Balkan Township is a township in Saint Louis County,

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

, United States. The township was named after the

Balkan Mountains The Balkan mountain range (, , known locally also as Stara planina) is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. The range is conventionally taken to begin at the peak of Vrashka Chuka on the border betw ...

. The population was 832 at the 2010 census. U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 73 ( MN 73) are two of the main routes in the township. The city of Chisholm is located within the south–central portion of Balkan Township geographically but is a separate entity.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the township has a total area of ; is land and , or 1.62%, is water. The Shannon River flows through the west–central edge of Balkan Township. Boriin Creek flows through the north–central portion of the township. The East Branch of the Sturgeon River flows through the northeast portion of the township. Slow Creek flows through the east–central part of Balkan Township.

Adjacent townships and cities

The following are adjacent to Balkan Township : * The city of Chisholm * The city of

Hibbing Hibbing is a city in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 16,214 at the 2020 census. The city was built on mining the rich iron ore of the Mesabi Iron Range and still relies on that industrial activity today. At th ...

(west and south) * Cherry Township (southeast) * Great Scott Township (east) * The city of Buhl (east) * The city of Kinney (east) * Dark River Unorganized Territory (north) * French Township (northwest) * McCormack Unorganized Territory (west) Highway 73 runs north–south through the middle of Balkan Township, north of Chisholm. Highway 169 runs east–west through the southeast portion of the township near Buhl. Saint Louis County Highway 5 (CR 5) passes through the southwest corner of Balkan Township near Hibbing. Highway 5 also briefly enters the southeast corner of Balkan Township on a separate segment of Highway 5 near Maturi Road. Maturi Road runs east–west along Balkan Township's southern boundary line with adjacent city of Hibbing in the southeast corner of Balkan Township. Cemetery Road (Sever Road) runs east–west along Balkan Township's boundary line with adjacent city of Chisholm at the northern city limits of Chisholm. Barrett Road runs north–south along Balkan Township's eastern boundary line with adjacent Great Scott Township in the northeast corner of Balkan Township. North Long Lake Road briefly runs north–south along Balkan Township's western boundary line in the northwest part of the township. McNiven Road travels through the east–central part of Balkan Township. Hobson Lake Road (County 84 / Hwy.84) travels through the west–central part of the township.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 811 people, 329 households, and 243 families residing in the township. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 12.6 people per square mile (4.9/km²). There were 359 housing units at an average density of 5.6/sq mi (2.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.29%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 0.49% Native American, 0.49%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.62% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.11% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 0.25% of the population. There were 329 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.90. In the township the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 34.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males. The median income for a household in the township was $44,853, and the median income for a family was $52,768. Males had a median income of $42,426 versus $21,786 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the township was $21,570. About 2.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

Balkan Township official website
{{authority control Townships in St. Louis County, Minnesota Mining communities in Minnesota Slovene-American culture in Minnesota Townships in Minnesota