[3] Ghost Town: Walnut Lake, Faribault County WALNUT LAKE Township, settled in June 1856, organized in 1861, bears the name of its large lake, referring to its butternut trees, also called oil-nut and white walnut.

The village of Walnut Lake, section 27, on the northwest side of Walnut Lake, flourished with hotels, a post office, a school, several stores, dwellings, and a blacksmith shop.

The village was a popular stage stop for persons hunting lands to the west.

27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

About 1.5% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 4.9% of those 65 or over.