Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

County in Minnesota

Kandiyohi County

County

Kandiyohi County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 45°09′N 95°01′W﻿ / ﻿45.15°N 95.01°W﻿ / 45.15; -95.01
Country|  United States
State|  Minnesota
Founded| March 20, 1858[1]
Named after| "where buffalo fish come" (Dakota)
Seat| Willmar
Largest city| Willmar
Area

• Total

| 862 sq mi (2,230 km2)
• Land| 797 sq mi (2,060 km2)
• Water| 66 sq mi (170 km2)  7.6%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 43,732

• Estimate

(2024)

| 44,674
• Density| 54.9/sq mi (21.2/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 7th
Website| www.co.kandiyohi.mn.us

Kandiyohi County (/ˌkændiˈjoʊhaɪ/ KAN-dee-YOH-hy)[2] is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, its population is 43,732.[3] As of November 20, 1871, its county seat is Willmar.[4]

Kandiyohi County comprises the US Census Bureau's "Willmar, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area".

## History

[edit]

Kandiyohi County is named for a Dakota word meaning "where the buffalo fish come".[5] (kandi’ \- the buffalo fish + oh-hi’-yu \- v. of hiyu \- to come through).[6] It was organized on March 20, 1858, with Kandiyohi established as the county seat in 1870 (it was then called Kandiyohi Station, as it was merely a stop on the railroad line). The original county occupied only the southern half of its current area. Development was slow, and in 1870 the state legislature called for Monongalia County to merge with Kandiyohi. It took until November 21, 1871, to agree on the centrally located Willmar as the county seat.

## Geography

[edit]

The terrain of Kandiyohi County consists of rolling hills, partly wooded, mostly devoted to agriculture.[7] The territory slopes to the south and west, with the highest point near its northeastern corner, at 1,306 ft (398 m) ASL.[8] The county has a total area of 862 square miles (2,230 km2), of which 797 square miles (2,060 km2) are land and 66 square miles (170 km2) (7.6%) are covered by water.[9] Kandiyohi County is one of seven southern Minnesota counties that have no forest soils; only prairie ecosystems of savannas and prairies exist.

Soils of Kandiyohi County[10] Soils of Sibley State Park

### Lakes

[edit]

Source:[7]

There are nearly 70 named lakes in the county. Among these include:

* Big Kandiyohi Lake
* Green Lake
* Little Kandiyohi Lake
* Long Lake (Dovre Township)
* Long Lake: (Irving and Roseville townships)
* Nest Lake
* Swan Lake (Colfax and Lake Andrew townships)
* Swan Lake: (Dovre and Willmar townships)
* Swan Lake: (Kandiyohi Township)
* Swan Lake: (Mamre Township)
* Woodcock Lake (Green Lake Township)
* Woodcock Lake: (New London and Green Lake townships)

### Major highways

[edit]

* U.S. Highway 12
* U.S. Highway 71

US 71 Bus.
* Minnesota State Highway 4
* Minnesota State Highway 7
* Minnesota State Highway 9
* Minnesota State Highway 23
* Bus. MN 23
* Minnesota State Highway 40
* Minnesota State Highway 55
* Minnesota State Highway 104

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Stearns County (north)
* Meeker County (east)
* Renville County (south)
* Chippewa County (southwest)
* Swift County (west)
* Pope County (northwest)

### Protected areas

[edit]

Source:[7]

* Burbank State Wildlife Management Area
* Dietrich Lange State Wildlife Management Area
* Oleander State Wildlife Management Area
* Ringo-Nest State Wildlife Management Area
* Roseville State Wildlife Management Area
* Sibley State Park
* Sunburg State Wildlife Management Area
* Yohi State Wildlife Management Area

