Le Roy Township, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Le Roy Township is a township
in Mower County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 396 at the 2000 census. The town
in the township with the largest population
is Le Roy
with 925 people. The township is also home to Lake Louise State Park
, the only Minnesota State Park in Mower County and the southernmost in the state. The Old Village of Le Roy was the first area in the township to be settled
.
, a collector
, and three supervisor
s.
Le Roy was a small village on the banks of the Little Iowa River, one of the small stream
s that eventually become the Upper Iowa River
. It was located in section 28 of the Le Roy Township
. Henry Edmonds, the first citizen of "Old Town," erected a mill
on the river in 1855. The small village was platted on April 24, 1857. When the railroad was being built about one mile to the southeast in the area that is the modern-day town of Le Roy, some of the settlers starting making plans. When the first train
rolled into "Le Roy Station" in August 1867, it dropped off building supplies for the new town. The new town was platted in September 1867 and some of the businesses and houses of Old Le Roy were moved intact to the new town.
, the township has a total area of 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²), of which, 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.08%) is water. The small streams of the southeastern part of the township are tributaries of the Upper Iowa River
which eventually winds its way to the Mississippi River
.
of 2000, there were 396 people, 142 households, and 111 families residing in the township. The population density
was 11.2 people per square mile (4.3/km²). There were 149 housing units at an average density of 4.2/sq mi (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.49% White, and 0.51% from two or more races.
There were 142 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.9% were married couples
living together, 0.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 118.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $37,857, and the median income for a family was $42,292. Males had a median income of $29,028 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $24,077. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
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 396 at the 2000 census. The town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in the township with the largest 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...
is Le Roy
Le Roy, Minnesota
Le Roy is a city in Mower County, Minnesota, United States, surrounded by Le Roy Township. The population was 929 at the 2010 census. Lake Louise State Park is just outside of the town.-Geography:...
with 925 people. The township is also home to Lake Louise State Park
Lake Louise State Park
Lake Louise State Park is a Minnesota state park just north of the Iowa border near the small town of Le Roy in Mower County, Minnesota, directly south of Rochester. It has a 25 acre man-made lake and of mixed prairie and deciduous forest. It is used for picnics, swimming, camping, hiking,...
, the only Minnesota State Park in Mower County and the southernmost in the state. The Old Village of Le Roy was the first area in the township to be settled
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
.
History
Le Roy Township was organized on May 11, 1858 at a meeting held at the house of Daniel Caswell. At this meeting, the people of the township elected a clerk, an assessorAssessor (property)
An assessor is a specialist who calculates the value of property. The value calculated by the assessor is then used as the basis for determining the amounts to be paid or assessed for tax or insurance purposes....
, a collector
Collection agency
A collection agency is a business that pursues payments of debts owed by individuals or businesses. Most collection agencies operate as agents of creditors and collect debts for a fee or percentage of the total amount owed....
, and three supervisor
Supervisor
A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...
s.
Le Roy was a small village on the banks of the Little Iowa River, one of the small stream
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
s that eventually become the Upper Iowa River
Upper Iowa River
The Upper Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwest of the United States.Its headwaters are in southeastern Minnesota, in Mower County near the border with Iowa. It then flows through the Iowa counties of Howard, Winneshiek, and Allamakee, and finally into the Upper...
. It was located in section 28 of the Le Roy Township
Le Roy Township, Minnesota
Le Roy Township is a township in Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 396 at the 2000 census. The town in the township with the largest population is Le Roy with 925 people. The township is also home to Lake Louise State Park, the only Minnesota State Park in Mower County...
. Henry Edmonds, the first citizen of "Old Town," erected 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 :...
on the river in 1855. The small village was platted on April 24, 1857. When the railroad was being built about one mile to the southeast in the area that is the modern-day town of Le Roy, some of the settlers starting making plans. When the first train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
rolled into "Le Roy Station" in August 1867, it dropped off building supplies for the new town. The new town was platted in September 1867 and some of the businesses and houses of Old Le Roy were moved intact to the new town.
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 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²), of which, 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.08%) is water. The small streams of the southeastern part of the township are tributaries of the Upper Iowa River
Upper Iowa River
The Upper Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the upper Midwest of the United States.Its headwaters are in southeastern Minnesota, in Mower County near the border with Iowa. It then flows through the Iowa counties of Howard, Winneshiek, and Allamakee, and finally into the Upper...
which eventually winds its way to the Mississippi River
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...
.
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 396 people, 142 households, and 111 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 11.2 people per square mile (4.3/km²). There were 149 housing units at an average density of 4.2/sq mi (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.49% White, and 0.51% from two or more races.
There were 142 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.9% 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, 0.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 118.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $37,857, and the median income for a family was $42,292. Males had a median income of $29,028 versus $21,875 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 $24,077. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Cemeteries
- Bethany Lutheran Cemetery is located in the southeast corner of the southwest quadrant of section 11 of the township. Its oldest known burialBurialBurial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
dates to 1879. - Le Roy Lutheran Cemetery is located in section 28 of the township.
- St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery is adjoined to Le Roy Lutheran Cemetery.
Further reading
- Mill on the Willow: A History of Mower County, Minnesota by various authors. Library of Congress No. 84-062356