Big Stone County
County
Big Stone County Courthouse in Ortonville, Minnesota.
Big Stone County Courthouse in Ortonville, Minnesota.
Map of Minnesota highlighting Big Stone County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°26′N 96°25′W / 45.43°N 96.41°W / 45.43; -96.41
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1862 (created)
1874 (organized)[1]
Named forBig Stone Lake
SeatOrtonville
Largest cityOrtonville
Area
 • Total528 sq mi (1,370 km2)
 • Land499 sq mi (1,290 km2)
 • Water29 sq mi (80 km2)  5.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,166
 • Estimate 
(2022)
5,144 Decrease
 • Density10.1/sq mi (3.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.bigstonecounty.org

Big Stone County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,166.[2] Its county seat is Ortonville.[3]

History

The county was formed in 1862, and was organized in 1874.[4]

Geography

Big Stone County lies on the western side of Minnesota. Its southwest boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The Little Minnesota River flows along the county's southwestern boundary. Since 1937, a dam (Big Stone Lake Dam) has impounded the river's waters, creating Big Stone Lake. Water flowing out from this lake flows along the south boundary line of the county, and is known as the Minnesota River from that point. Fish Creek flows southwesterly through the northwestern part of the county, discharging into Big Stone Lake at the county's southwestern boundary.

The terrain of Big Stone County is low rolling hills, wooded or devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain generally slopes to the south and east, although its southwestern portion slopes to the river valley. Its highest point is on its north line near the northwestern corner, 2.9 miles (4.7 km) east of Lagoona Beach, at 1,201 ft (366 m) ASL.[6][7] The county has a total area of 528 square miles (1,370 km2), of which 499 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (5.5%) is water.[8]

Soils of Big Stone County[9]

Lakes

Source: United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles[10]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

  • Big Stone Lake State Park
  • Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge (part)
  • Big Stone Wildlife Management Preserve (part)
  • Clinton Prairie Scientific and Nature Area
  • Dismal Swamp State Wildlife Management Area
  • Freed State Wildlife Management Area
  • Lac qui Parle State Wildlife Management Area
  • Otrey State Wildlife Management Area
  • Reisdorph State Wildlife Management Area
  • Victor State Wildlife Management Area

[5]

Climate and weather

Ortonville, Minnesota
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source:The Weather Channel[11]
Metric conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Ortonville have ranged from a low of 1 °F (−17 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −44 °F (−42 °C) was recorded in February 1994 and a record high of 108 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1966. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.43 inches (11 mm) in December to 3.85 inches (98 mm) in July.[11]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
187024—
18803,68815,266.7%
18905,72255.2%
19008,73152.6%
19109,3677.3%
19209,7664.3%
19309,8380.7%
194010,4476.2%
19509,607−8.0%
19608,954−6.8%
19707,941−11.3%
19807,716−2.8%
19906,285−18.5%
20005,820−7.4%
20105,269−9.5%
20205,166−2.0%
2022 (est.)5,144[12]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[2]

2020 census

Big Stone County Racial Composition[17]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 4,809 93.1%
Black or African American (NH) 19 0.37%
Native American (NH) 34 0.66%
Asian (NH) 12 0.23%
Pacific Islander (NH) 4 0.07%
Other/Mixed (NH) 148 2.7%
Hispanic or Latino 140 2.7%

2000 census

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,820 people, 2,377 households, and 1,611 families in the county. The population density was 11.7 per square mile (4.5/km2). There were 3,171 housing units at an average density of 6.35 per square mile (2.45/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.7% were of German, 21.0% Norwegian, 8.0% Swedish and 6.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 2,377 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,721, and the median income for a family was $37,354. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $20,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,708. About 7.80% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and politics

Between 1928 and 2008, Big Stone County voted Democrat in every election except for two nationwide Republican landslides in 1952 and 1980. The only other time between 1928 and 2000 that the Republican candidate lost by less than 10% was Ronald Reagan during his 1984 landslide reelection. Beginning in 2000, the Democrat margins began to shrink, with George W. Bush losing by about 2% in both 2000 and 2004, and by a margin of no more than 60 votes. Despite favoring Barack Obama by over 6% in 2008, this would prove to be the most recent time Big Stone County would vote Democrat. Mitt Romney narrowly carried the county by 40 votes and less than 1.5% in 2012. But in 2016, Donald Trump greatly expanded the thin margin Romney won the county by as Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton lost by nearly 25%, the first time a Republican won by more than 5% in the county since 1924. Trump further increased his margin of victory in 2020 to over 27%.

