Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County | |
---|---|
![]() The Hennepin County Government Center, located in the county seat of Minneapolis. Its stylized letter "H" shape serves as the logo for Hennepin County. | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota | |
![]() Minnesota's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 44°58′33″N 93°16′00″W / 44.9758°N 93.2667°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | March 6, 1852[1] |
Named for | Louis Hennepin |
Seat | Minneapolis |
Largest city | Minneapolis |
Area | |
• Total | 607 sq mi (1,570 km2) |
• Land | 554 sq mi (1,430 km2) |
• Water | 53 sq mi (140 km2) 8.7% |
Population | |
• Estimate (2014) | 1,212,064 |
• Density | 2,082/sq mi (804/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional districts | 3rd, 5th |
Website | www |
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census the population was 1,152,425.[2] It is the most populous county in Minnesota and the 34th-most populous county in the United States; more than one in five Minnesotans live in Hennepin County. Its county seat is Minneapolis,[3] the most populous city in the state. The county is named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin.[4]
Hennepin County is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The center of population of Minnesota is located in Hennepin County, in the city of Rogers.[5]
History
Hennepin County was created in 1852 by the Minnesota Territorial Legislature. Father Louis Hennepin's name was chosen because he originally named St. Anthony Falls and recorded some of the earliest accounts of the area for the Western world. Hennepin County's early history is closely linked to the establishment of the cities of Minneapolis and St. Anthony.[6]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 607 square miles (1,570 km2), of which 554 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 53 square miles (140 km2) (8.7%) is water.[7] Hennepin is one of 17 Minnesota counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils, and is one of only two Minnesota counties with more than 75% of its area in savanna soils (the other is Wright County).
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/Hennepin_Co_Pie_Chart_No_Text_Version.pdf/page1-220px-Hennepin_Co_Pie_Chart_No_Text_Version.pdf.jpg)
The highest waterfall on the Mississippi River, the Saint Anthony Falls, discovered by Louis Hennepin, is in Hennepin County next to downtown Minneapolis, but in the 19th century, the falls were converted to a series of dams. Barges and boats now pass through locks to move between the parts of the river above and below the dams.
Adjacent counties
- Anoka County (northeast)
- Ramsey County (east)
- Dakota County (southeast)
- Scott County (south)
- Carver County (southwest)
- Wright County (northwest)
National protected areas
- Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (part)
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | 12,849 | — | |
1870 | 31,566 | 145.7% | |
1880 | 67,013 | 112.3% | |
1890 | 185,294 | 176.5% | |
1900 | 228,340 | 23.2% | |
1910 | 333,480 | 46.0% | |
1920 | 415,419 | 24.6% | |
1930 | 517,785 | 24.6% | |
1940 | 568,899 | 9.9% | |
1950 | 676,579 | 18.9% | |
1960 | 842,854 | 24.6% | |
1970 | 960,080 | 13.9% | |
1980 | 941,411 | −1.9% | |
1990 | 1,032,431 | 9.7% | |
2000 | 1,116,200 | 8.1% | |
2010 | 1,152,425 | 3.2% | |
2014 (est.) | 1,212,064 | [9] | 5.2% |
U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2014[2] |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/USA_Hennepin_County%2C_Minnesota_age_pyramid.svg/220px-USA_Hennepin_County%2C_Minnesota_age_pyramid.svg.png)
As of the census of 2000,[14] there were 1,116,200 people, 456,129 households, and 267,291 families residing in the county. The population density was 774/km² (2,005/mi²). There were 468,824 housing units at an average density of 325/km² (842/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.53% White, 8.95% Black or African American, 1.00% Native American, 4.80% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. 4.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.8% were of German, 12.0% Norwegian, 7.6% Irish and 7.2% Swedish ancestry.
There were 456,129 households out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.40% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% 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 3.07.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 33.70% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $51,711, and the median income for a family was $65,985 (these figures had risen to $60,115 and $79,970 respectively as of a 2007 estimate) Accounting for inflation, these figures rise again to $76,202.87 for individuals, and $92,353.46 for households, adjusted for 2014 dollars.[15] Males had a median income of $42,466 versus $32,400 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,789. About 5.00% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.
Hennepin County is the wealthiest county in the state of Minnesota and one of the 100 Highest-income counties in the United States.
Foreign languages spoken by major immigrant groups in Hennepin County include Arabic, Hmong, Khmer, Lao, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.[16]
Law and government
Year | Democratic | Republican |
---|---|---|
2012 | 62.34% 423,982 | 35.30% 240,073 |
2008 | 63.42% 420,958 | 34.81% 231,054 |
2004 | 59.33% 383,841 | 39.43% 255,133 |
2000 | 53.60% 307,599 | 39.32% 225,657 |
1996 | 54.4% 285,126 | 33.2% 173,887 |
1992 | 47.5% 278,648 | 30.6% 179,581 |
1988 | 54.4% 292,909 | 44.6% 240,209 |
1984 | 51.5% 272,401 | 48.0% 253,921 |
1980 | 47.4% 239,592 | 38.6% 194,898 |
1976 | 53.2% 257,380 | 43.8% 211,892 |
1972 | 46.5% 205,943 | 51.6% 228,951 |
1968 | 54.1% 220,078 | 41.8% 170,002 |
1964 | 60.8% 241,020 | 39.0% 154,736 |
1960 | 48.5% 188,250 | 51.3% 198,992 |
Like all counties in Minnesota, Hennepin is governed by an elected and nonpartisan board of commissioners. In Minnesota, county commissions usually have five members, but Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka and St Louis counties have seven members. Each commissioner represents a district of approximately equal population. In Hennepin the county commission appoints the medical examiner, county auditor-treasurer and county recorder. The sheriff and county attorney are also elected on a nonpartisan ticket. The county government's headquarters are in downtown Minneapolis in the Hennepin County Government Center. The county oversees the Hennepin County Library system (which merged with the Minneapolis Public Library system in 2008), and Hennepin County Medical Center.
