Mower County, Minnesota
Mower County | |
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UTC−5 (CDT) | |
Congressional district | 1st |
Website | www |
Mower County (
History
The federal government established Wisconsin Territory effective July 3, 1836, and included what is now Minnesota, until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as Wisconsin) in 1848.
Congress established the Minnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. Two of the original counties, Dakota and Wabashaw (later Wabasha), had portions reassigned on March 5, 1853, to create Rice County.
In 1852, Jacob McQuillin's family settled in southern Rice County, beginning a settlement movement that rapidly grew. On February 20, 1855, the territorial legislature created the present county from the southernmost part of Rice County.[4] The new county was named for John Edward Mower, a member of the territorial legislature.[5]
On March 1, 1856, Territorial Governor Willis A. Gorman signed the legislative act that organized the county. He appointed three commissioners, who first met in Frankford Township. In January 1857 those commissioners designated the permanent seat in Austin Township. In July 1857 the location within Austin Township was further defined, within Austin village, which had been platted during the spring of 1856.[6]
Geography
Mower County lies on Minnesota's border with
Lakes
One of only four
- East Side Lake: in the northeast quadrant of Austin
- Lake Louise: in Lake Louise State Park near Le Roy
- Mill Pond: in downtown Hormelplant
- Ramsey Mill Pond: in Ramsey Golf Course, near the unincorporated settlement of Ramsey
The
Transit
Major highways
Airports
- Austin Municipal Airport (AUM) - east of Austin
Adjacent counties
- Dodge County - north
- Olmsted County - northeast
- Fillmore County - east
- Howard County, Iowa - southeast
- Mitchell County, Iowa - south
- Worth County, Iowa - southwest
- Freeborn County - west
- Steele County - northwest
Protected areas[8]
- Lake Louise State Park
- Larson State Wildlife Management Area
- Red Cedar State Wildlife Management Area
- Rose State Wildlife Management Area
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 3,217 | — | |
1870 | 10,447 | 224.7% | |
1880 | 16,799 | 60.8% | |
1890 | 18,019 | 7.3% | |
1900 | 22,335 | 24.0% | |
1910 | 22,640 | 1.4% | |
1920 | 25,993 | 14.8% | |
1930 | 28,065 | 8.0% | |
1940 | 36,113 | 28.7% | |
1950 | 42,277 | 17.1% | |
1960 | 48,498 | 14.7% | |
1970 | 44,919 | −7.4% | |
1980 | 40,390 | −10.1% | |
1990 | 37,385 | −7.4% | |
2000 | 38,603 | 3.3% | |
2010 | 39,163 | 1.5% | |
2020 | 40,029 | 2.2% | |
2023 (est.) | 40,058 | [12] | 0.1% |
U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15] 1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[2] |
The county population has declined since its peak in 1960, as younger people have moved to urban areas for economic opportunities.
2020 Census
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH)
|
29,804 | 74.45% |
Black or African American (NH)
|
1,613 | 4.03% |
Native American (NH)
|
57 | 0.14% |
Asian (NH)
|
2,052 | 5.13% |
Pacific Islander (NH)
|
225 | 0.64% |
Other/Mixed (NH)
|
1,167 | 2.92% |
Latino
|
5,081 | 12.7% |
2000 census
As of the
There were 15,582 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.80% 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 2.98.
The county population contained 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,654, and the median income for a family was $45,154. Males had a median income of $31,743 versus $23,317 for females. The
Government
Mower County has a county-council style of government, made up of five county commissioners, each elected from a single-member district. They are elected to four-year terms, and elected on a staggered basis.[18]
- First district cities: Brownsdale, Mapleview, Waltham and the 1st ward, 1st precinct of Austin
- Townships: Lansing Township, Red Rock Township, Udolpho Township, Waltham Township
- Commissioner: John Mueller
- Townships: Lansing Township, Red Rock Township, Udolpho Township, Waltham Township
- Second district cities: Adams, Dexter, Elkton, Grand Meadow, Le Roy, Racine, Sargeant, Taopi
- Townships: Adams Township, Bennington Township, Clayton Township, Dexter Township, Frankford Township, Grand Meadow Township, Le Roy Township, Lodi Township, Marshall Township, Pleasant Valley Township, Racine Township, Sargeant Township
- Commissioner: Polly Glynn
- Townships: Adams Township, Bennington Township, Clayton Township, Dexter Township, Frankford Township, Grand Meadow Township, Le Roy Township, Lodi Township, Marshall Township, Pleasant Valley Township, Racine Township, Sargeant Township
- Third district cities: Lyle, Rose Creek and the 2nd ward, 2nd precinct of Austin.
- Townships: Austin, Lyle, Nevada and Windom.
- Commissioner: Jerry Reinartz
- Townships: Austin, Lyle, Nevada and Windom.
- Fourth district: all of the 3rd ward of Austin.
- Commissioner: Dan Sparks
- Fifth district: the 1st ward, 2nd precinct and the 2nd ward, 1st precinct of Austin.
