Spring Prairie Township, Clay County, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Spring Prairie Township
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:Clay
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:92.4
Area Land Km2:92.3
Area Water Km2:0.0
Area Total Sq Mi:35.7
Area Land Sq Mi:35.6
Area Water Sq Mi:0.0
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:506
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:291
Elevation Ft:955
Coordinates:46.9347°N -96.4842°W
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:27-62032[1]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0665679[2]

Spring Prairie Township is a township in Clay County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 506, up from 368 at the previous census.

The township is notable for being the home of an established Hutterite colony, called Spring Prairie Colony. As a result about a fourth (25.7%) of the township speak an other than English or Spanish Indo-European language, most likely the Hutterite German.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.7 square miles (92.4 km), of which 35.6 square miles (92.3 km) is land and 0.03% is water.

Spring Prairie Township was named from its numerous streams.[3]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 364 people, 111 households, and 90 families residing in the township. The population density was 10.2 people per square mile (3.9/km). There were 116 housing units at an average density of 3.3/sq mi (1.3/km). The racial makeup of the township was 99.18% White, 0.27% Asian, 0.55% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.

There were 111 households, out of which 44.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.6% were married couples living together, 1.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.28 and the average family size was 3.69.

In the township the population was spread out, with 34.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $44,167, and the median income for a family was $44,464. Males had a median income of $36,000 versus $26,875 for females. The per capita income for the township was $13,731. About 21.8% of families and 29.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.7% of those under age 18 and 20.0% 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. 118.