Chippewa County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

U.S. county in Minnesota

Chippewa County

U.S. county

Chippewa County Bank in Montevideo.

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Minnesota
Founded| February 20, 1862 (created)
1868 (organized)[1]
Named for| Chippewa River[2]
Seat| Montevideo
Largest city| Montevideo
Area

• Total| 588 sq mi (1,520 km2)
• Land| 581 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water| 6.7 sq mi (17 km2)  1.1%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 12,598
• Estimate

(2021)

| 12,357
• Density| 21.7/sq mi (8.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 7th
Website| www.co.chippewa.mn.us

Chippewa County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,598.[3] Its county seat is Montevideo.[4] The county was formed in 1862, and was organized in 1868.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 County seat
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Lakes
* 2.2 Major highways
* 2.3 Adjacent counties
* 2.4 Protected areas
* 3 Climate and weather
* 4 Demographics
* 4.1 2000 census
* 4.2 2020 Census
* 5 Communities
* 5.1 Cities
* 5.2 Unincorporated communities
* 5.3 Townships
* 6 Government and politics
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

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Chippewa County was organized on March 5, 1868, after having been part of Renville County. The northern boundary change separating it from Swift County led to reorganization on February 18, 1870. The first three county commissioners, appointed by the governor, were Daniel S. Wilkins, Ole Thorson and M. Davidson. The county commissioners first met at Wilkins's cabin on January 9, 1869. Wilkins was appointed chairman of the board. The first officers appointed were J.D Baker as auditor; J.C. Eldred as register of deeds; Samuel J. Sargant as treasurer; George W. Daniels as judge of probate; Edward Alcorn as sheriff; J.D. Baker as superintendent of schools; Horace W. Griggs as coroner; George W. Frink as justice of the peace; and F.W. Palmer and M. Morris as constables.

### County seat

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Chippewa City was the first village to be laid out in Chippewa County. It was on the west side of the Chippewa River, just north of the confluence with the Minnesota River. Daniel S. Wilkins was the first settler to arrive in 1865, and he laid out Chippewa City in autumn 1868. Wilkins's cabin there was the location of the first county commissioners' meeting.

George W. Frink arrived in Chippewa County in 1867 and made claim to land on the east side of the Chippewa River, where he built a log house in Montevideo. With towns on both sides of the river, there was debate over which should be the county seat. L. R. Moyer reported that some men from Montevideo went to Chippewa City and took the county records, "lock, stock and barrel". They also stole the post office, and G. W. Fink was named postmaster. The state of Minnesota legalized the move and Montevideo remains the county seat.[5]

## Geography

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Soils of Chippewa County[6]

The upper part of the county's western boundary is formed by the outline of Lac qui Parle reservoir, which was formed when the Minnesota River was dammed in 1939. The Minnesota River flows southeast from the lake, along the county's southwestern border, while the Chippewa River flows south through the western part of the county to discharge into the Minnesota at the county's southern border. The Dry Weather Creek drains the west-central part of the county into the Chippewa, while the Palmer Creek drains the lower central part of the county into the Minnesota near the county's southernmost point. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture.[7] The terrain generally slopes to the south, and locally to the river valleys. The county's highest point is near its southeastern corner, section 23 of Rheiderland Township, at 1,142' (348m) [8] The county has a total area of 588 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 581 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km2) (1.1%) is water.[9]

### Lakes

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* Carlton Lake
* Long Lake
* Norboro Lake
* Round Lake
* Shakopee Lake
* Watson Sag

[7]

### Major highways

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* U.S. Highway 59
* U.S. Highway 212
* Minnesota State Highway 7
* Minnesota State Highway 23
* Minnesota State Highway 29
* Minnesota State Highway 40

### Adjacent counties

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* Swift County \- north
* Kandiyohi County \- northeast
* Renville County \- southeast
* Yellow Medicine County \- southwest
* Lac qui Parle County \- west

