Acton, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Acton, Minnesota
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 Acton, Minnesota
Location in Minnesota
Acton, Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Meeker |
| Township | Acton |
| Elevation | 1,184 ft (361 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
56243, 56209, and 55355
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| Area code(s) | 320 |
| GNIS feature ID | 654561 |
Acton is a small, unincorporated community in Meeker County, Minnesota. It is located within Acton Township. You can find Acton near the towns of Grove City and Litchfield. Important roads like Meeker County Road 23 and State Highway 4 pass nearby.
Contents
History of Acton
Acton got its name from a place called Acton, Ontario in Canada. A post office was opened in Acton in 1857. This post office served the community for many years. It finally closed down in 1904.
The Dakota War of 1862
Acton is known for an important event that happened there. This event helped start the Dakota War of 1862. This war was a conflict between the Dakota people and settlers in Minnesota.
The Acton Incident
On August 17, 1862, an event took place near Acton. Four young Dakota men were returning from a hunting trip. They had an argument with a settler named Robinson Jones. This argument quickly grew into a serious confrontation.
The young Dakota men then went to a nearby house. Mr. Jones followed them and continued the argument. Things became very tense. Sadly, this led to a tragic outcome. Several settlers, including Mr. and Mrs. Jones, lost their lives.
One woman, Mrs. Baker, managed to escape with her child. The young Dakota men then went to the Jones' home. There, a 15-year-old girl named Clara Wilson was also killed.
After these sad events, the four young Dakota men went to their leader, Little Crow. They explained what had happened. After a long discussion, Little Crow and others decided to begin the Dakota War the next day.
The Battle of Acton
Later, on September 3, 1862, another event happened near Acton. A group of 55 soldiers from the 10th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment faced a group of Dakota warriors. The soldiers were led by Captain Richard Strout.
The soldiers tried to break away from the fight. They were chased for eight miles all the way to Hutchinson. During this battle, six soldiers were killed. Twenty-three more soldiers were injured. The number of Dakota people who were killed or injured is not known.
Images for kids
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An illustration from 1909 showing the Acton Incident.
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A historical marker about the Battle of Acton.
