Big Stone County, Minnesota

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Big Stone County

| state = Minnesota

| ex image = Big Stone County Courthouse.jpg

| ex image size = 220px

| ex image cap = Big Stone County Courthouse in Ortonville, Minnesota.

| seal =

| founded date = February 20

| founded year = 1862 (created)
1874 (organized){{cite web|title=Minnesota Place Names|url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm?SendingPage=Region.cfm&county=6|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|access-date=March 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025203127/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm?SendingPage=Region.cfm&county=6|archive-date=October 25, 2014|url-status=dead}}

| seat wl = Ortonville

| largest city wl = Ortonville

| area_total_sq_mi = 528

| area_land_sq_mi = 499

| area_water_sq_mi = 29

| area percentage = 5.5%

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 5166

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 5105 {{decrease}}

| density_sq_mi = 10.1

| time zone = Central

| web = https://bigstonecounty.gov/

| named for = Big Stone Lake

| district = 7th

}}

Big Stone County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,166.{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bigstonecountyminnesota/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 19, 2023}} Its county seat is Ortonville.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}

History

The county was formed in 1862, and was organized in 1874. It is named for Big Stone Lake.{{cite book |last=Upham |first=Warren |author-link=Warren Upham |date=2001 |title=Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |isbn=0-87351-396-7 |edition=3rd|pages=55}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bigstonecounty.gov/county_history/index.php |title=County History |last= |first= |date= |website=Welcome to Big Stone County |publisher= |access-date=March 10, 2024 |quote=}}

Geography

Big Stone County lies on the western side of Minnesota. Its southwest boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The Little Minnesota River flows along the county's southwestern boundary. Since 1937, a dam (Big Stone Lake Dam) has impounded the river's waters, creating Big Stone Lake. Water flowing out from this lake flows along the south boundary line of the county, and is known as the Minnesota River from that point. Fish Creek flows southwesterly through the northwestern part of the county, discharging into Big Stone Lake at the county's southwestern boundary.

The terrain of Big Stone County is low rolling hills, wooded or devoted to agriculture.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Big+Stone+County,+MN/@45.3815418,-96.7497097,104789m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x52cb817f76786145:0x63f4bdf47f96f012!8m2!3d45.4932045!4d-96.4724 Big Stone County MN Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019)] The terrain generally slopes to the south and east, although its southwestern portion slopes to the river valley. Its highest point is on its north line near the northwestern corner, {{convert|2.9|mi|km}} east of Lagoona Beach, at {{convert|1,201|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Big Stone County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019) |access-date=March 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead }}[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22088 Big Stone County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 5, 2019)] The county has a total area of {{convert|528|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|499|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|29|sqmi}} (5.5%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102023/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|archive-date=October 6, 2014}} File:Big Stone Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

=Lakes=

Artichoke Lake - south edge in Akron Township, vast majority in Artichoke Township
Barry Lake - Toqua Township
Bentsen Lake - east half in Otrey Township, west half in Big Stone Township
Big Stone Lake - Ortonville Township, Browns Valley Township, Foster Township, Prior Township, Big Stone Township
Clear Lake - Toqua Township
Cup Lake - Almond Township
Deep Lake - Big Stone Township
East Toqua Lake - Graceville Township
Eli Lake - south three-quarters in Almond Township, west quarter in Clinton
Fogarty Lake - Toqua Township
Horseshoe Lake - Odessa Township
Lannon Lake - Graceville Township
Lindgren Lake - Ortonville Township
Lake Leo - Graceville Township
Lone Tree Lake - east three-quarters in Malta Township, west quarter in Almond Township
Long Lake - Artichoke Township
Long Tom Lake - northeast edge in Otrey Township, vast majority in Odessa Township
Lysing Lake - vast majority in Almond Township, south edge in Big Stone Township
Marsh Lake - Akron Township
Moonshine Lake - Moonshine Township
Moulton Lake - Big Stone Township
Mundweiler Lake - Big Stone Township
Munnwyler Lake - Ortonville Township
Olson Lake - Big Stone Township
Olson Lake - Otrey Township
Otrey Lake - Otrey Township
Peterson Lake - Odessa Township
South Rothwell Lake - north edge in Graceville Township, vast majority in Almond Township
Smithwicks Lake - Graceville Township
Swenson Lake - Big Stone Township
Twin Lakes - Big Stone Township
West Toqua Lake - Graceville Township
Walter Lake - Ortonville Township

Source: United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/tgrshp2007/tgrshp2007.html|title=United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310144543/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/edgar.html|archive-date=March 10, 2007}}

=Major highways=

=Adjacent counties=

Traverse County - north
Stevens County - northeast
Swift County - southeast
Lac qui Parle County - south
Grant County, South Dakota - southwest
Roberts County, South Dakota - northwest

=Protected areas=

Big Stone Lake State Park
Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Big Stone Wildlife Management Preserve (part)
Bonanza Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Clinton Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Dismal Swamp State Wildlife Management Area
Freed State Wildlife Management Area
Lac qui Parle State Wildlife Management Area
Otrey State Wildlife Management Area
Reisdorph State Wildlife Management Area
Victor State Wildlife Management Area