### Protected areas

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* Boike State Wildlife Management Area
* Franko State Wildlife Management Area
* Gneiss Outcrops Scientific and Natural Area
* Minnesota River Valley Overlook
* Spartan State Wildlife Management Area

[7]

## Climate and weather

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Montevideo, Minnesota

Climate chart (explanation)

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0.9

1.8

2.5

4.2

3.7

3.4

3.3

2.3

1.7

0.9

Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[10]
| Metric conversion

−17

−14

108

−14

Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Montevideo have ranged from a low of 2 °F (−17 °C) in January to a high of 83 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −37 °F (−38 °C) was recorded in January 1970 and a record high of 110 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.86 inches (22 mm) in December to 4.24 inches (108 mm) in June.[10]

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1870| 1,467| | —
1880| 5,408| | 268.6%
1890| 8,555| | 58.2%
1900| 12,499| | 46.1%
1910| 13,458| | 7.7%
1920| 15,720| | 16.8%
1930| 15,762| | 0.3%
1940| 16,927| | 7.4%
1950| 16,739| | −1.1%
1960| 16,320| | −2.5%
1970| 15,109| | −7.4%
1980| 14,941| | −1.1%
1990| 13,228| | −11.5%
2000| 13,088| | −1.1%
2010| 12,441| | −4.9%
2020| 12,598| | 1.3%
2021 (est.)| 12,357| [11]| −1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[3]

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

### 2000 census

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As of the 2000 census,[16] there were 13,088 people, 5,361 households, and 3,597 families in the county. The population density was 22.5/sqmi (8.70/km2). There were 5,855 housing units at an average density of 10.1/sqmi (3.89/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.78% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 1.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.8% were of Norwegian and 36.8% German ancestry.

There were 5,361 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.

The county population contained 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,582, and the median income for a family was $45,160. Males had a median income of $30,556 versus $20,384 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,039. About 4.80% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

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Chippewa County Racial Composition[17] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

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White (NH)  | 10,473  | 83.13%
Black or African American (NH)  | 75  | 0.6%
Native American (NH)  | 102  | 0.8%
Asian (NH)  | 44  | 0.34%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 296  | 2.4%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 365  | 2.9%
Hispanic or Latino | 1,243  | 9.9%

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Clara City
* Granite Falls (partial)
* Maynard
* Milan
* Montevideo (county seat)
* Watson

### Unincorporated communities

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* Asbury
* Big Bend City
* Bunde
* Churchill
* Gracelock[7]
* Gluek
* Hagan
* Louriston
* Wegdahl

### Townships

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* Big Bend Township
* Crate Township
* Grace Township
* Granite Falls Township
* Havelock Township
* Kragero Township
* Leenthrop Township
* Lone Tree Township
* Louriston Township
* Mandt Township
* Rheiderland Township
* Rosewood Township
* Sparta Township
* Stoneham Township
* Tunsberg Township
* Woods Township

## Government and politics

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Chippewa County voters have tended to vote Democratic in recent decades. As of 2020 the county has selected the Democratic nominee in 67% of presidential elections since 1980. Donald Trump was the first Republican nominee to win the county since George W. Bush in 2000, receiving 60.5% of the vote.

