Hartland, Minnesota

Hartland, Minnesota
City
Location of Hartland, Minnesota
Coordinates: 43°48′16″N 93°29′8″W / 43.80444°N 93.48556°W / 43.80444; -93.48556
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Freeborn
Area[1]
• Total	0.30 sq mi (0.78 km2)
• Land	0.30 sq mi (0.78 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,263 ft (385 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	315
• Estimate (2012[3])	313
• Density	1,050.0/sq mi (405.4/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	56042
Area code(s)	507
FIPS code	27-27404[4]
GNIS feature ID	0644707[5]

Hartland is a city in Freeborn County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 315 at the 2010 census.^[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.30 square miles (0.78 km²), all of it land.^[1]

Minnesota State Highway 13 serves as a main route in the community. It is a very small town but fun to live in. There are a few things to do there. You can walk around town, eat at the cafe, or watch the trains go by. One good thing about living in Hartland is that it is quiet. Traffic is almost non-existent.

The town of Hartland was founded in 1878, after large scale land dispute with other farming communities. During this time county lines were not well marked, often leading to farmers claiming the same land. No where was this a greater problem than in the northernmost part of Freeborn County. In one spot, 6 different farmers claimed to own the same area of ground. Since there was little legal help available, people took matters into their own hands. As tensions rose, factions began to develop. Those living in northern Freeborn County, who were mostly immigrants that had recently purchased supposedly "vacant" land, insisted that since the land was in their county, it should be theirs. The residents of neighboring Waseca and Steele counties, who had lived and farmed there longer, felt that Freeborn county's border should be moved away from the contested land. The farmers of lower Waseca and Steel counties formed an uneasy alliance that allowed them to keep the fertile land area for themselves. Tensions burst when a Freeborn farmer intentionally stole crops from a field controlled by the farmers of Waseca county. The Freeborn resident justified his act saying that if he had paid for the land, he deserved its harvest. His theft sparked what would become a large scale riot, even by modern standards. Both sides knew that a confrontation was inevitable. The Waseca and Steele county farmers recruited men from the existing towns of New Richland and Ellendale, forming a rowdy mob. On the evening of November 10, 1877 the mob began the 6 mile march to where the Freeborn farmer who stole the crops lived. The mob was intercepted by a smaller Freeborn assembly formed to protect the farmer. What started as a trading of insults soon became violent. The melee that ensued lasted until it was too dark to see one side from the other. When both sides withdrew, they found that the local preacher, Simon Hart, was dead. Hart had tried to stop the two mobs from fighting, but was beaten and trampled to death in the confusion of battle that followed. Accounts of his death vary. Men on both sides swore they saw those on the other side kill him. It was apparent to both sides, however, that the dispute could never be solved through violence. It was decided that the land would be split equally between farmers of all three counties. The following year, residents of Freeborn county decided to form a small community near by the previously contested land. They named the town "Hartland" in honor of Hart's selfless bravery and tragic death.^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 315 people, 140 households, and 78 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,050.0 inhabitants per square mile (405.4 /km²). There were 148 housing units at an average density of 493.3 per square mile (190.5 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.8% White, 1.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 140 households of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.3% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.91.

The median age in the city was 36.8 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 288 people, 134 households, and 84 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,052.0 people per square mile (411.8/km²). There were 144 housing units at an average density of 526.0 per square mile (205.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.61% White, 1.39% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.39% of the population.

There were 134 households out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 108.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $29,792 versus $26,458 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,429. About 5.1% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen or sixty five or over.

Notable natives

• American model and actress Audra Lynn. She was Miss October 2003 in Playboy magazine

References

v t e Municipalities and communities of Freeborn County, Minnesota, United States County seat: Albert Lea Cities Albert Lea Alden Clarks Grove Conger Emmons Freeborn Geneva Glenville Hartland Hayward Hollandale Manchester Myrtle Twin Lakes Townships Albert Lea Alden Bancroft Bath Carlston Freeborn Freeman Geneva Hartland Hayward London Manchester Mansfield Moscow Newry Nunda Oakland Pickerel Lake Riceland Shell Rock Unincorporated communities Corning‡ Moscow Oakland Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Coordinates: 43°48′14″N 93°29′13″W / 43.80389°N 93.48694°W / 43.80389; -93.48694