The county commission elects a chair who presides at meetings. Commissioners as of August 14, 2015
District | Commissioner | In office since | Current term expires in January |
---|---|---|---|
1st | Mike Opat | 1993 | 2017 |
2nd | Linda Higgins | 2012 | 2019 |
3rd | Marion Greene | 2014 | 2019 |
4th | Peter McLaughlin | 1991 | 2019 |
5th | Randy Johnson | 1979 | 2017 |
6th | Jan Callison (chair) | 2009 | 2017 |
7th | Jeff Johnson | 2009 | 2017 |
Key staff
Hennepin County's normal operations are coordinated by the County Administrator David Hough, Assistant County Administrator for Operations Judy Regenscheid, Assistant County Administrator for Human Services and Public Health Rex A. Holzemer, Assistant County Administrator for Health Jennifer DeCubellis, Assistant County Administrator for Public Works Debra R. Brisk, and Assistant County Administrator for Public Safety Mark Thompson. Under Administrator Hough's leadership, the number senior management positions in the county has grown by 40%.
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 35W
Interstate 94
Interstate 394
Interstate 494
Interstate 694
U.S. Highway 12
U.S. Highway 52
U.S. Highway 169
U.S. Highway 212
Minnesota State Highway 5
Minnesota State Highway 7
Minnesota State Highway 47
Minnesota State Highway 55
Minnesota State Highway 62
Minnesota State Highway 65
Minnesota State Highway 77
Minnesota State Highway 100
Minnesota State Highway 101
Minnesota State Highway 121
Minnesota State Highway 252
Minnesota State Highway 610
Hennepin County Road 81
Hennepin County Road 122
See County roads in Hennepin County, Minnesota for the county's secondary roadways.
Airports
The Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport serves the Twin Cities area. It is the 17th-busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic and serves as a hub for Delta Air Lines.
Economy
Hennepin County has major economic centers in downtown Minneapolis and Bloomington.
Target Field
In August 2006, the Board voted 4–3 to levy a 0.15% sales tax within the county to fund the majority of the cost of a baseball stadium for the Minnesota Twins. Legislation passed by the Minnesota Legislature in the waning hours of the 2005-2006 session, and signed by Governor Tim Pawlenty, authorized the county to levy the tax without a voter referendum. It also created the Minnesota Ballpark Authority which constructed and manages the stadium on behalf of the county. The tax will be in effect for 30 years, with clauses allowing it to be increased by the board of commissioners. The stadium, Target Field, opened in April 2010.
Education
Colleges and universities in the county include:
- Augsburg College in Minneapolis
- Dunwoody College of Technology in downtown Minneapolis
- Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie
- Metropolitan State University in downtown Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park
- Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College in downtown Minneapolis
- Minnesota State University, Mankato in Edina
- Normandale Community College in Bloomington
- North Central University in downtown Minneapolis
- North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park
- Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington
- Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus in South Minneapolis
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus in Minneapolis
- University of St. Thomas Minneapolis Campus in downtown Minneapolis
Culture
The Hennepin History Museum, established in 1957, provides exhibits related to the history of the county. Records of Hennepin County are available for research use. They include school records, district and municipal court files, county attorney files, Hennepin County Sheriff records, birth and death records, marriage records, tax lists, and agency history records.
Communities
Cities
- Bloomington
- Brooklyn Center
- Brooklyn Park
- Champlin
- Chanhassen (partial)
- Corcoran
- Crystal
- Dayton (partial)
- Deephaven
- Eden Prairie
- Edina
- Excelsior
- Golden Valley
- Greenfield
- Greenwood
- Hanover (partial)
- Hopkins
- Independence
- Long Lake
- Loretto
- Maple Grove
- Maple Plain
- Medicine Lake
- Medina
- Minneapolis (county seat)
- Minnetonka
- Minnetonka Beach
- Minnetrista
- Mound
- New Hope
- Orono
- Osseo
- Plymouth
- Richfield
- Robbinsdale
- Rockford (partial)
- Rogers
- Shorewood
- Spring Park
- St. Anthony Village (partial)
- St. Bonifacius
- St. Louis Park
- Tonka Bay
- Wayzata
- Woodland
Unorganized territory
See also
References
- ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 155.
- ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ JoEllen Haugo and Mary Jo Laakso (2001). "History of Minneapolis". Minneapolis Public Library. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 49-52. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.dollartimes.com/calculators/inflation.htm
- ^ "Welcome Languages." Hennepin County Public Library. Retrieved on July 8, 2010.
- ^ Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.