Rushford, Minnesota

The first pioneers pole-boated up the Root River to the junction of Rush Creek, peering through 10-foot tall grasses to see what astonishing beauty the bluff lands had to offer. The early settlers gave Rushford its name on Christmas Day in 1854, during a chicken supper hosted by Capt. Dyer.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog | title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance | publisher=Minnesota Historical Society | last=Upham | first=Warren | author-link=Warren Upham | year=1920 | page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n213 194]}} The name stems from the nearby Rush Creek, which had tall Rushes growing along its banks. The area was once referred to as “Trail City” because seven Indian trails met at the creek. The Wieser Brothers were said to be the first founders of the city and quickly followed by hundreds.

Rushford has had a post office in operation since 1856,{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MN&county=Fillmore | title=Fillmore County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=30 May 2015}} and the 1867 two-story Railroad Depot still stands at its original site, being restored as a Visitors Center for the local area.

As a result of the 2007 Midwest flooding, the city was flooded when Rush Creek overtopped the dikes.{{cite web| last =Weiss| first =John| title =Stories emerge from Rushford flood| publisher =Post-Bulletin| date =2007-08-24| url =http://postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=304473&z=2| archive-url =https://archive.today/20070927062528/http://postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=304473&z=2| url-status =dead| archive-date =2007-09-27| access-date =2007-08-24}} Rushford's spirit bounced back to produce a very bustling and thriving community..

File:CarriageHouseAptsRushfordMN.jpg

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|1.73|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.71|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-11-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}} The city of Rushford is completely surrounded by another city, Rushford Village.

Rushford is located in southeastern Minnesota's Bluff Country, part of the driftless area. Magelssen's Bluff, a 440-foot hill directly over the town, has the town name written in large white letters on the side of the hill.

Minnesota Highways 16, 30, and 43 are three of the main routes in the city.

{{Weather box

| single line = Y

| location = Rushford, Minnesota, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1991–present