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 76| | —
1870| 1,760| | 2,215.8%
1880| 10,159| | 477.2%
1890| 13,997| | 37.8%
1900| 18,416| | 31.6%
1910| 18,969| | 3.0%
1920| 22,060| | 16.3%
1930| 23,574| | 6.9%
1940| 26,524| | 12.5%
1950| 28,644| | 8.0%
1960| 29,987| | 4.7%
1970| 30,548| | 1.9%
1980| 36,763| | 20.3%
1990| 38,761| | 5.4%
2000| 41,203| | 6.3%
2010| 42,239| | 2.5%
2020| 43,732| | 3.5%
2024 (est.)| 44,674| [11]| 2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[3]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Kandiyohi County, Minnesota - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)  Race / Ethnicity  | Pop 2010[16] | Pop 2020[17] | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 35,964  | 33,303  | 84.93%  | 76.15%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 952  | 2,618  | 2.25%  | 5.99%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 107  | 115  | 0.25%  | 0.26%
Asian alone (NH)  | 167  | 586  | 0.39%  | 1.34%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 16  | 37  | 0.04%  | 0.09%
Some Other Race alone (NH)  | 27  | 98  | 0.06%  | 0.22%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)  | 296  | 1,059  | 0.70%  | 2.42%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 4,710  | 5,916  | 11.13%  | 13.53%
Total | 42,239 | 43,732 | 100.00% | 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

### 2000 census

[edit]

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 41,203 people, 15,936 households, and 10,979 families residing in the county. The population density was 51.7 per square mile (20.0/km2). There were 18,415 housing units at an average density of 23.1 per square mile (8.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.62% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 8.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.4% were of German, 25.8% Norwegian, 9.9% Swedish and 5.6% Dutch ancestry.

There were 15,936 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.05.

The county population contained 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,772, and the median income for a family was $48,016. Males had a median income of $32,272 versus $22,128 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,627. About 5.90% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Atwater
* Blomkest
* Kandiyohi
* Lake Lillian
* New London
* Pennock
* Prinsburg
* Raymond
* Regal
* Spicer
* Sunburg
* Willmar (county seat)

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Hawick
* Norway Lake
* Priam
* Roseland
* Svea

### Townships

[edit]

* Arctander Township
* Burbank Township
* Colfax Township
* Dovre Township
* East Lake Lillian Township
* Edwards Township
* Fahlun Township
* Gennessee Township
* Green Lake Township
* Harrison Township
* Holland Township
* Irving Township
* Kandiyohi Township
* Lake Andrew Township
* Lake Elizabeth Township
* Lake Lillian Township
* Mamre Township
* New London Township
* Norway Lake Township
* Roseland Township
* Roseville Township
* St. Johns Township
* Whitefield Township
* Willmar Township

## Politics

[edit]

Kandiyohi County voters have switched from Democratic to Republican in recent years. In no national election since 1996 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024). However, Democratic incumbent Amy Klobuchar won the county in 2018 as she coasted to an easy reelection over Republican challenger Jim Newberger. Klobuchar also carried Kandiyohi County in her 2006 and 2012 victories but lost it by 14% in her successful 2024 reelection bid.[18]

