Litchfield Township, Meeker County, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Litchfield 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 Km2:87.9
Area Land Km2:82.2
Area Water Km2:5.7
Area Total Sq Mi:33.9
Area Land Sq Mi:31.7
Area Water Sq Mi:2.2
Population As Of:2000
Population Total:808
Population Density Km2:9.8
Population Density Sq Mi:25.5
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:350
Elevation Ft:1148
Coordinates:45.1167°N -127°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:55355
Area Code:320
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:27-37466[1]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0664798[2]

Litchfield Township is a township in Meeker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 808 at the 2000 census. The township includes most of the city of Litchfield, except for a small protrusion northeast into Forest City Township and another small one due east into Darwin Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township itself has a total area of 33.9 square miles (87.9 km2), of which 31.7 square miles (82.2 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (6.48%) is water.

Litchfield Township is located in Township 119 North of the Arkansas Base Line and Range 31 West of the 5th Principal Meridian.

History

Litchfield Township was originally called Ness Township, for settler Ole Halvorson Ness, and under the latter name was organized in 1858. The present name, adopted circa 1869, is after its largest settlement, Litchfield.[3]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 808 people, 288 households, and 237 families residing in the township. The population density was 25.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 325 housing units at an average density of 10.2sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 99.13% White, 0.37% Native American, 0.25% Asian, and 0.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 288 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.7% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,885, and the median income for a family was $60,893. Males had a median income of $40,365 versus $23,375 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,203. About 2.8% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 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. 340.