Climate and weather

{{climate chart

|Ortonville, Minnesota

|1|23|0.58

|7|27|0.55

|19|39|1.37

|32|56|2.64

|45|69|2.52

|56|78|3.56

|60|84|3.85

|58|82|2.70

|47|73|2.60

|34|59|2.23

|21|41|0.98

|7|25|0.43

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMN0571|title=Monthly Averages for Ortonville MN|access-date=November 6, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Ortonville have ranged from a low of {{convert|1|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|84|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-44|°F}} was recorded in February 1994 and a record high of {{convert|108|°F}} was recorded in July 1966. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|0.43|in}} in December to {{convert|3.85|in}} in July.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1870= 24

|1880= 3688

|1890= 5722

|1900= 8731

|1910= 9367

|1920= 9766

|1930= 9838

|1940= 10447

|1950= 9607

|1960= 8954

|1970= 7941

|1980= 7716

|1990= 6285

|2000= 5820

|2010= 5269

|2020= 5166

|estyear=2023

|estimate=5105

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|access-date=March 18, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=October 5, 2014}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014}} 2010-2020

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

|+Big Stone County Racial Composition{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Big Stone County, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Big%20Stone%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (NH)

|4,809

|93.1%

Black or African American (NH)

|19

|0.37%

Native American (NH)

|34

|0.66%

Asian (NH)

|12

|0.23%

Pacific Islander (NH)

|0.07%

Other/Mixed (NH)

|148

|2.7%

Hispanic or Latino

|140

|2.7%

=2000 census=

File:BigStoneCountyMn2022PopPyr.png for Becker County, from ACS 5-year estimates]]

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,820 people, 2,377 households, and 1,611 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|11.7|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 3,171 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6.35|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.7% were of German, 21.0% Norwegian, 8.0% Swedish and 6.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 2,377 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,721, and the median income for a family was $37,354. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $20,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,708. About 7.80% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

=Cities=

=Unincorporated communities=

=Townships=

Government and politics

Between 1928 and 2008, Big Stone County voted Democratic in every election except for two nationwide Republican landslides in 1952 and 1980. The only other time between 1928 and 2000 that the Republican candidate lost by less than 10% was Ronald Reagan during his 1984 landslide reelection. Beginning in 2000, the Democratic margins began to shrink, with George W. Bush losing by about 2% in both 2000 and 2004, and by a margin of no more than 60 votes. Despite favoring Barack Obama by over 6% in 2008, this would prove to be the most recent time Big Stone County would vote Democratic. Mitt Romney narrowly carried the county by 40 votes and less than 1.5% in 2012. But in 2016, Donald Trump greatly expanded the thin margin Romney won the county by as Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton lost by nearly 25%, the first time a Republican won by more than 5% in the county since 1924. Trump further increased his margin of victory in 2020 to over 27%, and improved even more in 2024 to nearly a 30% margin of victory.

{{PresHead|place=Big Stone County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 11, 2018}}|source2=The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 591 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 98 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 62 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 4 votes.}}

class="wikitable"

|+County Board of Commissioners{{Cite web|title=Welcome to Big Stone County Minnesota|url=https://www.bigstonecounty.org/contact_us/commissioners.php|access-date=January 23, 2023|website=www.bigstonecounty.gov}}

! colspan="2" |Position

!Name

!District

|Commissioner

|Chad Zimmel

|District 1

|Commissioner

|Wade Athey

|District 2

|Commissioner and Chairperson

|Brent Olson

|District 3

|Commissioner

|Roger Sandberg

|District 4

|Commissioner

|Jeff Klages

|District 5

class="wikitable"

|+State Legislature (2018–2020)

! colspan="2" |Position

!Name

!Affiliation

!District

style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |

|Senate

|Torrey Westrom{{Cite web|title=MN State Senate|url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?member_id=1197|access-date=June 24, 2020|website=www.senate.mn|language=en}}

|Republican

|District 12

style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |

|House of Representatives

|Jeff Backer{{Cite web|title=Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives|url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15428|access-date=June 24, 2020|website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us}}

|Republican

|District 12A

class="wikitable"

|+U.S Congress (2021–2023)

! colspan="2" |Position

!Name

!Affiliation

!District

style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |

|House of Representatives

|Michelle Fischbach

|Republican

|7th

style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |

|Senate

|Amy Klobuchar{{Cite web|title=U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar|url=https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/|access-date=June 24, 2020|website=www.klobuchar.senate.gov}}

|Democrat

|N/A

style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |

|Senate

|Tina Smith{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.smith.senate.gov/|access-date=June 24, 2020|website=Senator Tina Smith|language=en}}

|Democrat

|N/A

Education

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27011_big_stone/DC20SD_C27011.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Big Stone County, MN|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=April 10, 2024}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27011_big_stone/DC20SD_C27011_SD2MS.txt Text list]