Altura, Minnesota

Altura, Minnesota
—  Town  —
Location of Altura, Minnesota
Coordinates: 44°4′11″N 91°56′21″W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Winona
Government
• Type	Mayor - Council
• Mayor	David Marks
Area
• Total	2.98 sq mi (7.72 km2)
• Land	2.98 sq mi (7.72 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,171 ft (357 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	493
• Estimate (2011)	493
• Density	165.4/sq mi (63.9/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	55910
Area code(s)	507
FIPS code	27-01234
GNIS feature ID	0639312

Altura is a town in Winona County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 493 at the 2010 census.

History

Altura started out as a hunting ground for the Sioux Indians. They hunted deer, bear, wolves, quail, and other game native to the area. They also trapped mink and muskrat in the streams that now run through many of the farms. The Sioux Indians were here until 1853 when they signed the Treaty of Traverse Des Sioux, and the Treaty of Mendota, which made the territory available for settlement.

When the Sioux Indians left, the government offered the land for $1.25 an acre to the settlers for staking their claims.

Settlers started to come and stake their claims, but many didn't have the money to even buy 160 acres (0.65 km²) of land at $1.25 an acre. The settlers who could not afford to buy were allowed to come and choose what land they wanted and stake their claim. There was trouble with other settlers coming along and jumping their claims of land. Staking the land did not give them title to it, because they have not paid for it. There were groups of settlers that would form "claim clubs", which would hire a rough looking character to guard the claims of the settlers in that certain group or club. They would build a shack for him to stay in and he would patrol the land and would likely shoot any person coming in to jump a claim. Meanwhile the settlers would then go to either relatives or to a loan shark in Winona, who would charge them 18-20% interest, and get the money they needed.

In early days towns were usually built four to six miles (10 km) apart so that a person could journey to a town at the slow pace of an oxen, and return home again before night fall. Oxen were a common animal in that time and well into the 1870s when they were finally replaced by horses.

This land worth $1.25 an acre was well publicized, even in Europe. A farm of 30 to 40 acres (160,000 m²) in Europe was considered good sized, with usually half of the land terraced becausxe of the hilly terrain. This land drew many immigrants mainly from the countries of Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Belgium.

Surrounding Area Let us take a look at the surrounding area: Elba, MN, with its two mills in 1878; and Beaver, MN, with its bluffs towering 400 to 500 feet (150 m), was established in 1865. Whitewater Falls, MN, literally washed away had been established in 1857. Bethany, MN platted in 1891, was located southeast of our Altura location.

Notable residents and natives

• George Henry Speltz, sixth Roman Catholic Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud

Location

Altura is about 30 miles ENE of Rochester, MN, 10 miles NNW of Lewiston,MN, and about 15 Miles WNW of Winona,Mn

Latitude 44°4′11″N Longitude 91°56′21″W

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.98 square miles (7.72 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 493 people, 180 households, and 126 families residing in the city. The population density was 165.4 inhabitants per square mile (63.9 /km²). There were 188 housing units at an average density of 63.1 per square mile (24.4 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 0.4% African American, 2.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.3% of the population.

There were 180 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.27.

The median age in the city was 33.1 years. 30.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.4% were from 25 to 44; 20.2% were from 45 to 64; and 12% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 55.6% male and 44.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 417 people, 163 households, and 117 families residing in the city. The population density was 140.5 people per square mile (54.2/km²). There were 172 housing units at an average density of 57.9 per square mile (22.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 13.74% White, 87.6% Hispanic, 0.10% Asian, and 0.10% from two or more races. Jacobs house is the main place for entertainment.

There were 163 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 15.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 120.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,393, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $30,313 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,199. About 7.4% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

External links

• Altura Minnesota Community Guide