Pope County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
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 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:45°35′N95°27′W / 45.59°N 95.45°W /45.59; -95.45 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | February 20, 1862 (created) 1866 (organized) |
| Named after | John Pope |
| Seat | Glenwood |
| Largest city | Glenwood |
| Area | |
• Total | 717 sq mi (1,860 km2) |
| • Land | 670 sq mi (1,700 km2) |
| • Water | 47 sq mi (120 km2) 6.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,308 |
• Estimate (2024) | 11,495 |
| • Density | 16.9/sq mi (6.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
Pope County is acounty in theU.S. state ofMinnesota. As of the2020 census, the population was 11,308.[1] Itscounty seat isGlenwood.[2] The county was formed in 1862 and organized in 1866.
Pope County was identified by the state legislature in 1862[3] and named forJohn Pope, a Union Army general who had worked as a surveyor in the area.[4] Its organization was effected in 1866.
Pope County was the location of severalprotests against theCU Powerline in the 1970s.
TheChippewa River flows south through the county's western part. TheLittle Chippewa River flows south-southwest through its central part, discharging into the Chippewa southeast ofCyrus. TheEast Branch Chippewa River flows south-southwest through the eastern part of the county toward its union with the Chippewa in neighboringSwift County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved with drainages and dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is devoted to agriculture.[6] The terrain slopes to the south and west, with its highest point near the northeast corner at 1,388 ft (423 m) ASL.[7] The county has an area of 717 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 670 square miles (1,700 km2) is land and 47 square miles (120 km2) (6.6%) is water.[8]
Source:[6]
Source:[6]
Source:[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 2,691 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,874 | 118.3% | |
| 1890 | 10,032 | 70.8% | |
| 1900 | 12,577 | 25.4% | |
| 1910 | 12,746 | 1.3% | |
| 1920 | 13,631 | 6.9% | |
| 1930 | 13,085 | −4.0% | |
| 1940 | 13,544 | 3.5% | |
| 1950 | 12,862 | −5.0% | |
| 1960 | 11,914 | −7.4% | |
| 1970 | 11,107 | −6.8% | |
| 1980 | 11,657 | 5.0% | |
| 1990 | 10,745 | −7.8% | |
| 2000 | 11,236 | 4.6% | |
| 2010 | 10,995 | −2.1% | |
| 2020 | 11,308 | 2.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 11,495 | [9] | 1.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 10,751 | 95.1% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 34 | 0.3% |
| Native American (NH) | 27 | 0.24% |
| Asian (NH) | 50 | 0.44% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 255 | 2.3% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 191 | 1.7% |
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 11,236 people, 4,513 households, and 3,064 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 16.8 per square mile (6.5/km2). There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of 8.70 per square mile (3.36/km2)/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.85%White, 0.20%Black orAfrican American, 0.18%Native American, 0.08%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.18% fromother races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.51% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 38.8% were ofNorwegian and 31.6%German ancestry.
There were 4,513 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% weremarried couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.
The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,633, and the median income for a family was $42,818. Males had a median income of $30,452 versus $20,511 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,032. About 5.80% of families and 8.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 12.10% of those age 65 or over.
Pope County has been a swing district in the past. In the 21st Century, the county has voted Republican in every election except for 2008. However, the margins were especially close in 2000, when Republican candidateGeorge W. Bush won the county by 37 votes, and in 2004, when he won it by only 2 votes. Since 2016 the county has voted Republican by stronger margins, each of which were the best Republican performance since 1928.[15]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 1,037 | 57.32% | 282 | 15.59% | 490 | 27.09% |
| 1896 | 1,773 | 70.53% | 688 | 27.37% | 53 | 2.11% |
| 1900 | 1,774 | 76.40% | 481 | 20.71% | 67 | 2.89% |
| 1904 | 1,729 | 88.17% | 159 | 8.11% | 73 | 3.72% |
| 1908 | 1,794 | 76.86% | 442 | 18.94% | 98 | 4.20% |
| 1912 | 379 | 16.63% | 443 | 19.44% | 1,457 | 63.93% |
| 1916 | 1,321 | 51.18% | 1,121 | 43.43% | 139 | 5.39% |
| 1920 | 3,466 | 76.34% | 709 | 15.62% | 365 | 8.04% |
| 1924 | 2,079 | 45.88% | 151 | 3.33% | 2,301 | 50.78% |
| 1928 | 3,382 | 66.13% | 1,667 | 32.60% | 65 | 1.27% |
| 1932 | 1,688 | 31.46% | 3,571 | 66.56% | 106 | 1.98% |
| 1936 | 1,869 | 35.65% | 3,200 | 61.05% | 173 | 3.30% |
| 1940 | 2,805 | 46.06% | 3,266 | 53.63% | 19 | 0.31% |
| 1944 | 2,607 | 48.27% | 2,781 | 51.49% | 13 | 0.24% |
| 1948 | 2,114 | 38.70% | 3,251 | 59.52% | 97 | 1.78% |
| 1952 | 3,593 | 60.00% | 2,381 | 39.76% | 14 | 0.23% |
| 1956 | 2,725 | 51.33% | 2,577 | 48.54% | 7 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | 3,062 | 51.39% | 2,883 | 48.39% | 13 | 0.22% |
| 1964 | 2,213 | 38.39% | 3,549 | 61.57% | 2 | 0.03% |
| 1968 | 2,504 | 46.65% | 2,592 | 48.29% | 272 | 5.07% |
| 1972 | 2,610 | 45.94% | 2,910 | 51.22% | 161 | 2.83% |
| 1976 | 2,251 | 36.74% | 3,746 | 61.14% | 130 | 2.12% |
| 1980 | 3,159 | 51.34% | 2,527 | 41.07% | 467 | 7.59% |
| 1984 | 3,064 | 52.27% | 2,757 | 47.03% | 41 | 0.70% |
| 1988 | 2,627 | 45.48% | 3,074 | 53.22% | 75 | 1.30% |
| 1992 | 1,886 | 31.59% | 2,619 | 43.87% | 1,465 | 24.54% |
| 1996 | 1,992 | 36.03% | 2,803 | 50.70% | 734 | 13.28% |
| 2000 | 2,808 | 46.90% | 2,771 | 46.28% | 408 | 6.81% |
| 2004 | 3,303 | 49.30% | 3,301 | 49.27% | 96 | 1.43% |
| 2008 | 3,069 | 46.96% | 3,317 | 50.75% | 150 | 2.29% |
| 2012 | 3,142 | 50.30% | 2,981 | 47.73% | 123 | 1.97% |
| 2016 | 3,793 | 60.03% | 2,106 | 33.33% | 420 | 6.65% |
| 2020 | 4,417 | 62.90% | 2,477 | 35.27% | 128 | 1.82% |
| 2024 | 4,677 | 64.80% | 2,398 | 33.22% | 143 | 1.98% |
| Position | Name | District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner | Paul Gremmels | District 1 | |
| Commissioner | Gordy Wagner | District 2 | |
| Commissioner | Paul Gerde | District 3 | |
| Commissioner | Larry Lindor | District 4 | |
| Commissioner | Paul Wildman | District 5 | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Torrey Westrom[18] | Republican | District 12 | |
| House of Representatives | Jeff Backer[19] | Republican | District 12A | |
| House of Representatives | Paul Anderson[20] | Republican | District 12B | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | Collin Peterson[21] | Democrat | 7th | |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[22] | Democrat | N/A | |
| Senate | Tina Smith[23] | Democrat | N/A | |
Places adjacent to Pope County, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofPope County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
