Windom Township, Mower County, Minnesota Explained

Official Name:Windom 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:Mower
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:93.3
Area Land Km2:93.3
Area Water Km2:0.0
Area Total Sq Mi:36.0
Area Land Sq Mi:36.0
Area Water Sq Mi:0.0
Population As Of:2000
Population Total:640
Population Density Km2:6.9
Population Density Sq Mi:17.8
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation M:377
Elevation Ft:1237
Coordinates:43.6328°N -92.8606°W
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:27-70816[1]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0666015[2]

Windom Township is a township in Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 640 at the 2000 census. The largest town in the township is Rose Creek with a population of 354 people. All other area in the township is unincorporated. After unsuccessfully trying two names, the township was named in honor of Senator William Windom of Winona.

History

Sylvester Davis, the first settler in the township, came to section 20 in the spring of 1855 and built a more permanent dwelling later that fall. The township was officially organized in 1858 and called "Brooklyn." At the first meeting of the township, the people elected a chairman, two supervisors, a clerk, two justices of the peace, a collector, a constable an assessor, a road supervisor and an overseer of the poor. In 1862 the state legislature told the township to change its name because another town had prior claim to it. It was then briefly called Canton but the name had to be changed again for the same reason. In May 1862 the township was named in honor of Senator William Windom of Winona.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.0 square miles (93.3 km), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 640 people, 224 households, and 183 families residing in the township. The population density was 17.8 people per square mile (6.9/km). There were 237 housing units at an average density of 6.6/sq mi (2.5/km). The racial makeup of the township was 93.44% White, 0.16% African American, 0.94% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 4.06% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.47% of the population.

There were 224 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.2% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $49,643, and the median income for a family was $51,528. Males had a median income of $32,361 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,372. About 2.2% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Cemeteries

Further reading

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. 362.