Guide to Spring Lake, Minnesota

Spring Lake is an unincorporated community located in Lake Jessie Township in Itasca County, Minnesota. According to the United States Census Bureau, Lake Jessie Township has a total area of 36.7 square miles (95.0 km²), of which, 33.4 square miles (86.5 km²) of it is land and 3.3 square miles (8.4 km²) of it (8.89%) is water. The elevation is 1,417 ft (432 m) above sea level.

As of the census of 2000, there were 335 people, 136 households, and 96 families residing in the township. The population density was 3.9/km² (10.0/mi²). There were 284 housing units at an average density of 3.3/km² (8.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 99.40% White and 0.60% African American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.

There were 136 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 2.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 129.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $33,438, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $27,813 versus $22,813 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,865. About 11.7% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.8% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Spring Lake - another area community built on the ancient waterways of northern Minnesota; a community with thick forests that provided raw materials for logging companies; a community that grew up near the tracks of the M&R Railroad; a community where homesteaders staked their claims, cut trees, pulled stumps and made homes for themselves.

There was a large logging camp and saw mull located near the lake in the early days. By 1908 Charlie Finik built the first log store, a post office was established, and a school was built.

In 1913 the Heide family came to Spring Lake, and three of the Heide boys, Carl, Gene and Bill, still call Spring Lake home. The first Heide home was a log cabin. In 1916 Adolph Heide built a store.

With the arrival of the homesteaders and their families, usually on the M&R Railroad, a school became necessary. Without good roads or busses, it was important schools be located within walking distance of of the children's homes. Hence, one room schools were built, frequently only four or five miles apart.

By 1944 roads has improved and several small Sand Lake schools were closed. These students were then bussed to Spring Lake. High school students attended Deer River High School and lived in the dorm. In 1957, the new consolidated North School, located about one mile from the Spring Lake Store, opened and elementary students from the north area of the Deer River school district attend classes there.

The old school house is now being used as a church. The first church was started in 1920 by a Rev. Snyder. A church was offered to them if it would be moved to Spring Lake. The building was dismantled, loaded on an M&R Railroad car, and hauled into Spring Lake. Then using a team they hauled it to where the church would be located and reassembled it. It was used until about 1980.

Gene and Carl Heide later bought the store from their father. Prior to World War II, Gene Heide built and operated a tavern adjacent to the store. Bill Heide was the local mail carrier for many years. His son Scott is now delivering mail to the area's rural patrons. The Spring Lake post office is located at the store. In 1980 the store was sold to Georgia Berdt, who became Carl's wife in 1983, so the store remains in the family.

MacRostie Leathers is the only other business in Spring Lake. Lyle and Elaine Dowling MacRostie travel to large craft shows, including one at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts in New York City. They take orders for custom made shoes and moccasins, return home and are kept busy making up orders.

SPRING LAKE, a village in Lake Jessie Township, section 17, with a post office since 1912.