Guide to Bay Lake Minnesota

Bay Lake (township)

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

1990-2000 Change

Actual

Percent

Population

474

719

657

923

929

+0.65

Land Area (sq. mile)

25.80

31.89

0.00

27.03

0.00

Density (persons per sq. mile)

18.37

22.55

34.15

34.37

+0.22

+0.65

Housing Units

962

1,047

1,376

1,335

1,543

+208

+15.58

Households

278

280

421

441

+20

+4.75

Persons Per Household

2.59

2.35

2.19

2.11

-0.08

-3.65

Bay Lake Township is a township in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Minnesota Highway 6 and Minnesota Highway 18 are two of the main arterial routes in the township. The township encompasses Bay Lake as well as several smaller lakes. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.3 square miles (93.9 km²), of which, 27.0 square miles (70.0 km²) of it is land and 9.2 square miles (23.9 km²) of it (25.48%) is water. The elevation is 1,266 ft (386 m) above sea level.

As of the census of 2000, there were 923 people, 421 households, and 306 families residing in the township. The population density was 34.2 people per square mile (13.2/km²). There were 1,335 housing units at an average density of 49.4/sq mi (19.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.48% White, 0.65% Native American, 0.11% Asian, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.

There were 421 households out of which 16.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.9% were married couples living together, 2.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.59.

In the township the population was spread out with 17.1% under the age of 18, 1.6% from 18 to 24, 17.0% from 25 to 44, 37.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $42,596, and the median income for a family was $48,558. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $26,563 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,194. About 6.3% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Although Bay Lake was known to the early trappers and fur traders, it wasn't until the railroad began building from Duluth to the West Coast in 1870 that this area began to be settled. Deerwood became a station on the new railroad in 1871 and opened up new land for development. Dave Archibald became the first permanent settler at Bay Lake in 1881. He located just east of what is now Ruttger's.

Other early settlers were Nick Newgard 1882, Verner Taylor 1882, Robert and Archie Downey 1882, Abe Christensen 1883 , H.F.J. Knieff 1883, Robert Maghan 1883, G.A Hunt 1883, and Otto Wasserzieher 1883.

A cooperative colony was organized in 1886 to develop the area. Joe Ruttger was one of its original members and later bought part of the original property which was to become Ruttgers’ Resort.

BAY LAKE Township received its name from its large lake, which was so named for its irregular outline, with many bays, projecting points, and islands. Its Ojibwe name, like that of another lake of similar form in Aitkin County, was Sisabagama (accented on the third syllable), meaning, according to Gilfillan, "Every-which-way lake, or the lake which has arms running in all directions." A post office was in section 4, 1884-85 and 1892-1904