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Big Stone County, Minnesota
Big Stone County Courthouse
Big Stone County Courthouse in Ortonville, Minnesota.
Map of Minnesota highlighting Big Stone County
Location in the state of Minnesota
Map of the U.S
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded February 20, 1862 (created)
1874 (organized)[1]
Named for Big Stone Lake
Seat Ortonville
Largest city Ortonville
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

528 sq mi (1,368 km²)
499 sq mi (1,292 km²)
29 sq mi (75 km²), 5.5%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

5,166
10.1/sq mi (4/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.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 (4.6 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] File:Big Stone Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

Lakes[]

  • Artichoke Lake - south edge in Akron Township, vast majority in Artichoke Township
  • Barry Lake - Toqua Township
  • Bentsen Lake - east half in Otrey Township, west half in Big Stone Township
  • Big Stone Lake - Ortonville Township, Browns Valley Township, Foster Township, Prior Township, Big Stone Township
  • Clear Lake - Toqua Township
  • Cup Lake - Almond Township
  • Deep Lake - Big Stone Township
  • East Toqua Lake - Graceville Township
  • Eli Lake - south three-quarters in Almond Township, west quarter in Clinton
  • Fogarty Lake - Toqua Township
  • Horseshoe Lake - Odessa Township
  • Lannon Lake - Graceville Township
  • Lindgren Lake - Ortonville Township
  • Lake Leo - Graceville Township
  • Lone Tree Lake - east three-quarters in Malta Township, west quarter in Almond Township
  • Long Lake - Artichoke Township
  • Long Tom Lake - northeast edge in Otrey Township, vast majority in Odessa Township
  • Lysing Lake - vast majority in Almond Township, south edge in Big Stone Township
  • Marsh Lake - Akron Township
  • Moonshine Lake - Moonshine Township
  • Moulton Lake - Big Stone Township
  • Mundweiler Lake - Big Stone Township
  • Munnwyler Lake - Ortonville Township
  • Olson Lake - Big Stone Township
  • Olson Lake - Otrey Township
  • Otrey Lake - Otrey Township
  • Peterson Lake - Odessa Township
  • South Rothwell Lake - north edge in Graceville Township, vast majority in Almond Township
  • Smithwicks Lake - Graceville Township
  • Swenson Lake - Big Stone Township
  • Twin Lakes - Big Stone Township
  • West Toqua Lake - Graceville Township
  • Walter Lake - Ortonville Township

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

Major highways[]

  • US 12 U.S. Highway 12
  • US 75 U.S. Highway 75
  • MN-7 Minnesota State Highway 7
  • MN-28 Minnesota State Highway 28

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[]

Climate chart for Ortonville, Minnesota
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
0.58
 
23
1
 
 
0.55
 
27
7
 
 
1.37
 
39
19
 
 
2.64
 
56
32
 
 
2.52
 
69
45
 
 
3.56
 
78
56
 
 
3.85
 
84
60
 
 
2.70
 
82
58
 
 
2.60
 
73
47
 
 
2.23
 
59
34
 
 
0.98
 
41
21
 
 
0.43
 
25
7
temperatures in °Cprecipitation totals in mm
source: The Weather Channel[11]

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 (−42.2 °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 populations
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%
Est. 2021 5,145 [12] −11.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[2]
USA Big Stone County, Minnesota age pyramid

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

2000 Census[]

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.

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Barry
  • Beardsley
  • Clinton
  • Correll
  • Graceville
  • Johnson
  • Odessa
  • Ortonville

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Artichoke
  • Big Stone Colony
  • Bonanza Grove
  • Foster
  • Lagoona Beach
  • Yankeetown

Townships[]

  • Akron Township
  • Almond Township
  • Artichoke Township
  • Big Stone Township
  • Browns Valley Township
  • Foster Township
  • Graceville Township
  • Malta Township
  • Moonshine Township
  • Odessa Township
  • Ortonville Township
  • Otrey Township
  • Prior Township
  • Toqua Township

Government and politics[]

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%.

United States presidential election results for Big Stone County, Minnesota[18]
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[19]
Position Name District
Commissioner and Chairperson Jay Backer District 1
Commissioner Wade Athey District 2
Commissioner Brent Olson District 3
Commissioner Roger Sandberg District 4
Commissioner Jeff Klages District 5
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  Senate Torrey Westrom[20] Republican District 12
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  House of Representatives Jeff Backer[21] Republican District 12A
U.S Congress (2021-2023)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Republican 7th
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Senate Amy Klobuchar[22] Democrat N/A
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Senate Tina Smith[23] Democrat N/A

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Big Stone County, Minnesota

References[]

  1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm?SendingPage=Region.cfm&county=6. 
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Big Stone County, Minnesota" (in en). United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bigstonecountyminnesota/PST045221. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 53. https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog. 
  5. ^ a b Big Stone County MN Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019)
  6. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Big Stone County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019)". https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm. 
  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. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt. 
  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". https://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/tgrshp2007/tgrshp2007.html. 
  11. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Ortonville MN". The Weather Channel. http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMN0571. 
  12. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html. 
  13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  15. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt. 
  16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  17. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  19. ^ "Welcome to Big Stone County Minnesota". https://www.bigstonecounty.org/contact_us/commissioners.php. 
  20. ^ "MN State Senate" (in en). https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?member_id=1197. 
  21. ^ "Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15428. 
  22. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/. 
  23. ^ "Home" (in en). https://www.smith.senate.gov/. 

External links[]

Template:Big Stone County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 45°26′N 96°25′W / 45.43, -96.41

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Big Stone County, Minnesota. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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