County: McLeod

State Senate District: 18

State House District: 18A

U.S. Congressional District: 7th

Distance from other communities: Minneapolis/St. Paul, 60 miles; St. Cloud, 50 miles; Willmar, 48 miles; New Ulm, 43 miles; Mankato, 65 miles; Marshall, 90 miles.

Population: In the 2000 census, Hutchinson’s population was 13,080. In early 2007, it was estimated at 14,417.

Major employers: Hutchinson Technology Inc. — 2,500 employees in February 2008; 3M — 1,500 employees in February 2008.

Transportation: Highways — State highways 22, 15 and 7; 50 miles to I-494 and 14 miles to U.S. Highway 212.

Airport: Hutchinson Municipal Airport/Butler Field. Distance from downtown is two miles.

Climate: Average annual precipitation, 27.08 inches (including average annual snowfall of 40 inches); January average precipitation, .77 inches, average temperature, 10 degrees; April average precipitation, 2.39 inches, average temperature, 42.8 degrees; July average precipitation, 3.81 inches, average temperature, 72.1 degrees; October average precipitation, 2.05 inches, average temperature, 47.9 degrees.

Local contacts:

• Gary Plotz, city administrator, City Center, 111 Hassan St. S., Hutchinson, MN 55350. Phone (320) 587-5151.

• Bill Corby, president, Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, 12 Main St. S., Hutchinson, MN 55350. Phone (320) 587-5252.