Wikipedia

Stevens County, Minnesota

Stevens County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,671.[1] Its county seat is Morris.[2]

Stevens County
County
Carnegie Library in Morris.
Carnegie Library in Morris.
Map of Minnesota highlighting Stevens 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°35′N 96°00′W / 45.58°N 96°W / 45.58; -96
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1862
Named forIsaac Ingalls Stevens
SeatMorris
Largest cityMorris
Area
 • Total
575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
9,671
 • Estimate 
(2023)
9,728 Increase
 • Density17.1/sq mi (6.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.stevens.mn.us

History

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The county was created by act of the Minnesota legislature on February 20, 1862. It was not organized at that time, and no county seat was named. The county was named for Isaac Stevens, who had led a railroad survey party across Minnesota in 1853 and was influential in bringing national attention to the Minnesota Territory.[3] The territorial legislature had intended to thus honor Stevens in 1855 when another county was being created, but a clerical error caused that county to be named Stearns. The error was corrected by the 1862 act; by that time Stevens was a brigadier general for the Union Army in the American Civil War. Stevens was killed later that year.[4] The county government was organized in 1872. Morris, which had been platted in 1869, was named the county seat.[5][6]

The University of Minnesota Morris is in Morris. It was developed in the early 20th century from the Morris Industrial School for Indians, which opened in 1887 and was originally operated by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy under contract to the federal government.

In 1975, a moderate earthquake occurred in the county.

Geography

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The Pomme de Terre River flows south through central Stevens County, on its way to discharge into the Minnesota River. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, with the area mostly devoted to agriculture.[7] The terrain generally slopes to the south, although the northeast and southwest portions rise from the central part of the county. The county's highest point is on the eastern portion of the northern border, at 1,250 ft (380 m) ASL.[8] The county has an area of 575 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.0%) is water.[9]

 
Soils of Stevens County[10]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas[7]

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  • Alberta Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
  • Boekholt Grove State Wildlife Management Area
  • Bruillet State Wildlife Management Area
  • Cin State Wildlife Management Area
  • Dablow State Wildlife Management Area
  • Dolven State Wildlife Management Area
  • Everglade State Wildlife Management Area
  • Klason State Wildlife Management Area
  • Kline State Wildlife Management Area
  • Mathison State Wildlife Management Area
  • Muddy Creek State Wildlife Management Area
  • Reimers State Wildlife Management Area
  • Robertson State Wildlife Management Area
  • Selk State Wildlife Management Area
  • Thedin State Wildlife Management Area
  • Verlyn Marth Memorial Prairie Scientific and Natural Area

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1870174—
18803,9112,147.7%
18905,25134.3%
19008,72166.1%
19108,293−4.9%
19209,77817.9%
193010,1854.2%
194011,0398.4%
195011,1060.6%
196011,2621.4%
197011,218−0.4%
198011,3220.9%
199010,634−6.1%
200010,053−5.5%
20109,726−3.3%
20209,671−0.6%
2023 (est.)9,728[11]0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census

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Stevens County Racial Composition[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 8,093 83.7%
Black or African American (NH) 84 0.9%
Native American (NH) 110 1.14%
Asian (NH) 68 0.7%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 329 3.4%
Hispanic or Latino 986 10.2%

2000 census

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2022 US Census population pyramid for Stevens County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,053 people, 3,751 households, and 2,366 families in the county. The population density was 17.8 per square mile (6.9/km2). There were 4,074 housing units at an average density of 7.22 per square mile (2.79/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.13% White, 0.92% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.8% were of German, 20.8% Norwegian and 5.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 3,751 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 21.60% under the age of 18, 20.80% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 19.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,267, and the median income for a family was $47,518. Males had a median income of $32,045 versus $21,681 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,569. About 5.70% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.50% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Townships

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Government and politics

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Stevens County has been a swing district for the past several decades. As of 2020 it has selected the Republican candidate in 56% of presidential elections since 1980. In 2016, Stevens County and several other counties in rural Western Minnesota swung sharply to the right. While Minnesota as a whole swung far to the left in 2020, Stevens County swung further right, giving Donald Trump nearly 60% of the vote - the most any party had got since 1952.

United States presidential election results for Stevens County, Minnesota[17][18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,044 59.86% 1,922 37.80% 119 2.34%
2016 2,799 51.85% 2,116 39.20% 483 8.95%
2012 2,766 48.94% 2,742 48.51% 144 2.55%
2008 2,710 48.10% 2,781 49.36% 143 2.54%
2004 3,030 50.93% 2,821 47.42% 98 1.65%
2000 2,831 49.22% 2,434 42.32% 487 8.47%
1996 2,141 39.25% 2,741 50.25% 573 10.50%
1992 2,229 38.33% 2,466 42.40% 1,121 19.27%
1988 2,679 49.08% 2,721 49.85% 58 1.06%
1984 3,251 56.58% 2,451 42.66% 44 0.77%
1980 3,283 50.69% 2,559 39.52% 634 9.79%
1976 2,484 42.91% 3,171 54.78% 134 2.31%
1972 2,830 48.70% 2,870 49.39% 111 1.91%
1968 2,560 50.57% 2,247 44.39% 255 5.04%
1964 2,220 43.22% 2,910 56.65% 7 0.14%
1960 2,710 52.87% 2,405 46.92% 11 0.21%
1956 2,606 58.83% 1,822 41.13% 2 0.05%
1952 3,288 67.39% 1,579 32.36% 12 0.25%
1948 1,928 45.02% 2,313 54.00% 42 0.98%
1944 2,377 58.23% 1,693 41.47% 12 0.29%
1940 2,619 56.30% 2,018 43.38% 15 0.32%
1936 1,431 36.15% 2,352 59.42% 175 4.42%
1932 1,396 34.99% 2,552 63.96% 42 1.05%
1928 2,275 60.70% 1,457 38.87% 16 0.43%
1924 1,553 48.99% 238 7.51% 1,379 43.50%
1920 2,339 79.83% 457 15.60% 134 4.57%
1916 943 52.56% 787 43.87% 64 3.57%
1912 286 17.40% 640 38.93% 718 43.67%
1908 877 57.93% 582 38.44% 55 3.63%
1904 1,254 75.13% 362 21.69% 53 3.18%
1900 1,036 58.01% 682 38.19% 68 3.81%
1896 981 57.40% 685 40.08% 43 2.52%
1892 622 46.21% 509 37.82% 215 15.97%
County Board of Commissioners[19]
Position Name District
Commissioner and Chairperson Bob Kopitzke District 1
Commissioner Jeanne Ennen District 2
Commissioner Ron Staples District 3
Commissioner Donnie Wohlers District 4
Commissioner Patricia Lesmeister-Nelson District 5
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Torrey Westrom[20] Republican District 12
House of Representatives Jeff Backer[21] Republican District 12A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach[22] Republican 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[23] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[24] Democrat N/A

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Isaac Ingalls Stevens (accessed March 15, 2019)
  4. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 535.
  5. ^ Brief History. Stevens County (accessed March 15, 2019)
  6. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Stevens County MN Google Maps (accessed March 15, 2019)
  8. ^ "Find an Altitude/Stevens County MN" Google Maps (accessed 15 March 2019)
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  10. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  15. ^ "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 25, 2014.
  16. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Stevens County, Minnesota".
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  18. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 628 votes, while Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 52 votes, Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 33 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 5 votes.
  19. ^ "About the Board of Commissioners | Stevens County, MN - Official Website". www.co.stevens.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. ^ "Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach". Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  23. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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45°35′N 96°00′W / 45.58°N 96.00°W / 45.58; -96.00

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