Greenleafton, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greenleafton
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 Greenleafton, Minnesota
Location in Minnesota
Greenleafton, Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Fillmore |
| Township | York Township |
| Elevation | 1,355 ft (413 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 140 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
55965
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| Area code(s) | 507 |
| GNIS feature ID | 644449 |
Greenleafton is a small, unincorporated community in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. This means it's a small settlement that doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It's part of York Township.
You can find Greenleafton southwest of Preston, where Fillmore County Roads 9 and 20 meet. County Road 14 is also very close by. The community is located in the northeast part of York Township.
Other nearby places include Cherry Grove, Preston, Spring Valley, and Harmony. Greenleafton is about 11 miles southwest of Preston. It is also 16 miles southeast of Spring Valley and 13 miles west-northwest of Harmony. A stream called Canfield Creek flows through the area.
Greenleafton uses the ZIP code 55965, which is based in Preston. There used to be a post office in Greenleafton a long time ago, from 1874 to 1905.
Exploring Greenleafton's Geography
The land around Greenleafton has a special type of landscape called Karst topography. This means the ground is made of rock that water can easily dissolve, creating unique features. These features often include sinkholes and amazing underground cave systems.
Just a short distance away, you can visit Forestville Mystery Cave State Park. This park is home to the longest public cave system in Minnesota. Even closer to Greenleafton, new caves have been found and are being explored. It's a great area for anyone interested in geology and underground adventures!
The History of Greenleafton
Greenleafton was first settled by people who came from the Netherlands. These early settlers, like Arend Jan Nagel, moved west from a place called Alto, Wisconsin. They were looking for land that was not too expensive. Many of them originally came from a region in the eastern Netherlands called the Achterhoek, and also from nearby areas in Germany.
These Dutch settlers were very important in forming the community. They built the Greenleafton Reformed Church in 1867. This church was a central part of their new home. Over time, other groups of people, including Norwegians, also came to settle in the area.
The name Greenleafton was chosen to honor a woman named Mary Greenleaf. She was a kind person who supported the Dutch Reformed Church, which is now known as the Reformed Church in America.
