Austin Township, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Austin Township is a township
in Mower County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 1,396 at the 2000 census. The largest city partially in the township is Austin
with a population
of 23,314 people. The northern parts of the city of Austin are in Lansing Township
. All other population centers are unincorporated area
s.
, the township has a total area of 29.2 square miles (75.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,396 people, 507 households, and 396 families residing in the township. The population density
was 47.8 people per square mile (18.4/km²). There were 527 housing units at an average density of 18.0/sq mi (7.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.63% White, 0.14% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 2.01% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.72% of the population.
There were 507 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.3% were married couples
living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 111.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $48,958, and the median income for a family was $54,167. Males had a median income of $35,250 versus $19,779 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,999. About 2.7% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
on the Milwaukee Railroad
. It was started in 1875 by Thomas Varco and at one time had a grain elevator
. The railroad continued to deliver freight to Varco Station as late as the 1950s. It still is a small unincorporated
settlement along Mower County Highway 4.
ted in 1857. This area is currently within the city limits
of the city of Austin on 4th Street S.W. near Calvary Cemetery. At one time, the small community had a mill
and a hotel
. Its population dwindled as the city of Austin continued to grow and was eventually incorporated by it.
Township (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
in Mower County
Mower County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,603 people, 15,582 households, and 10,315 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 16,251 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,396 at the 2000 census. The largest city partially in the township is Austin
Austin, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,314 people, 9,897 households, and 6,076 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,168.2 people per square mile . There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 954.3 per square mile...
with a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 23,314 people. The northern parts of the city of Austin are in Lansing Township
Lansing Township, Minnesota
Lansing Township is a township in Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,292 at the 2000 census. The largest city contained partially within the township is Austin with 23,314 people. The southern part of Austin is in Austin Township...
. All other population centers are unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
s.
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 township has a total area of 29.2 square miles (75.6 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 1,396 people, 507 households, and 396 families residing in the township. 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 47.8 people per square mile (18.4/km²). There were 527 housing units at an average density of 18.0/sq mi (7.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.63% White, 0.14% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 2.01% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.72% of the population.
There were 507 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 111.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $48,958, and the median income for a family was $54,167. Males had a median income of $35,250 versus $19,779 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 township was $19,999. About 2.7% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Varco Station
Varco Station was a small village which used to be about three miles south of the city of AustinAustin, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,314 people, 9,897 households, and 6,076 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,168.2 people per square mile . There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 954.3 per square mile...
on the Milwaukee Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
. It was started in 1875 by Thomas Varco and at one time had a grain elevator
Grain elevator
A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility...
. The railroad continued to deliver freight to Varco Station as late as the 1950s. It still is a small unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
settlement along Mower County Highway 4.
Two Rivers
The old town of Two Rivers (also known as Milton) was located where Turtle Creek flows into the Cedar River. It was platPlat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in 1857. This area is currently within the city limits
City limits
The terms city limits and city boundary refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limits is sometimes called the city proper. The terms town limits/boundary and village limits/boundary mean the same as city limits/boundary, but apply to towns and villages...
of the city of Austin on 4th Street S.W. near Calvary Cemetery. At one time, the small community had a mill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
and a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
. Its population dwindled as the city of Austin continued to grow and was eventually incorporated by it.
Cemeteries
- Cedar City Cemetery is located in the far southeast corner of the southeast quadrant of section 32 of the township. The land was donated by David Chandler, the first settler of the short-lived community of Cedar City, and in 1879 it had 42 lots. The first burial on record was of a man named Robinson, assistant editor of the Mower County Mirror. Strips of land were added at various times over the years, the largest addition coming in 1957, a donation by Mr. and Mrs. Claude Brown.
- Rose Creek Cemetery is located in the southwest quadrant of section 34 of the township on the banks of Rose Creek.
- Calvary Cemetery is located in section 10 of the township within Austin'sAustin, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 23,314 people, 9,897 households, and 6,076 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,168.2 people per square mile . There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 954.3 per square mile...
city limits.
Further reading
- Mill on the Willow: A History of Mower County, Minnesota by various authors. Library of Congress No. 84-062356