|Jan record high F = 55

|Feb record high F = 62

|Mar record high F = 82

|Apr record high F = 90

|May record high F = 95

|Jun record high F = 97

|Jul record high F = 105

|Aug record high F = 100

|Sep record high F = 94

|Oct record high F = 93

|Nov record high F = 77

|Dec record high F = 65

|Jan avg record high F = 44.7

|Feb avg record high F = 49.3

|Mar avg record high F = 65.0

|Apr avg record high F = 78.7

|May avg record high F = 86.9

|Jun avg record high F = 91.3

|Jul avg record high F = 92.3

|Aug avg record high F = 91.0

|Sep avg record high F = 87.1

|Oct avg record high F = 81.3

|Nov avg record high F = 65.0

|Dec avg record high F = 49.6

|year avg record high F = 94.5

| Jan high F =25.5

| Feb high F =30.1

| Mar high F =42.3

| Apr high F =56.9

| May high F =68.6

| Jun high F =78.2

| Jul high F =82.2

| Aug high F =80.2

| Sep high F =73.4

| Oct high F =60.0

| Nov high F =44.5

| Dec high F =31.0

| Jan mean F =15.4

| Feb mean F =19.1

| Mar mean F =31.3

| Apr mean F =44.6

| May mean F =56.4

| Jun mean F =66.9

| Jul mean F =70.7

| Aug mean F =68.4

| Sep mean F =60.8

| Oct mean F =47.8

| Nov mean F =34.5

| Dec mean F =21.8

| Jan low F =5.4

| Feb low F =8.1

| Mar low F =20.4

| Apr low F =32.3

| May low F =44.2

| Jun low F =55.6

| Jul low F =59.3

| Aug low F =56.7

| Sep low F =48.2

| Oct low F =35.5

| Nov low F =24.4

| Dec low F =12.7

|Jan avg record low F = -18.0

|Feb avg record low F = -13.9

|Mar avg record low F = -1.7

|Apr avg record low F = 19.6

|May avg record low F = 30.2

|Jun avg record low F = 41.9

|Jul avg record low F = 49.3

|Aug avg record low F = 46.6

|Sep avg record low F = 34.8

|Oct avg record low F = 21.7

|Nov avg record low F = 8.8

|Dec avg record low F = -9.1

|year avg record low F = -22.2

|Jan record low F = -43

|Feb record low F = -46

|Mar record low F = -21

|Apr record low F = 8

|May record low F = 20

|Jun record low F = 33

|Jul record low F = 41

|Aug record low F = 37

|Sep record low F = 27

|Oct record low F = 15

|Nov record low F = -12

|Dec record low F = -27

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch =1.07

| Feb precipitation inch =1.06

| Mar precipitation inch =1.78

| Apr precipitation inch =3.91

| May precipitation inch =4.63

| Jun precipitation inch =5.72

| Jul precipitation inch =4.26

| Aug precipitation inch =4.66

| Sep precipitation inch =3.96

| Oct precipitation inch =2.75

| Nov precipitation inch =1.75

| Dec precipitation inch =1.34

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 5.4

|Feb precipitation days = 4.7

|Mar precipitation days = 6.0

|Apr precipitation days = 9.4

|May precipitation days = 11.9

|Jun precipitation days = 11.4

|Jul precipitation days = 8.5

|Aug precipitation days = 8.5

|Sep precipitation days = 8.1

|Oct precipitation days = 7.9

|Nov precipitation days = 5.1

|Dec precipitation days = 6.0

|Jan snow inch = 7.7

|Feb snow inch = 9.2

|Mar snow inch = 4.1

|Apr snow inch = 1.1

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.9

|Dec snow inch = 7.6

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 3.8

|Feb snow days = 3.8

|Mar snow days = 1.2

|Apr snow days = 0.3

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.5

|Dec snow days = 3.5

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00217184&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Rushford, MN

|access-date = May 11, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=arx

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS La Crosse

|access-date = May 11, 2023

}}

}}

Image:RushfordDepot.JPG

Every five years, Rushford holds a citywide Homecoming celebration, with a standing invitation to all former residents of the city to return and visit. The town also hosts an annual celebration formerly called "Frontier Days," now called "Rushford Days."

Rushford is one of several towns intersected by the Root River segment of the Blufflands State Trail, a Rails to Trails project linking several small towns along 42 miles of the former railroad grade. The historic Rushford Depot (pictured to the right) is a landmark along this trail, with a museum inside the old depot and other historic buildings on the grounds.

Rushford also has several parks and a public swimming pool.

{{US Census population

|1860= 477

|1870= 1245

|1880= 941

|1890= 968

|1900= 1062

|1910= 1011

|1920= 1142

|1930= 1125

|1940= 1182

|1950= 1270

|1960= 1335

|1970= 1318

|1980= 1478

|1990= 1485

|2000= 1696

|2010= 1731

|2020= 1860

|align-fn=center

|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2012-11-13}} of 2010, there were 1,731 people, 706 households, and 456 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1012.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 772 housing units at an average density of {{convert|451.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.7% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 706 households, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 41.9 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64, and 21% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,696 people, 704 households, and 433 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|988.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 761 housing units at an average density of {{convert|443.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 99.00% White, 0.24% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.12% from two or more races. 0.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 704 households, out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.

File:Rushford-Peterson Schools.jpg

File:Rushford schools fields.jpg

Rushford is associated with nearby Peterson, Minnesota in Rushford-Peterson School District. Superintendent is Ben Bernard.[http://www.r-pschools.com Rushford-Peterson Schools Website]

Rushford-Peterson School District held an open house on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 for the new 170,000-square-foot school building.{{Cite web|url=https://www.postbulletin.com/news/education/rushford-peterson-celebrates-new-school/article_e2a13f55-a9db-5ecb-b442-fa05d4aee07c.html|title=Rushford-Peterson celebrates new school|last=Nachtigal|first=Taylor|website=PostBulletin.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-20}}

• Steve Heiden, professional football coach and former player{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HeidSt00.htm|title=Steve Heiden|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=March 23, 2025}}

• Jorli Hauge, state basketball runner up. Farmer Wants a Wife Season 6 contestant. Iowa State alumni

• Rushford Public Library
• Rushford Municipal Airport
• Rushford Village

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.rushford.govoffice.com/ City of Rushford]
• [http://www.r-pschools.com/ Rushford-Peterson School District]
• [http://www.rushfordpetersonvalley.com/ Rushford Peterson Valley]
• [http://www.rushforddays.com/ Rushford Days]
• [http://www.bluffcountrynews.com/ Tri-County Record - Bluff Country News]
• [http://www.rintek.org/ Rushford Institute for NanoTechnology]

{{RochesterMSA}}

{{Fillmore County, Minnesota}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Fillmore County, Minnesota

Category:Cities in Minnesota