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History · Swede Grove Township

Swede Grove Township dates to 1868, and 42% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1967 on.

1868founded
0on the National Register
42%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Swede Grove Township began

When was Swede Grove Township founded?

1868

Swede Grove Township dates its founding to 1868 (Wikipedia’s history).

2020 census: 361158 years
Founding year: Wikipedia.The full story ↓

What stands out about Swede Grove Township’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Swede Grove Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Swede Grove Township’s homes were built before 1955.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Swede Grove Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Swede Grove Township’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story

How Swede Grove Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Swede Grove Township.

Read it all →

Swede Grove Township was first settled in 1857 by N. E. Hanson, Nels Elofson, Hans Peterson, Peter E. Lund, Nels Weylander, Andrew Peterson, and John Rosencranz. There were a few others with their families. The township was named by N. E. Hanson and Nels Elofson because it was settled by Swedes and there was a nice grove of trees nearby. Nels, by the way, was the second white man in Meeker County. The township, originally a part of Acton Township, was organized on March 15, 1868. Nels Elofson was appointed postmaster in 1859. Notable locations in Swede Grove Township are Cojo Dairy, Grove Creek Raceway, Trinity Lutheran Church, Fellowship Church, and the First Lutheran Cemetery. An interesting historical note is that Peterson Lake was so well surrounded by thick timber, that this 80-acre lake was missing from many government-issued plat maps because surveyors could not see the lake …

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

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On the map

Swede Grove Township on the map, 1967 to 1986

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Swede Grove Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Swede Grove Township on the 1967 USGS mapSwede Grove Township on the 1986 USGS map1967Grove City sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Swede Grove Township.

Famous people

Famous people close to Swede Grove Township

Nobody well known was born in Swede Grove Township itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Eugene McCarthyAmerican politician · b. 1916
E
Elmer FeigAmerican architect · b. 1897
Shane ZylstraAmerican football tight end · b. 1996
E
E. A. ReitanAmerican historian · b. 1925
F
Frieda HardinClerical Assistant · b. 1896
Mary GibbsAmerican park superintendent and conservationist · b. 1879
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Grove CityIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townHarrison TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townActon TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townUnion Grove TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townHarvey TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Swede Grove Township’s history

What year was Swede Grove Township founded?

In 1868, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikipedia and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.