Birch Cooley Township, Renville County, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Birch Cooley 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:Renville
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:107.4
Area Land Km2:107.4
Area Water Km2:0.0
Area Total Sq Mi:41.5
Area Land Sq Mi:41.5
Area Water Sq Mi:0.0
Population As Of:2000
Population Total:257
Population Density Km2:2.4
Population Density Sq Mi:6.2
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:314
Elevation Ft:1030
Coordinates:44.5694°N -94.9231°W
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:27-05968[1]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0663594[2]

Birch Cooley Township is a township in Renville County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 257 at the 2000 census.

Birch Cooley Township was organized in 1867, and named after Birch Coulee Creek.[3]

History

Birch Cooley Township was the site of some of the heaviest fighting of the 1862 Dakota War due to its location directly across the Minnesota River from the Lower Sioux Agency. The Battle of Redwood Ferry and Battle of Birch Coulee both took place within the township.[4] [5] The Birch Coulee Battlefield historic site is located in the township.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 41.5sqmi, of which 41.5sqmi is land and 0.02% is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 257 people, 95 households, and 68 families residing in the township. The population density was 6.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 98 housing units at an average density of 2.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 95.33% White, 1.56% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 2.33% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.33% of the population.

There were 95 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the township the population was spread out, with 31.9% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $46,111, and the median income for a family was $45,893. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $21,364 for females. The per capita income for the township was $15,827. About 11.3% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 21.4% of those 65 or over.

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. Book: Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. 1920. Minnesota Historical Society. 456.
  4. Web site: Redwood Ferry Historical Marker . 2023-05-11 . www.hmdb.org . en.
  5. Web site: The Battle of Birch Coulee Historical Marker . 2023-05-11 . www.hmdb.org . en.
  6. Web site: Birch Coulee Battlefield Minnesota Historical Society . 2023-05-11 . www.mnhs.org.