Acton Township, Meeker County, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Acton Township, Minnesota
Settlement Type:Township
Pushpin Map:Minnesota#USA
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Minnesota
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Minnesota
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Meeker
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:91.7
Area Land Km2:85.6
Area Water Km2:6.2
Area Total Sq Mi:35.4
Area Land Sq Mi:33.0
Area Water Sq Mi:2.4
Population As Of:2000
Population Total:381
Population Density Km2:4.5
Population Density Sq Mi:11.5
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:364
Elevation Ft:1194
Coordinates:45.1333°N -135°W
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:27-00154[1]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0663377[2]

Acton Township [3] is a township in Meeker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 381 at the 2000 census. The township includes almost all of Grove City.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.4sqmi, of which 33sqmi is land and 2.4sqmi (6.72%) is water.

Acton Township is located in Township 119 North of the Arkansas Base Line and Range 32 West of the 5th Principal Meridian.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 381 people, 156 households, and 112 families residing in the township. The population density was 11.5 people per square mile (4.5/km). There were 182 housing units at an average density of 5.5/sq mi (2.1/km). The racial makeup of the township was 98.43% White, 0.26% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.79% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.

There were 156 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the township the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $37,813, and the median income for a family was $46,750. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $26,000 for females. The per capita income for the township was $16,502. About 9.5% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 24.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

See also: Acton, Minnesota. Acton Township was organized in 1858, and named after Acton, Ontario.[4]

Acton Township was the location of the Battle of Acton on September 3, 1862, part of the Dakota War. The nearby murder of five white settlers by a Dakota hunting party in the Acton Incident sparked the war.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U.S. Census website . . 2008-01-31 .
  2. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  3. . August 10, 2021. The U.S.- Dakota Conflict: The Past Is Alive Within Us. Twin Cities PBS. YouTube. December 29, 2023 . 36:24.
  4. Book: Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. 1920. Minnesota Historical Society. 338.