Forest Township, Rice County, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Forest Township is a township in Rice County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census.
, the township has a total area of 35.7 square miles (92.5 km²), of which, 32.7 square miles (84.7 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it (8.40%) is water.
Circle Lake covers 624 Acres. Circle lake provides a pair of public fishing docs on the west end of the lake: this is the arm that extends west from the north west side of the "circle". The lake features Northern Pike, Crappie and Bluegill. Fox Lake in Rice County covers 308 acres. The lake features Walleye and White Bass. Both lakes are good as a scenic, under-developed site which creates a calm quiet place for fishing.
of 2000, there were 1,136 people, 400 households, and 323 families residing in the township. The population density
was 34.7 people per square mile (13.4/km²). There were 488 housing units at an average density of 14.9/sq mi (5.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.24% White, 0.26% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.44% from other races
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.
There were 400 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.0% were married couples
living together, 2.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 116.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $62,443, and the median income for a family was $67,619. Males had a median income of $41,129 versus $29,844 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $24,401. About 1.3% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
The townsite of Millsburg was plotted in 1856. The first town meeting was in 1858.
Wild cranberries were a cash crop for early settlers in the first years until the land could be cleared for farming other crops. The post office was established in 1871 with the name of Lester. The Christdala Evangelical Swedish Lutheran Church was built in 1878.
Rice County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 56,665 people, 18,888 households, and 13,353 families residing in the county. The population density was 114 people per square mile . There were 20,061 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 35.7 square miles (92.5 km²), of which, 32.7 square miles (84.7 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it (8.40%) is water.
Circle Lake covers 624 Acres. Circle lake provides a pair of public fishing docs on the west end of the lake: this is the arm that extends west from the north west side of the "circle". The lake features Northern Pike, Crappie and Bluegill. Fox Lake in Rice County covers 308 acres. The lake features Walleye and White Bass. Both lakes are good as a scenic, under-developed site which creates a calm quiet place for fishing.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,136 people, 400 households, and 323 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 34.7 people per square mile (13.4/km²). There were 488 housing units at an average density of 14.9/sq mi (5.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.24% White, 0.26% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.44% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.
There were 400 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 2.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 116.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $62,443, and the median income for a family was $67,619. Males had a median income of $41,129 versus $29,844 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $24,401. About 1.3% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
James Fizsimmons first settled the township in 1854 on land which he later sold to George W. Miller. On September 13, 1855, the fist child was born among the new homesteaders. Oline Juvrud was born at Fox Lake to Norwegian immigrants Ole Olsen Juvrud and his wife Martha Iverson Juvrud.The townsite of Millsburg was plotted in 1856. The first town meeting was in 1858.
Wild cranberries were a cash crop for early settlers in the first years until the land could be cleared for farming other crops. The post office was established in 1871 with the name of Lester. The Christdala Evangelical Swedish Lutheran Church was built in 1878.
Other sources
- Celebrating our Norwegian-Minnesota Heritage (Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Project. 2009)
- Fox Lake Norwegian Community, Its People, Its Church (Janice Uggen Johnson. DGI Publishing. 2007)