Delft, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delft
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 Delft
Location in Minnesota
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Cottonwood |
| Platted | 1902 |
| Government | |
| • Type | unincorporated (part of Carson Township) |
| Elevation | 1,457 ft (444 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 507 |
| GNIS feature ID | 642752 |
Delft is a small, unincorporated community in Cottonwood County, Minnesota, United States. An unincorporated community is a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of a larger area called Carson Township.
Contents
Where is Delft?
Delft is located in the southwestern part of Minnesota. It sits at an elevation of about 1,457 feet (444 meters) above sea level. You can find Delft on the Bingham Lake U.S. Geological Survey Map.
A Look Back: Delft's History
Delft started as a railroad station in 1892. Ten years later, on June 18, 1902, the community was officially laid out and mapped. This process is called being "plat"ted. The community was named after the city of Delft in the Netherlands. Before that, it was known as Wilhelmine.
The Railroad and Early Businesses
Delft was an important stop on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad. This railway line ran through the southwestern part of the township, connecting towns like Jeffers and Bingham Lake.
Soon after the first grain elevator was built, Delft experienced its first fire. This fire destroyed the Farmers Elevator Company, its coal sheds, and the railroad company's stockyards. But the community quickly rebuilt everything! At one time, Delft also had a general store, a hardware store, a business selling farm equipment, and even a creamery.
Community and Churches
Delft was established in an area where many Mennonite people lived. By the 1950s, about 400 members of Mennonite churches lived within five miles of Delft. There were two Mennonite churches in the community:
- The Carson Mennonite Brethren Church, which was founded in 1875 and closed in 2005.
- The Immanuel Mennonite Church, which started in 1940 and became independent around 2002.
Post Office Services
A post office opened in Delft in 1903. This allowed residents to send and receive mail right in their community. The post office served the area for many years before it finally closed in 1993.
