Benton County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

County in Minnesota

Benton County

County

Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Gilman, Minnesota.

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 45°42′N 94°00′W﻿ / ﻿45.7°N 94°W﻿ / 45.7; -94
Country|  United States
State|  Minnesota
Founded| October 27, 1849 (created)
1850 (organized)[1]
Named after| Thomas Hart Benton
Seat| Foley
Largest city| Sauk Rapids
Area

• Total

| 413 sq mi (1,070 km2)
• Land| 408 sq mi (1,060 km2)
• Water| 4.8 sq mi (12 km2)  1.2%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 41,379

• Estimate

(2024)

| 41,881
• Density| 97.9/sq mi (37.8/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 6th
Website| www.co.benton.mn.us

Benton County is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 41,379.[2] Its county seat is Foley.[3]

Benton County is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Combined Statistical Area.

## History

[edit]

Established in 1849 and organized in 1850, the county is one of the oldest in Minnesota.[4] It was named for Thomas Hart Benton, a United States Senator from Missouri.[5] Its county seat for many years was Sauk Rapids, at the confluence of the Sauk and Mississippi Rivers. The county seat moved to Watab in 1856 and returned to Sauk Rapids in 1859. Sauk Rapids became the terminus of a railroad line in 1874, but was destroyed by a tornado in 1886. In 1897 the county seat moved to Foley, where it remains. As St. Cloud expanded into a metropolitan area, the southern part of Benton County became a suburb.

## Geography

[edit]

The Mississippi River flows southeast along Benton County's western border, and the Platte River flows south through the county's northwest corner, discharging into the Mississippi at the county's western border. The terrain consists of low rolling hills, wooded or devoted to agriculture.[6] It generally slopes to the south and east, although its western portion slopes into the river valleys. The county's highest point is a small hill near the midpoint of the northern border, 1 mi (1.6 km) north of Brennyville, at 1,311 ft (400 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 413 square miles (1,070 km2), of which 408 square miles (1,060 km2) is land and 4.8 square miles (12 km2) (1.2%) is water.[8] It is the fifth-smallest county in Minnesota by land area and fourth-smallest by total area.

Soils of Benton County[9]

Soils of Sartell WMA neighborhood

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 10
* Minnesota State Highway 15
* Minnesota State Highway 23
* Minnesota State Highway 25
* Minnesota State Highway 95

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Mille Lacs \- east
* Sherburne \- south
* Stearns \- west
* Morrison \- north

### Lakes

[edit]

* Donovan Lake (part)
* Graham Lake
* Little Rock Lake
* Mayhew Lake

[6]

### Protected areas

[edit]

* Benlacs State Wildlife Management Area (part)
* Bibles State Wildlife Management Area
* Englund Ecotone Scientific and Natural Area
* Sartell State Wildlife Management Area
* Wisneski State Wildlife Management Area

[6]

## Climate and weather

[edit]

Foley, Minnesota

Climate chart (explanation)

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0.7

0.6

1.6

2.6

4.2

3.3

3.8

3.5

2.5

1.4

0.8

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

−17

−14

106

−14

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

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Foley have ranged from a low of 2 °F (−17 °C) in January to a high of 82 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −43 °F (−42 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.62 inches (16 mm) in February to 4.17 inches (106 mm) in June.[10]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1850| 418| | —
1860| 627| | 50.0%
1870| 1,558| | 148.5%
1880| 3,012| | 93.3%
1890| 6,284| | 108.6%
1900| 9,912| | 57.7%
1910| 11,615| | 17.2%
1920| 14,073| | 21.2%
1930| 15,056| | 7.0%
1940| 16,106| | 7.0%
1950| 15,911| | −1.2%
1960| 17,287| | 8.6%
1970| 20,841| | 20.6%
1980| 25,187| | 20.9%
1990| 30,185| | 19.8%
2000| 34,226| | 13.4%
2010| 38,451| | 12.3%
2020| 41,379| | 7.6%
2024 (est.)| 41,881| [11]| 1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Benton County Racial Composition[16] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 35,821  | 86.6%
Black or African American (NH)  | 1,991  | 4.81%
Native American (NH)  | 184  | 0.44%
Asian (NH)  | 463  | 1.12%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 8  | 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 1,696  | 4.1%
Hispanic or Latino  | 1,216  | 2.94%

### 2000 census

[edit]

2022 US Census population pyramid for Benton County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,226 people, 13,065 households, and 8,518 families in the county. The population density was 83.9 per square mile (32.4/km2). There were 13,460 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.22% White, 0.78% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 47.8% were of German, 12.1% Polish and 8.8% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 13,065 households, out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 27.10% under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 31.00% from 25 to 44, 18.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,968, and the median income for a family was $51,277. Males had a median income of $33,214 versus $22,737 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,008. About 4.50% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.30% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Foley (county seat)
* Gilman
* Rice
* Royalton (partial)
* St. Cloud (partial)
* Sartell (partial)
* Sauk Rapids

