Morse Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota

Morse Township, Minnesota
Township
Morse Township, Minnesota Location within the state of Minnesota Show map of Minnesota Morse Township, Minnesota Morse Township, Minnesota (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 47°53′51″N91°54′6″W / 47.89750°N 91.90167°W / 47.89750; -91.90167 Coordinates: 47°53′51″N91°54′6″W / 47.89750°N 91.90167°W / 47.89750; -91.90167
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Saint Louis
Area
• Total	138.1 sq mi (357.7 km2)
• Land	115.6 sq mi (299.4 km2)
• Water	22.5 sq mi (58.3 km2)
Elevation	1,375 ft (419 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,213
• Density	8.8/sq mi (3.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
FIPS code	27-44350 [1]
GNIS feature ID	0665043 [2]
Website	morsemn.govoffice3.com

Morse Township is a township in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,213 at the 2010 census. ^[3]

State Highways 1 (MN 1) and 169 (MN 169) are two of the main routes in the township. Other routes include Saint Louis County Road 88 (Grant–McMahan Boulevard), County Road 116 (Echo Trail), and County Road 21.

The unincorporated communities of Burntside and Robinson are located within Morse Township.

The city of Ely is located within Morse Township geographically but is a separate entity.

The city of Winton is located within the township geographically but is a separate entity. Winton is located at the northeast edge of Morse Township.

History

Morse Township was named for J. C. Morse, a businessperson in the mining industry. ^[4]

Geography

An old sauna of Listening Point on the shores of Burntside Lake in Morse Township

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 138.1 square miles (358 km²); 115.6 square miles (299 km²) is land and 22.5 square miles (58 km²), or 16.29%, is water.

The Burntside River flows through the west–central portion of Morse Township. The Dead River briefly flows through the north–central part of the township. The Shagawa River flows through the east–central part of the township. The Bear Island River flows through the southeast portion of the township. The Beaver River flows through the southwest part of the township.

Creeks that flow through the township include Armstrong, Crab, Longstorff, and Johnson.

Burntside Lake and Shagawa Lake are both located within the northern portion of Morse Township. White Iron Lake is partially located within the township. Part of Morse Township is located within the Superior National Forest.

The southern 1/2 portion of the township is located within the Bear Island State Forest. Part of the township is also located within the Burntside State Forest. The northwest corner of Morse Township is located within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Adjacent townships and communities

The following are adjacent to Morse Township :

• Eagles Nest Township (west)
• Crab Lake Unorganized Territory (west)
• Northeast Saint Louis Unorganized Territory (northwest)
• Slim Lake Unorganized Territory (north)
• Fall Lake Township of Lake County (east and northeast)
• Stony River Township of Lake County (southeast)
• Birch Lake Unorganized Territory (south)
• Bear Head Lake Unorganized Territory (southwest)

Unincorporated communities

• Burntside
• Robinson

Demographics

As of the census ^[1] of 2000, there were 1,229 people, 543 households, and 363 families residing in the township. The population density was 10.6 people per square mile (4.1/km²). There were 1,117 housing units at an average density of 9.7/sq mi (3.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.23% White, 0.08% African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.

There were 543 households, out of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 2.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the township the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 34.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $36,944, and the median income for a family was $50,417. Males had a median income of $39,896 versus $29,688 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,503. About 3.4% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Morse township, St. Louis County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 26, 2011.
4. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p.  486.