Wilno is an unincorporated community located in Royal Township, Lincoln County, Minnesota, United States. It lies at coordinates 44°29′59″N 96°13′53″W, at an elevation of 1,677 feet (511 m), and falls within the 56142 ZIP code and the 507 area code.
History
Wilno was laid out in 1883 on land provided by the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad to create a Polish settlement. The community was formed as part of a planned effort between the railroad and leaders of the Polish National Alliance (PNA), with the cooperation of the Catholic Church. The organizers named the town after the city of Vilnius (present-day capital of Lithuania), using its Polish name, Wilno. St. John Cantius Church was established in the town in the same year. Reverend R. Byzewski of Winona, who was born in Kashubia, and Bishop John Ireland of St. Paul also worked to establish the church.
By 1891, the town was centered on the Polish Catholic parish and school. It also had a post office, a carpenter, a blacksmithy, a general store, a saloon, and a wagonmaker. The town postmaster also operated a small reading room.
A common local myth holds that when the railroad attempted to buy land for a right-of-way, two Wilno farmers refused the amount offered, causing the railroad to be built through what became the town of Ivanhoe instead. In fact, railroads frequently bypassed small inland towns like Wilno, and the town remained a tiny Catholic settlement.
The centennial for the church was celebrated in 1983. At that time, Wilno consisted of the church, two stores, and ten households.
Geography
Wilno is located in southwestern Minnesota, within Lincoln County. It is situated in Royal Township, approximately 2.5 miles east of Ivanhoe, the county seat. The area is predominantly agricultural.
Demographics
As an unincorporated community, Wilno does not have official population figures reported separately by the U.S. Census Bureau. It remains a very small settlement centered around St. John Cantius Church and a handful of residences.
Notable Landmarks
- St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church – Established in 1883, the church is the historic and spiritual center of the community. It is part of the Christ the King Area Faith Community within the Diocese of New Ulm. The church's two tall spires were shortened in the early 1950s.
