Stevens County, Minnesota

Stevens County
County
Carnegie Library in Morris.
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°35′N96°00′W / 45.58°N 96°W / 45.58; -96
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 20, 1862
Named for	Isaac Ingalls Stevens
Seat	Morris
Largest city	Morris
Area
• Total	575 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land	564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
• Water	12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,671
• Estimate  (2023)	9,728
• Density	17.1/sq mi (6.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.co.stevens.mn.us

Stevens County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,671. ^[1] Its county seat is Morris. ^[2]

History

The county was created by act of the Minnesota legislature on February 20, 1862. It was not organized at that time, and no county seat was named. The county was named for Isaac Stevens, who had led a railroad survey party across Minnesota in 1853 and was influential in bringing national attention to the Minnesota Territory. ^[3] The territorial legislature had intended to thus honor Stevens in 1855 when another county was being created, but a clerical error caused that county to be named Stearns. The error was corrected by the 1862 act; by that time Stevens was a brigadier general for the Union Army in the American Civil War. Stevens was killed later that year. ^[4] The county government was organized in 1872. Morris, which had been platted in 1869, was named the county seat. ^{[5] [6]}

The University of Minnesota Morris is in Morris. It was developed in the early 20th century from the Morris Industrial School for Indians, which opened in 1887 and was originally operated by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy under contract to the federal government.

In 1975, a moderate earthquake occurred in the county.

Geography

The Pomme de Terre River flows south through central Stevens County, on its way to discharge into the Minnesota River. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, with the area mostly devoted to agriculture. ^[7] The terrain generally slopes to the south, although the northeast and southwest portions rise from the central part of the county. The county's highest point is on the eastern portion of the northern border, at 1,250 ft (380 m) ASL. ^[8] The county has an area of 575 square miles (1,490 km²), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (2.0%) is water. ^[9]

Soils of Stevens County

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 59
• Minnesota State Highway 9
• Minnesota State Highway 28
• Minnesota State Highway 329

Adjacent counties

• Grant County - north
• Douglas County - northeast
• Pope County - east
• Swift County - south
• Big Stone County - southwest
• Traverse County - northwest

Protected areas ^[7]

• Alberta Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
• Boekholt Grove State Wildlife Management Area
• Bruillet State Wildlife Management Area
• Cin State Wildlife Management Area
• Dablow State Wildlife Management Area
• Dolven State Wildlife Management Area
• Everglade State Wildlife Management Area
• Klason State Wildlife Management Area
• Kline State Wildlife Management Area
• Mathison State Wildlife Management Area
• Muddy Creek State Wildlife Management Area
• Reimers State Wildlife Management Area
• Robertson State Wildlife Management Area
• Selk State Wildlife Management Area
• Thedin State Wildlife Management Area
• Verlyn Marth Memorial Prairie Scientific and Natural Area

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	174		—
1880	3,911		2,147.7%
1890	5,251		34.3%
1900	8,721		66.1%
1910	8,293		−4.9%
1920	9,778		17.9%
1930	10,185		4.2%
1940	11,039		8.4%
1950	11,106		0.6%
1960	11,262		1.4%
1970	11,218		−0.4%
1980	11,322		0.9%
1990	10,634		−6.1%
2000	10,053		−5.5%
2010	9,726		−3.3%
2020	9,671		−0.6%
2023 (est.)	9,728	[11]	0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [12] 1790-1960 [13] 1900-1990 [14] 1990-2000 [15] 2010-2020 [1]

2020 Census

Stevens County Racial Composition ^[16]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	8,093	83.7%
Black or African American (NH)	84	0.9%
Native American (NH)	110	1.14%
Asian (NH)	68	0.7%
Pacific Islander (NH)	1	0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH)	329	3.4%
Hispanic or Latino	986	10.2%

2000 census

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,053 people, 3,751 households, and 2,366 families in the county. The population density was 17.8 per square mile (6.9/km²). There were 4,074 housing units at an average density of 7.22 per square mile (2.79/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.13% White, 0.92% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.8% were of German, 20.8% Norwegian and 5.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 3,751 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 21.60% under the age of 18, 20.80% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 19.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,267, and the median income for a family was $47,518. Males had a median income of $32,045 versus $21,681 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,569. About 5.70% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.50% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Alberta
• Chokio
• Donnelly
• Hancock
• Morris (county seat)

Townships

• Baker Township
• Darnen Township
• Donnelly Township
• Eldorado Township
• Everglade Township
• Framnas Township
• Hodges Township
• Horton Township
• Moore Township
• Morris Township
• Pepperton Township
• Rendsville Township
• Scott Township
• Stevens Township
• Swan Lake Township
• Synnes Township

Government and politics

Stevens County has been a swing district for the past several decades. As of 2020 it has selected the Republican candidate in 56% of presidential elections since 1980. In 2016, Stevens County and several other counties in rural Western Minnesota swung sharply to the right. While Minnesota as a whole swung far to the left in 2020, Stevens County swung further right, giving Donald Trump nearly 60% of the vote - the most any party had got since 1952.

