Rushford, Minnesota

Rushford is a city in Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,860 at the 2020 census.[4]

Rushford
City
Location of Rushford, Minnesota
Location of Rushford, Minnesota
Coordinates: 43°48′45″N 91°45′05″W
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyFillmore
Government
 • TypeMayor – Council
 • MayorTerri Benson
Area
[1]
 • Total1.67 sq mi (4.32 km2)
 • Land1.65 sq mi (4.27 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation
[2]
728 ft (222 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,860
 • Density1,127.27/sq mi (435.20/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55971
Area code507
FIPS code27-56284[3]
GNIS feature ID2396449[2]
Websitewww.rushford.govoffice.com

History

The first pioneers pole-boated up the Root River to the junction of Rush Creek, peering through 10-foot tall grasses to see what astonishing beauty the bluff lands had to offer. The early settlers gave Rushford its name on Christmas Day in 1854, during a chicken supper hosted by Capt. Dyer.[5] The name stems from the nearby Rush Creek, which had tall Rushes growing along its banks.[5] The area was once referred to as “Trail City” because seven Indian trails met at the creek. The Wieser Brothers were said to be the first founders of the city and quickly followed by hundreds.

Rushford has had a post office in operation since 1856,[6] and the 1867 two-story Railroad Depot still stands at its original site, being restored as a Visitors Center for the local area.

As a result of the 2007 Midwest flooding, the city was flooded when Rush Creek overtopped the dikes.[7] Rushford's spirit bounced back to produce a very bustling and thriving community..

Geography
Rushford Wagon and Carriage Company, now an apartment building, with "Rushford" on the side of the bluff behind it.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.73 square miles (4.48 km2), of which 1.71 square miles (4.43 km2) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) is water.[8] The city of Rushford is completely surrounded by another city, Rushford Village.

Rushford is located in southeastern Minnesota's Bluff Country, part of the driftless area. Magelssen's Bluff, a 440-foot hill directly over the town, has the town name written in large white letters on the side of the hill.

Minnesota Highways 16, 30, and 43 are three of the main routes in the city.

Climate
Climate data for Rushford, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1991–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 55
(13)		 62
(17)		 82
(28)		 90
(32)		 95
(35)		 97
(36)		 105
(41)		 100
(38)		 94
(34)		 93
(34)		 77
(25)		 65
(18)		 105
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 44.7
(7.1)		 49.3
(9.6)		 65.0
(18.3)		 78.7
(25.9)		 86.9
(30.5)		 91.3
(32.9)		 92.3
(33.5)		 91.0
(32.8)		 87.1
(30.6)		 81.3
(27.4)		 65.0
(18.3)		 49.6
(9.8)		 94.5
(34.7)
Average high °F (°C) 25.5
(−3.6)		 30.1
(−1.1)		 42.3
(5.7)		 56.9
(13.8)		 68.6
(20.3)		 78.2
(25.7)		 82.2
(27.9)		 80.2
(26.8)		 73.4
(23.0)		 60.0
(15.6)		 44.5
(6.9)		 31.0
(−0.6)		 56.1
(13.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 15.4
(−9.2)		 19.1
(−7.2)		 31.3
(−0.4)		 44.6
(7.0)		 56.4
(13.6)		 66.9
(19.4)		 70.7
(21.5)		 68.4
(20.2)		 60.8
(16.0)		 47.8
(8.8)		 34.5
(1.4)		 21.8
(−5.7)		 44.8
(7.1)
Average low °F (°C) 5.4
(−14.8)		 8.1
(−13.3)		 20.4
(−6.4)		 32.3
(0.2)		 44.2
(6.8)		 55.6
(13.1)		 59.3
(15.2)		 56.7
(13.7)		 48.2
(9.0)		 35.5
(1.9)		 24.4
(−4.2)		 12.7
(−10.7)		 33.6
(0.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −18.0
(−27.8)		 −13.9
(−25.5)		 −1.7
(−18.7)		 19.6
(−6.9)		 30.2
(−1.0)		 41.9
(5.5)		 49.3
(9.6)		 46.6
(8.1)		 34.8
(1.6)		 21.7
(−5.7)		 8.8
(−12.9)		 −9.1
(−22.8)		 −22.2
(−30.1)
Record low °F (°C) −43
(−42)		 −46
(−43)		 −21
(−29)		 8
(−13)		 20
(−7)		 33
(1)		 41
(5)		 37
(3)		 27
(−3)		 15
(−9)		 −12
(−24)		 −27
(−33)		 −46
(−43)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.07
(27)		 1.06
(27)		 1.78
(45)		 3.91
(99)		 4.63
(118)		 5.72
(145)		 4.26
(108)		 4.66
(118)		 3.96
(101)		 2.75
(70)		 1.75
(44)		 1.34
(34)		 36.89
(936)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.7
(20)		 9.2
(23)		 4.1
(10)		 1.1
(2.8)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.9
(2.3)		 7.6
(19)		 30.6
(77.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 5.4 4.7 6.0 9.4 11.9 11.4 8.5 8.5 8.1 7.9 5.1 6.0 92.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 3.8 3.8 1.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 3.5 13.1
Source 1: NOAA[9]
Source 2: National Weather Service[10]

Recreation
Rushford Depot

Every five years, Rushford holds a citywide Homecoming celebration, with a standing invitation to all former residents of the city to return and visit. The town also hosts an annual celebration formerly called "Frontier Days," now called "Rushford Days."

Rushford is one of several towns intersected by the Root River segment of the Blufflands State Trail, a Rails to Trails project linking several small towns along 42 miles of the former railroad grade. The historic Rushford Depot (pictured to the right) is a landmark along this trail, with a museum inside the old depot and other historic buildings on the grounds.

Rushford also has several parks and a public swimming pool.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860477—
18701,245161.0%
1880941−24.4%
18909682.9%
19001,0629.7%
19101,011−4.8%
19201,14213.0%
19301,125−1.5%
19401,1825.1%
19501,2707.4%
19601,3355.1%
19701,318−1.3%
19801,47812.1%
19901,4850.5%
20001,69614.2%
20101,7312.1%
20201,8607.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 1,731 people, 706 households, and 456 families living in the city. The population density was 1,012.3 inhabitants per square mile (390.9/km2). There were 772 housing units at an average density of 451.5 per square mile (174.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.7% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 706 households, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 41.9 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64, and 21% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,696 people, 704 households, and 433 families living in the city. The population density was 988.5 inhabitants per square mile (381.7/km2). There were 761 housing units at an average density of 443.6 per square mile (171.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.00% White, 0.24% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.12% from two or more races. 0.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 704 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.2% 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 2.93.

Rushford-Peterson Schools
Athletic fields

Education

Rushford is associated with nearby Peterson, Minnesota in Rushford-Peterson School District. Superintendent is Jon Thompson.[12]

Rushford-Peterson School District held an open house on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 for the new 170,000-square-foot school building.[13]

Rushford, Minnesota from hill
Rushford, Minnesota sign

See also

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rushford, Minnesota
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "Census - Geography Profile: Rushford city, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  5. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 194.
  6. "Fillmore County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  7. Weiss, John (August 24, 2007). "Stories emerge from Rushford flood". Post-Bulletin. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 24, 2007.
  8. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  9. "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Rushford, MN". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  10. "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS La Crosse". National Weather Service. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  12. Rushford-Peterson Schools Website
  13. Nachtigal, Taylor. "Rushford-Peterson celebrates new school". PostBulletin.com. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
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