United States presidential election results for Kandiyohi County, Minnesota[19] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 15,014  | 64.48% | 7,814  | 33.56%  | 455  | 1.95%
2020 | 14,437  | 61.78% | 8,440  | 36.12%  | 490  | 2.10%
2016 | 12,785  | 58.72% | 7,266  | 33.37%  | 1,721  | 7.90%
2012 | 11,240  | 52.36% | 9,805  | 45.68%  | 420  | 1.96%
2008 | 11,319  | 51.70% | 10,125  | 46.24%  | 451  | 2.06%
2004 | 11,704  | 54.82% | 9,337  | 43.74%  | 308  | 1.44%
2000 | 10,026  | 51.99% | 8,220  | 42.62%  | 1,039  | 5.39%
1996 | 7,119  | 38.41%  | 9,009  | 48.61% | 2,404  | 12.97%
1992 | 6,784  | 34.51%  | 7,914  | 40.26% | 4,958  | 25.22%
1988 | 8,634  | 48.34%  | 8,962  | 50.17% | 266  | 1.49%
1984 | 9,539  | 52.69% | 8,402  | 46.41%  | 163  | 0.90%
1980 | 8,480  | 46.86% | 8,038  | 44.42%  | 1,577  | 8.72%
1976 | 6,664  | 38.90%  | 9,992  | 58.33% | 474  | 2.77%
1972 | 6,624  | 45.74%  | 7,241  | 50.00% | 616  | 4.25%
1968 | 5,086  | 37.96%  | 7,639  | 57.01% | 675  | 5.04%
1964 | 4,011  | 30.49%  | 9,108  | 69.23% | 37  | 0.28%
1960 | 6,786  | 50.02% | 6,738  | 49.66%  | 43  | 0.32%
1956 | 5,445  | 44.25%  | 6,834  | 55.54% | 26  | 0.21%
1952 | 6,370  | 49.97% | 6,264  | 49.14%  | 113  | 0.89%
1948 | 3,666  | 31.62%  | 7,204  | 62.14% | 723  | 6.24%
1944 | 3,784  | 36.55%  | 6,482  | 62.61% | 87  | 0.84%
1940 | 4,263  | 36.94%  | 7,187  | 62.28% | 90  | 0.78%
1936 | 2,500  | 26.25%  | 6,595  | 69.25% | 429  | 4.50%
1932 | 2,674  | 30.04%  | 5,813  | 65.31% | 414  | 4.65%
1928 | 5,780  | 67.82% | 2,481  | 29.11%  | 261  | 3.06%
1924 | 3,222  | 40.16%  | 222  | 2.77%  | 4,578  | 57.07%
1920 | 4,759  | 63.67% | 1,282  | 17.15%  | 1,433  | 19.17%
1916 | 1,612  | 41.82%  | 1,968  | 51.05% | 275  | 7.13%
1912 | 484  | 14.59%  | 855  | 25.77%  | 1,979  | 59.64%
1908 | 2,312  | 63.62% | 947  | 26.06%  | 375  | 10.32%
1904 | 2,576  | 81.26% | 252  | 7.95%  | 342  | 10.79%
1900 | 2,343  | 64.32% | 1,204  | 33.05%  | 96  | 2.64%
1896 | 2,181  | 56.25% | 1,638  | 42.25%  | 58  | 1.50%
1892 | 1,341  | 50.93% | 391  | 14.85%  | 901  | 34.22%

## See also

[edit]

* Kandiyohi County Historical Society
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota
* Category:People from Willmar, Minnesota

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
2. ^ "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
3. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 172.
6. ^ * Riggs, Stephen (1890). Dakota-English Dictionary (1892 ed.). Minnesota Historical Society Press. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
* Bonde, Thomas J. H. (November 1996). "Buffalo Fish (the Real Thing) Is Special Acquisition" (PDF). The Minnesota History Interpreter. XXIV (11): 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 19, 2000. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
7. ^ a b c Kandiyohi County MN Google Maps (accessed March 14, 2019)
8. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Kandiyohi County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 14, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
10. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota:Self. pp. 49-52. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
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. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 18, 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 18, 2014.
16. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Kandiyohi County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
17. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Kandiyohi County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
18. ^ Simon, Steve (November 21, 2024). "2024 State Canvassing Board Certificate". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
19. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 7, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar economic development Commission
* Kandiyohi County government website
* MNGenWebUSGenWeb website for Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

Places adjacent to Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

| Pope County | Stearns County |

|
|

|  |
Swift County |

Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

| Meeker County
|  |
Chippewa County | Renville County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Willmar

Cities|

* Atwater
* Blomkest
* Kandiyohi
* Lake Lillian
* New London
* Pennock
* Prinsburg
* Raymond
* Regal
* Spicer
* Sunburg
* Willmar

Map of Minnesota highlighting Kandiyohi County

Townships|

* Arctander
* Burbank
* Colfax
* Dovre
* East Lake Lillian
* Edwards
* Fahlun
* Gennessee
* Green Lake
* Harrison
* Holland
* Irving
* Kandiyohi
* Lake Andrew
* Lake Elizabeth
* Lake Lillian
* Mamre
* New London
* Norway Lake
* Roseland
* Roseville
* St. Johns
* Whitefield
* Willmar

Unincorporated
communities|

* Hawick
* Norway Lake
* Priam
* Roseland
* Svea

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* t
* e

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45°09′N 95°01′W﻿ / ﻿45.15°N 95.01°W﻿ / 45.15; -95.01
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