McLeod County, Minnesota

"Belle Lake" redirects here. For the lake in Nova Scotia, see Belle Lake (Nova Scotia).
McLeod County, Minnesota

McLeod County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting McLeod County
Location in the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded March 1, 1856[1]
Named for Martin McLeod, an early fur trader
Seat Glencoe
Largest city Hutchinson
Area
 • Total 506 sq mi (1,311 km2)
 • Land 491 sq mi (1,272 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (36 km2), 2.8%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 35,932
 • Density 75/sq mi (29/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.mcleod.mn.us

McLeod County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. At the 2010 census, the population was 36,651.[2] Its county seat is Glencoe.[3]

McLeod County comprises the Hutchinson, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

For thousands of years the area was inhabited by indigenous peoples. At the time of European contact, it was the territory of the Dakota Sioux.

The county was named after Martin McLeod, a Canadian-born adventurer who became a fur trader and later was elected a territorial representative (1849–1856) in Minnesota. As a young man, he was part of the notable James Dickson 1836 expedition to the Red River of the North, a journey recounted in his Diary of Martin McLeod, a manuscript held by the Minnesota Historical Society.[4]

The county was the site of several events during the Dakota War of 1862, including the siege of Hutchinson and the killing of the White family near Brownton. It was also the first place to use the Geier Hitch, a kind of animal husbandry that some observers characterize as animal abuse.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 506 square miles (1,310 km2), of which 491 square miles (1,270 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (2.8%) is water.[5] McLeod is one of seven southern Minnesota Counties with no native forests. Only savanna and prairie soils exist in McLeod County.

Native vegetation based on NRCS soils information[6]

Lakes

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18601,286—
18705,643338.8%
188012,342118.7%
189017,02638.0%
190019,59515.1%
191018,691−4.6%
192020,4449.4%
193020,5220.4%
194021,3804.2%
195022,1983.8%
196024,4019.9%
197027,66213.4%
198029,6577.2%
199032,0308.0%
200034,8989.0%
201036,6515.0%
Est. 201535,932[7]−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2015[2]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

At the 2000 census,[12] there were 34,898 people, 13,449 households and 9,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 per square mile (27/km²). There were 14,087 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.62% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 3.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 57.5% were of German and 8.5% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 13,449 households of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.08.

27.70% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.

The median household income was $45,953 and the median family income was $55,003. Males had a median income of $35,709 compared with $25,253 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,137. About 2.80% of families and 4.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.80% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Townships

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ↑ Charles J. Ritchey, "Martin McLeod and the Minnesota Valley", Minnesota History Magazine, December 1929, accessed 21 June 2010
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  6. ↑ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 49 - 52. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  7. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
 Meeker County Wright County
Renville County Carver County
   McLeod County, Minnesota  
Sibley County

Coordinates: 44°50′N 94°16′W / 44.83°N 94.27°W / 44.83; -94.27

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