St. Kilian, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
St. Kilian is an unincorporated community
in Nobles County
, Minnesota
, United States
.
, the drainage divide between the Mississippi River
and Missouri River
systems. By elevation, St. Kilian is the highest population center in Nobles County. St. Kilian Catholic Church, the central feature of the village, is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
(Added 1998 - Building - #97001425)
was founded largely by German-Catholic farmers. In 1887, in an effort to serve the large number of Catholics in the vicinity, St. Kilian Catholic Church was built under the leadership of Father C. J. Knauf of Adrian
. Saint Kilian
, the namesake of the church, was an Irish missionary who worked in Bavaria towards the end of the 7th century.
Within two years John Mock and John Meyer each opened general stores near the church, and Andrew Pacholl opened a blacksmith shop. Shortly thereafter, Hub Pass and Joseph Buddle both opened saloons. The town was named St. Kilian, after the church, and for some time, the town was the largest population center in Wilmont Township. The town was surveyed in October 1891, and the plat was filed on December 10, 1891. The original church building burned in 1897, and as St. Killian appeared to have a bright future, a replacement church was built. This building was completed in 1900 and still serves the Catholic community of the St. Killian vicinity. It is currently on the National Registry of Historic Places (Building #97001425)
In 1899, a railroad finally came to Wilmont Township. But this railroad, the Burlington Northern, bypassed St. Kilian. Railroad officials instead established the nearby town of Wilmont
as a business hub, and the importance of St. Killian began to fade. Indeed, a number of St. Kilian's buildings were picked up and moved cross-country to the new Wilmont townsite. St. Killian's post office was closed in March 1907. St. Killian Catholic Church remains open and active, but other businesses in the village long ago closed their doors.
, represented by Mankato
educator Tim Walz
, a Democrat
. At the state level, St. Kilian is located in Senate
District 22, represented by Republican
Doug Magnus
, and in House
District 22A, represented by Republican Joe Schomacker
.
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...
in Nobles County
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...
.
Geography
St. Kilian is an unincorporated village in section 27 of Wilmont Township. The village sits atop the Buffalo RidgeBuffalo 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...
, the drainage divide between 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...
and Missouri River
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...
systems. By elevation, St. Kilian is the highest population center in Nobles County. St. Kilian Catholic Church, the central feature of the village, is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
(Added 1998 - Building - #97001425)
History
Wilmont TownshipWilmont Township, Minnesota
Wilmont Township is a township in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 228 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.5 square miles , all of it land...
was founded largely by German-Catholic farmers. In 1887, in an effort to serve the large number of Catholics in the vicinity, St. Kilian Catholic Church was built under the leadership of Father C. J. Knauf of Adrian
Adrian, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,234 people, 493 households, and 330 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,111.5 people per square mile . There were 527 housing units at an average density of 474.7 per square mile...
. Saint Kilian
Saint Kilian
Saint Kilian, also spelled Killian , was an Irish missionary bishop and the apostle of Franconia , where he began his labours towards the end of the 7th century.-Background:...
, the namesake of the church, was an Irish missionary who worked in Bavaria towards the end of the 7th century.
Within two years John Mock and John Meyer each opened general stores near the church, and Andrew Pacholl opened a blacksmith shop. Shortly thereafter, Hub Pass and Joseph Buddle both opened saloons. The town was named St. Kilian, after the church, and for some time, the town was the largest population center in Wilmont Township. The town was surveyed in October 1891, and the plat was filed on December 10, 1891. The original church building burned in 1897, and as St. Killian appeared to have a bright future, a replacement church was built. This building was completed in 1900 and still serves the Catholic community of the St. Killian vicinity. It is currently on the National Registry of Historic Places (Building #97001425)
In 1899, a railroad finally came to Wilmont Township. But this railroad, the Burlington Northern, bypassed St. Kilian. Railroad officials instead established the nearby town of Wilmont
Wilmont, Minnesota
Wilmont is a city in Nobles County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 339 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land...
as a business hub, and the importance of St. Killian began to fade. Indeed, a number of St. Kilian's buildings were picked up and moved cross-country to the new Wilmont townsite. St. Killian's post office was closed in March 1907. St. Killian Catholic Church remains open and active, but other businesses in the village long ago closed their doors.
Politics
St. Kilian 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, St. Kilian 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 22A, represented by Republican Joe Schomacker
Joe Schomacker
Joseph "Joe" Roy Schomacker is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives who represents District 22A, which includes all or portions of Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock counties in the southwestern part of the state...
.