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McLeod County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 44°50′N 94°16′W / 44.83°N 94.27°W / 44.83; -94.27
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McLeod County
County
Map of Minnesota highlighting McLeod County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°50′N 94°16′W / 44.83°N 94.27°W / 44.83; -94.27
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMarch 1, 1856 [1]
Named forMartin McLeod, an early fur trader
SeatGlencoe
Largest cityHutchinson
Area
 • Total506 sq mi (1,310 km2)
 • Land492 sq mi (1,274 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (36 km2)  2.72%
Population
 (2000)
 • Total34,898
 • Density71/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Websitewww.co.mcleod.mn.us

McLeod County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2000, the population was 34,898. Its county seat is GlencoeTemplate:GR.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 506 square miles (1,310 km²), of which 492 square miles (1,274 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (2.72%) is water.

Lakes

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 34,898 people, 13,449 households, and 9,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 14,087 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.62% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 3.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 57.5% were of German and 8.5% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 13,449 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.00% 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 2.56 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 21.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,953, and the median income for a family was $55,003. Males had a median income of $35,709 versus $25,253 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,137. About 2.80% of families and 4.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.80% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

History

For thousands of years the area was inhabited by indigenous peoples. At the time of European contact, it was the territory of the Dakota Sioux.

The county was named after Martin McLeod, a Canadian-born adventurer who became a fur trader and later was elected a territorial representative (1849-1856) in Minnesota. As a young man, he was part of the notable James Dickson 1836 expedition to the Red River of the North, a journey recounted in his Diary of Martin McLeod, a manuscript held by the Minnesota Historical Society.[1]

The county was the site of several events during the Dakota War of 1862, including the siege of Hutchinson and the killing of the White family near Brownton. It was also the birthplace of the Geier Hitch, a kind of animal husbandry that some observers characterize as animal abuse.

Cities and towns

Cities Townships Unincorporated

References

  1. ^ Charles J. Ritchey, "Martin McLeod and the Minnesota Valley", Minnesota History Magazine, accessed 21 Jun 2010

44°50′N 94°16′W / 44.83°N 94.27°W / 44.83; -94.27

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