Editing Wheeling Township, Rice County, Minnesota

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = Wheeling Township, Minnesota
 | settlement_type          = [[Township (United States)|Township]]
 | nickname                 = 
 | motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
 | image_skyline            = Valley Grove 2013.jpg
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_caption            = [[Valley Grove (Wheeling Township, Minnesota)|Valley Grove]] historic churches in Wheeling Township
 | image_flag               = 
 | image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
 | pushpin_map              = Minnesota
 | pushpin_label_position   = left <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
 | pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the state of Minnesota
 | pushpin_mapsize          = 
 | image_map                = 
 | mapsize                  = 
 | map_caption              = 
 | image_map1               = 
 | mapsize1                 = 
 | map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice]]

<!-- Government -->
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = 
 | leader_name              = 
 | leader_title1            = 
 | leader_name1             = 
 | established_title        = 
 | established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | area_footnotes           = 
 | area_magnitude           = 
 | area_total_km2           = 89.7
 | area_land_km2            = 89.7
 | area_water_km2           = 0.0
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 34.6
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 34.6
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.0

<!-- Population -->
 | population_as_of         = [[United States Census, 2000|2000]]
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_total         = 541
 | population_density_km2   = 6.0
 | population_density_sq_mi = 15.6

<!-- General information -->
 | timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
 | utc_offset               = -6
 | timezone_DST             = CDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = -5
 | elevation_footnotes      = 
 | elevation_m              = 361
 | elevation_ft             = 1184
 | coordinates              = {{coord|44|19|11|N|93|5|27|W|region:US-MN|display=inline}}
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
 | postal_code              = 55053
 | area_code                = [[Area code 507|507]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 27-69862<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 0665979<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
 | website                  = 
 | footnotes                = 
}}

'''Wheeling Township''' is a rural township in [[Rice County, Minnesota|Rice County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 541 at the 2000 census.

The first permanent settlement at Wheeling Township was made ''circa'' 1855.<ref>{{cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n483 464]}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of 34.6&nbsp;square miles (89.7&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), all land.

The southern half of the township is flat, and land use is agricultural. The northern half is made up of rolling hills, and land use is predominantly rural and residential.

Prairie Creek is the most prominent drainage system. The entire township is part of the [[Cannon River (Minnesota)|Cannon River]] watershed.

[[Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park]] is located in Wheeling Township.

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 541 people, 176 households, and 145 families residing in the township. The [[population density]] was {{convert|15.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 178 housing units at an average density of {{convert|5.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.

The racial makeup of the township was 98.89% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.37% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.37% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.18% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 0.18% from two or more races.

The northernmost portion of the township was originally settled by [[Norwegian-American|Norwegian]] immigrants, while the balance was originally settled by [[German-American|German]] immigrants. Much of the land is still farmed by families whose ancestors settled the area in the late 19th century. Main Street in [[Nerstrand, Minnesota|Nerstrand]], [[Minnesota]], extended westward, formed the dividing line.

There were 176 households, out of which 47.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 2.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.6% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.41.

In the township the population was spread out, with 32.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $48,056, and the median income for a family was $49,583. Males had a median income of $33,462 versus $30,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $17,944. About 4.1% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Rice County, Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|44|19|32|N|93|6|13|W|type:adm2nd|display=title}}

[[Category:Townships in Rice County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Townships in Minnesota]]