The squares that became Edson were first surveyed in the fall of 1848 by crews working for the U.S. government. In September 1853 another crew marked all the section corners of the eastern six by six square, walking the woods and swamps on foot, measuring with chain and compass. When done, the deputy surveyor filed this general description:
This Township contains but few Swamps has a Surface but slightly rolling with a good Soil & excellent timber throughout the whole Township. The Streams are Small except one in the NW of the Township which has Marshy banks & sluggish current, & also a stream passing through the Eastern portions of Sections 1, 12, 25 & 36. There are no improvements in the Township except a lumberman's Cabin near the Center of Section 36.
As of the census of 2000, there were 966 people, 309 households, and 259 families residing in the town. The population density was 17.9 people per square mile. There were 322 housing units at an average density of 6.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 98.14% White, 0.10% Asian, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population. There were 309 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couplesliving together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.9% were non-families. 13.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.38. In the town, the population was spread out, with 33.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $34,722, and the median income for a family was $36,563. Males had a median income of $22,014 versus $20,885 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,154. About 20.1% of families and 24.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.5% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
