| Official Name: | Rushford |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Minnesota |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Fillmore |
| Government Type: | Mayor – Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Terri Benson |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 4.32 |
| Area Land Km2: | 4.27 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.05 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.67 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.65 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.02 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1860 |
| Population Density Km2: | 435.20 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1127.27 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 728 |
| Coordinates: | 43.8125°N -91.7514°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 55971 |
| Area Code: | 507 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 27-56284[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2396449 |
Rushford is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,860 at the 2020 census.[3]
The first pioneers pole-boated up the Root River to the junction of Rush Creek, peering through 10-foot tall grasses to see what astonishing beauty the bluff lands had to offer. The early settlers gave Rushford its name on Christmas Day in 1854, during a chicken supper hosted by Capt. Dyer.[4] The name stems from the nearby Rush Creek, which had tall Rushes growing along its banks. The area was once referred to as “Trail City” because seven Indian trails met at the creek. The Wieser Brothers were said to be the first founders of the city and quickly followed by hundreds.
Rushford has had a post office in operation since 1856,[5] and the 1867 two-story Railroad Depot still stands at its original site, being restored as a Visitors Center for the local area.
As a result of the 2007 Midwest flooding, the city was flooded when Rush Creek overtopped the dikes.[6] Rushford's spirit bounced back to produce a very bustling and thriving community..
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.73sqmi, of which 1.71sqmi is land and 0.02sqmi is water.[7] The city of Rushford is completely surrounded by another city, Rushford Village.
Rushford is located in southeastern Minnesota's Bluff Country, part of the driftless area. Magelssen's Bluff, a 440-foot hill directly over the town, has the town name written in large white letters on the side of the hill.
Minnesota Highways 16, 30, and 43 are three of the main routes in the city.
Every five years, Rushford holds a citywide Homecoming celebration, with a standing invitation to all former residents of the city to return and visit. The town also hosts an annual celebration formerly called "Frontier Days," now called "Rushford Days."
Rushford is one of several towns intersected by the Root River segment of the Blufflands State Trail, a Rails to Trails project linking several small towns along 42 miles of the former railroad grade. The historic Rushford Depot (pictured to the right) is a landmark along this trail, with a museum inside the old depot and other historic buildings on the grounds.
Rushford also has several parks and a public swimming pool.
As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 1,731 people, 706 households, and 456 families living in the city. The population density was 1012.3PD/sqmi. There were 772 housing units at an average density of 451.5/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.7% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.
There were 706 households, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.
The median age in the city was 41.9 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64, and 21% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,696 people, 704 households, and 433 families living in the city. The population density was 988.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 761 housing units at an average density of 443.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 99.00% White, 0.24% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.12% from two or more races. 0.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 704 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.
Rushford is associated with nearby Peterson, Minnesota in Rushford-Peterson School District. Superintendent is Ben Bernard.[9]
Rushford-Peterson School District held an open house on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 for the new 170,000-square-foot school building.[10]