Urjans Iverson House · National Register of Historic Places
Gilchrist Township’s story
158 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1868Gilchrist Township is settled
Gilchrist TownshipMN
A town of 213, settled in 1868.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
Population
213
2025 Census estimate · +1.4% since 2020
Median home value
$380K
Census ACS
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
57.5
years
Jobs based here
31
A commuter town
Is Gilchrist Township a good place to live?
Gilchrist Township’s average trip to work is 44 minutes, above both Minnesota’s towns (23 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Among 274 Minnesota towns, just 1 have a higher median age than Gilchrist Township. 33% of the land in Gilchrist Township is conserved, above both Minnesota’s towns (4.7%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). The biggest park or preserve is Nelson Lake WPA, at 944 acres. Gilchrist Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
213 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Rolling Forks TownshipLake Johanna TownshipKerkhoven TownshipChippewa Falls TownshipGilchrist Township
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Gilchrist Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Gilchrist Township, and how to reach them.
PowerAgralite Electric Coop13.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Gilchrist Township’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePope County CourthousePope County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes56334, 5631656334 95% · 56316 5%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Gilchrist Township.
Outdoors
Nearly a third of Gilchrist Township is conserved land
1.9 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. Gilchrist Township’s trail density is 0.1 miles per square mile.
32.7%conserved
32.7%
conserved · 7,386 of 22,576 acres
1.9 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Nelson Lake WPA | — | 944 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commute
Gilchrist Township has 0.3 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Gilchrist Township for work: only 0% work in town. 14% of Gilchrist Township residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Morris (16%), Glenwood (9%) and Starbuck (8%).
0%work in town
| Gilchrist Township | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 6.5% | 14% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Gilchrist Township0%
Morris16%
Glenwood9%
Starbuck8%
Alexandria6%
29 mi
median commute distance
31
jobs based in Gilchrist Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Gilchrist Township
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 72% of U.S. communities.
72risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesHail
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Gilchrist Township
Gilchrist Township has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Gilchrist Township is 81°F.
46″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter6–24°
Spring32–53°
Summer58–79°
Fall36–56°
Sep 27
typical first frost
May 11
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
More of Gilchrist Township’s adults have high blood pressure than in the typical Minnesota or U.S. town
38% of adults have high blood pressure in Gilchrist Township. Gilchrist Township beats the Minnesota average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 39% of adults have obesity in Gilchrist Township.
| Gilchrist Township | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 30% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 31% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 10% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better23 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Gilchrist Township | MN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81% | 76.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.4% | 5.9% |
Glacial Ridge Hospital
14.2 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Gilchrist Township
17pages on Gilchrist Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Gilchrist Township; the nearest are
Ridgewater CollegeCommunity college · Public · Willmar24.7 mi$6,121 in-state tuitionUniversity of Minnesota-MorrisUniversity or college · Public · Morris29.1 mi$14,526 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Gilchrist Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Gilchrist Township for work
Where Gilchrist Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
31jobs based in Gilchrist Township
0%of working residents work in town
29 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Gilchrist Township
Township in Minnesota, United States
Gilchrist Township is a township in Pope County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 213 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,204 ft
Questions about Gilchrist Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Gilchrist Township, MN a good place to live?
Gilchrist Township has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.