Location
Sand Creek is in Scott County SAND CREEK Township was first named Douglass at its organization, May 11, 1858, but in September it was changed to St. Mary and in December to Jordan. The present name was adopted at the annual town meeting, April 5, 1859, being taken from the stream that flows through this township and supplies water power at Jordan. It was mapped by Nicollet as "Batture aux fieves," meaning "shallow, with fevers." Next on the map of Minnesota dated January 1, 1860, it is called Fever River and also has a Dakota name, Chankiyata River, of undetermined meaning, while a settlement near the site of Jordan is named Sand Creek. Numerous outcrops of soft white sandstone occur there, whence the stream and township were named. See also JORDAN.The eastern part of a high terrace of the Minnesota valley drift, adjoining the Sand Creek at Jordan, was named Spirit Hill by the Dakota, who frequently held councils and dances there. From: Upham, Warren. Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, First edition 1920. Third Edition 2001. Print.
