Windom Township, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Windom Township is a township
in Mower County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 640 at the 2000 census. The largest town in the township is Rose Creek
with a population
of 354 people. All other area in the township is unincorporated
. After unsuccessfully trying two names, the township was named in honor of Senator William Windom
of Winona
.
in the township, came to section 20 in the spring of 1855 and built a more permanent dwelling later that fall. The township was officially organized in 1858 and called "Brooklyn." At the first meeting of the township, the people elected a chairman, two supervisor
s, a clerk, two justices of the peace
, a collector
, a constable
an assessor
, a road supervisor and an overseer of the poor
. In 1862 the state legislature told the township to change its name because another town had prior claim to it. It was then briefly called Canton but the name had to be changed again for the same reason. In May 1862 the township was named in honor of Senator William Windom
of Winona
.
, the township has a total area of 36.0 square miles (93.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 640 people, 224 households, and 183 families residing in the township. The population density
was 17.8 people per square mile (6.9/km²). There were 237 housing units at an average density of 6.6/sq mi (2.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.44% White, 0.16% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 4.06% from other races
, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.47% of the population.
There were 224 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.2% were married couples
living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,643, and the median income for a family was $51,528. Males had a median income of $32,361 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $18,372. About 2.2% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and none 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 640 at the 2000 census. The largest town in the township is Rose Creek
Rose Creek, Minnesota
Rose Creek is a city in Windom Township, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 394 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
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 354 people. All other area in the township is 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...
. After unsuccessfully trying two names, the township was named in honor of Senator William Windom
William Windom
This page is about the former United States politician. William Windom was an American politician from Minnesota. He served as U.S. Representative from 1859 to 1869, and as U.S. Senator from 1870 to January 1871, from March 1871 to March 1881, and from November 1881 to 1883...
of Winona
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
.
History
Sylvester Davis, the first settlerSettler
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...
in the township, came to section 20 in the spring of 1855 and built a more permanent dwelling later that fall. The township was officially organized in 1858 and called "Brooklyn." At the first meeting of the township, the people elected a chairman, two 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, a clerk, two justices of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, 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....
, a constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
an assessor
Assessor
An assessor may be:* Assessor , the assistant to a judge or magistrate* Assessor , a senior officer of the University of Oxford* Assessor , an expert who calculates the value of property...
, a road supervisor and an overseer of the poor
Overseer of the Poor
An Overseer of the Poor was an official who administered poor relief such as money, food, and clothing in England and various other countries which derived their law from England.-England:...
. In 1862 the state legislature told the township to change its name because another town had prior claim to it. It was then briefly called Canton but the name had to be changed again for the same reason. In May 1862 the township was named in honor of Senator William Windom
William Windom
This page is about the former United States politician. William Windom was an American politician from Minnesota. He served as U.S. Representative from 1859 to 1869, and as U.S. Senator from 1870 to January 1871, from March 1871 to March 1881, and from November 1881 to 1883...
of Winona
Winona, Minnesota
Winona is a city in and the county seat of Winona County, in the U.S. State of Minnesota. Located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, its most noticeable physical landmark is Sugar Loaf....
.
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 36.0 square miles (93.3 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 640 people, 224 households, and 183 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 17.8 people per square mile (6.9/km²). There were 237 housing units at an average density of 6.6/sq mi (2.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.44% White, 0.16% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 4.06% 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 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.47% of the population.
There were 224 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.2% 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, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,643, and the median income for a family was $51,528. Males had a median income of $32,361 versus $23,125 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 $18,372. About 2.2% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Cemeteries
- St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery is located in the southwest corner of the southeast quadrant of section 26 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 1891. - Prairie View Cemetery is located in the northwest corner of the southwest quadrant of section 25 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 1882.
Further reading
- Mill on the Willow: A History of Mower County, Minnesota by various authors. Library of Congress No. 84-062356