All about Sacred Heart

google_sacred_heart.jpg

(Photo: Google)

Sacred Heart, MN., takes the top honors in the “who had the most snow” competition. The Renville County town had 17.3.”

There’s a fair chance that this is the first time you’ve heard of Sacred Heart (unless you travel US 212 frequently) , so we provide this glimpse into the new snow capital of Minnesota.

* The city is one square mile big, according to the Census Bureau.

* The median house price there is about $47,000, compared to $200,000 in Minnesota as a whole. The median rent is $481 a month.

* Population: 500.

* Unemployment is 4.5% but 11 percent of the people live below the poverty level.

* At one point, thanks primarily to the railroad (Hastings & Dakota Railway), Sacred Heart had two elevators, two hardware stores, three general stores, two hotels, a blacksmith shop and a saloon, according to the city’s website. These included: Paulson’s General Store, Nordstrom’s Drug, and Oslund’s Cash Store.

* It has its own telephone company: The Sacred Heart Telephone Company

* There is a payphone booth on the main drag.

* The most photographed building in town appears to be the Hotel Sacred Heart.

* It has four churches, all Lutheran.

* There’s no mail delivery. You have to go to the Post Office.

* It used to be called Reishus. Olaf S. Reishus was the postmaster.

* Here are some historical photos from the city.