Red Rock Township, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Red Rock Township is a township
in Mower County
, Minnesota
, United States
. The population was 715 at the 2000 census. The largest town in the township is Brownsdale
with a population
of 718 people. All other area in the township is unincorporated
. The township is named for a large, red
rock
in section 4.
and built a sod
shanty in a grove
of trees in section 4 that had a large, red
rock
in it. This grove eventually became known as Red Rock Grove and later the whole township took its name from this area. The rock can still be seen in section 5 (about 1.5 miles northwest of Brownsdale) in the southeast corner of the land owned by Craig Bauman. The area of Red Rock Township around the town of Brownsdale
was the source of much of the lumber
which helped to build Mower County. Most of the wooded sections of the township were logged in the 1850s and 1860s and much that wood
was cut in Brownsdale's steam-powered sawmill
, one of the town's first permanent structures. The township is now largely treeless, with the only significant stands being along Roberts Creek and Dobbins Creek.
, the township has a total area of 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 715 people, 271 households, and 215 families residing in the township. The population density
was 20.2 people per square mile (7.8/km²). There were 286 housing units at an average density of 8.1/sq mi (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.58% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 271 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.2% were married couples
living together, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,455, and the median income for a family was $55,833. Males had a median income of $37,656 versus $29,792 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $19,519. About 0.9% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
on the southern border with Windom Township
. It is located along Mower County Highway 46 (Old U.S. Route 16
) about a mile north and east of Austin
.
Township (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
in Mower County
Mower County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,603 people, 15,582 households, and 10,315 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 16,251 housing units at an average density of 23 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 715 at the 2000 census. The largest town in the township is Brownsdale
Brownsdale, Minnesota
Brownsdale is a city in Red Rock Township, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 676 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
with a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 718 people. All other area in the township is unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
. The township is named for a large, red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
rock
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
in section 4.
History
In 1855 John L. Johnson came to the township from WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and built a sod
Sod
Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material.The term sod may be used to mean turf grown and cut specifically for the establishment of lawns...
shanty in a grove
Grove (nature)
A grove is a small group of trees with minimal or no undergrowth, such as a sequoia grove, or a small orchard planted for the cultivation of fruits or nuts...
of trees in section 4 that had a large, red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
rock
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
in it. This grove eventually became known as Red Rock Grove and later the whole township took its name from this area. The rock can still be seen in section 5 (about 1.5 miles northwest of Brownsdale) in the southeast corner of the land owned by Craig Bauman. The area of Red Rock Township around the town of Brownsdale
Brownsdale, Minnesota
Brownsdale is a city in Red Rock Township, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 676 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
was the source of much of the lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
which helped to build Mower County. Most of the wooded sections of the township were logged in the 1850s and 1860s and much that wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
was cut in Brownsdale's steam-powered sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
, one of the town's first permanent structures. The township is now largely treeless, with the only significant stands being along Roberts Creek and Dobbins Creek.
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 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²), all of it land.
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 715 people, 271 households, and 215 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 20.2 people per square mile (7.8/km²). There were 286 housing units at an average density of 8.1/sq mi (3.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.58% White, 0.14% African American, 0.14% Native American, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.
There were 271 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.2% 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, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,455, and the median income for a family was $55,833. Males had a median income of $37,656 versus $29,792 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 $19,519. About 0.9% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Nicolville
Nicolville is a small unincorporated areaUnincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
on the southern border with Windom Township
Windom Township, Minnesota
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...
. It is located along Mower County Highway 46 (Old U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16
U.S. Route 16 is an east–west United States Highway between Rapid City, South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming....
) about a mile north and east of Austin
Austin, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,314 people, 9,897 households, and 6,076 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,168.2 people per square mile . There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 954.3 per square mile...
.
Cemeteries
- Tanner Cemetery is located in the southeast corner of the southwest quadrant of section 12 of the township. It was used as a burialBurialBurial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
ground from 1861 to 1925. It is a private cemetery not open to the public. - Greenwood Cemetery is located in the far southeast corner of the southeast quadrant of section 16 of the township. Its oldest known burialBurialBurial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
dates to 1863. - Brown Cemetery (formerly called Oak Park Cemetery) is in BrownsdaleBrownsdale, MinnesotaBrownsdale is a city in Red Rock Township, Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 676 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
in section 9 of the township. It is on the corner of Malissa St. and Cedar Ave. Its oldest known burialBurialBurial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
was prior to 1876.
Further reading
- Mill on the Willow: A History of Mower County, Minnesota by various authors. Library of Congress No. 84-062356