Bigelow Township, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Bigelow Township is a township in Nobles County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 384 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²), of which, 34.5 square miles (89.4 km²) of it is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it (4.91%) is water. A major geographic feature in Bigelow Township is the Buffalo Ridge
, a drainage divide between the Mississippi
and Missouri
River systems. Lake Bella and the eastern part of Lake Ocheda are found within Bigelow Township. In addition, the Ocheyedan River and one branch of the Little Rock River both originate in Bigelow Township.
Main highways include:
of 2000, there were 384 people, 132 households, and 114 families residing in the township. The population density
was 11.1 people per square mile (4.3/km²). There were 139 housing units at an average density of 4.0/sq mi (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.92% White, 2.08% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.
There were 132 households out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.1% were married couples
living together, 2.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.9% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 108.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,083, and the median income for a family was $43,611. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $16,373. About 5.4% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
, represented by Mankato
educator Tim Walz
, a Democrat
. At the state level, Bigelow Township is located in Senate
District 22, represented by Republican
Doug Magnus
, and in House
District 22B, represented by Republican Rod Hamilton
.
Nobles County, Minnesota
Nobles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 21,378. Its county seat is Worthington.-Geography:...
, 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 384 at the 2000 census.
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 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²), of which, 34.5 square miles (89.4 km²) of it is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) of it (4.91%) is water. A major geographic feature in Bigelow Township is the Buffalo Ridge
Buffalo Ridge
Buffalo Ridge is a large expanse of rolling hills in the southeastern part of the larger Coteau des Prairies. It stands 1,995 feet above sea level. The Buffalo Ridge is sixty miles long and runs through Lincoln County, Pipestone County, Murray County, and Nobles County in the southwest...
, a drainage divide between the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and Missouri
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
River systems. Lake Bella and the eastern part of Lake Ocheda are found within Bigelow Township. In addition, the Ocheyedan River and one branch of the Little Rock River both originate in Bigelow Township.
Main highways include:
U.S. Highway 59
Minnesota State Highway 60Minnesota State Highway 60Minnesota State Highway 60 is a highway in southern Minnesota, which runs from Iowa Highway 60 at the Iowa state line and continues east-northeast to its eastern terminus at the Wisconsin state line , where the route becomes Wisconsin Highway 25 upon crossing the Mississippi River.Highway 60 is...
Nobles County Road 4- Nobles County Road 6
History
Organization of Bigelow Township was approved by the Nobles County Board on April 30, 1872. The first township meeting was held May 20, 1872. Residents petitioned for the township to be named Ocheda, after Lake Ocheda, much of which lies within the township. However, the Nobles County Board named the township Bigelow, after the newly-formed village of Bigelow which lies within the township. The village of Bigelow was named after Charles Bigelow, one of the directors of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railway Company.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 384 people, 132 households, and 114 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 11.1 people per square mile (4.3/km²). There were 139 housing units at an average density of 4.0/sq mi (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.92% White, 2.08% 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...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.08% of the population.
There were 132 households out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.1% 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, 2.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.9% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 108.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $42,083, and the median income for a family was $43,611. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $18,125 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 township was $16,373. About 5.4% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Bigelow Township is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional districtMinnesota's 1st congressional district
Minnesota's 1st congressional district extends across southern Minnesota from the border with South Dakota to the border with Wisconsin. The First District is primarily a rural district built on a strong history of agriculture, although this is changing rapidly due to strong population growth in...
, represented by Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
educator Tim Walz
Tim Walz
Timothy James Walz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party .The district comprises the state's southern end, running along the entire border with Iowa...
, a Democrat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
. At the state level, Bigelow Township is located in Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
District 22, represented by Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
Doug Magnus
Doug Magnus
Douglas Rudy "Doug" Magnus is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota Senate, representing District 22, which includes all of Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock counties in the southwestern part of the state...
, and in House
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
District 22B, represented by Republican Rod Hamilton
Rod Hamilton
Rodney W. "Rod" Hamilton is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 22B, which includes all or portions of Cottonwood, Jackson and Nobles counties in the southwestern part of the state...
.