Sherburne County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Historic Sherburne County Courthouse, built 1877 | |
 Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:45°26′N93°46′W / 45.44°N 93.77°W /45.44; -93.77 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | February 25, 1856[1] |
| Named after | Moses Sherburne |
| Seat | Elk River |
| Largest city | Elk River |
| Area | |
• Total | 451 sq mi (1,170 km2) |
| • Land | 433 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Water | 18 sq mi (47 km2) 4.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 97,183 |
• Estimate (2024) | 103,059 |
| • Density | 225/sq mi (87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Sherburne County is acounty inCentral Minnesota. At the2020 census, the population was 97,183.[2] Thecounty seat isElk River.[3] Sherburne County is included in theMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,MN-WIMetropolitan Statistical Area.
TheWisconsin Territory was established by the federal government effective July 3, 1836, and existed until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as Wisconsin) in 1848. Therefore, the federal government set up theMinnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. One of those original counties,Benton, had its southern section partitioned off on February 25, 1856, to form a new county. It was named Sherburne, to recognizeMoses Sherburne (1808-1868), a prominent area attorney, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Minnesota Territory (1853-1857), who retired to the county and spent his final year of life there (in Orono).
The area now delineated byBig Lake Township was first settled in 1848; the small village was named Humboldt. When the county creation was announced in 1856, Humboldt was named the county seat. The area now covered byElk River was also first settled in 1848. Two villages grew up, fairly close together: Orono (platted 1855); and Elk River Village (platted 1865). Their growth was such that by 1867 a county vote moved the county seat from Humboldt to Elk River (designated as "The Lower Town" in the vote, to distinguish it from nearby Orono. The two villages merged under the name 'Elk River' in 1881). Also in 1867, the village of Humboldt changed its name to Big Lake.
The boundaries of Sherburne County have remained as created since 1856.[4]
TheMississippi River flows southeast along the county's south border. TheRum River flows southeast through the county's upper east portion. TheElk River rises in nearbyBenton County, and flows south-southeast through the western and southern part of Sherburne County, discharging into the Mississippi atElk River. TheSaint Francis River also rises in Benton and flows southward through the central part of Sherburne County, discharging into the Elk just north ofBig Lake.
The terrain of Sherburne County consists of low rolling hills, partially wooded, heavily sprinkled with lakes, ponds and depressions.[6] The soil of Sherburne County contains considerable sand and gravel due to glacial activity in past epochs, and thus is less suitable for agriculture than much of Minnesota.[7] The county terrain slopes to the south and east.[8] The county's highest point lies 3 miles (4.8 km) east-southeast ofSaint Cloud, at 1,110 ft (340 m) ASL.[9] The county has a total area of 451 square miles (1,170 km2), of which 433 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (4.0%) is water.[10]
Source:[6]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 723 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,050 | 183.5% | |
| 1880 | 3,855 | 88.0% | |
| 1890 | 5,908 | 53.3% | |
| 1900 | 7,281 | 23.2% | |
| 1910 | 8,136 | 11.7% | |
| 1920 | 9,651 | 18.6% | |
| 1930 | 9,709 | 0.6% | |
| 1940 | 10,456 | 7.7% | |
| 1950 | 10,661 | 2.0% | |
| 1960 | 12,861 | 20.6% | |
| 1970 | 18,344 | 42.6% | |
| 1980 | 29,908 | 63.0% | |
| 1990 | 41,945 | 40.2% | |
| 2000 | 64,417 | 53.6% | |
| 2010 | 88,499 | 37.4% | |
| 2020 | 97,183 | 9.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 103,059 | [12] | 6.0% |
| 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) | 81,983 | 84,761 | 92.64% | 87.22% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,644 | 3,648 | 1.86% | 3.75% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 389 | 390 | 0.43% | 0.40% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,126 | 1,277 | 1.27% | 1.31% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 18 | 22 | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 62 | 313 | 0.07% | 0.32% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,336 | 3,952 | 1.51% | 4.07% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,941 | 2,820 | 2.19% | 2.90% |
| Total | 88,499 | 97,183 | 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.
At thecensus of 2000, there were 64,417 people, 21,581 households and 16,746 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 148 per square mile (57/km2). There were 22,827 housing units at an average density of 52.7 per square mile (20.3/km2). The county's racial makeup was 96.73%White, 0.85%Black orAfrican American, 0.45%Native American, 0.58%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.43% fromother races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 40.1% were ofGerman, 13.6%Norwegian, 7.5%Swedish and 6.2%Irish ancestry.
