Editing Stevens County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Stevens County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | ex image             = Morris Carnegie Library.jpg
 | ex image size        = 220px
 | ex image cap         = [[List of Carnegie libraries in Minnesota|Carnegie Library]] in [[Morris, Minnesota|Morris]].
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = February 20
 | founded year         = 1862
 | seat wl              = Morris
 | largest city         = Morris
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 575
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 564
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 12
 | area percentage      = 2.0%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 9671
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 9728 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 17.1
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.co.stevens.mn.us
 | named for            = [[Isaac Ingalls Stevens]]
 | district             = 7th
}}

'''Stevens County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 9,671.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/stevenscountyminnesota/PST045222 |access-date=April 23, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Morris, Minnesota|Morris]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==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.<ref>[http://www.historylink.org/File/5314 ''Isaac Ingalls Stevens'' (accessed March 15, 2019)]</ref> 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 County, Minnesota|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.<ref>{{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/n552 535]}}</ref> The county government was organized in 1872. Morris, which had been platted in 1869, was named the county seat.<ref>[http://www.co.stevens.mn.us/index.aspx?nid=880 ''Brief History''. Stevens County (accessed March 15, 2019)]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Place Names |url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620201420/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=March 19, 2014 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society}}</ref>

The [[University of Minnesota Morris]] is in [[Morris, Minnesota|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 [[1975 Morris earthquake|earthquake]] occurred in the county.

==Geography==
The [[Pomme de Terre River (Minnesota)|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.<ref name="SCM">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stevens+County,+MN/@45.5774063,-96.0818956,54610m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x52cbad92dfc24f3f:0x90694a715fd515e!8m2!3d45.5215118!4d-95.9522178 ''Stevens County MN''  Google Maps (accessed March 15, 2019)]</ref> 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 {{convert|1,250|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Stevens County MN"  Google Maps (accessed 15 March 2019)]</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|575|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|564|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|12|sqmi}} (2.0%) is water.<ref>{{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 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
{{Stack|[[File:Stevens Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Stevens County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]}}

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 59#Minnesota|U.S. Highway 59]]
* [[Image:MN-9.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 9]]
* [[Image:MN-28.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 28]]
* [[Image:MN-329.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 329]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Grant County, Minnesota|Grant County]] - north
* [[Douglas County, Minnesota|Douglas County]] - northeast
* [[Pope County, Minnesota|Pope County]] - east
* [[Swift County, Minnesota|Swift County]] - south
* [[Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone County]] - southwest
* [[Traverse County, Minnesota|Traverse County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===Protected areas<ref name=SCM/>===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* 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
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 174
|1880= 3911
|1890= 5251
|1900= 8721
|1910= 8293
|1920= 9778
|1930= 10185
|1940= 11039
|1950= 11106
|1960= 11262
|1970= 11218
|1980= 11322
|1990= 10634
|2000= 10053
|2010= 9726
|2020= 9671
|estyear=2023
|estimate=9728
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{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}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{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 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Stevens County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web |title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Stevens County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Stevens%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|8,093
|83.7%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|84
|0.9%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|110
|1.14%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|68
|0.7%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|1
|0.01%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|329
|3.4%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|986
|10.2%
|}

===2000 census===
[[File:StevensCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Stevens County, from [[American Community Survey|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 {{convert|17.8|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 4,074 housing units at an average density of {{convert|7.22|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.13% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.92% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.70% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.86% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.38% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.00% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 44.8% were of [[German people|German]], 20.8% [[norwegian people|Norwegian]] and 5.4% [[Irish people|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 [[Marriage|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===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Alberta, Minnesota|Alberta]]
* [[Chokio, Minnesota|Chokio]]
* [[Donnelly, Minnesota|Donnelly]]
* [[Hancock, Minnesota|Hancock]]
* [[Morris, Minnesota|Morris]] (county seat)
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Baker Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Baker Township]]
* [[Darnen Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Darnen Township]]
* [[Donnelly Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Donnelly Township]]
* [[Eldorado Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Eldorado Township]]
* [[Everglade Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Everglade Township]]
* [[Framnas Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Framnas Township]]
* [[Hodges Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Hodges Township]]
* [[Horton Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Horton Township]]
* [[Moore Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Moore Township]]
* [[Morris Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Morris Township]]
* [[Pepperton Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Pepperton Township]]
* [[Rendsville Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Rendsville Township]]
* [[Scott Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Scott Township]]
* [[Stevens Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Stevens Township]]
* [[Swan Lake Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Swan Lake Township]]
* [[Synnes Township, Stevens County, Minnesota|Synnes Township]]
{{div col end}}

==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.
{{PresHead|place=Stevens County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{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}}</ref>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 628 votes, while [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin|Eugene Chafin]] received 52 votes, Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs|Eugene Debs]] received 33 votes, and [[Socialist Labor Party of America|Socialist Labor]] candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 5 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,213|1,827|99|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,044|1,922|119|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,799|2,116|483|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,766|2,742|144|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|2,710|2,781|143|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,030|2,821|98|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,831|2,434|487|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,141|2,741|573|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,229|2,466|1,121|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,679|2,721|58|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,251|2,451|44|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,283|2,559|634|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,484|3,171|134|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|2,830|2,870|111|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,560|2,247|255|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,220|2,910|7|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,710|2,405|11|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,606|1,822|2|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,288|1,579|12|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,928|2,313|42|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,377|1,693|12|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|2,619|2,018|15|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,431|2,352|175|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,396|2,552|42|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,275|1,457|16|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,553|238|1,379|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,339|457|134|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|943|787|64|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|286|640|718|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|877|582|55|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,254|362|53|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,036|682|68|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|981|685|43|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|622|509|215|Minnesota}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+County Board of Commissioners<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Board of Commissioners {{!}} Stevens County, MN - Official Website |url=https://www.co.stevens.mn.us/1088/Stevens-County-Board |access-date=April 25, 2023 |website=www.co.stevens.mn.us}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |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
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+State Legislature (2018-2020)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|Senate
|[[Torrey Westrom]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 12
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|House of Representatives
|[[Jeff Backer]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 12A
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+U.S Congress (2018-2020)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Michelle Fischbach]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach |url=https://fischbach.house.gov/ |access-date=April 28, 2021 |website=Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Minnesota's 7th congressional district|7th]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Amy Klobuchar]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>
|[[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democrat]]
|N/A
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Tina Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.smith.senate.gov/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=Senator Tina Smith |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party|Democrat]]
|N/A
|}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Minnesota#Stevens County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Stevens County, Minnesota]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.co.stevens.mn.us/ Stevens County government’s website]
* [http://www.stevenshistorymuseum.com/ Stevens County Historical Society & Museum]
{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Stevens County, Minnesota
|North     = [[Grant County, Minnesota|Grant County]]
|Northeast = [[Douglas County, Minnesota|Douglas County]]
|East      = [[Pope County, Minnesota|Pope County]]
|South     = [[Swift County, Minnesota|Swift County]]
|Southwest = [[Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone County]]
|Northwest = [[Traverse County, Minnesota|Traverse County]]
}}

{{Stevens County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|45.58|-96.00|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Stevens County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties]]
[[Category:1862 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1862]]