United States presidential election results for Chippewa County, Minnesota[18] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 4,250  | 64.29% | 2,226  | 33.67%  | 135  | 2.04%
2016 | 3,764  | 60.50% | 1,978  | 31.79%  | 480  | 7.71%
2012 | 2,967  | 47.85%  | 3,083  | 49.72% | 151  | 2.44%
2008 | 2,907  | 45.74%  | 3,280  | 51.60% | 169  | 2.66%
2004 | 3,089  | 46.76%  | 3,424  | 51.83% | 93  | 1.41%
2000 | 2,977  | 46.87% | 2,952  | 46.47%  | 423  | 6.66%
1996 | 2,119  | 34.60%  | 3,178  | 51.89% | 827  | 13.50%
1992 | 2,143  | 32.39%  | 2,929  | 44.26% | 1,545  | 23.35%
1988 | 3,190  | 48.97%  | 3,238  | 49.71% | 86  | 1.32%
1984 | 3,964  | 55.95% | 3,047  | 43.01%  | 74  | 1.04%
1980 | 4,252  | 52.51% | 3,164  | 39.08%  | 681  | 8.41%
1976 | 3,254  | 40.44%  | 4,648  | 57.77% | 144  | 1.79%
1972 | 3,787  | 50.18% | 3,630  | 48.10%  | 130  | 1.72%
1968 | 3,195  | 44.70%  | 3,701  | 51.78% | 251  | 3.51%
1964 | 2,806  | 38.10%  | 4,550  | 61.78% | 9  | 0.12%
1960 | 3,915  | 51.69% | 3,643  | 48.10%  | 16  | 0.21%
1956 | 3,623  | 51.32% | 3,434  | 48.64%  | 3  | 0.04%
1952 | 4,411  | 57.90% | 3,171  | 41.63%  | 36  | 0.47%
1948 | 2,569  | 38.65%  | 3,888  | 58.50% | 189  | 2.84%
1944 | 2,967  | 47.25%  | 3,264  | 51.98% | 48  | 0.76%
1940 | 3,307  | 45.05%  | 3,969  | 54.07% | 64  | 0.87%
1936 | 2,223  | 33.89%  | 4,027  | 61.40% | 309  | 4.71%
1932 | 1,940  | 32.41%  | 3,888  | 64.95% | 158  | 2.64%
1928 | 3,547  | 62.77% | 2,032  | 35.96%  | 72  | 1.27%
1924 | 2,140  | 42.29%  | 140  | 2.77%  | 2,780  | 54.94%
1920 | 3,532  | 69.75% | 960  | 18.96%  | 572  | 11.30%
1916 | 1,311  | 46.79% | 1,134  | 40.47%  | 357  | 12.74%
1912 | 412  | 15.48%  | 870  | 32.68%  | 1,380  | 51.84%
1908 | 1,409  | 58.98% | 799  | 33.44%  | 181  | 7.58%
1904 | 1,830  | 79.60% | 338  | 14.70%  | 131  | 5.70%
1900 | 1,432  | 63.70% | 707  | 31.45%  | 109  | 4.85%
1896 | 1,310  | 54.61% | 1,037  | 43.23%  | 52  | 2.17%
1892 | 730  | 44.51% | 507  | 30.91%  | 403  | 24.57%

presidential County Board of Commissioners[19] Position  | Name  | District

|
|

| Commissioner  | Matt Gilbertson  | District 1
| Commissioner  | Jeffrey Lopez  | District 2
| Commissioner  | David Nordaune  | District 3
| Commissioner  | Jim Dahlvang  | District 4
| Commissioner  | David Lieser  | District 5
State Legislature (2021-2023)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

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| Senate  | Andrew Lang[20] | Republican | District 17
| House of Representatives  | Tim Miller[21] | Republican | District 17A
U.S Congress (2021-2023)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

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| House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach | Republican | 7th
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[22] | Democrat | N/A
| Senate | Tina Smith[23] | Democrat | N/A

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Chippewa County, Minnesota

## References

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1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
2. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 102.
3. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Chippewa County, Minnesota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. ^ Chippewa County History. Chippewa County Historical Society. 1993. p. 22\. LCCN 93-071293.
6. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
7. ^ a b c d Chippewa County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)
8. ^ "Chippewa County topographic map, elevation, relief".
9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
10. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Montevideo MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved April 3, 2022.
12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Chippewa County, Minnesota".
18. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
19. ^ "County Commissioners | Chippewa County, MN". www.co.chippewa.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
20. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
21. ^ "Rep. Tim Miller (17A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
22. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
23. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

## External links

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* Chippewa County government's website

Places adjacent to Chippewa County, Minnesota

|  | Swift County | Kandiyohi County

|
|

|  |
Lac qui Parle County |

Chippewa County, Minnesota

|  |
Yellow Medicine County |
| Renville County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Montevideo

