St. Kilian, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St Kilian
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Nobles |
| Elevation | 1,765 ft (538 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
56185
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| Area code(s) | 507 |
| GNIS feature ID | 654927 |
St. Kilian is a small, unincorporated community in Nobles County, Minnesota, in the United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.
Contents
Exploring St. Kilian's Location
St. Kilian is located in Wilmont Township, specifically in section 27. This small community sits on top of the Buffalo Ridge. This ridge is a special place because it's a "drainage divide." This means it separates the rivers that flow into the Mississippi River from those that flow into the Missouri River.
St. Kilian is the highest point in Nobles County where people live. The most important building in the community is the St. Kilian Catholic Church. This church is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was added to the list in 1998.
The Story of St. Kilian
How the Community Began
Wilmont Township was mostly settled by German-Catholic farmers. In 1887, a church was built to serve the many Catholic families in the area. This church was named St. Kilian Catholic Church. It was built under the guidance of Father C. J. Knauf from Adrian.
The church was named after Saint Kilian. He was an Irish missionary who worked in Bavaria, a region in Germany, around the end of the 7th century.
Growing into a Town
Within just two years of the church being built, new businesses started to appear. John Mock and John Meyer each opened general stores near the church. Andrew Pacholl started a blacksmith shop, where he made and repaired things out of metal. Soon after, Hub Pass and Joseph Buddle opened saloons, which were places where people could gather.
The growing community was named St. Kilian, just like the church. For a while, it was the biggest place in Wilmont Township. The town was officially mapped out in October 1891. The map was filed on December 10, 1891.
Challenges and Changes
Sadly, the original church building burned down in 1897. But because St. Kilian seemed to have a bright future, a new church was built right away. This new building was finished in 1900. It is the same church that still serves the Catholic community in St. Kilian today. It is also the building that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1899, a railroad finally came to Wilmont Township. However, this railroad, the Burlington Northern, did not go through St. Kilian. Instead, the railroad decided to make the nearby town of Wilmont its main business center. Because of this, St. Kilian's importance began to fade.
Many buildings from St. Kilian were even picked up and moved across the land to the new Wilmont townsite. St. Kilian's post office closed in March 1907. While St. Kilian Catholic Church is still open and active, all the other businesses in the community closed their doors a long time ago.
