Affordable Alexandria Storage Units

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Alexandria.

About Alexandria, MN

Alexandria is the county seat of Douglas County, Minnesota. The population is 14,335 (2020 U.S. Census). Locals use the nickname “Alex” for the town, which was voted one of the top ten small towns in America by Livability magazine.

Historically, the first settlers arrived in 1858. They were two brothers, Alexander and William Kinkead, who came to the area from Maryland. The settlement got its name from one of the brothers. The brothers revered the ancient city of Alexandria, Egypt, known as a cultural center for learning. Alexandria was incorporated as a village in 1877; however, it took until 1909 for it to incorporate as a city.

This town is a destination location enjoyed by tourists due to the lovely plains and fantastic resorts. The city museum is a favorite place to visit. It has the Kensington Runestone, a stone carved with rune symbols made by the Vikings who discovered North America around 1,000 A.D, predating Columbus by centuries. Outside the museum is a 25-foot statue of a Viking called “Big Ole,” made for the 1965 World&rsquo's Fair. The figure underwent a complete restoration in 2016.

What to do in Alexandria, MN

In this area, the lakes are beautiful, and the resorts are world-class.

• Shopping: Favorite places to shop include Viking Plaza Mall, Midway Mall, and the Scandinavian Gift Shop.
• Destination: The city is surrounded by lakes. You can enjoy a beach resort, Lak Brophy County Park, and a golf course at the Geneva Golf Club.
• Features: The Runestone Museum displays exhibits about ancient Viking life and shows a carved stone with Viking figures called “runes.” There is a short video explaining how the Vikings came to America. Replicas of the boats they used are on display.Locals are proud of the area's history as being one of the first places that found evidence proving the Vikings visited and settled in America.

Working in Alexandria, MN

The local economy depends on manufacturing, retail, health care, and tourism. The unemployment rate is 4.1%, compared to the national average of 6.0%. The median household income is $55,426 per year. The predicted job growth rate over the next ten years is 36.5%%, compared to the national average growth rate of 33.5%. The average commute time is 13 minutes.

The industries offering the most jobs are health care (9.1%), tourism (8.2%), education (7.6%), metal products (6.6%), building construction (6.1%), retail stores (4.7%), and social assistance (4.4%).

Alexandria, MN Neighborhoods

This city has neighborhoods for families with well-landscaped lots and large houses. It has a downtown area that is a popular neighborhood for college students on a tight budget.

Here are three popular neighborhoods:

• Holmes City: This area has the most expensive houses. The median home price in this area is $372,955, which compares favorably to the median price of a home in America at $423,600. Most homes are owner-occupied. In this neighborhood, residential construction happened mostly between 1970 and 2010. You will find mobile homes and three- or four-bedroom homes mixed with apartment complexes. The average rent is $1,285, with a vacancy rate of 28.9%%, so there are usually many available places to rent.
• Alexandria North: The median home price is $310,667. The average rent is $1,169, with a vacancy rate of 9.1%. This low rate may make finding a nice place to rent challenging but still possible. This neighborhood is popular with families raising children.
• Alexandria Southeast: This area has a mixture of owners and renters. Most of the houses were built after 1970 but before 1999. The median home price is $295,658. The average rent is $1.305, with a vacancy rate of 2.3%, making it difficult to find a place to buy or rent.

Alexandria, MN School District

The public schools are managed by the Alexandria Public Schools. The district spends around $`14,448 per student every year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16 to one.

There are four private schools in the area. The best-ranked ones are New Testament Christian School (K to 12th grade), Zion Lutheran School (PK to 8th grade), and St. Agnes Elementary (PK to 6th grade).

There is one college in the city for higher education. It is the two-year program of the public Alexandria Technical & Community College. There are 119 colleges and universities within 200 miles, including the University of Minnesota (32 miles from Alexandria), Saint Johns University (52 miles from Alexandria), and the private, four-year College of Saint Benedict (56 miles from Alexandria).

Moving to Alexandria, MN

This information will help you turn utilities on for your new home or apartment.

ALP Utilities provides the municipal electric service and city water service. Wastewater is managed by Alexandria Lakes Area Sanitary District.

Electricity is also available from Runestone Electric Association. Natural gas comes from CenterPoint Energy. Telephone, TV, and internet connections are available from CenturyLink, Spectrum, and others.

The Public Works - Park Department manages the public parks, which have baseball fields for summer games and ice-skating in winter. Residents can play pickleball and tennis at the local junior and high school outdoor courts. Many lakes have beaches, boat rentals, and fishing piers to enjoy.

The city government consists of an elected mayor and five elected members serving on the city council.

Alexandria, MN Housing

The median home price in this area is $327,000, trending up by 3.8% year-over-year. The moderate home prices, which are 17% below the national average, help balance the cost of living against the higher costs of health care, other goods and services, and food. The cost of living is 1.0% lower than other communities in the state and 2% higher than the national average.