Redwood County, Minnesota

Redwood County
County
Redwood County Historical Society Museum
Redwood County Historical Society Museum
Map of Minnesota highlighting Redwood County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°24′N 95°15′W / 44.4°N 95.25°W / 44.4; -95.25
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 6, 1862
Named forRedwood River
SeatRedwood Falls
Largest cityRedwood Falls
Area
 • Total
882 sq mi (2,280 km2)
 • Land879 sq mi (2,280 km2)
 • Water3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
15,425
 • Estimate 
(2023)
15,288 Decrease
 • Density17.5/sq mi (6.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.redwood.mn.us

Redwood County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census the population was 15,425.[1] Its county seat is Redwood Falls, along the Redwood River near its confluence with the Minnesota River.[2]

The Lower Sioux Indian Reservation (also known as the Mdewakankton Tribal Reservation) is entirely within the county, along the southern bank of the Minnesota River in Paxton and Sherman townships. In the 2000 census it had a population of 335.

History

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The Minnesota Legislature created the county on February 8, 1862, with Redwood Falls as the county seat. It was named for the Redwood River, which flows eastward through the county.[3]

Geography

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The Minnesota River flows southeast along the county's northeastern border. The Redwood River flows east through the upper part of the county, draining into the Minnesota near Redwood Falls. The Cottonwood River flows east through the lower part of the county, entering adjacent Brown County before discharging into the Minnesota. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, carved with drainages and sprinkled with lakes.[4] The largely rural area is devoted to commodity crops of corn and soybeans. The terrain slopes to the east, with its highest point in the southwest corner at 1,450 ft (440 m) ASL.[5] The county has a total area of 882 square miles (2,280 km2), of which 879 square miles (2,280 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.4%) is water.[6]

Soils of Redwood County[7]
Ramsey Falls

Airports[4]

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  • Redwood Falls Municipal Airport (RWF)

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Lakes[4]

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  • Daubs Lake
  • Gales Lake
  • Lake Francis
  • Lake Redwood
  • Long Lake
  • Three Lakes
  • Tiger Lake

Protected areas[4]

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  • Alexander Ramsey State Park
  • Cedar Mountain Scientific and Natural Area
  • Cedar Rock Scientific and Natural Area
  • Daubs Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Delhi State Wildlife Management Area
  • Gales State Wildlife Management Area
  • Honner State Wildlife Management Area
  • Klabunde State Wildlife Management Area
  • Luescher-Barnum State Wildlife Management Area
  • Mammenga State Wildlife Management Area
  • Paul State Wildlife Management Area
  • Rohlik State Wildlife Management Area
  • Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area (part)
  • Waterbury State Wildlife Management Area
  • Westline State Wildlife Management Area
  • Willow Lake State Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18701,829—
18805,375193.9%
18909,88683.9%
190017,26174.6%
191018,4256.7%
192020,90813.5%
193020,620−1.4%
194022,2908.1%
195022,127−0.7%
196021,718−1.8%
197020,024−7.8%
198019,341−3.4%
199017,254−10.8%
200016,815−2.5%
201016,059−4.5%
202015,425−3.9%
2023 (est.)15,288[8]−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census

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Redwood County Racial Composition[13]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 13,123 85.1%
Black or African American (NH) 76 0.5%
Native American (NH) 774 5.02%
Asian (NH) 414 2.7%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 541 3.51%
Hispanic or Latino 496 3.22%

2000 census

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

As of the census of 2000, the county had 16,815 people, 6,674 households, and 4,524 families. The population density was 19.1 per square mile (7.4/km2). There were 7,230 housing units at an average density of 8.23 per square mile (3.18/km2). The county's racial makeup was 94.97% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 3.24% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 55.8% were of German and 13.7% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 6,674 households, of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 28.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.

26.50% of the county's population was under age 18, 6.60% was from age 18 to 24, 24.80% was from age 25 to 44, 22.70% was from age 45 to 64, and 19.30% was age 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The county's median household income was $37,352, and the median family income was $46,250. Males had a median income of $30,251 versus $21,481 for females. The county's per capita income was $18,903. About 5.50% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities and townships of Redwood County

Cities

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Unincorporated Communities[4]

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Townships

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Politics

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Redwood County is a reliably Republican precinct. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate, and even then, the margin of victory was under 2%.

United States presidential election results for Redwood County, Minnesota[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 5,895 70.80% 2,300 27.62% 131 1.57%
2020 5,771 69.66% 2,355 28.43% 158 1.91%
2016 5,137 67.49% 1,887 24.79% 587 7.71%
2012 4,570 58.66% 3,008 38.61% 212 2.72%
2008 4,308 55.19% 3,250 41.63% 248 3.18%
2004 4,898 60.18% 3,104 38.14% 137 1.68%
2000 4,589 59.23% 2,681 34.60% 478 6.17%
1996 3,700 47.13% 2,997 38.17% 1,154 14.70%
1992 3,408 38.24% 2,740 30.74% 2,765 31.02%
1988 5,076 60.73% 3,178 38.02% 104 1.24%
1984 6,020 66.45% 2,957 32.64% 82 0.91%
1980 5,993 61.79% 2,952 30.44% 754 7.77%
1976 4,926 50.15% 4,525 46.07% 371 3.78%
1972 5,776 62.43% 3,177 34.34% 299 3.23%
1968 5,134 55.29% 3,680 39.63% 471 5.07%
1964 4,546 49.00% 4,722 50.90% 9 0.10%
1960 5,893 60.47% 3,839 39.39% 14 0.14%
1956 5,956 66.13% 3,039 33.74% 11 0.12%
1952 7,093 72.30% 2,695 27.47% 22 0.22%
1948 4,160 49.26% 4,182 49.52% 103 1.22%
1944 5,428 65.06% 2,886 34.59% 29 0.35%
1940 6,105 62.41% 3,637 37.18% 40 0.41%
1936 3,286 36.63% 4,965 55.34% 721 8.04%
1932 2,634 35.21% 4,727 63.20% 119 1.59%
1928 5,111 63.18% 2,899 35.84% 79 0.98%
1924 3,342 50.66% 443 6.72% 2,812 42.63%
1920 5,589 83.07% 880 13.08% 259 3.85%
1916 2,029 56.98% 1,361 38.22% 171 4.80%
1912 542 17.08% 1,126 35.48% 1,506 47.45%
1908 1,821 59.86% 1,076 35.37% 145 4.77%
1904 2,194 79.64% 462 16.77% 99 3.59%
1900 2,127 66.45% 918 28.68% 156 4.87%
1896 1,818 60.60% 1,123 37.43% 59 1.97%
1892 1,155 43.54% 645 24.31% 853 32.15%

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 448. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e Redwood County MN Google Maps (accessed April 5, 2019)
  5. ^ Find an Altitude/Redwood County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 5, 2019)
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  7. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 69-70. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "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 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Redwood County, Minnesota".
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.

Further reading

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  • Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, The History of Redwood County, Minnesota. In Two Volumes. Chicago: H.C. Cooper Jr. and Co., 1916. Volume 1 | Volume 2
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44°24′N 95°15′W / 44.40°N 95.25°W / 44.40; -95.25

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