Shieldsville, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Shieldsville, Minnesota
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Minnesota#USA
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Minnesota
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Rice County
Subdivision Type3:Township
Subdivision Name3:Shieldsville Township
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:1093
Coordinates:44.3661°N -93.4089°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:55021 and 56052
Area Code:507
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:651981

Shieldsville is an unincorporated community in Shieldsville Township, Rice County, Minnesota, United States.

The center of Shieldsville is generally considered near the junction of State Highway 21 (MN 21) and Rice County Road 10 (Dodd Road). Other routes include County Roads 37, 38, and 67.

Nearby places include Faribault, Kilkenny, Waterville, and Montgomery. Shieldsville is located in section 1 of Shieldsville Township.

ZIP codes 55021 (Faribault), 56052 (Kilkenny), 56096 (Waterville), and 56069 (Montgomery) all meet near Shieldsville.

History

Shieldsville, named after its founder, American politician and U.S. Army officer, James Shields, was platted in 1856.[1] It was founded around the Irish St. Patrick Catholic Church.[2]

In the settlement's early years, land within the area was sold for $2.00 per acre with the mission of attracting Irish immigrants to settle in the area.

On July 29, 2002, The St. Patrick Church of Shieldsville was hit by lightning for the second time in its history and was severely destroyed. It was rebuilt 2 years later on August 1, 2004.[3]

Culture

Shieldsville holds a Fall Festival for the town and the surrounding area every September 29.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. 1920. Minnesota Historical Society. 463.
  2. Web site: Rice County, MN, Faribault City, County Seat .
  3. Web site: St. Patrick Church Shieldsville .