United States presidential election results for Big Stone County, Minnesota[18][19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,863 62.64% 1,053 35.41% 58 1.95%
2016 1,608 58.37% 921 33.43% 226 8.20%
2012 1,385 49.66% 1,345 48.23% 59 2.12%
2008 1,362 45.55% 1,552 51.91% 76 2.54%
2004 1,483 48.35% 1,536 50.08% 48 1.57%
2000 1,370 45.97% 1,430 47.99% 180 6.04%
1996 990 32.99% 1,619 53.95% 392 13.06%
1992 1,052 30.76% 1,610 47.08% 758 22.16%
1988 1,469 41.66% 2,026 57.46% 31 0.88%
1984 1,821 47.34% 1,994 51.83% 32 0.83%
1980 1,950 47.67% 1,814 44.34% 327 7.99%
1976 1,332 33.24% 2,581 64.41% 94 2.35%
1972 1,748 43.52% 2,185 54.39% 84 2.09%
1968 1,645 41.69% 2,119 53.70% 182 4.61%
1964 1,331 31.90% 2,831 67.86% 10 0.24%
1960 1,834 42.83% 2,437 56.91% 11 0.26%
1956 1,737 44.25% 2,180 55.54% 8 0.20%
1952 2,260 51.46% 2,107 47.97% 25 0.57%
1948 1,321 33.99% 2,466 63.46% 99 2.55%
1944 1,608 42.86% 2,120 56.50% 24 0.64%
1940 1,925 42.95% 2,517 56.16% 40 0.89%
1936 1,116 27.91% 2,648 66.22% 235 5.88%
1932 868 20.99% 3,200 77.37% 68 1.64%
1928 1,641 43.20% 2,133 56.15% 25 0.66%
1924 1,524 46.14% 260 7.87% 1,519 45.99%
1920 2,415 78.16% 451 14.60% 224 7.25%
1916 810 44.88% 869 48.14% 126 6.98%
1912 244 14.56% 677 40.39% 755 45.05%
1908 965 57.78% 565 33.83% 140 8.38%
1904 1,234 73.10% 318 18.84% 136 8.06%
1900 1,081 59.27% 644 35.31% 99 5.43%
1896 1,048 55.72% 742 39.45% 91 4.84%
1892 576 41.68% 498 36.03% 308 22.29%
County Board of Commissioners[20]
Position Name District
Commissioner Chad Zimmel District 1
Commissioner Wade Athey District 2
Commissioner and Chairperson Brent Olson District 3
Commissioner Roger Sandberg District 4
Commissioner Jeff Klages District 5
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Torrey Westrom[21] Republican District 12
House of Representatives Jeff Backer[22] Republican District 12A
U.S Congress (2021-2023)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Republican 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[23] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[24] Democrat N/A

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 53.
  5. 1 2 Big Stone County MN Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019)
  6. ↑ ""Find an Altitude/Big Stone County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  7. ↑ Big Stone County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 5, 2019)
  8. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  9. ↑ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  10. ↑ "United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles". Archived from the original on March 10, 2007.
  11. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Ortonville MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  17. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Big Stone County, Minnesota".
  18. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  19. ↑ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 591 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 98 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 62 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 4 votes.
  20. ↑ "Welcome to Big Stone County Minnesota". www.bigstonecounty.gov. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  21. ↑ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  23. ↑ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

45°26′N 96°25′W / 45.43°N 96.41°W / 45.43; -96.41

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