Norman County, Minnesota

Norman County
County
Norman County Courthouse in Ada, Minnesota
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°20′N96°28′W / 47.33°N 96.46°W / 47.33; -96.46
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 17, 1881 [1]
Named for	Norwegian settlers
Seat	Ada
Largest city	Ada
Area
• Total	877 sq mi (2,270 km2)
• Land	873 sq mi (2,260 km2)
• Water	3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,441
• Estimate  (2023)	6,329
• Density	7.4/sq mi (2.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.co.norman.mn.us

Norman County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,441. ^[2] Its county seat is Ada. ^[3] The county is in Minnesota's Red River Valley region.

History

Norwegians started settling in Norman County in the early 1870s and up until Dec. 27th, 1906 that also included what is now Mahnomen County (Ojibwe for "wild rice"). The county was created by the Minnesota legislature on March 17, 1881, with Ada (which had been founded in 1874) as county seat. Even though Twin Valley was much closer to the geographic center of the county Ada was chosen as the county seat, sparking a 6 year legal battle. ^[4]

It was named in recognition of the many settlers who came from Scandinavian countries, especially Norway. ^[5] Another source posits that it was named for Norman Kittson, an early historical figure of the region. ^[6]

Geography

Norman County lies on Minnesota's western border, abutting North Dakota across the Red River, which flows north along (and defines) the county's west line. The Wild Rice River flows west through the lower part of the county, discharging into the Red slightly north of the county's southwest corner. The Marsh River rises in central Norman County and flows northwest into the Red near the county's northwest corner. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved by drainages and lightly dotted with lakes and swampy areas. The terrain is devoted to agriculture. ^[7] The terrain slopes to the north and west with its highest point near its southeast corner, at 1,224 ft (373 m) ASL. ^[8] The county has an area of 877 square miles (2,270 km²), of which 873 square miles (2,260 km²) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km²) (0.4%) water. ^[9] Flom Township contains a prominent, irregular hill of morainic drift known as Frenchman's Bluff. It rises 150 ft (46 m) above the shoreline of the former Lake Agassis, three miles (4.8 km) to the northwest. ^[5]

Soils of Norman County

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 75
• Minnesota State Highway 9
• Minnesota State Highway 32
• Minnesota State Highway 113
• Minnesota State Highway 200

Adjacent counties

• Polk County - north
• Mahnomen County - east
• Becker County - southeast
• Clay County - south
• Cass County, North Dakota - southwest
• Traill County, North Dakota - west

Protected areas ^[7]

• Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area (part)
• Agassiz No. 1 State Wildlife Management Area
• Agassiz No. 2 State Wildlife Management Area
• Dalby State Wildlife Management Area
• Faith State Wildlife Management Area
• Home Lake State Wildlife Management Area
• Moccasin State Wildlife Management Area
• Neal State Wildlife Management Area
• Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
• Sandpiper Scientific and Natural Area
• Santee Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
• Syre State Wildlife Management Area
• Twin Valley Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
• Twin Valley State Wildlife Management Area
• Vangsness State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes ^[7]

• Home Lake
• Lockhart Swamp

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	10,618		—
1900	15,045		41.7%
1910	13,446		−10.6%
1920	14,880		10.7%
1930	14,061		−5.5%
1940	14,746		4.9%
1950	12,909		−12.5%
1960	11,253		−12.8%
1970	10,008		−11.1%
1980	9,379		−6.3%
1990	7,975		−15.0%
2000	7,442		−6.7%
2010	6,852		−7.9%
2020	6,441		−6.0%
2023 (est.)	6,329	[11]	−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [12] 1790-1960 [13] 1900-1990 [14] 1990-2000 [15] 2010-2020 [2]

2020 Census

Norman County Racial Composition ^[16]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	5,702	88.52%
Black or African American (NH)	17	0.3%
Native American (NH)	115	1.8%
Asian (NH)	18	0.3%
Pacific Islander (NH)	0	0%
Other/Mixed (NH)	301	4.7%
Hispanic or Latino	288	4.5%

2000 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Norman County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,442 people, 3,010 households, and 2,007 families in the county. The population density was 8.52 per square mile (3.29/km²). There were 3,455 housing units at an average density of 3.96 per square mile (1.53/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.30% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 1.73% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 1.13% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 3.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 57.5% were of Norwegian and 21.7% German ancestry.

There were 3,010 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 31.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.04.

