This is a guide to Collegeville Township and the unincorporated community of Collegeville, Minnesota, both of which were named for Saint John's College, now known as Saint John's University.
Collegeville Township is surrounded by Farming Township, Avon Township, Saint Wendel Township, Saint Joseph Township, and Wakefield Township. The unincorporated community of Collegeville is nearby, but in Saint Wendell Township, northeast of Collegeville Township, near the junction of Collegeville Road and Old Collegeville Road. Collegeville is about seven miles northeast of the center of Collegeville Township, but only a short distance from the northeastern corner of the township. Saint John's Abbey, a large Benedictine monastery is nearby.
The chief routes through Collegeville Township are Stearns County Roads 50, 51, 159, and 160, while the chief routes for Collegeville is County Road 159 and Old Collegeville Road, both of which lead to the Saint John's College campus. Interstate Highway 94/US Highway 52 is nearby.
Cities near Collegeville Township are Avon (6.2 miles north), Saint Joseph (8.3 miles east), Cold Spring (8.6 miles south), Richmond (11.2 miles south-southwest), Albany (12.3 miles northwest), and Rockville (14.6 miles southeast), the distances being from the center of the township to the city center.
The nearest cities to Collegeville are Saint Joseph (3.5 miles southeast), Avon (5.5 miles west-northwest), Saint Wendel (7.9 miles north), Sartell (10.7 miles east-northeast), Albany (11.6 miles northwest), and Cold Spring (12.6 miles south-southwest).
Saint John's University is a private liberal arts men's college in Collegeville, which maintains a shared curriculum with the College of Saint Benedict, a women's college in nearby Saint Joseph. Students at both colleges have access to the resources of both campuses. Originally known as Saint John's Colege, Saint John's was founded by the Benedictine monks of Saint John's Abbey in 1857. Currently, Saint John's University includes Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary, a graduate school that awards the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees, preparing seminarians for the Catholic priesthood.
Saint John's Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Collegeville Township, near Collegeville. Associated with the American-Cassinese Congregation, the abbey was established in 1856 and is one of the largest Benedictine abbeys in the Western Hemisphere. Saint John's College was established at the abbey.
Settled by Benedictine monks in 1864, Saint John's Arboretum occupies more than 2,500 acres in Collegeville. Situated on the transition zone between the prairies on the southwest, to the hardwoods in the northwest, the Arboretum includes several small lakes, and is home to a large variety of plants and wildlife.
Collegeville Township was organized in 1880. Its first town meeting was held on April 8, 1881. Peter Eich was chosen to preside as Moderator of the meeting. Town business included the election of three supervisors, a treasurer, an assessor, a justice of the peace, a constable, and an overseer for each of the roads in the township. Other issues to be resolved was to set an election to determine whether cattle, horses, mules, asses, and sheep within the town were to be allowed to run free, and whether to grant licenses to sell liquor within the town.
Peter Eich was elected supervisor chair, Weneeslans Breu and George Klein were elected supervisors, Ulric Northman became clerk, and Mathias Lauer was named treasurer.
Topics related to the township or the unincorporated community of Collegeville are appropriate for this category. These would include, of course, the official township website and any other websites created by or for the town, as well as those of Saint John's University, Saint John's Abbey, and Saint John's Arboretum, and any related businesses, organizations, or publications. Websites representing any business or industry, school, church, organization, individual, or event relating to either Collegeville or Collegeville Township are suitable for this category and may be submitted for consideration if not already listed.
 
 
Recommended Resources
College of Saint Benedict / Saint John’s University
Situated six miles apart, in Saint Joseph and Collegeville, respectively, the campuses are in partnership with one another. While Saint Benedict was founded by the Benedictine Sisters, Saint John’s was founded by the monks of Saint John’s Abbey. The partnership is defined, a history of both institutions is given, and its academic programs, admissions policies, tuition, and financial aid options are put forth, along with its student life, athletics, and alumni programs.
https://www.csbsju.edu/
Chartered in 1967, Collegeville Institute has its roots in a course in Protestant theology added to the Saint John’s University in the 1950s. Its approach to ecumenism and its use of the first-person method to theological discourse is outlined, along with its history, mission, and programs, projects, and initiatives. Situated on the Saint John’s campus, the Institute’s staff, board of directors, administrative hours, and contacts are presented, and employment opportunities are included.
https://collegevilleinstitute.org/
Located in the hills near Collegeville, Minnesota, the orchard sells more than twenty varieties of apples, freshly picked and available at its store by the third-peck, half-peck, half-bushel, or bushel. The dates that each variety of apple is available is posted to the site, and address of its store is included, with hours of operation. A petting zoo is free and open whenever the store is open. Pumpkins are also available in the fall, along with wagon rides and activities for the kids.
https://www.collegevilleorchardmn.com/
Collegeville Township, Minnesota: In the Heart of Stearns County
The official township website displays plat maps, meeting minutes, financial reports, and road orders from the first township meetings in 1881, as well as a full list of township supervisors. Public notices are posted to the site, along with agendas and minutes from the board of supervisor meetings and the planning commission, ordinances, resolutions, and township maps. Land use and zoning ordinances, right-of-way management ordinances, and road construction specs are available in PDF format.
https://www.collegevilletownship.com/
Hill Museum & Manuscript Library
Founded at Saint John’s University in 1965, HMML has partnered with libraries in several countries to photograph manuscripts in dozens of languages, many of which are only accessible through its image, and including some of which were later destroyed, stolen, lost of moved for safekeeping. A profile and description of the organization is given, along with its programs and events, research facilities and resources, fieldwork sites, and manuscripts.
http://hmml.org/
Situated on the campus of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, the parish is part of the Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud and associated with the Catholic Benedictine Community. Its location is shown on a map, and office hours and contacts are published, along with a new parishioner registration form, its pastoral council, faith formation committee, and a schedule of mass and sacraments, a calendar of upcoming programs and events.
https://stjohnthebaptistparish.org/
Established by monks of the Saint Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania in 1856, Saint John’s Abbey has grown to become one of the largest Benedictine abbeys in the Western Hemisphere. Seventeen of the buildings built at the abbey and Saint John’s University, which was founded by the abbey, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Information about becoming a monk, and about the Oblates of Saint John’s, are offered, and live streaming mass is available.
http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/
Open to people of all faiths, the guesthouse is located on the property of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, in central Minnesota. Offering single rooms, double rooms, and suites, most of the rooms have a direct view of the lake, a few have a side view, and others have a view of the Abbey church. A description of the rooms, its costs, check in and check out policies, and directions are given, along with information about the Abbey’s individual and group retreats.
http://www.abbeyguesthouse.org/
The independent college preparatory school is located on Watertower Road, on the campus of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. A map shows the location of the school. Enrolling students in grades five through twelve, the school offers an International Baccalaureate Programme, as well as a Benedictine presence, theology classes, and community formation programs, Its admissions policies, variable tuition plans, and career opportunities are featured.
http://sjprep.net/