Greenleafton, Minnesota

Greenleafton is an unincorporated community in York Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota, United States.

Greenleafton
Unincorporated community
Greenleafton
Greenleafton
Coordinates: 43°34′39″N 92°12′34″W
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyFillmore
TownshipYork Township
Elevation
1,355 ft (413 m)
Population
 • Total140
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
55965
Area code(s)507
GNIS feature ID644449[1]

The community is located southwest of Preston, at the junction of Fillmore County Roads 9 and 20. County Road 14 is also nearby. Greenleafton is located in the northeast corner of York Township.

Nearby places include Cherry Grove, Preston, Spring Valley, and Harmony.

Greenleafton is located 11 miles southwest of Preston, and 16 miles southeast of Spring Valley. Greenleafton is 13 miles west-northwest of Harmony. Canfield Creek flows through the area.

Greenleafton is located within ZIP code 55965 based in Preston. A post office previously operated in the community from 1874 to 1905.

Geography

The area features a Karst topography. Nearby Forestville Mystery Cave State Park features the state's longest publicly accessible cave system. Caves even closer to the town have been discovered and are opening up for exploration.

History

Greenleafton was first settled by Dutch immigrants, including Arend Jan Nagel, who moved westward from Alto, Wisconsin, seeking inexpensive land. Like him, many of the first settlers had originally come from the Achterhoek in the eastern Netherlands and from neighboring areas in Germany. These settlers established the Greenleafton Reformed Church in 1867. Norwegians and other groups also settled the area.

The name Greenleafton is in honor of Mary Greenleaf, a benefactor of the former Dutch Reformed Church, now the Reformed Church in America, established there.[2]

References
  1. "Greenleafton, Minnesota". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 193.
  • Rand McNally Road Atlas – 2007 edition – Minnesota entry
  • Official State of Minnesota Highway Map – 2011/2012 edition
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