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]
Big Stone County | |
---|---|
U.S. county | |
![]() Big Stone County Courthouse in Ortonville, Minnesota. | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota | |
![]() Minnesota's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 45°26′N 96°25′W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | February 20, 1862 (created) 1874 (organized)[1] |
Named for | Big Stone Lake |
Seat | Ortonville |
Largest city | Ortonville |
Area | |
• Total | 528 sq mi (1,370 km2) |
• Land | 499 sq mi (1,290 km2) |
• Water | 29 sq mi (80 km2) 5.5%% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,166 |
• Estimate (2021) | 5,145 ![]() |
• Density | 10.1/sq mi (3.9/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 7th |
Website | www |
The county was formed in 1862, and was organized in 1874.[4]
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 (4.6 km) east of Lagoona Beach, at 1,201' (366m) 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]
Source: United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles[10]
Ortonville, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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]
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1870 | 24 | — | |
1880 | 3,688 | 15,266.7% | |
1890 | 5,722 | 55.2% | |
1900 | 8,731 | 52.6% | |
1910 | 9,367 | 7.3% | |
1920 | 9,766 | 4.3% | |
1930 | 9,838 | 0.7% | |
1940 | 10,447 | 6.2% | |
1950 | 9,607 | −8.0% | |
1960 | 8,954 | −6.8% | |
1970 | 7,941 | −11.3% | |
1980 | 7,716 | −2.8% | |
1990 | 6,285 | −18.5% | |
2000 | 5,820 | −7.4% | |
2010 | 5,269 | −9.5% | |
2020 | 5,166 | −2.0% | |
2021 (est.) | 5,145 | [12] | −0.4% |
U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15] 1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[2] |
As of the 2000 census,[17] there were 5,820 people, 2,377 households, and 1,611 families in the county. The population density was 11.7/sqmi (4.50/km2). There were 3,171 housing units at an average density of 6.35/sqmi (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.
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% |
Big Stone County voters have tended to vote down the middle for several decades. In recent elections the vote has been more Republican than Democratic. In 2016 Donald Trump expanded the thin margin Mitt Romney won the county by in 2012 as Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton registered only 33% of the vote to Trump's 58%.
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% |
Position | Name | District | |
---|---|---|---|
Commissioner | Jay Backer | District 1 | |
Commissioner | Wade Athey | District 2 | |
Commissioner | Brent Olson | District 3 | |
Commissioner | Roger Sandberg | District 4 | |
Commissioner and Chairperson | Jeff Klages | District 5 |
Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Senate | Torrey Westrom[22] | Republican | District 12 | |
House of Representatives | Jeff Backer[23] | Republican | District 12A |
Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach | Republican | 7th | |
Senate | Amy Klobuchar[24] | Democrat | N/A | |
Senate | Tina Smith[25] | Democrat | N/A |
Places adjacent to Big Stone County, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Municipalities and communities of Big Stone County, Minnesota, United States | ||
---|---|---|
County seat: Ortonville | ||
Cities | ![]() | |
Townships | ||
Unincorporated communities | ||
|
General | |
---|---|
National libraries |