United States presidential election results for Stevens County, Minnesota ^{[17] [18]}

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,213	62.52%	1,827	35.55%	99	1.93%
2020	3,044	59.86%	1,922	37.80%	119	2.34%
2016	2,799	51.85%	2,116	39.20%	483	8.95%
2012	2,766	48.94%	2,742	48.51%	144	2.55%
2008	2,710	48.10%	2,781	49.36%	143	2.54%
2004	3,030	50.93%	2,821	47.42%	98	1.65%
2000	2,831	49.22%	2,434	42.32%	487	8.47%
1996	2,141	39.25%	2,741	50.25%	573	10.50%
1992	2,229	38.33%	2,466	42.40%	1,121	19.27%
1988	2,679	49.08%	2,721	49.85%	58	1.06%
1984	3,251	56.58%	2,451	42.66%	44	0.77%
1980	3,283	50.69%	2,559	39.52%	634	9.79%
1976	2,484	42.91%	3,171	54.78%	134	2.31%
1972	2,830	48.70%	2,870	49.39%	111	1.91%
1968	2,560	50.57%	2,247	44.39%	255	5.04%
1964	2,220	43.22%	2,910	56.65%	7	0.14%
1960	2,710	52.87%	2,405	46.92%	11	0.21%
1956	2,606	58.83%	1,822	41.13%	2	0.05%
1952	3,288	67.39%	1,579	32.36%	12	0.25%
1948	1,928	45.02%	2,313	54.00%	42	0.98%
1944	2,377	58.23%	1,693	41.47%	12	0.29%
1940	2,619	56.30%	2,018	43.38%	15	0.32%
1936	1,431	36.15%	2,352	59.42%	175	4.42%
1932	1,396	34.99%	2,552	63.96%	42	1.05%
1928	2,275	60.70%	1,457	38.87%	16	0.43%
1924	1,553	48.99%	238	7.51%	1,379	43.50%
1920	2,339	79.83%	457	15.60%	134	4.57%
1916	943	52.56%	787	43.87%	64	3.57%
1912	286	17.40%	640	38.93%	718	43.67%
1908	877	57.93%	582	38.44%	55	3.63%
1904	1,254	75.13%	362	21.69%	53	3.18%
1900	1,036	58.01%	682	38.19%	68	3.81%
1896	981	57.40%	685	40.08%	43	2.52%
1892	622	46.21%	509	37.82%	215	15.97%

County Board of Commissioners ^[19]

Position		Name	District
	Commissioner and Chairperson	Bob Kopitzke	District 1
	Commissioner	Jeanne Ennen	District 2
	Commissioner	Ron Staples	District 3
	Commissioner	Donnie Wohlers	District 4
	Commissioner	Patricia Lesmeister-Nelson	District 5

State Legislature (2018-2020)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	Senate	Torrey Westrom [20]	Republican	District 12
	House of Representatives	Jeff Backer [21]	Republican	District 12A

U.S Congress (2018-2020)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	House of Representatives	Michelle Fischbach [22]	Republican	7th
	Senate	Amy Klobuchar [23]	Democrat	N/A
	Senate	Tina Smith [24]	Democrat	N/A

See also

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

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Isaac Ingalls Stevens (accessed March 15, 2019)
4. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p.  535.
5. Brief History. Stevens County (accessed March 15, 2019)
6. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
7. Stevens County MN Google Maps (accessed March 15, 2019)
8. "Find an Altitude/Stevens County MN" Google Maps (accessed 15 March 2019)
9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
10. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. 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 25, 2014.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 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 25, 2014.
16. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Stevens County, Minnesota".
17. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
18. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 628 votes, while Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 52 votes, Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 33 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 5 votes.
19. "About the Board of Commissioners | Stevens County, MN - Official Website". www.co.stevens.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
20. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
21. "Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
22. "Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach". Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
23. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
24. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

External links

• Stevens County government’s website
• Stevens County Historical Society & Museum

45°35′N96°00′W / 45.58°N 96.00°W / 45.58; -96.00