Sherburn, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sherburn, Minnesota
City
Motto(s):  "Pride of the Fox"
Location in Martin County and the state of Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Martin
Area
• Total	0.92 sq mi (2.38 km2)
• Land	0.92 sq mi (2.38 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,299 ft (396 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,058
• Density	1,151.25/sq mi (444.74/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56171
Area code(s)	507
FIPS code	27-59620
GNIS feature ID	2395873

Sherburn is a small city in Martin County, Minnesota, United States. In 2020, about 1,058 people lived there. It's a place with a rich history, from its early days as a pioneer stop to its exciting sports achievements.

Sherburn's Story: A Look at Its Past

Sherburn is like many small towns in the Midwest. Yet, it has its own special history. The town celebrated its 100th birthday in 1979. It has grown and changed a lot since the mid-1800s.

How Sherburn Started

In the mid-1860s, a man named George Archer had a small inn. It was made of sod (grass and dirt). This inn was on the north side of Lake Manyaska. Travelers used it as a rest stop. They were going between Fairmont and Jackson. Soon, more settlers came, and a post office opened. Stagecoaches also traveled through the area. People realized a town was needed here.

In the late 1870s, many new people moved to Martin County. This was because the railroad was growing. A company from Wisconsin, Cargill, Bassett, and Hunting, bought land in the area. They expected the railroad to expand west. Trains needed to stop often for water. These stops were about every fifteen miles. This likely helped decide where the Sherburn train station would be. A post office has been in Sherburn since 1879.

How Sherburn Got Its Name

Downtown Sherburn in the early 1900s

People thought of a few names for the town at first. Some ideas were Lone Cedar, Huntington, and Vestal. But in October 1878, the Southern Minnesota Railroad arrived. The name Sherburne was chosen. It honored Sherburne S. Merrill. He was a manager for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad. The railroad helped Sherburn grow fast. By 1879, the town had fifteen buildings.

The Bank Robbery of 1896

Sherburn had some exciting times in its early years. In October 1896, the Bank of Sherburn was robbed. Two brothers robbed the bank. Sadly, two people inside the bank were killed. The robbers took between $1,000 and $2,000 in cash. They left on bicycles. They didn't even notice $2,000 in gold and silver still in the bank!

Sheriff Hill and his team quickly chased them. One robber was found at a farmhouse. He shot and killed a sheriff from Iowa. The robber tried to escape again. But when he couldn't get away, he chose to die. The second robber was caught easily. He admitted to the robbery. He said his brother was responsible for the killings.

Fun at Fox Lake

In 1920, some business people in Sherburn started the Fox Lake Park Company. They sold shares to people who wanted to help develop the area. They divided much of the land along the lake into lots. They built a dance hall. They also bought playground equipment and picnic tables. A bath house, a diving tower, and fishing piers were built too. Later, they added a tennis court and a baseball field with seats.

In 1932, the Fox Lake Golf Club was formed. It started with three holes. Then it grew to six, and finally nine holes. The Fox Lake Park Company closed in 1944. The golf club bought the land where the golf course was.

The "Dream Team" of 1970

Sherburn's history includes a big dream that came true. Many towns hope to win a state high school sports championship. In 1970, the Sherburn Raiders high school basketball team did just that! At that time, only one state basketball champion was crowned.

The team, coached by Dennis Christopherson, had a perfect season. They won all their regular games. They were the top team in their district. They won district and regional championships. Then they went to the state tournament. They won their first two games. This put them in the championship game. They played against South St. Paul, a team that was favored to win. The Raiders were called "hicks" by some media. But they surprised everyone! They beat South St. Paul 78–62. Governor Harold Levander, who lived in South St. Paul, gave the trophy to the Sherburn team.

Sherburn's Location and Size

Sherburn is a small city. It covers about 0.91 square miles (2.38 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Sherburn's Population Over Time

People in Sherburn in 2010

In 2010, there were 1,137 people living in Sherburn. There were 500 households. About 307 of these were families. The city had about 1,249 people per square mile. Most people (98.7%) were White. A small number were Asian or from other backgrounds. About 0.7% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

About 27.8% of households had children under 18. Almost half (49.4%) were married couples. About 34.4% of all households had just one person living there. About 19% of households had someone 65 or older living alone. The average age in the city was 40.6 years.

Education in Sherburn

In 1988, the schools in Sherburn joined with schools from Trimont and Welcome. They formed the Martin County West School District.

Famous People from Sherburn

• Dale Gardner was an astronaut. He was born in nearby Fairmont. He spent some of his childhood in Sherburn.
• August Larson was a Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps. He fought in World War II.
• Brandon Williamson is a baseball pitcher. He plays for the Cincinnati Reds. He went to high school in Sherburn.

See also

In Spanish: Sherburn (Minnesota) para niños