Cities|

* Clara City
* Granite Falls‡
* Maynard
* Milan
* Montevideo
* Watson

Map of Minnesota highlighting Chippewa County

Townships|

* Big Bend
* Crate
* Grace
* Granite Falls
* Havelock
* Kragero
* Leenthrop
* Lone Tree
* Louriston
* Mandt
* Rheiderland
* Rosewood
* Sparta
* Stoneham
* Tunsberg
* Woods

Unincorporated
communities|

* Asbury
* Big Bend City
* Bunde
* Churchill
* Gluek
* Gracelock
* Hagan
* Louriston
* Wegdahl

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Minnesota

Saint Paul (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Outline
* Biking/Cycling
* Cities
* Climate (Climate change)
* Colleges and universities
* Congressional districts
* Ecology
* Geography
* Geology
* Governors
* High schools
* Hiking
* Historical Congressional delegations
* Historical Landmarks
* History
* Lakes
* Local government
* Movies and television
* Music
* Newspapers
* People
* Political parties
* Rivers
* School districts
* Scouting
* State fair
* Statutes
* State parks
* Symbols
* Territory
* Tourist attractions
* Townships
* Transportation

Society|

* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* LGBT
* Politics
* Sports
* Theater

Regions|

* Arrowhead
* Boundary Waters
* Buffalo Ridge
* Central
* Coteau des Prairies
* Dissected Till Plains
* Driftless Area
* Iron Range
* Minnesota River Valley
* North Shore
* Northwest Angle
* North Woods
* Pipestone
* Red River Valley
* Siouxland
* Southeast
* Twin Cities metropolitan area

Largest cities
pop. over 25,000|

* Andover
* Apple Valley
* Blaine
* Bloomington
* Brooklyn Center
* Brooklyn Park
* Burnsville
* Champlin
* Chanhassen
* Chaska
* Coon Rapids
* Cottage Grove
* Duluth
* Eagan
* Eden Prairie
* Edina
* Elk River
* Fridley
* Inver Grove Heights
* Lakeville
* Mankato
* Maple Grove
* Maplewood
* Minneapolis
* Minnetonka
* Moorhead
* Oakdale
* Owatonna
* Plymouth
* Prior Lake
* Ramsey
* Richfield
* Rochester
* Rosemount
* Roseville
* St. Cloud
* St. Louis Park
* Saint Paul
* Savage
* Shakopee
* Shoreview
* Winona
* White Bear Lake
* Woodbury

Counties|

* Aitkin
* Anoka
* Becker
* Beltrami
* Benton
* Big Stone
* Blue Earth
* Brown
* Carlton
* Carver
* Cass
* Chippewa
* Chisago
* Clay
* Clearwater
* Cook
* Cottonwood
* Crow Wing
* Dakota
* Dodge
* Douglas
* Faribault
* Fillmore
* Freeborn
* Goodhue
* Grant
* Hennepin
* Houston
* Hubbard
* Isanti
* Itasca
* Jackson
* Kanabec
* Kandiyohi
* Kittson
* Koochiching
* Lac qui Parle
* Lake
* Lake of the Woods
* Le Sueur
* Lincoln
* Lyon
* Mahnomen
* Marshall
* Martin
* McLeod
* Meeker
* Mille Lacs
* Morrison
* Mower
* Murray
* Nicollet
* Nobles
* Norman
* Olmsted
* Otter Tail
* Pennington
* Pine
* Pipestone
* Polk
* Pope
* Ramsey
* Red Lake
* Redwood
* Renville
* Rice
* Rock
* Roseau
* Saint Louis
* Scott
* Sherburne
* Sibley
* Stearns
* Steele
* Stevens
* Swift
* Todd
* Traverse
* Wabasha
* Wadena
* Waseca
* Washington
* Watonwan
* Wilkin
* Winona
* Wright
* Yellow Medicine

Attractions|

| Festivals|

* State Fair

|

Other|

* Mall of America

Coordinates: 45°02′N 95°34′W﻿ / ﻿45.03°N 95.56°W﻿ / 45.03; -95.56
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