Rice County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:44°22′N93°18′W / 44.36°N 93.3°W /44.36; -93.3 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | March 5, 1853 |
| Named after | Henry Mower Rice |
| Seat | Faribault |
| Largest city | Faribault |
| Area | |
• Total | 516 sq mi (1,340 km2) |
| • Land | 496 sq mi (1,280 km2) |
| • Water | 20 sq mi (52 km2) 3.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 67,097 |
• Estimate (2024) | 69,025 |
| • Density | 135.3/sq mi (52.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 1st,2nd |
| Website | www |
Rice County is acounty located in the south central portion of theU.S. state ofMinnesota. As of the2020 census, the population was 67,097.[1] Itscounty seat isFaribault.[2]
Rice County comprises the Faribault-Northfield, MNMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in theMinneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WICombined Statistical Area.
Rice County was founded on March 5, 1853.[3] It was named forHenry Mower Rice, a fur trader who became instrumental in creation of theMinnesota Territory and its subsequent growth and development.[4]
TheCannon River flows northeasterly through the center of the county, on its way to discharge into theMississippi River atRed Wing. TheStraight River flows northerly into the county fromSteele County to its discharge point into the Cannon River at Faribault. TheNorth Fork of the Zumbro River rises in south-central Rice County, and flows eastward intoGoodhue County on its way to discharge into the Mississippi east ofKellogg.
The county terrain consists of low, rolling hills, entirely devoted to agriculture, and dotted with lakes.[5] The county slopes to the east and north; its highest point is near its SE corner, at 1,263 ft (385 m) ASL.[6] The county has an area of 516 square miles (1,340 km2), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (3.9%) is water.[7] TheCannon River flows northeastwardly through the county, collecting theStraight River in Faribault. The North Fork of theZumbro River has its headwaters in the county's southeastern part.[8] Rice is one of 17 Minnesota savanna counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils.
Source:[5]
Source:[5]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 7,543 | — | |
| 1870 | 16,083 | 113.2% | |
| 1880 | 22,481 | 39.8% | |
| 1890 | 23,968 | 6.6% | |
| 1900 | 26,080 | 8.8% | |
| 1910 | 25,911 | −0.6% | |
| 1920 | 28,307 | 9.2% | |
| 1930 | 29,974 | 5.9% | |
| 1940 | 32,160 | 7.3% | |
| 1950 | 36,235 | 12.7% | |
| 1960 | 38,988 | 7.6% | |
| 1970 | 41,582 | 6.7% | |
| 1980 | 46,087 | 10.8% | |
| 1990 | 49,183 | 6.7% | |
| 2000 | 56,665 | 15.2% | |
| 2010 | 64,142 | 13.2% | |
| 2020 | 67,097 | 4.6% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 69,025 | [10] | 2.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 51,523 | 76.8% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 4,353 | 6.5% |
| Native American (NH) | 297 | 0.44% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,554 | 2.32% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 10 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 2,577 | 3.84% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 6,783 | 10.11% |
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 56,665 people, 18,888 households, and 13,353 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 114 per square mile (44/km2). There were 20,061 housing units at an average density of 40.4 per square mile (15.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.59%White, 1.31%Black orAfrican American, 0.43%Native American, 1.46%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 1.87% fromother races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 5.50% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 32.1% were ofGerman, 14.7%Norwegian, 7.2%Irish and 5.3%Czech ancestry.
There were 18,888 households, out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% weremarried couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.
The county population contained 25.30% under the age of 18, 15.80% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,651, and the median income for a family was $56,407. Males had a median income of $36,771 versus $26,151 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,695. About 4.00% of families and 6.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.70% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.