There were 21,581 households, of which 44.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.20% weremarried couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.40% were non-families. 15.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.27.
The county population contained 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 33.90% from 25 to 44, 18.40% from 45 to 64, and 7.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 104.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.20 males.
Themedian household income was $57,014 and the median family income was $61,790. Males had a median income of $41,601 and females $27,689. Theper capita income for the county was $21,322. About 2.30% of families and 4.40% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 3.50% of those under age 18 and 10.10% of those age 65 or over.
Sherburne County has traditionally voted Republican. Since 1980 the county has selected the Republican Party candidate in 80% of national elections (as of 2024).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 632 | 53.88% | 290 | 24.72% | 251 | 21.40% |
| 1896 | 1,008 | 63.92% | 536 | 33.99% | 33 | 2.09% |
| 1900 | 931 | 68.46% | 373 | 27.43% | 56 | 4.12% |
| 1904 | 1,165 | 82.68% | 186 | 13.20% | 58 | 4.12% |
| 1908 | 1,002 | 67.84% | 366 | 24.78% | 109 | 7.38% |
| 1912 | 335 | 22.07% | 360 | 23.72% | 823 | 54.22% |
| 1916 | 965 | 54.09% | 731 | 40.98% | 88 | 4.93% |
| 1920 | 2,747 | 85.18% | 307 | 9.52% | 171 | 5.30% |
| 1924 | 1,961 | 63.65% | 180 | 5.84% | 940 | 30.51% |
| 1928 | 2,437 | 69.08% | 1,064 | 30.16% | 27 | 0.77% |
| 1932 | 1,601 | 44.17% | 1,938 | 53.46% | 86 | 2.37% |
| 1936 | 1,623 | 43.43% | 1,881 | 50.33% | 233 | 6.23% |
| 1940 | 2,450 | 60.64% | 1,570 | 38.86% | 20 | 0.50% |
| 1944 | 2,046 | 58.16% | 1,447 | 41.13% | 25 | 0.71% |
| 1948 | 1,828 | 46.93% | 1,958 | 50.27% | 109 | 2.80% |
| 1952 | 2,839 | 63.40% | 1,630 | 36.40% | 9 | 0.20% |
| 1956 | 2,681 | 59.75% | 1,796 | 40.03% | 10 | 0.22% |
| 1960 | 2,837 | 52.37% | 2,568 | 47.41% | 12 | 0.22% |
| 1964 | 2,132 | 35.89% | 3,787 | 63.75% | 21 | 0.35% |
| 1968 | 2,737 | 41.51% | 3,481 | 52.80% | 375 | 5.69% |
| 1972 | 4,332 | 50.03% | 4,070 | 47.01% | 256 | 2.96% |
| 1976 | 4,361 | 38.11% | 6,678 | 58.36% | 403 | 3.52% |
| 1980 | 6,035 | 44.31% | 6,229 | 45.73% | 1,356 | 9.96% |
| 1984 | 7,738 | 55.43% | 6,140 | 43.98% | 82 | 0.59% |
| 1988 | 8,360 | 50.66% | 7,959 | 48.23% | 183 | 1.11% |
| 1992 | 7,339 | 33.60% | 7,843 | 35.91% | 6,659 | 30.49% |
| 1996 | 8,699 | 37.37% | 10,551 | 45.33% | 4,025 | 17.29% |
| 2000 | 16,813 | 54.53% | 12,109 | 39.27% | 1,913 | 6.20% |
| 2004 | 25,182 | 60.75% | 15,816 | 38.15% | 456 | 1.10% |
| 2008 | 26,140 | 58.10% | 17,957 | 39.91% | 893 | 1.98% |
| 2012 | 27,848 | 59.88% | 17,597 | 37.84% | 1,064 | 2.29% |
| 2016 | 31,053 | 64.31% | 13,293 | 27.53% | 3,937 | 8.15% |
| 2020 | 36,222 | 65.13% | 18,065 | 32.48% | 1,325 | 2.38% |
| 2024 | 38,491 | 66.41% | 18,329 | 31.62% | 1,140 | 1.97% |
Places adjacent to Sherburne County, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofSherburne County, Minnesota,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
.svg)
