids, MN 56470

Nobody uses it… unless…its an emergency or has to do with farming…

BUS:  theres the Jefferson lines… but theyre more like “greyhounds” no city buses here no sir…

That’s about it….

CHAPTER 3 EARLY SETTLEMENT

PARK RAPIDS, a city in Todd Township, sections 23-26, and the county seat, was named by Frank C. Rice, proprietor of the townsite, who came from Riceville, Iowa, a railway village that he had previously platted. The name was suggested by the parklike groves and prairies there, beside the former rapids of the Fish Hook River, later dammed to supply valuable water power. The village was platted in 1882 by surveyor Joseph Sombs, who was born in Canada in 1834 and came to Minnesota in 1853. The city was incorporated on November 25, 1890; its post office was established in Cass County and transferred to Hubbard County in 1881; the first postmaster was Gilbert F. Rice, a miller born in 1839 in New York, who moved to Park Rapids in 1881, owned a flour mill, and served as judge of probate court, 1883-87!!! Although this is as much history asi could find regarding its early settlement , I also remember there being the Leech Lake Indian Reservation and as of now information states that over 98% of the people who live there are white, which I believe because if you look at my homepage you will recall this girl was known as “the foreign one”…. its cool though ; )

Some fun info: The Mississippi river is a big deal and we claimed Itasca Park as our own (locally) because it is not…

Today this is what we know

Population in July 2008: 3,648. Population change since 2000: +11.4%

Males: 1,640	(45.0%)
Females: 2,008	(55.0%)

Median resident age:	42.5 years
Minnesota median age:	35.4 years

Zip codes: 56470.

Estimated median household income in 2008: $27,974 (it was $23,628 in 2000)

Park Rapids:	$27,974
Minnesota:	$57,288

Estimated per capita income in 2008: $21,265

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $121,979 (it was $68,200 in 2000)

Park Rapids:	$121,979
Minnesota:	$213,800

Mean prices in 2008: All housing units: $146,087; Detached houses: $147,088; Townhouses or other attached units: $213,117; In 2-unit structures: $153,915; Mobile homes: $50,952

CHAPTER 2. PHYSICAL ENVIORNMENT

Park rapids MN is located exactly at

Lat: 46.91   Lon: -95.07   Elev: 1434

Park Rapids is approximately 200 miles northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul, 135 miles west of Duluth and 85 miles east of Fargo.

its  water area is 76.9 sq. mi. to a Land area: 922 sq. mi. (little like me)

The average annual snowfall in the area is 52 inches.

The average daily temperature in January is 5 degrees; the average in July is 69 degrees (although maybe because of how cold it gets and because of the humidity it feels much hotter!)

Feel free to do anything from snowboarding 

To water tubing

ON THE SAME LAKE!

 I remember having never seen snow in my life being amazed at the fact that I could “walk on water”

Because of  its location by rivsrs and trees, there is plenty to do and you can find hundreds of miles of trails for snowmobiling and hundred and hundreds of diffent river paths to take on a boat/canoe/ etc. Hiking is always fun too!!!

 Although its surrounded by lakes the fishhook river which flows through the city  is the second most popular next to the mississipi river itself!

There are Approximately 400 lakes  within 25 miles of Park Rapids!

CHAPTER 1 regions and themes!!

Park Rapids is a tiny little city no bigger than this blog,

 Population density: 20 people per square mile

Summers were amazing and can be describes by one word--Lakes ok maybe two LAKES LAKES LAKES (that was three, I know),

According to the 2000 census there were a whole 3,276 people living there.

When my family first moved there I felt like a little celebrity-- because everyone knew whom we were which was --the only foreign people to live there. I don't remember if this was a good or a bad thing but I remember everyone knowing who I was before I introduced myself.

Park Rapids is located in Northern MN, it is part of Hubbard County about three hours south of Canadialand (yes I say it’s a word) and it is BURRR!!...

*** USE THIS PHOTO*** http://www.city-data.com/county/Hubbard_County-MN.html

WELCOME THIS IS ME!!

WELCOME THIS IS ME!!

I was born in Bogotá Colombia until I was 8 then my family moved to the states and I spent about 9 years in Rochester, MN, then my family moved and I ended up graduating high school in Ft. Myers Florida. Right after graduation I moved to California. But lets back up a bit... between Bogotá and Rochester we lived in Sarasota, fl for a few months until my moms job moved her to Park Rapids MN where we lived for about a year.

I am that person that had no idea what I wanted to major in-- I feel like I could really like A LOT of different things. Instead of waiting to figure it out I decided to become a Communications major and now here I am at CSUN with you guys-- kind of:)

Although I Have gotten the chance to travel a bit through the country and there are many beautiful places to see-- there a part of me that would just love to enjoy summers in Park Rapids MN one more time.