The county population contained 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% of over age 64. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,535, and the median income for a family was $41,280. Males had a median income of $28,674 versus $20,619 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,895. About 7.10% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.70% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Ada (county seat)
• Borup
• Gary
• Halstad
• Hendrum
• Perley
• Shelly
• Twin Valley

Unincorporated communities

• Betcher
• Faith
• Flom ^[7]
• Hadler
• Lockhart
• Ranum ^[7]
• Syre
• Waukon ^[7]

Townships

• Anthony Township
• Bear Park Township
• Flom Township
• Fossum Township
• Good Hope Township
• Green Meadow Township
• Halstad Township
• Hegne Township
• Hendrum Township
• Home Lake Township
• Lake Ida Township
• Lee Township
• Lockhart Township
• Mary Township
• McDonaldsville Township
• Pleasant View Township
• Rockwell Township
• Shelly Township
• Spring Creek Township
• Strand Township
• Sundal Township
• Waukon Township
• Wild Rice Township
• Winchester Township

Government and politics

From 1932 to 2012, Norman County voted Democratic, typically by large margins, in all but three elections, two were the nationwide Republican landslide victories of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and Richard Nixon in 1972, and the third was in 2000, when strong third party showings in the state helped swing the county to George W. Bush. The 2016 election, however, saw the county swing significantly to the right, as Donald Trump won the county by over 13%. He increased his margin of victory in 2020 to nearly 16% and improved yet again in 2024 winning by more than 22%, turning in the best performance for a Republican in Norman County since Herbert Hoover in 1928.

United States presidential election results for Norman County, Minnesota ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,963	59.59%	1,233	37.43%	98	2.98%
2020	1,953	56.76%	1,404	40.80%	84	2.44%
2016	1,699	52.10%	1,264	38.76%	298	9.14%
2012	1,384	43.16%	1,730	53.94%	93	2.90%
2008	1,204	35.06%	2,129	62.00%	101	2.94%
2004	1,794	47.09%	1,954	51.29%	62	1.63%
2000	1,808	49.66%	1,575	43.26%	258	7.09%
1996	1,392	37.40%	1,875	50.38%	455	12.22%
1992	1,541	37.39%	1,784	43.29%	796	19.32%
1988	1,789	45.22%	2,149	54.32%	18	0.46%
1984	2,152	49.17%	2,202	50.31%	23	0.53%
1980	2,192	44.92%	2,253	46.17%	435	8.91%
1976	1,983	39.57%	2,946	58.78%	83	1.66%
1972	2,536	50.51%	2,444	48.68%	41	0.82%
1968	1,981	39.53%	2,828	56.42%	203	4.05%
1964	1,662	31.35%	3,631	68.50%	8	0.15%
1960	2,642	47.30%	2,932	52.49%	12	0.21%
1956	2,338	46.01%	2,740	53.93%	3	0.06%
1952	3,069	55.07%	2,465	44.23%	39	0.70%
1948	1,695	32.87%	3,245	62.92%	217	4.21%
1944	1,884	39.51%	2,846	59.69%	38	0.80%
1940	2,161	36.53%	3,716	62.81%	39	0.66%
1936	1,570	28.54%	3,778	68.67%	154	2.80%
1932	1,313	25.09%	3,601	68.80%	320	6.11%
1928	3,308	67.39%	1,401	28.54%	200	4.07%
1924	1,997	45.77%	171	3.92%	2,195	50.31%
1920	3,451	74.17%	481	10.34%	721	15.50%
1916	1,046	42.11%	1,076	43.32%	362	14.57%
1912	329	14.74%	510	22.85%	1,393	62.41%
1908	1,276	55.26%	661	28.63%	372	16.11%
1904	1,782	78.02%	161	7.05%	341	14.93%
1900	1,492	53.57%	964	34.61%	329	11.81%
1896	1,382	49.61%	1,304	46.81%	100	3.59%
1892	724	38.97%	294	15.82%	840	45.21%

County Board of Commissioners ^[18]

Position		Name	District
	Commissioner	Marvin Gunderson	District 1
	Commissioner	Jesse Lee	District 2
	Commissioner	Steve Jacobson	District 3
	Commissioner and Chairperson	Lee Ann Hall	District 4
	Commissioner	Steve Bommersbach	District 5

State Legislature (2022-2024)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	Senate	Mark Johnson	Republican	District 1
	House of Representatives	Deb Kiel	Republican	District 1B

U.S Congress (2022-2024)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	House of Representatives	Michelle Fischbach	Republican	7th
	Senate	Amy Klobuchar [19]	Democrat	N/A
	Senate	Tina Smith [20]	Democrat	N/A

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Norman County, Minnesota

References

1. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Johnson, Lenora (1976). Under Prairie Skies. pp. 47–48.
5. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. pp.  381–384.
6. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p.  177. Norman County named after Norman Kittson.
7. Norman County MN Google Maps (accessed April 17, 2019)
8. ""Find an Altitude/Norman County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 17, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
10. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 57-60. ISBN   978-0-615-50320-2.
11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023" . Retrieved March 18, 2024.
12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
15. "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 24, 2014.
16. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Norman County, Minnesota".
17. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
18. "Norman County". www.co.norman.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
19. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
20. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

External links

• Norman County government’s website

47°20′N96°28′W / 47.33°N 96.46°W / 47.33; -96.46