- Commissioner: Mike Ankeny
From its first participating election in
Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Senate | Gene Dornink[20] | Republican | District 27 | |
House of Representatives | Peggy Bennett[21] | Republican | District 27A | |
House of Representatives | Patricia Mueller[22] | Republican | District 27B |
Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
House of Representatives | Brad Finstad[23] | Republican | 1st | |
Senate | Amy Klobuchar[24] | Democrat | N/A | |
Senate | Tina Smith[25] | Democrat | N/A |
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 10,025 | 51.82% | 8,899 | 46.00% | 421 | 2.18% |
2016 | 8,823 | 49.81% | 7,437 | 41.98% | 1,455 | 8.21% |
2012 | 6,938 | 37.42% | 11,129 | 60.03% | 472 | 2.55% |
2008 | 7,075 | 36.87% | 11,605 | 60.48% | 507 | 2.64% |
2004 | 7,591 | 37.54% | 12,334 | 60.99% | 297 | 1.47% |
2000 | 6,873 | 37.19% | 10,693 | 57.86% | 914 | 4.95% |
1996 | 4,994 | 27.65% | 10,413 | 57.65% | 2,656 | 14.70% |
1992 | 5,147 | 25.47% | 9,935 | 49.16% | 5,128 | 25.37% |
1988 | 6,969 | 36.63% | 11,893 | 62.51% | 163 | 0.86% |
1984 | 8,054 | 39.01% | 12,498 | 60.53% | 95 | 0.46% |
1980 | 7,908 | 38.91% | 10,538 | 51.85% | 1,879 | 9.24% |
1976 | 8,163 | 37.99% | 12,837 | 59.74% | 487 | 2.27% |
1972 | 9,929 | 48.36% | 10,286 | 50.10% | 315 | 1.53% |
1968 | 7,736 | 39.70% | 11,022 | 56.56% | 728 | 3.74% |
1964 | 6,510 | 32.32% | 13,573 | 67.39% | 57 | 0.28% |
1960 | 11,040 | 52.40% | 9,961 | 47.28% | 67 | 0.32% |
1956 | 9,570 | 50.66% | 9,219 | 48.80% | 101 | 0.53% |
1952 | 9,862 | 53.16% | 8,551 | 46.09% | 138 | 0.74% |
1948 | 5,672 | 37.07% | 9,468 | 61.88% | 161 | 1.05% |
1944 | 6,588 | 47.62% | 7,199 | 52.03% | 48 | 0.35% |
1940 | 7,169 | 47.11% | 7,988 | 52.49% | 60 | 0.39% |
1936 | 4,743 | 35.17% | 8,228 | 61.01% | 516 | 3.83% |
1932 | 4,005 | 37.79% | 6,421 | 60.58% | 173 | 1.63% |
1928 | 6,209 | 63.09% | 3,587 | 36.45% | 46 | 0.47% |
1924 | 5,061 | 55.69% | 564 | 6.21% | 3,463 | 38.11% |
1920 | 6,339 | 82.06% | 1,061 | 13.73% | 325 | 4.21% |
1916 | 2,520 | 59.43% | 1,572 | 37.08% | 148 | 3.49% |
1912 | 1,321 | 31.63% | 1,228 | 29.40% | 1,628 | 38.98% |
1908 | 2,629 | 63.46% | 1,206 | 29.11% | 308 | 7.43% |
1904 | 2,769 | 77.50% | 552 | 15.45% | 252 | 7.05% |
1900 | 3,076 | 70.75% | 1,081 | 24.86% | 191 | 4.39% |
1896 | 3,379 | 68.83% | 1,407 | 28.66% | 123 | 2.51% |
1892 | 2,234 | 56.36% | 1,310 | 33.05% | 420 | 10.60% |
Communities
Cities
- Adams
- Austin (county seat)
- Brownsdale
- Dexter
- Elkton
- Grand Meadow
- Le Roy
- Lyle
- Mapleview
- Racine
- Rose Creek
- Sargeant
- Taopi
- Waltham
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
Townships
Mower County's land is divided into 20 townships that each contain 36 square miles (six miles on a side). Mower County is five townships wide (30 miles (48 km) west to east) and four townships from north to south (24 miles).
See also
References
- ISBN 0-87351-396-7.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- ^ Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names (1920), p. 359 (accessed May 3, 2019)
- ^ The History of Mower County (pp. 44-56). Accessed May 3, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
- ^ a b Mower County MN Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019)
- ^ ""Find an Altitude/Mower County MN" Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
- ^ Mower County High Point, Minnesota PeakBagger.com (accessed May 3, 2019)
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mower County, Minnesota".
- ^ "County Board of Commissioners | Mower County, MN".
- ^ "County winners, 1836-2016". Google Docs. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
- ^ Stultz, Sarah (November 5, 2020). "Dornink wins District 27 Senate seat". Albert Lea Tribune. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "Rep. Peggy Bennett (27A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ "Rep. Patricia Mueller - RELEASE: Mueller Sworn In, Named to House Committees". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term". August 12, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
Further reading
- History Committee (Mower County, Minn.) (1984). Mill on the willow: a history of Mower County, Minnesota. Mower County MN: History Committee.