### Townships

[edit]

* Alberta
* Gilmanton
* Glendorado
* Graham
* Granite Ledge
* Langola
* Mayhew Lake
* Maywood
* Minden
* Saint George
* Sauk Rapids
* Watab

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Ronneby

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Brennyville
* Duelm
* Fruitville
* Glendorado
* Granite Ledge
* Jakeville
* Mayhew
* North Benton
* Oak Park
* Parent
* Popple Creek
* Rum River
* Silver Corners
* Watab

### Ghost towns

[edit]

* Estes Brook
* Minden

[6]

## Government and politics

[edit]

Benton County voters have tended to vote Republican for the past few decades. In 2016 Donald Trump won the county with 64.2%, the highest share of the vote for any presidential candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932.[17]

United States presidential election results for Benton County, Minnesota[18] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 15,260  | 66.86% | 7,084  | 31.04%  | 480  | 2.10%
2020 | 14,382  | 64.61% | 7,280  | 32.70%  | 598  | 2.69%
2016 | 12,872  | 64.17% | 5,640  | 28.12%  | 1,546  | 7.71%
2012 | 10,849  | 55.30% | 8,173  | 41.66%  | 597  | 3.04%
2008 | 10,338  | 53.46% | 8,454  | 43.71%  | 547  | 2.83%
2004 | 10,043  | 54.63% | 8,059  | 43.84%  | 282  | 1.53%
2000 | 7,663  | 51.40% | 6,009  | 40.31%  | 1,236  | 8.29%
1996 | 4,835  | 36.54%  | 6,006  | 45.39% | 2,392  | 18.08%
1992 | 5,053  | 35.16%  | 5,156  | 35.88% | 4,162  | 28.96%
1988 | 6,060  | 50.33% | 5,861  | 48.68%  | 119  | 0.99%
1984 | 6,830  | 57.48% | 4,922  | 41.42%  | 131  | 1.10%
1980 | 5,513  | 46.79% | 5,272  | 44.75%  | 997  | 8.46%
1976 | 4,099  | 37.38%  | 6,235  | 56.86% | 631  | 5.75%
1972 | 4,652  | 49.35% | 4,282  | 45.43%  | 492  | 5.22%
1968 | 3,470  | 43.29%  | 4,022  | 50.17% | 524  | 6.54%
1964 | 2,818  | 37.47%  | 4,679  | 62.22% | 23  | 0.31%
1960 | 3,324  | 44.23%  | 4,175  | 55.56% | 16  | 0.21%
1956 | 3,591  | 57.77% | 2,609  | 41.97%  | 16  | 0.26%
1952 | 3,856  | 59.54% | 2,587  | 39.95%  | 33  | 0.51%
1948 | 2,297  | 38.19%  | 3,632  | 60.38% | 86  | 1.43%
1944 | 2,988  | 56.76% | 2,258  | 42.90%  | 18  | 0.34%
1940 | 3,491  | 55.76% | 2,742  | 43.79%  | 28  | 0.45%
1936 | 1,783  | 30.67%  | 3,111  | 53.52% | 919  | 15.81%
1932 | 1,329  | 24.84%  | 3,901  | 72.92% | 120  | 2.24%
1928 | 2,373  | 46.29%  | 2,732  | 53.30% | 21  | 0.41%
1924 | 1,629  | 41.90% | 572  | 14.71%  | 1,687  | 43.39%
1920 | 2,920  | 78.83% | 554  | 14.96%  | 230  | 6.21%
1916 | 1,020  | 49.09% | 945  | 45.48%  | 113  | 5.44%
1912 | 468  | 24.38%  | 562  | 29.27%  | 890  | 46.35%
1908 | 1,001  | 54.11% | 765  | 41.35%  | 84  | 4.54%
1904 | 1,205  | 71.90% | 433  | 25.84%  | 38  | 2.27%
1900 | 849  | 51.58% | 751  | 45.63%  | 46  | 2.79%
1896 | 778  | 46.61%  | 867  | 51.95% | 24  | 1.44%
1892 | 426  | 25.63%  | 577  | 34.72%  | 659  | 39.65%
County Board of Commissioners[19] Position  | Name  | District

|
|

| Commissioner and Chairperson  | Scott Johnson  | District 1
| Commissioner  | Ed Popp  | District 2
| Commissioner  | Steve Heinen  | District 3
| Commissioner and Vice Chair  | Jared J. Gapinski  | District 4
| Commissioner and Chairperson  | Beth Schlangen  | District 5
State Legislature (2022)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

|
|
|

| Senate | Jeff Howe[20] | Republican | District 13
| Senate  | Aric Putnam[21] | Democrat | District 14
| Senate  | Andrew Mathews[22] | Republican | District 15
| House of Representatives | Tim O'Driscoll[23] | Republican | District 13B
| House of Representatives  | Dan Wolgamott[24] | Democrat | District 14B
| House of Representatives  | Shane Mekeland[25] | Republican | District 15B
U.S Congress (2022)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

|
|
|

| House of Representatives | Tom Emmer[26] | Republican | 6th
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[27] | Democrat | N/A
| Senate | Tina Smith[28] | Democrat | N/A

