McLeod County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 McLeod County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:44°50′N94°16′W / 44.83°N 94.27°W /44.83; -94.27 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | March 1, 1856[1] |
| Named after | Martin McLeod |
| Seat | Glencoe |
| Largest city | Hutchinson |
| Area | |
• Total | 506 sq mi (1,310 km2) |
| • Land | 491 sq mi (1,270 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (36 km2) 2.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 36,771 |
• Estimate (2024) | 36,780 |
| • Density | 74.9/sq mi (28.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
McLeod County (/məkˈlaʊd/mək-LOWD) is acounty in theU.S. state ofMinnesota. At the2020 census, the population was 36,771.[2] Itscounty seat isGlencoe.[3]
McLeod County comprises the Hutchinson, MNMicropolitan Statistical Area and is part of theMinneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WICombined Statistical Area.
For thousands of years the area was inhabited byindigenous peoples. At the time of European contact, it was the territory of theDakota Sioux. The county was created by the Minnesota Territorial legislature on March 1, 1856.[4] It was named forMartin McLeod, aCanadian-born adventurer who became afur trader and later was elected aterritorial representative (1849–1856) in Minnesota. As a young man, he was part ofJames Dickson's 1836 expedition to theRed River of the North, a journey recounted in hisDiary of Martin McLeod, a manuscript held by the Minnesota Historical Society.[5]
"In 1859 the three Czech families already living in McLeod County were joined by those of Josef Vosmek, Josef Zicha, Antonin Nunvar, and Jan Vanous, all acquaintances from Caledonia, where they had resided for several years after their arrival from Bohemia. Other settlers followed, taking homesteads close by in the present township of Rich Valley".[6]
The county seat was sited at Glencoe as part of the original act; it had been founded (June 11, 1855) by Martin McLeod, who was a member of the townsite company when the county was founded.[4]
The county was the site of several events during theDakota War of 1862, including thesiege of Hutchinson and the killing of the White family nearBrownton. It was also the first place to use the Geier Hitch,[7] a kind ofanimal husbandry that some characterize asanimal abuse.
TheSouth Fork of the Crow River flows easterly through the upper central part of McLeod County, thence intoWright County. Buffalo Creek also flows eastward through the lower central part of the county, thence into Wright. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, dotted with lakes and lightly etched by drainages and gullies. The area is mostly devoted to agriculture.[8] The terrain is sloped to the east, with its highest point on the upper west border at 1,096 ft (334 m) ASL.[9] The county has an 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.[10] Only savanna and prairie soils exist in McLeod County.
Northeast McLeod County once had significant areas of Maple-Basswood or "Big Woods" forests.https://mn.gov/admin/assets/2012-Investigating-Poorly-Known-Areas-of-Minnesota--An-Archaeological-Survey-of-McLeod-County_tcm36-187391.pdf
Source:[8]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,286 | — | |
| 1870 | 5,643 | 338.8% | |
| 1880 | 12,342 | 118.7% | |
| 1890 | 17,026 | 38.0% | |
| 1900 | 19,595 | 15.1% | |
| 1910 | 18,691 | −4.6% | |
| 1920 | 20,444 | 9.4% | |
| 1930 | 20,522 | 0.4% | |
| 1940 | 21,380 | 4.2% | |
| 1950 | 22,198 | 3.8% | |
| 1960 | 24,401 | 9.9% | |
| 1970 | 27,662 | 13.4% | |
| 1980 | 29,657 | 7.2% | |
| 1990 | 32,030 | 8.0% | |
| 2000 | 34,898 | 9.0% | |
| 2010 | 36,651 | 5.0% | |
| 2020 | 36,771 | 0.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 36,780 | [12] | 0.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15] 1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[2] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 34,005 | 32,559 | 92.78% | 88.55% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 184 | 226 | 0.50% | 0.62% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 81 | 102 | 0.22% | 0.28% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 265 | 230 | 0.72% | 0.63% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 16 | 27 | 0.04% | 0.07% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 10 | 64 | 0.03% | 0.17% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 267 | 1,008 | 0.73% | 2.74% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,811 | 2,555 | 4.94% | 6.95% |
| Total | 36,651 | 36,771 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
As of the2000 census, there were 34,898 people, 13,449 households and 9,427 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 71.1 per square mile (27.5/km2). There were 14,087 housing units at an average density of 28.7 per square mile (11.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.62%White, 0.22%Black orAfrican American, 0.18%Native American, 0.56%Asian, 0.07%Pacific Islander, 1.79% fromother races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 3.63% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 57.5% were ofGerman 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% weremarried 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.