From its first participating election in1860 through1960, Rice County was traditionally Republican, voting for the Republican nominee in every election save1912 (when it voted forBull Moose nominee and former Republican presidentTheodore Roosevelt) andFranklin Roosevelt's1932 and1936 landslides.[16] From1964 through2012, it became a Democratic stronghold, voting for the Democratic nominee in every election saveRichard Nixon's1972 landslide. In2016, it voted for a Republican for the first time since 1972 (and for a Republican who was not winning a majority of the national popular vote for the first time since 1960), although it gave him only a plurality, with 7.9% voting third party. However, in2020, with the third party vote sinking to 2.3%, it voted Republican again, making it the first time since 1956 and 1960 that the county has voted Republican two elections in a row (although the Republican margin was only 62 votes out of over 35,000 cast). In 2024, the county voted Republican for a third time, givingDonald Trump his first absolute majority of over 50% in the county out of all three elections he ran in.[17]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 2,245 | 48.29% | 1,794 | 38.59% | 610 | 13.12% |
| 1896 | 3,483 | 60.99% | 2,002 | 35.06% | 226 | 3.96% |
| 1900 | 2,924 | 60.36% | 1,688 | 34.85% | 232 | 4.79% |
| 1904 | 3,160 | 71.36% | 1,063 | 24.01% | 205 | 4.63% |
| 1908 | 2,821 | 61.46% | 1,614 | 35.16% | 155 | 3.38% |
| 1912 | 1,020 | 22.19% | 1,613 | 35.09% | 1,964 | 42.72% |
| 1916 | 2,408 | 51.66% | 2,083 | 44.69% | 170 | 3.65% |
| 1920 | 6,500 | 74.58% | 2,040 | 23.41% | 175 | 2.01% |
| 1924 | 5,883 | 61.26% | 1,199 | 12.49% | 2,521 | 26.25% |
| 1928 | 6,576 | 56.50% | 5,014 | 43.08% | 49 | 0.42% |
| 1932 | 4,743 | 42.29% | 6,289 | 56.08% | 183 | 1.63% |
| 1936 | 4,888 | 39.65% | 5,928 | 48.09% | 1,511 | 12.26% |
| 1940 | 8,143 | 63.25% | 4,687 | 36.40% | 45 | 0.35% |
| 1944 | 6,824 | 60.27% | 4,470 | 39.48% | 28 | 0.25% |
| 1948 | 6,301 | 51.14% | 5,832 | 47.33% | 188 | 1.53% |
| 1952 | 9,334 | 68.17% | 4,330 | 31.62% | 29 | 0.21% |
| 1956 | 8,471 | 65.24% | 4,489 | 34.57% | 24 | 0.18% |
| 1960 | 8,248 | 54.87% | 6,752 | 44.92% | 31 | 0.21% |
| 1964 | 5,518 | 37.18% | 9,299 | 62.65% | 26 | 0.18% |
| 1968 | 7,037 | 45.94% | 7,785 | 50.82% | 497 | 3.24% |
| 1972 | 9,195 | 52.62% | 8,065 | 46.15% | 215 | 1.23% |
| 1976 | 8,311 | 42.39% | 10,590 | 54.01% | 706 | 3.60% |
| 1980 | 8,168 | 39.51% | 9,531 | 46.10% | 2,974 | 14.39% |
| 1984 | 10,456 | 48.58% | 10,880 | 50.55% | 189 | 0.88% |
| 1988 | 9,460 | 44.48% | 11,570 | 54.40% | 237 | 1.11% |
| 1992 | 7,015 | 29.09% | 10,908 | 45.24% | 6,190 | 25.67% |
| 1996 | 7,016 | 30.09% | 12,821 | 54.98% | 3,483 | 14.94% |
| 2000 | 10,876 | 41.80% | 13,140 | 50.50% | 2,005 | 7.71% |
| 2004 | 13,881 | 45.15% | 16,425 | 53.42% | 439 | 1.43% |
| 2008 | 13,723 | 43.16% | 17,381 | 54.66% | 695 | 2.19% |
| 2012 | 14,384 | 44.58% | 17,054 | 52.85% | 829 | 2.57% |
| 2016 | 15,429 | 47.56% | 14,437 | 44.50% | 2,577 | 7.94% |
| 2020 | 17,464 | 48.94% | 17,402 | 48.76% | 820 | 2.30% |
| 2024 | 18,264 | 50.16% | 17,353 | 47.66% | 795 | 2.18% |
| Position | Name | District | Next Election | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner | Jim Purfeerst | District 1 | 2024 | |
| Commissioner | Galen Malecha | District 2 | 2024 | |
| Commissioner | Gerry Hoisington | District 3 | 2026 | |
| Commissioner | Steve Underdahl | District 4 | 2026 | |
| Commissioner | Jeff Docken | District 5 | 2024 | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | Brad Finstad[20] | Republican | 1st | |
| House of Representatives | Angie Craig[21] | Democrat | 2nd | |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[22] | Democrat | N/A | |
| Senate | Tina Smith[23] | Democrat | N/A | |
School districts include:[24]
State-operated schools include:
Private schools:
Tertiary:
Library:
Places adjacent to Rice County, Minnesota | |
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Municipalities and communities ofRice County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns/Neighborhoods | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