## See also

[edit]

* Great River Regional Library
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Benton County, Minnesota

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "Minnesota State Government Series - State Counties". Minnesota House of Representatives. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2007.
5. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 49.
6. ^ a b c d Benton County MN Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019)
7. ^ Benton County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 4, 2019)
8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
9. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 61-64. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
10. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Foley MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
16. ^ "P2 Hispanic Or Latino, And Not Hispanic Or Latino By Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Benton County, Minnesota". Census Bureau Data.
17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
18. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
19. ^ "County Board". Benton County, MN. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
20. ^ "Senator Jeff R. Howe (13, R)". MN State Senate. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
21. ^ "Senator Aric Putnam (14, DFL)". MN State Senate. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
22. ^ "Senator Andrew Mathews (27, R)". MN State Senate. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
23. ^ "Rep. Tim O'Driscoll (13B)". Minnesota House of Representatives. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
24. ^ "Rep. Dan Wolgamott (14B)". Minnesota House of Representatives. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
25. ^ "Rep. Shane Mekeland (15B)". Minnesota House of Representatives. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
26. ^ "Congressman Tom Emmer". Congressman Tom Emmer. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
27. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". klobuchar.senate.gov. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
28. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Benton County Government’s website
* Minnesota Department of Transportation's official highway map of Benton County
* Benton County Fair
* Benton County Historical Society and Museum (in Sauk Rapids)
* Sartell Historical Society
* MNGenUSGen Web Site for Benton County, Minnesota \- genealogy
* Sauk Rapids and Benton County - Images of America Series \- approximately 200 vintage photographs
* Benton County Map

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Benton County, Minnesota

|  | Morrison County |

|
|

|  |
Stearns County |

Benton County, Minnesota

| Mille Lacs County
|  |
| Sherburne County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Benton County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Foley

Cities|

* Foley
* Gilman
* Rice
* Royalton‡
* Sartell‡
* Sauk Rapids
* St. Cloud‡

Map of Minnesota highlighting Benton County

Townships|

* Alberta
* Gilmanton
* Glendorado
* Graham
* Granite Ledge
* Langola
* Mayhew Lake
* Maywood
* Minden
* Sauk Rapids
* St. George
* Watab

CDP|

* Ronneby

Unincorporated
communities|

* Brennyville
* Duelm
* Fruitville
* Glendorado
* Jakeville
* Mayhew
* North Benton
* Oak Park
* Parent
* Popple Creek
* Rum River
* Silver Corners
* Watab

Footnotes|

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

* Minnesota portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

St. Cloud, Minnesota metropolitan area

Core city|

* St. Cloud‡

Surrounding
communities|

| (over 1,000)|

* Albany
* Avon
* Clearwater‡
* Cold Spring
* Eden Valley‡
* Foley
* Melrose
* Paynesville
* Rice
* Richmond
* Rockville
* Royalton‡
* St. Augusta
* St. Joseph
* Sauk Centre
* Sauk Rapids
* Waite Park

|

(under 1,000)|

* Belgrade
* Brooten‡
* Elrosa
* Fairhaven§
* Freeport
* Gilman
* Greenwald
* Holdingford
* Kimball
* Lake Henry
* Meire Grove
* New Munich
* Ronneby§
* Roscoe
* St. Anthony
* St. Martin
* St. Rosa
* St. Stephen
* Spring Hill

Counties|

* Benton
* Stearns

‡ indicates that it is partially in the metropolitan area. § indicates a CDP

* v
* t
* e

State of Minnesota

Saint Paul (capital)

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Largest cities
pop. over 25,000|

* Andover
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* St. Cloud
* St. Louis Park
* Saint Paul
* Savage
* Shakopee
* Shoreview
* Winona
* Woodbury

Counties|

* Aitkin
* Anoka
* Becker
* Beltrami
* Benton
* Big Stone
* Blue Earth
* Brown
* Carlton
* Carver
* Cass
* Chippewa
* Chisago
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* Hubbard
* Isanti
* Itasca
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* Lac qui Parle
* Lake
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* Le Sueur
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* Mahnomen
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* Rice
* Rock
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* Saint Louis
* Scott
* Sherburne
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* Steele
* Stevens
* Swift
* Todd
* Traverse
* Wabasha
* Wadena
* Waseca
* Washington
* Watonwan
* Wilkin
* Winona
* Wright
* Yellow Medicine

Minnesota portal

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
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National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* NARA

45°42′N 94°00′W﻿ / ﻿45.70°N 94.00°W﻿ / 45.70; -94.00
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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