Altura, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Altura is a town in Winona County, Minnesota
, United States. The population was 493 at the 2010 census.
, and the Treaty of Mendota
, which made the territory available for settlement.
When the Sioux Indians left, the government offered the land for $1.25 an acre to the settlers for staking their claims.
Settlers started to come and stake their claims, but many didn't have the money to even buy 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of land at $1.25 an acre. The settlers who could not afford to buy were allowed to come and choose what land they wanted and stake their claim. There was trouble with other settlers coming along and jumping their claims of land. Staking the land did not give them title to it, because they have not paid for it. There were groups of settlers that would form "claim clubs", which would hire a rough looking character to guard the claims of the settlers in that certain group or club. They would build a shack for him to stay in and he would patrol the land and would likely shoot any person coming in to jump a claim. Meanwhile the settlers would then go to either relatives or to a loan shark in Winona, who would charge them 18-20% interest, and get the money they needed.
In early days towns were usually built four to six miles (10 km) apart so that a person could journey to a town at the slow pace of an oxen, and return home again before night fall. Oxen were a common animal in that time and well into the 1870s when they were finally replaced by horses.
This land worth $1.25 an acre was well publicized, even in Europe
. A farm of 30 to 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) in Europe
was considered good sized, with usually half of the land terraced becausxe of the hilly terrain. This land drew many immigrants mainly from the countries of Germany
, Switzerland
, Luxembourg
, and Belgium
.
Surrounding Area
Let us take a look at the surrounding area: Elba, MN, with its two mills in 1878; and Beaver, MN, with its bluffs towering 400 to 500 feet (152.4 m), was established in 1865. Whitewater Falls, MN, literally washed away had been established in 1857. Bethany, MN platted in 1891, was located southeast of our Altura location.
, the city has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 417 people, 163 households, and 117 families residing in the city. The population density
was 140.5 people per square mile (54.2/km²). There were 172 housing units at an average density of 57.9 per square mile (22.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.84% White, 0.48% African American, 0.72% Asian, and 0.96% from two or more races.
There were 163 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 15.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 120.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,393, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $30,313 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,199. About 7.4% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
Winona County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,985 people, 18,744 households, and 11,696 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 19,551 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
, United States. The population was 493 at the 2010 census.
History
Altura started out as a hunting ground for the Sioux Indians. They hunted deer, bear, wolves, quail, and other game native to the area. They also trapped mink and muskrat in the streams that now run through many of the farms. The Sioux Indians were here until 1853 when they signed the Treaty of Traverse Des SiouxTreaty of Traverse des Sioux
The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux was a treaty signed on July 23, 1851, between the United States government and Sioux Indian bands in Minnesota Territory by which the Sioux ceded territory. The treaty was instigated by Alexander Ramsey, the first governor of Minnesota Territory, and Luke Lea,...
, and the Treaty of Mendota
Treaty of Mendota
The Treaty of Mendota was signed in Mendota, Minnesota on August 5, 1851 between the United States federal government and the Sioux tribes of Minnesota ....
, which made the territory available for settlement.
When the Sioux Indians left, the government offered the land for $1.25 an acre to the settlers for staking their claims.
Settlers started to come and stake their claims, but many didn't have the money to even buy 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) of land at $1.25 an acre. The settlers who could not afford to buy were allowed to come and choose what land they wanted and stake their claim. There was trouble with other settlers coming along and jumping their claims of land. Staking the land did not give them title to it, because they have not paid for it. There were groups of settlers that would form "claim clubs", which would hire a rough looking character to guard the claims of the settlers in that certain group or club. They would build a shack for him to stay in and he would patrol the land and would likely shoot any person coming in to jump a claim. Meanwhile the settlers would then go to either relatives or to a loan shark in Winona, who would charge them 18-20% interest, and get the money they needed.
In early days towns were usually built four to six miles (10 km) apart so that a person could journey to a town at the slow pace of an oxen, and return home again before night fall. Oxen were a common animal in that time and well into the 1870s when they were finally replaced by horses.
This land worth $1.25 an acre was well publicized, even in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. A farm of 30 to 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
was considered good sized, with usually half of the land terraced becausxe of the hilly terrain. This land drew many immigrants mainly from the countries of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Surrounding Area
Let us take a look at the surrounding area: Elba, MN, with its two mills in 1878; and Beaver, MN, with its bluffs towering 400 to 500 feet (152.4 m), was established in 1865. Whitewater Falls, MN, literally washed away had been established in 1857. Bethany, MN platted in 1891, was located southeast of our Altura location.
Notable residents and natives
- George Henry Speltz, sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint CloudRoman Catholic Diocese of Saint CloudThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud is a Roman Catholic diocese in Minnesota. It was founded on September 22, 1889, out of territory that had been evangelized by the missionary priest Father Francis Xavier Pierz...
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 417 people, 163 households, and 117 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 140.5 people per square mile (54.2/km²). There were 172 housing units at an average density of 57.9 per square mile (22.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.84% White, 0.48% African American, 0.72% Asian, and 0.96% from two or more races.
There were 163 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 15.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 120.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,393, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $30,313 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,199. About 7.4% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.