Minnesota State Highway 44
Encyclopedia
Minnesota State Highway 44 is a highway
in southeast Minnesota
, which runs from its
intersection
with U.S. 52
in Canton Township
, near Prosper
, and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 16
in Hokah
, near La Crescent
.
Highway 44 is 36 miles (57.9 km) in length.
, Spring Grove
, Caledonia
, and Hokah
in southeast Minnesota.
The section of Highway 44 between Caledonia and Hokah passes through the Richard J. Dorer State Forest
.
Highway 44 runs concurrent
with State Highway 76
for three miles at Caledonia
.
Beaver Creek Valley State Park
is located near the junction
of Highways 44 and 76 at the north edge of Caledonia. The park entrance is located four miles west on County Road 1 via Highway 76.
The route was originally designated as an auto trail
named the Southern Minnesota Air Line in a 1919 application. The Southern Minnesota Air Line continued west from Preston
to the South Dakota
state line on a route that later followed old U.S. Highway 16
.
At one time, Highway 44 had continued farther west, extending over what is now County Highway 44 in Fillmore County. The section of present day County 44 between Harmony
and U.S. Highway 63
(south of Spring Valley
) was designated Highway 44 between 1972 and 1995.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in southeast 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...
, which runs from its
intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with U.S. 52
U.S. Route 52 in Minnesota
U.S. Highway 52 enters the state of Minnesota at the unincorporated community of Prosper, north of the town of Burr Oak, Iowa. The route is marked north–south in Minnesota along its independent segment from the Iowa state line to downtown St. Paul...
in Canton Township
Canton Township, Minnesota
Canton Township is a township in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 684 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, near Prosper
Prosper, Minnesota
Prosper is an unincorporated community in Canton Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located between Harmony, Minnesota and Burr Oak, Iowa on U.S. Route 52...
, and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 16 is a two-lane highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with Interstate Highway 90 in Dexter and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with U.S. Highways 14 and 61 in La Crescent....
in Hokah
Hokah, Minnesota
Hokah is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 580 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.37% is water.-Transportation:...
, near La Crescent
La Crescent, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,923 people, 1,940 households, and 1,367 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,634.4 people per square mile . There were 2,014 housing units at an average density of 668.6 per square mile...
.
Highway 44 is 36 miles (57.9 km) in length.
Route description
Highway 44 serves as an east–west route between MabelMabel, Minnesota
Mabel is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 780 at the 2010 census.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Transportation:...
, Spring Grove
Spring Grove, Minnesota
Spring Grove is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land...
, Caledonia
Caledonia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,965 people, 1,223 households, and 754 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,037.1 people per square mile . There were 1,286 housing units at an average density of 449.8 per square mile...
, and Hokah
Hokah, Minnesota
Hokah is a city in Houston County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 580 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and 1.37% is water.-Transportation:...
in southeast Minnesota.
The section of Highway 44 between Caledonia and Hokah passes through the Richard J. Dorer State Forest
Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
The Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest is a reserve of current and former forest in Minnesota's Driftless Area. Only of the land is state owned, with the remainder owned by private individuals and community groups, governed by easements...
.
Highway 44 runs concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with State Highway 76
Minnesota State Highway 76
Minnesota State Highway 76 is a highway in southeast Minnesota, which runs from Iowa Highway 76 at the Iowa state line , and continues north to its northern terminus at its interchange with Interstate Highway 90 in Pleasant Hill Township near Winona.Highway 76 is in length.-Route...
for three miles at Caledonia
Caledonia, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,965 people, 1,223 households, and 754 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,037.1 people per square mile . There were 1,286 housing units at an average density of 449.8 per square mile...
.
Beaver Creek Valley State Park
Beaver Creek Valley State Park
Beaver Creek Valley State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, featuring a steep, narrow valley carved by East Beaver Creek. This spring-fed stream is a fishing destination for its native brown trout. The heavily forested valley, up to deep in places, is a hidden natural oasis amidst the...
is located near the junction
Junction (traffic)
A junction, when discussed in the context of transport, is a location where traffic can change between different routes, directions, or sometimes modes, of travel.-Historical significance:...
of Highways 44 and 76 at the north edge of Caledonia. The park entrance is located four miles west on County Road 1 via Highway 76.
History
Highway 44 was authorized in 1920. The route was paved in its entirety by 1940.The route was originally designated as an auto trail
Auto trail
The system of auto trails was an informal network of marked routes that existed in the United States and Canada in the early part of the 20th century. Marked with colored bands on telephone poles, the trails were intended to help travellers in the early days of the automobile.Auto trails were...
named the Southern Minnesota Air Line in a 1919 application. The Southern Minnesota Air Line continued west from Preston
Preston, Minnesota
Preston is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,325 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Fillmore County. The Root River runs through it, and Mystery Cave State Park is nearby...
to the South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
state line on a route that later followed old U.S. Highway 16
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
.
At one time, Highway 44 had continued farther west, extending over what is now County Highway 44 in Fillmore County. The section of present day County 44 between Harmony
Harmony, Minnesota
Harmony is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,020 at the 2010 census. The town bills itself as the "Biggest Little Town in Southern Minnesota" and features the largest Amish community in the state.-Geography:...
and U.S. Highway 63
U.S. Route 63
U.S. Route 63 is a long north–south United States highway primarily in the Midwestern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at Interstate 20 in Ruston, Louisiana. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 2 in Benoit, Wisconsin, about east of Duluth, Minnesota. It is not related to U.S...
(south of Spring Valley
Spring Valley, Minnesota
Spring Valley is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,479 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.U.S...
) was designated Highway 44 between 1972 and 1995.