Shelby Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shelby Township
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Township
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 Shelby Township
Location in Minnesota
Shelby Township
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Blue Earth |
| Area | |
| • Total | 35.8 sq mi (92.6 km2) |
| • Land | 35.6 sq mi (92.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) |
| Elevation | 984 ft (300 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 294 |
| • Density | 8.3/sq mi (3.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| FIPS code | 27-59458 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0665586 |
Shelby Township is a small community located in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, in the United States. A "township" is a type of local government area. In the year 2000, about 294 people lived here.
Contents
History of Shelby Township
Shelby Township was created in 1858. This was the same year that Minnesota became a state. The township was named after Shelbyville, Indiana. An early settler who moved here was from that town.
Early Settlement and Growth
The main reason people settled in Shelby Township was its rich prairie land. This land was great for farming. There were also good spots to get wood along the Blue Earth River. By 1860, Shelby Township had the most people in Blue Earth County.
A small village called Shelbyville grew in the township. It was located about two miles south of where the city of Amboy is today. In the early 1860s, Shelbyville even hosted the county fair. The village had a hotel, a church, a school, a mill, two stores, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, and a post office.
By 1875, Shelby Township was a strong farming area. People were growing grains and raising livestock. The population was around 800 people and stayed that way for about 30 years.
The Railroad and Amboy
A big change happened when the St. Paul and Sioux City Railway built a new train line in 1879. This line went through Blue Earth County. Many towns wanted a train station, called a "depot," nearby. They offered money to the railroad to build one in their area.
The people of Shelbyville decided not to offer money to the railroad. They voted against giving the railroad $10,000. However, a group of farmers living two miles north of Shelbyville made an offer. They offered to buy 40 acres of land for the railroad. In return, the railroad would create town lots, build a depot, and build a grain elevator.
The railroad accepted the farmers' offer. The new town, named Amboy, was planned in October 1879. This led to the end of Shelbyville. Within three years, Shelbyville was empty. Its buildings were moved to other places. Amboy became a city in 1887 and had over 400 people by the year 1900.
Geography of Shelby Township
Shelby Township covers an area of about 35.8 square miles (92.6 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.6 square miles (92.1 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 square kilometers), is water.
The city of Amboy is located entirely within Shelby Township. However, it is a separate city with its own government.
Major Roads
Two important roads pass through Shelby Township:
U.S. Highway 169
Minnesota State Highway 30
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Lake
- Ida Lake
Neighboring Townships
Shelby Township shares borders with several other townships:
- Vernon Center Township (to the north)
- Lyra Township (to the northeast)
- Sterling Township (to the east)
- Winnebago City Township, Faribault County (to the south)
- Nashville Township, Martin County (to the southwest)
- Pleasant Mound Township (to the west)
- Ceresco Township (to the northwest)
Cemeteries
There are several cemeteries in Shelby Township:
- Old Willow Creek
- Pioneer Shelbyville
- Pleasant View
- Saint Paul's Lutheran
People of Shelby Township (Demographics)
The information below comes from the 2000 census.
Population and Homes
In 2000, there were 294 people living in Shelby Township. These people lived in 114 households. A "household" means all the people living in one home. Out of these, 90 were families. The population density was about 8.3 people per square mile. This means there were about 8 people for every square mile of land. There were also 121 housing units, which are places where people can live.
Most of the people in the township were White (99.66%). A small percentage (0.34%) were African American.
Household Details
- About 35.1% of households had children under 18 living with them.
- Most households (71.1%) were married couples living together.
- A small number (2.6%) were homes where a female head of household lived without a husband.
- About 20.2% of households were not families.
- Nearly 19.3% of all households had only one person living there.
- About 9.6% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone.
- The average household had about 2.58 people.
- The average family had about 2.92 people.
Age and Income
The population was spread out by age:
- 26.9% were under 18 years old.
- 5.8% were between 18 and 24.
- 23.8% were between 25 and 44.
- 24.8% were between 45 and 64.
- 18.7% were 65 years or older.
The average age in the township was 40 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 107 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $48,125. The "median income" is the middle income, meaning half of households earned more and half earned less. For families, the median income was $53,000. Males earned a median of $33,750, while females earned $24,375. The "per capita income" (income per person) for the township was $21,355.
Very few people in Shelby Township lived below the poverty line. No children under 18 were living in poverty. About 9.8% of people over 64 were living below the poverty line.
