Helen Township, McLeod County, Minnesota

Helen Township, Minnesota
Township
Helen Township Show map of Minnesota Helen Township Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 44°45′42″N94°4′5″W / 44.76167°N 94.06806°W / 44.76167; -94.06806
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	McLeod
Area [1]
• Total	35.08 sq mi (90.9 km2)
• Land	35.05 sq mi (90.8 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation	997 ft (304 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	833
• Density	23.8/sq mi (9.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	55336 (Glencoe) 55370 (Plato) 55339 (Hamburg)
FIPS code	27-085-28304 [3]
GNIS feature ID	0664442 [4]

Helen Township is a township in McLeod County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 833 at the 2020 census. ^[2]

History

Helen Township was named for Helen Armstrong, a pioneer settler. ^[5]

Geography

The township is in southeastern McLeod County, bordered to the south by Sibley County and to the east by Carver County. It is bordered on its west side by the city of Glencoe, the county seat. The city of Plato is surrounded by the eastern part of the township but is a separate municipality. U.S. Route 212 crosses the center of the township, leading west into Glencoe and east to Norwood Young America.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Helen Township has a total area of 35.1 square miles (91 km²), of which 0.03 square miles (0.08 km²), or 0.07%, are water. ^[1] Buffalo Creek, a tributary of the South Fork of the Crow River, crosses the township from west to northeast.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	190		—
1870	476		150.5%
1880	967		103.2%
1890	1,045		8.1%
1900	1,056		1.1%
1910	977		−7.5%
1920	938		−4.0%
1930	888		−5.3%
1940	821		−7.5%
1950	807		−1.7%
1960	728		−9.8%
1970	767		5.4%
1980	868		13.2%
1990	884		1.8%
2000	835		−5.5%
2010	863		3.4%
2020	833		−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 835 people, 295 households, and 241 families residing in the township. The population density was 23.7 inhabitants per square mile (9.2/km²). There were 300 housing units at an average density of 8.5 per square mile (3.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.08% White, 0.12% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.48% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.

There were 295 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.6% were married couples living together, 2.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $56,375, and the median income for a family was $58,385. Males had a median income of $35,227 versus $29,583 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,010. About 2.0% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
2. "P1. Race – Helen township, McLeod County, Minnesota: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p.  317.
6. "Decennial Census Official Publications". Census.gov. Retrieved January 18, 2024.