[4] The United States government and the Upper Dakota Sioux entered into the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851, which made a large swathe of what is today western and southern Minnesota US land, including the growing site of Vasa.

While there had already been rapid growth in European settlement of the area largely against Dakota wishes, as US leaders pushed the Westward Expansion, the 1851 treaty further encouraged the wave.

Between 1854 and 1880, Vasa grew beyond the original 10 families and the greater Goodhue County recorded more than 4,300 residents.

[5] Vasa prospered agriculturally and was notable for hosting a US post office on the original Minnesota Rural Free Delivery route until the 1950s when core businesses closed and growth became stagnant.

While its population declined significantly in the twentieth century, the architecture and landscape of the district is well-preserved and its National Register nomination described it as "the most intact... of the original Swedish colonies in Minnesota".

[8] Vasa Children's Home was originally located in the church and later had its own building nearby.

State Highway 19 (MN 19) and County 7 Boulevard are two of the main routes in the township.