The county population contained 27.70% 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.
Themedian 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. Theper capita income for the county was $20,137. About 2.80% of families and 4.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.80% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
McLeod County voters have traditionally been Republican. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 902 | 32.28% | 1,523 | 54.51% | 369 | 13.21% |
| 1896 | 1,595 | 47.73% | 1,653 | 49.46% | 94 | 2.81% |
| 1900 | 1,691 | 50.01% | 1,540 | 45.55% | 150 | 4.44% |
| 1904 | 1,478 | 62.10% | 793 | 33.32% | 109 | 4.58% |
| 1908 | 1,579 | 49.39% | 1,506 | 47.11% | 112 | 3.50% |
| 1912 | 655 | 22.77% | 1,225 | 42.59% | 996 | 34.63% |
| 1916 | 1,772 | 55.22% | 1,305 | 40.67% | 132 | 4.11% |
| 1920 | 5,430 | 77.62% | 1,139 | 16.28% | 427 | 6.10% |
| 1924 | 2,841 | 44.89% | 563 | 8.90% | 2,925 | 46.22% |
| 1928 | 4,252 | 54.82% | 3,445 | 44.41% | 60 | 0.77% |
| 1932 | 2,293 | 30.14% | 5,187 | 68.18% | 128 | 1.68% |
| 1936 | 2,941 | 36.50% | 4,449 | 55.21% | 668 | 8.29% |
| 1940 | 6,474 | 68.73% | 2,884 | 30.62% | 62 | 0.66% |
| 1944 | 5,756 | 68.84% | 2,557 | 30.58% | 48 | 0.57% |
| 1948 | 4,623 | 53.04% | 3,987 | 45.74% | 106 | 1.22% |
| 1952 | 7,246 | 72.11% | 2,781 | 27.68% | 21 | 0.21% |
| 1956 | 6,743 | 68.61% | 3,068 | 31.22% | 17 | 0.17% |
| 1960 | 7,214 | 62.67% | 4,276 | 37.15% | 21 | 0.18% |
| 1964 | 5,545 | 49.00% | 5,755 | 50.86% | 16 | 0.14% |
| 1968 | 6,619 | 54.87% | 4,861 | 40.29% | 584 | 4.84% |
| 1972 | 7,820 | 61.42% | 4,538 | 35.64% | 375 | 2.95% |
| 1976 | 6,519 | 49.24% | 6,249 | 47.21% | 470 | 3.55% |
| 1980 | 7,819 | 55.71% | 4,987 | 35.53% | 1,229 | 8.76% |
| 1984 | 8,728 | 63.58% | 4,864 | 35.43% | 135 | 0.98% |
| 1988 | 7,967 | 57.47% | 5,736 | 41.38% | 159 | 1.15% |
| 1992 | 5,422 | 35.33% | 4,919 | 32.05% | 5,006 | 32.62% |
| 1996 | 5,474 | 38.92% | 6,027 | 42.86% | 2,562 | 18.22% |
| 2000 | 8,782 | 57.05% | 5,609 | 36.44% | 1,003 | 6.52% |
| 2004 | 11,407 | 61.95% | 6,712 | 36.45% | 293 | 1.59% |
| 2008 | 10,993 | 57.77% | 7,505 | 39.44% | 531 | 2.79% |
| 2012 | 11,069 | 59.66% | 6,968 | 37.56% | 516 | 2.78% |
| 2016 | 12,155 | 64.63% | 4,978 | 26.47% | 1,674 | 8.90% |
| 2020 | 13,986 | 66.81% | 6,413 | 30.64% | 534 | 2.55% |
| 2024 | 14,394 | 67.90% | 6,374 | 30.07% | 431 | 2.03% |
Places adjacent to McLeod County, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofMcLeod County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| International | |
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| Other | |
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