Pope County, Minnesota

Summary

Pope County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,308.[1] Its county seat is Glenwood.[2] The county was formed in 1862 and organized in 1866.

Pope County
The 1930 Beaux-Arts, Pope County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Map of Minnesota highlighting Pope County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°35′N 95°27′W / 45.59°N 95.45°W / 45.59; -95.45
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1862 (created)
1866 (organized)
Named forJohn Pope
SeatGlenwood
Largest cityGlenwood
Area
 • Total717 sq mi (1,860 km2)
 • Land670 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Water47 sq mi (120 km2)  6.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total11,308
 • Estimate 
(2023)
11,400 Increase
 • Density16.9/sq mi (6.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.pope.mn.us

History edit

Pope County was identified by the state legislature in 1862[3] and named for John Pope, a Union Army general who had worked as a surveyor in the area.[4] Its organization was effected in 1866.

Pope County was the location of several protests against the CU Powerline in the 1970s.

Geography edit

 
Soils of Pope County[5]
 
Soils of Glacial Lakes State Park area

The Chippewa River flows south through the county's western part. The Little Chippewa River flows south-southwest through its central part, discharging into the Chippewa southeast of Cyrus. The East Branch Chippewa River flows south-southwest through the eastern part of the county toward its union with the Chippewa in neighboring Swift County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved with drainages and dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is devoted to agriculture.[6] The terrain slopes to the south and west, with its highest point near the northeast corner at 1,388 ft (423 m) ASL.[7] The county has an area of 717 square miles (1,860 km2), of which 670 square miles (1,700 km2) is land and 47 square miles (120 km2) (6.6%) is water.[8]

Major highways edit

Airports[6] edit

  • Glenwood Municipal Airport (D32)
  • Starbuck Municipal Airport (GHW)

Adjacent counties edit

Protected areas[6] edit

  • Bruce Hitman Heron Rookery Scientific and Natural Area
  • Farwell State Wildlife Management Area
  • Glacial Lakes State Park
  • Langhei Scientific and Natural Area
  • Little Jo State Wildlife Management Area
  • Lowry State Wildlife Management Area
  • New Prairie State Wildlife Management Area
  • Noordmans State Wildlife Management Area
  • Skarpness State Wildlife Management Area
  • Van Luik State Wildlife Management Area
  • Wade State Wildlife Management Area

Major lakes[6] edit

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18702,691
18805,874118.3%
189010,03270.8%
190012,57725.4%
191012,7461.3%
192013,6316.9%
193013,085−4.0%
194013,5443.5%
195012,862−5.0%
196011,914−7.4%
197011,107−6.8%
198011,6575.0%
199010,745−7.8%
200011,2364.6%
201010,995−2.1%
202011,3082.8%
2023 (est.)11,400[9]0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census edit

Pope County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 10,751 95.1%
Black or African American (NH) 34 0.3%
Native American (NH) 27 0.24%
Asian (NH) 50 0.44%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 0%
Other/Mixed (NH) 255 2.3%
Hispanic or Latino 191 1.7%

2000 census edit

 
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,236 people, 4,513 households, and 3,064 families in the county. The population density was 16.8 per square mile (6.5/km2). There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of 8.70 per square mile (3.36/km2)/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.85% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.8% were of Norwegian and 31.6% German ancestry.

There were 4,513 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,633, and the median income for a family was $42,818. Males had a median income of $30,452 versus $20,511 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,032. About 5.80% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 12.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities edit

 
A farm in Chippewa Falls Township

Cities edit

Unincorporated communities edit

Ghost town edit

Townships edit

Government and politics edit

Pope County has been a swing district in the past, but strongly supported the Republican nominee in the last three presidential elections.

United States presidential election results for Pope County, Minnesota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 4,417 62.90% 2,477 35.27% 128 1.82%
2016 3,793 60.03% 2,106 33.33% 420 6.65%
2012 3,142 50.30% 2,981 47.73% 123 1.97%
2008 3,069 46.96% 3,317 50.75% 150 2.29%
2004 3,303 49.30% 3,301 49.27% 96 1.43%
2000 2,808 46.90% 2,771 46.28% 408 6.81%
1996 1,992 36.03% 2,803 50.70% 734 13.28%
1992 1,886 31.59% 2,619 43.87% 1,465 24.54%
1988 2,627 45.48% 3,074 53.22% 75 1.30%
1984 3,064 52.27% 2,757 47.03% 41 0.70%
1980 3,159 51.34% 2,527 41.07% 467 7.59%
1976 2,251 36.74% 3,746 61.14% 130 2.12%
1972 2,610 45.94% 2,910 51.22% 161 2.83%
1968 2,504 46.65% 2,592 48.29% 272 5.07%
1964 2,213 38.39% 3,549 61.57% 2 0.03%
1960 3,062 51.39% 2,883 48.39% 13 0.22%
1956 2,725 51.33% 2,577 48.54% 7 0.13%
1952 3,593 60.00% 2,381 39.76% 14 0.23%
1948 2,114 38.70% 3,251 59.52% 97 1.78%
1944 2,607 48.27% 2,781 51.49% 13 0.24%
1940 2,805 46.06% 3,266 53.63% 19 0.31%
1936 1,869 35.65% 3,200 61.05% 173 3.30%
1932 1,688 31.46% 3,571 66.56% 106 1.98%
1928 3,382 66.13% 1,667 32.60% 65 1.27%
1924 2,079 45.88% 151 3.33% 2,301 50.78%
1920 3,466 76.34% 709 15.62% 365 8.04%
1916 1,321 51.18% 1,121 43.43% 139 5.39%
1912 379 16.63% 443 19.44% 1,457 63.93%
1908 1,794 76.86% 442 18.94% 98 4.20%
1904 1,729 88.17% 159 8.11% 73 3.72%
1900 1,774 76.40% 481 20.71% 67 2.89%
1896 1,773 70.53% 688 27.37% 53 2.11%
1892 1,037 57.32% 282 15.59% 490 27.09%
County Board of Commissioners[16] County Board of Commissioners
Position Name District
Commissioner Paul Gremmels District 1
Commissioner Gordy Wagner District 2
Commissioner Paul Gerde District 3
Commissioner Larry Lindor District 4
Commissioner Paul Wildman District 5
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Torrey Westrom[17] Republican District 12
  House of Representatives Jeff Backer[18] Republican District 12A
  House of Representatives Paul Anderson[19] Republican District 12B
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Collin Peterson[20] Democrat 7th
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[21] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[22] Democrat N/A

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  4. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 430.
  5. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  6. ^ a b c d Pope County MN Google Maps (accessed April 17, 2019)
  7. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Pope County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 17, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "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 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Pope County, Minnesota".
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  16. ^ "Welcome to Pope County Minnesota | Board of Commissioners". www.popecountymn.gov. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  18. ^ "Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "Rep. Paul Anderson (12B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  20. ^ "Congressman Collin Peterson". Congressman Collin Peterson. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

External links edit

  • Pope County government’s website
  • Pope County Historical Society
  • Pope County GenWeb Project Helping people find their roots in Pope County. Part of the MNGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects.

45°35′N 95°27′W / 45.59°N 95.45°W / 45.59; -95.45