Hassan Township, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Hassan Township, Minnesota
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto = The only Town in Hennepin County

imagesize =
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pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Minnesota
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|mapsize =
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Minnesota
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Hennepin

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Established
established_date = 1854

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 55.2
area_land_km2 = 52.8
area_water_km2 = 2.4
area_total_sq_mi = 21.3
area_land_sq_mi = 20.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.9

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2463
population_density_km2 = 46.6
population_density_sq_mi = 120.8

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 287
elevation_ft = 942
latd = 45 |latm = 11 |lats = 33 |latNS = N
longd = 93 |longm = 34 |longs = 34 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 55374
area_code = 763
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-27476GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0664409GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Hassan Township is a 317-acre urban township in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. Located in the northwestern corner of the county, it is the only township in the county. The population was 2,463 at the 2000 census.

The town began incorporation proceedings in 2003 but abandoned its petition and chose to sign a Joint Powers agreement with the nearby City of Rogers to annex the entirety of Hassan Township. [cite web| url=http://server.admin.state.mn.us/resource.html?Id=5642 | title=Last township in Hennepin County withdraws bid for city status| date= January 9, 2004|publisher= Minnesota Department of Administration | author=Christine Scotillo] The Hassan Town Board approved annexation in June 2008 with orderly annexation to begin in 2012. [cite web|url=http://erstarnews.com/content/view/3518/26/|title= Rogers, Hassan to merge|date=Tuesday, 10 June 2008 |publisher=Star News] [ [http://rogers.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B13923A01-4902-435D-A9BE-648F04930895%7D Joint Powers Agreement] ]

The origin of the name comes from the Dakota word "chanhasen" meaning the "sugar-maple tree" ("chan", tree; "haza", a tree with sap). Since the then township of Chanhassen established two years before Hassan, the "chan" syllable was dropped to avoid confusion. [cite book|title=Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia|author=By Warren Upham, Patricia C.|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press|date=2001|isbn=0873513967]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 21.3 square miles (55.2 km²), of which, 20.4 square miles (52.8 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²) of it (4.32%) is water. The township completely encircles the city of Rogers. County Roads 81, 116, and 144 are three of the main routes in the township.

Demographcs

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,463 people, 778 households, and 689 families residing in the township. The population density was 120.8 people per square mile (46.6/km²). There were 788 housing units at an average density of 38.6/sq mi (14.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.38% White, 0.32% African American, 0.32% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 778 households out of which 48.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.4% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.4% were non-families. 8.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.17 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the township the population was spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $79,158, and the median income for a family was $81,832. Males had a median income of $46,689 versus $35,313 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,350. None of the families and 0.3% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

History

Hassan is the sole remaining township in Hennepin County. The Town of Hassan is classified as an Urban Township which provides for the excersing of more powers than non-urban Townships.

Hassan is located along the south bank of the Crow River and bisected by Interstate Highway #94, approximately 20 miles northwest of downtown Minneapolis. The City of Rogers lies entirely within the original township. Hassan's rolling landscape is composed of farmsteads, cultivated fields, scattered homes and subdivisions separated by wetlands, woodlands, and drainageways.

Settlement in 1854 by European immigrants brought about major changes in the landscape of what is now Hassan Township. Originally, as part of the "Big Woods", the areas was heavily timbered with oak, elm, basswood, ash, and maple. Large areas of marshland also existed. As settlers arrived, the woods were cleared and the land was tilled for farmstead construction and crop production.

Early on, small trade centers, known as hamlets, emerged in Hassan Township to serve the needs of the settlers. The hamlet of Hassan was first settled in 1854 and then organized in 1860 along Territorial Road in Section 21. Between 1854 and 1881, Hassan contained a clustering of houses, a post office, St. John's Episcopal Church, a school and a town hall. Today, an altered school, a church and town hall remain.

Although not the earliest settlement, Fletcher, originally names St. Walburga by German immigrants, has become the most notable. It stands at the intersection of Territorial Road and County Road 116 (Fletcher Lane) in Hassan Township. Flethcher is considered to be the "finest example of a traditional crossroads hamlet in Hennepin County" and is eligible to become a historic district by the Minnesota Historical Society.

Territorial Road crosses over a series of ridges, including a section that includes the highest point in Hennepin County. It was authorized by the Territorial Legislature in 1855 and identified as the "first legitimate outlet" for this section of Hennepin County. Through the years, it became a major transportation route for Hassan Township and surrounding communities "because it was maintained and it provided relatively easy access to Minneapolis markets." (Hennepin History Museum; 1995).

References

External links

* [http://www.townofhassan.com/ Hassan Township]