Hassan Township, Hennepin County, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hassan Township
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Township
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The only Town in Hennepin County
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 Hassan Township, Hennepin County, Minnesota
Location in Minnesota
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Hennepin |
| Established | 1854 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18.17 sq mi (47.07 km2) |
| • Land | 17.44 sq mi (45.16 km2) |
| • Water | 0.74 sq mi (1.91 km2) |
| Elevation | 942 ft (287 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,600 |
| • Density | 149.11/sq mi (57.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
55374
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| Area code(s) | 763 |
| FIPS code | 27-27476 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0664409 |
Hassan Township was a special kind of area in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. It was located in the very northwest part of the county. For a long time, it was the only township left in Hennepin County.
In 2010, about 2,600 people lived there. Hassan Township started the process to become a city in 2003. However, it later decided to join with the nearby city of Rogers instead. The plan for Hassan Township to become part of Rogers was approved in 2008 and started in 2012.
The name Hassan comes from a Dakota word, chanhasen. This word means "sugar-maple tree." The word chan means tree, and haza means a tree with sap. Since another township, Chanhassen, was named two years earlier, the "chan" part was removed from Hassan's name to avoid confusion.
Contents
Exploring Hassan Township's Location
Hassan Township was located in the northwestern part of Hennepin County. It completely surrounded the city of Rogers.
In 2000, the township covered about 21.3 square miles (55.2 square kilometers). Most of this area was land, with a small part being water. By 2010, the size of the township had shrunk to about 18.7 square miles (48.4 square kilometers). This happened because parts of Hassan Township had already become part of Rogers.
Main roads like County Roads 81, 116, and 144 helped people travel through the township.
Hassan Township's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 276 | — | |
| 1870 | 551 | 99.6% | |
| 1880 | 735 | 33.4% | |
| 1890 | 740 | 0.7% | |
| 1900 | 846 | 14.3% | |
| 1910 | 895 | 5.8% | |
| 1920 | 742 | −17.1% | |
| 1930 | 736 | −0.8% | |
| 1940 | 756 | 2.7% | |
| 1950 | 639 | −15.5% | |
| 1960 | 750 | 17.4% | |
| 1970 | 917 | 22.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,766 | 92.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,951 | 10.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,463 | 26.2% | |
| 2010 | 2,600 | 5.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,463 people living in Hassan Township. These people lived in 778 households. A household is a group of people living together in one home. Most households (81.4%) were married couples. About 48.8% of households had children under 18 living with them.
The average household had about 3 people. The average family had about 3 to 4 people.
The population was quite young. About 32.9% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age was 36 years. This means half the people were younger than 36, and half were older.
The History of Hassan Township
Hassan Township was the last remaining township in Hennepin County before it joined Rogers. It was known as an "Urban Township." This meant it had more powers and could do more things than other types of townships.
Hassan was located near the Crow River. It was also crossed by Interstate 94, a major highway. The township was about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of downtown Minneapolis.
The area had rolling hills, farms, and homes. There were also wetlands, forests, and small streams.
Early Settlement and Changes
European settlers arrived in Hassan in 1854. This brought big changes to the land. Before the settlers, the area was part of the "Big Woods." It had many oak, elm, basswood, ash, and maple trees. There were also large marshy areas.
As settlers moved in, they cleared the trees. They used the land for building farms and growing crops.
Small Communities and Landmarks
Over time, small trading centers called hamlets grew in Hassan Township. These hamlets served the needs of the settlers.
Hassan Hamlet
The hamlet of Hassan was first settled in 1854. It was officially organized in 1860 along Territorial Road. Between 1854 and 1881, it had houses, a post office, a church (St. John's Episcopal Church), a school, and a town hall.
Today, some of these old buildings, like the school, church, and town hall, are still there. A few businesses also operate in Hassan today.
Fletcher Hamlet
Another important hamlet was Fletcher. It was first called St. Walburga by German immigrants. Fletcher is located where Territorial Road and County Road 116 meet.
Fletcher is considered a great example of a traditional crossroads hamlet in Hennepin County. It might even become a historic district recognized by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Territorial Road: A Key Route
Territorial Road was an important transportation route. It was approved in 1855 by the government of the Minnesota Territory. It was the first main road for this part of Hennepin County.
This road crossed over several ridges, including the highest point in Hennepin County. It became a major route for Hassan Township and nearby communities. This was because it was well-maintained and made it easier to get to markets in Minneapolis.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Hassan para niños
