Balkan Township is a township in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The township was named after the Balkan Mountains. The population was 832 at the 2010 census.

U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 73 (MN 73) are two of the main routes in the township.

The city of Chisholm is located within the south–central portion of Balkan Township geographically but is a separate entity.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of ; is land and , or 1.62%, is water.

The Shannon River flows through the west–central edge of Balkan Township. Boriin Creek flows through the north–central portion of the township. The East Branch of the Sturgeon River flows through the northeast portion of the township. Slow Creek flows through the east–central part of Balkan Township.

Adjacent townships and cities

The following are adjacent to Balkan Township :

  • The city of Chisholm
  • The city of Hibbing (west and south)
  • Cherry Township (southeast)
  • Great Scott Township (east)
  • The city of Buhl (east)
  • The city of Kinney (east)
  • Dark River Unorganized Territory (north)
  • French Township (northwest)
  • McCormack Unorganized Territory (west)

Highway 73 runs north–south through the middle of Balkan Township, north of Chisholm.

Highway 169 runs east–west through the southeast portion of the township near Buhl.

Saint Louis County Highway 5 (CR 5) passes through the southwest corner of Balkan Township near Hibbing. Highway 5 also briefly enters the southeast corner of Balkan Township on a separate segment of Highway 5 near Maturi Road.

Maturi Road runs east–west along Balkan Township's southern boundary line with adjacent city of Hibbing in the southeast corner of Balkan Township.

Cemetery Road (Sever Road) runs east–west along Balkan Township's boundary line with adjacent city of Chisholm at the northern city limits of Chisholm.

Barrett Road runs north–south along Balkan Township's eastern boundary line with adjacent Great Scott Township in the northeast corner of Balkan Township.

North Long Lake Road briefly runs north–south along Balkan Township's western boundary line in the northwest part of the township.

McNiven Road travels through the east–central part of Balkan Township. Hobson Lake Road (County 84 / Hwy.84) travels through the west–central part of the township.

Demographics

As of the census