McLeod County, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 34,898 people, 13,449 households, and 9,427 families residing in the county. The population density
was 71 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 14,087 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.62% White
, 0.22% Black
or African American
, 0.18% Native American
, 0.56% Asian
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
, 1.79% from other races
, and 0.58% from two or more races. 3.63% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 57.5% were of German and 8.5% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 13,449 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married 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.
In the county the population was spread out with 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.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,953, and the median income for a family was $55,003. Males had a median income of $35,709 versus $25,253 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $20,137. About 2.80% of families and 4.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.80% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
. At the time of European contact, it was the territory of the Dakota Sioux.
The county was named after Martin McLeod, a Canadian-born adventurer who became a fur trader and later was elected a territorial representative (1849–1856) in Minnesota. As a young man, he was part of the notable James Dickson 1836 expedition to the Red River of the North
, a journey recounted in his Diary of Martin McLeod, a manuscript held by the Minnesota Historical Society.
The county was the site of several events during the Dakota War of 1862
, including the siege of Hutchinson
and the killing of the White family near Brownton
. It was also the birthplace of the Geier Hitch, a kind of animal husbandry
that some observers characterize as animal abuse.
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 34,898 people, 13,449 households, and 9,427 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 71 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 14,087 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.62% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.22% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.56% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.79% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.58% from two or more races. 3.63% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 57.5% were of German and 8.5% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 13,449 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
In the county the population was spread out with 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.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,953, and the median income for a family was $55,003. Males had a median income of $35,709 versus $25,253 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $20,137. About 2.80% of families and 4.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.80% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.
History
For thousands of years the area was inhabited by indigenous peoplesIndigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
. At the time of European contact, it was the territory of the Dakota Sioux.
The county was named after Martin McLeod, a Canadian-born adventurer who became a fur trader and later was elected a territorial representative (1849–1856) in Minnesota. As a young man, he was part of the notable James Dickson 1836 expedition to the Red River of the North
Red River of the North
The Red River is a North American river. Originating at the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States, it flows northward through the Red River Valley and forms the border between the U.S. states of Minnesota and North Dakota before continuing into Manitoba, Canada...
, a journey recounted in his Diary of Martin McLeod, a manuscript held by the Minnesota Historical Society.
The county was the site of several events during the Dakota War of 1862
Dakota War of 1862
The Dakota War of 1862, also known as the Sioux Uprising, was an armed conflict between the United States and several bands of the eastern Sioux. It began on August 17, 1862, along the Minnesota River in southwest Minnesota...
, including the siege of Hutchinson
Hutchinson, Minnesota
According to the 2000 United States Census , there were 13,080 people, 5,333 households, and 3,418 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,763.6 people per square mile . There were 5,667 housing units at an average density of 764.1 per square mile...
and the killing of the White family near Brownton
Brownton, Minnesota
Brownton is a city in McLeod County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 762 at the 2010 census.U.S. Route 212 and Minnesota State Highway 15 are two of the main arterial routes in the community.-Geography:...
. It was also the birthplace of the Geier Hitch, a kind of animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
that some observers characterize as animal abuse.
Cities and towns
| Cities | Townships | Unincorporated | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Fernando, Minnesota Fernando was a community in sections 28 and 29 of Round Grove Township in McLeod County, Minnesota, United States.-History:The town of Fernando had a post office from 1899 until 1903. Unusually, Fernando's post office was located in the creamery, with the buttermaker, Ferdinand W. Fenske, acting... |
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in McLeod County, Minnesota