Pipestone County, Minnesota

The county was formed on May 23, 1857, by act of the territorial legislature, but was not organized at that time. The area was first designated Rock County while the name Pipestone County was attached to neighboring Rock County. An act of the Minnesota state legislature on February 20, 1862, swapped the designations, attaching the present names to the present counties, due to the pipestone quarry in this county.

Pipestone County organization was effected by a state act on January 27, 1879, with Pipestone City (which had been platted in 1876) as the county seat (the name of the county seat was later shortened to Pipestone).[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n535 Uphame, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names (1920), pp. 417-421 (accessed April 13, 2019)] The pipestones are from deposits of red pipestone Native Americans used to make pipes.{{Cite book |last=Chicago and North Western Railway Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OspBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA163 |title=A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways |year=1908 |page=163}}

Pipestone National Monument is in the county, just north of the town of Pipestone.

Pipestone County lies on Minnesota's border with South Dakota. The Rock River rises in the county and flows southward into Rock County, being augmented by the East Branch of the Rock River near the southern border. The terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved by drainages. The area is devoted to agriculture.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pipestone+County,+MN/@44.0232158,-96.3987273,53529m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x878bc4a34af27437:0x48a984532e170e71!8m2!3d43.9973355!4d-96.3226072 Pipestone County MN Google Maps (accessed April 13, 2019)] The terrain slopes to the west and south, with its highest point on the upper part of its eastern border, at {{convert|1,883|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.{{Cite web |title="Find an Altitude/Pipestone County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 13, 2019) |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=April 13, 2019}} The county has an area of {{convert|466|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|465|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.9|sqmi}} (0.2%) 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/20130921060200/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} File:Pipestone Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf The highest point in the eastern part of the county may be as stated but the highest summit is 1995 ft at 44.1927°, -96.2033°

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• 20px U.S. Highway 75
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 23
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 30
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 269

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• Lincoln County - north
• Lyon County - northeast
• Murray County - east
• Rock County - south
• Minnehaha County, South Dakota - southwest
• Moody County, South Dakota - west
• Brookings County, South Dakota - northwest

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Source:

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• Altona State Wildlife Management Area
• Burke State Wildlife Management Area
• Holland State Wildlife Management Area
• Pheasant Terrace State Wildlife Management Area
• Pipestone Indian State Wildlife Management Area (within Pipestone Natl Monument)
• Pipestone National Monument
• Prairie Coteau Scientific and Natural Area
• Split Rock Creek State Park
• Troy State Wildlife Management Area
• Van Beek State Wildlife Management Area
• Woodstock State Wildlife Management Area

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Pipestone County is one of only four Minnesota counties without a natural lake, the other three being Mower, Olmsted and Rock. It does contain manmade reservoirs:

• Indian Lake
• Split Rock Lake: in Split Rock Creek State Park

{{US Census population

|1880= 2092

|1890= 5132

|1900= 9264

|1910= 9553

|1920= 12050

|1930= 12238

|1940= 13794

|1950= 14003

|1960= 13605

|1970= 12791

|1980= 11690

|1990= 10491

|2000= 9895

|2010= 9596

|2020= 9424

|estyear=2023

|estimate=9245

|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/prod/www/decennial.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |archive-date=April 26, 2015 |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790-1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 24, 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 24, 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 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010-2020

}}

File:PipestoneCountyMn2022PopPyr.png for Pipestone County, from ACS 5-year estimates]]

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,895 people, 4,069 households, and 2,726 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|21.3|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 4,434 housing units at an average density of {{convert|9.54|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.68% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 1.48% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.7% were of German, 24.8% Dutch and 14.3% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 4,069 households, of which 31.0% had children under age 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.96.

The county population contained 25.8% under age 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,909, and the median income for a family was $40,133. Males had a median income of $27,642 versus $20,759 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,450. About 7.8% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under 18 and 11.1% of those 65 or older.

File:Pipestone County Administrative map.svg

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• Edgerton
• Hatfield
• Holland
• Ihlen
• Jasper (partly in Rock County)
• Pipestone (county seat)
• Ruthton
• Trosky
• Woodstock

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• Airlie
• Cazenovia
• Cresson
• Diamond Corner

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• Aetna Township
• Altona Township
• Burke Township
• Eden Township
• Elmer Township
• Fountain Prairie Township
• Grange Township
• Gray Township
• Osborne Township
• Rock Township
• Sweet Township
• Troy Township

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In recent decades Pipestone County has trended Republican. In no presidential election since 1976 has the county selected the Democratic nominee (as of 2024). In 2012, it was one of only two counties not to vote for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar, along with its southern neighbor Rock County.{{Cite web |title=Minnesota 2012 election results by county |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/2012-general-election-results/2012-election-results-maps/ |access-date=February 25, 2020}}

{{PresHead|place=Pipestone County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,537|1,215|85|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,553|1,306|81|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,338|1,127|343|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,826|1,725|95|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,652|2,023|126|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,066|1,900|66|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,693|1,970|231|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,096|1,999|627|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,953|1,773|1,444|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,760|2,382|47|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,043|2,391|67|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,207|2,392|644|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,018|3,272|111|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,543|2,758|75|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,241|2,234|263|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,481|3,365|5|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,677|2,443|11|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,362|2,165|6|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,507|1,701|13|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,281|2,804|95|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,844|2,129|21|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,423|2,390|29|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,881|3,026|263|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,509|2,996|73|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,578|1,591|38|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,066|219|2,005|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,106|490|292|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,010|732|184|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|301|505|858|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,057|491|76|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,185|269|102|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,112|692|54|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|862|919|34|Minnesota}}

{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|648|295|408|Minnesota}}

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

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929113504/http://www.co.pipestone.mn.us/ Pipestone County government’s website]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Pipestone County, Minnesota

|North = Lincoln County

|Northeast = Lyon County

|East = Murray County

|South = Rock County

|Southwest = Minnehaha County, South Dakota

|West = Moody County, South Dakota

|Northwest = Brookings County, South Dakota

}}

{{Pipestone County, Minnesota}}

{{Minnesota}}

{{coord|44.02|-96.25|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Minnesota counties

Category:1879 establishments in Minnesota

Category:Populated places established in 1879