Dodge County, Minnesota

The area of present Dodge County was a hunting and battle ground for the Mdewakanton Sioux, often fighting Sauk and Meskwaki who wandered into their territory. Possibly the first non-indigenous person to enter the territory was a French fur trader from Canada in 1655. After the fur trappers and early explorers, the area was populated by settlers from New England. The 1820s and 1830s saw significant emigration, eased by completion of the Erie Canal (1825) and the end of the Black Hawk War (1831). They brought a passion for education, establishing many schools, as well as staunch support for abolitionism. They were members of the Congregational or Episcopal church. Culturally Dodge County was similar to colonial New England during the nineteenth century.The Jones-Steele Family History: Dodge County, Minnesota by Earl W. Velander, Georgean Velander E. & G. Velander, 1990 In 1853 government surveyors set lines for the townships. In 1854, two Mantor brothers and Eli P. Waterman established their claims in the area of present Mantorville. In early 1855, Dodge County was organized for local government. It was named for Henry Dodge, the first governor of Wisconsin (1836–1841).{{Cite book|last=Upham|first=Warren|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|year=1920|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n190 171]}}

The Minnesota State Constitution placed Dodge County in the Fifth Judicial District on May 11, 1858. The county courthouse was constructed in 1865; it is presently the oldest still-used courthouse in Minnesota.{{Cite web |title=Dodge County Courthouse |url=http://www.mncourts.gov/?siteID=0&page=CourtHouseProfile&ID=40018 |access-date=May 14, 2015 |publisher=Minnesota Judicial Branch}} As the 20th century began, emigrants from Germany, Sweden and Norway flowed to Minnesota in increasing numbers. Their influence added Catholic and Lutheran influence to the cultural mix.

File:Dodge Co MN Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

The South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River flows east-northeast through the upper central part of Dodge County. Salem Creek and Harkcom Creek drain the county to the east. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, devoted to agriculture where possible.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dodge+County,+MN/@43.9935267,-92.775408,21788m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f73db3616dde2f:0x138b8aecc9a91153!8m2!3d43.9842889!4d-92.8577105 Dodge County MN Google Maps (accessed March 7, 2019)] The terrain slopes to the northeast; its highest point is on the eastern part of its southern border, at {{convert|1,352|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Dodge County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 7, 2019)] The county has a total area of {{convert|440|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|439|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi}} (0.07%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |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 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

Dodge County is in southeastern Minnesota and is {{convert|24|mi|km}} long and {{convert|18|mi|km}} wide. The central and northern parts are hilly and thickly wooded with pebbly, loose soil that allows for wheat agriculture. The southern part, in contrast, is flat and wet, more suited to grazing livestock. The soil is very fertile, with heavy black loam. Dodge is one of seven southern Minnesota counties that have no forest ecosystems; only prairie and savanna soils exist here.

Dodge County's plentiful sand and rock also make the area a center for building. Quarries in Mantorville were once enterprises and consist of layers of thick stone that can be cut into any desired shape. Wasioja is known nationwide for its excellent "Wasioja stone."

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

• Dodge Center Creek
• Harkcom Creek
• Henslin Creek
• Little Cedar River
• Masten Creek
• Millikin Creek
• Salem Creek
• Tompkins Creek

{{div col end}}

• Rice Lake (part)
• Zumbro River Reservoir

{{div col|colwidth=32em}}

• 20px U.S. Highway 14
• 20px U.S. Highway 218
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 30
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 56
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 57

{{div col end}}

• Dodge Center Municipal Airport

{{div col|colwidth=32em}}

• Rice County - northwest
• Goodhue County - northeast
• Olmsted County - east
• Mower County - south
• Steele County -west

{{div col end}}

{{US Census population

|1860= 3797

|1870= 8598

|1880= 11344

|1890= 10864

|1900= 13340

|1910= 12094

|1920= 12552

|1930= 12127

|1940= 12931

|1950= 12624

|1960= 13259

|1970= 13037

|1980= 14773

|1990= 15731

|2000= 17731

|2010= 20087

|2020= 20867

|estyear=2023

|estimate=21088

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

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=October 15, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790-1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 15, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900-1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 15, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1990-2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |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 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010-2020

}}

File:DodgeCountyMn2022PopPyr.png for Dodge County, from ACS 5-year estimates]]

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,731 people, 6,420 households, and 4,853 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|40.4|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 6,642 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15.1|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.58% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.89% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 2.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.2% were of German, 26.9% Norwegian, 5.8% Irish, 5.8% American and 5.1% English ancestry.

There were 6,420 households, out of which 40.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.70% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.40% were non-families. 20.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.15.

The county population contained 30.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,437, and the median income for a family was $54,261. Males had a median income of $34,195 versus $25,903 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,259. About 4.40% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.80% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Blooming Prairie (partly in Steele County)
• Claremont
• Dodge Center
• Hayfield
• Kasson
• Mantorville (county seat)
• West Concord

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Berne
• Concord
• Danesville (partial)
• Eden
• Oslo
• Rice Lake (ghost town)
• Wasioja

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• Ashland Township
• Canisteo Township
• Claremont Township
• Concord Township
• Ellington Township
• Hayfield Township
• Mantorville Township
• Milton Township
• Ripley Township
• Vernon Township
• Wasioja Township
• Westfield Township

{{div col end}}

Dodge County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

{{PresHead|place=Dodge County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 17, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,095|4,108|281|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,783|4,079|325|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,527|3,102|1,025|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,522|4,487|318|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,468|4,463|282|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,593|4,117|158|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,213|3,370|467|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,888|3,233|1,314|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,049|2,620|2,303|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,848|2,925|73|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,428|2,786|48|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,900|2,698|502|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|3,446|3,009|143|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,863|1,921|152|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,064|2,437|208|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,474|3,138|8|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,769|2,170|4|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,205|1,814|6|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,893|1,582|33|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,381|2,523|57|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,902|1,808|15|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,257|2,357|11|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,138|2,812|188|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,129|2,675|87|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,569|1,196|26|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,856|215|1,258|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,386|516|158|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,260|895|103|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|470|543|1,000|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,454|515|115|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,499|319|158|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,611|674|191|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,900|911|108|Minnesota}}

{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|1,219|536|448|Minnesota}}

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

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.co.dodge.mn.us/ Dodge County government's website]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Dodge County, Minnesota

|North = Goodhue County

|East = Olmsted County

|South = Mower County

|West = Steele County

|Northwest = Rice County

}}

{{Dodge County, Minnesota}}

{{Minnesota}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|44.03|-92.86|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Minnesota counties

Category:Rochester metropolitan area, Minnesota

Category:1855 establishments in Minnesota Territory