Freeborn County, Minnesota

Freeborn County is a county in the state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 31,255.[2] Its county seat is Albert Lea.[3]

Freeborn County
U.S. county
Freeborn County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°40′N 93°21′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1855[1]
Named forWilliam Freeborn
SeatAlbert Lea
Largest cityAlbert Lea
Area
 • Total722 sq mi (1,870 km2)
 • Land707 sq mi (1,830 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  2.1%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total31,255
 • Estimate 
(2019)
30,281
 • Density43.2/sq mi (16.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.freeborn.mn.us

Freeborn County comprises the Albert Lea, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Freeborn County was created on February 20, 1855.[4] It was named for William Freeborn, an early Minnesota politician.[5]

Geography

Freeborn County lies on Minnesota's border with Iowa. The Shell Rock River flows southward from Albert Lea Lake in central Freeborn County, crossing into Iowa. Turtle Creek flows eastward through the upper eastern part of the county, crossing into Mower County. The terrain is hilly and etched with drainages and gullies. The Le Sueur River, a tributary of the Minnesota River, begins in the northern part of the county and flows northward into Waseca County. The available land is devoted to agriculture.[6] The terrain generally slopes to the south and east. although the highest point is near the northeast corner, at 1,296' (395m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 722 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 707 square miles (1,830 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (2.1%) is water.[8]

Soils of Freeborn County[9]
Soils of Island in Myhre-Big Island State Park

Lakes[6]
  • Albert Lea Lake
  • Bear Lake
  • Church Lake
  • Everhart Lake
  • Fountain Lake
  • Freeborn Lake
  • Geneva Lake
  • Goose Lake
  • Halls Lake
  • Hickory Lake
  • Lower Twin Lake
  • Penny Lake
  • Pickerel Lake
  • School Section Lake
  • State Line Lake
  • Sugar Lake
  • Trenton Lake (part)
  • Upper Twin Lake
  • White Lake

Protected areas[6]
  • Bear Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Carex State Wildlife Management Area
  • Halls Lake State Wildlife Area
  • Moscow State Game Refuge
  • Myre-Big Island State Park
  • White Woods County Park

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18603,367—
187010,578214.2%
188016,06951.9%
189017,96211.8%
190021,83821.6%
191022,2822.0%
192024,69210.8%
193028,74116.4%
194031,78010.6%
195034,5178.6%
196037,8919.8%
197038,0640.5%
198036,329−4.6%
199033,060−9.0%
200032,584−1.4%
201031,255−4.1%
2019 (est.)30,281[10]−3.1%
US Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2019[2]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 US census data

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 32,584 people, 13,356 households, and 9,015 families in the county. The population density was 46.1/sqmi (17.8/km2). There were 13,996 housing units at an average density of 19.8/sqmi (7.64/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.22% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.92% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 6.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.8% were of Norwegian, 26.2% German and 5.8% Danish ancestry.

There were 13,356 households, out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.50% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.

The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 18.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,964, and the median income for a family was $45,142. Males had a median income of $31,491 versus $21,799 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,325. About 5.60% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and politics

Freeborn County voters have trended Democratic for several decades. However, the county has supported the Republican presidential candidate in the last two elections, marking the first time a Republican presidential candidate has won the county since 1980. Donald Trump won the county with 55% of the vote in 2016, and an even larger share of the vote in 2020, despite losing the state-wide and popular vote both times.

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 57.0% 9,578 41.0% 6,889 2.1% 351
2016 54.9% 8,808 37.6% 6,041 7.5% 1,202
2012 41.7% 6,969 55.8% 9,326 2.5% 411
2008 40.3% 6,955 57.4% 9,915 2.4% 410
2004 43.5% 7,681 55.1% 9,733 1.4% 252
2000 42.4% 6,843 52.8% 8,514 4.9% 782
1996 32.3% 5,166 52.9% 8,458 14.8% 2,364
1992 28.6% 5,089 43.6% 7,759 27.9% 4,965
1988 44.6% 7,226 54.5% 8,836 1.0% 156
1984 47.1% 8,413 52.3% 9,338 0.7% 116
1980 47.7% 8,475 46.2% 8,212 6.2% 1,098
1976 45.6% 8,220 52.6% 9,470 1.8% 328
1972 56.9% 9,747 41.8% 7,163 1.3% 220
1968 44.2% 7,315 52.4% 8,671 3.5% 577
1964 36.7% 6,136 63.2% 10,554 0.1% 19
1960 52.7% 8,970 47.1% 8,018 0.1% 22
1956 51.6% 7,632 48.3% 7,138 0.1% 11
1952 56.3% 8,450 43.4% 6,525 0.3% 46
1948 39.5% 5,238 58.9% 7,825 1.6% 213
1944 46.8% 5,728 53.0% 6,486 0.3% 32
1940 48.9% 6,683 50.8% 6,942 0.4% 55
1936 37.8% 4,653 60.0% 7,378 2.2% 274
1932 44.6% 4,931 52.8% 5,838 2.6% 283
1928 72.7% 7,815 26.6% 2,859 0.7% 76
1924 63.8% 6,139 5.0% 480 31.3% 3,011
1920 82.0% 6,772 13.7% 1,131 4.4% 360
1916 60.1% 2,418 33.5% 1,347 6.5% 260
1912 17.0% 672 22.3% 880 60.7% 2,392
1908 61.1% 2,465 24.2% 976 14.7% 591
1904 78.2% 2,876 12.5% 461 9.3% 341
1900 74.2% 2,934 21.2% 838 4.7% 184
1896 72.3% 3,400 25.1% 1,179 2.7% 127
1892 61.3% 2,004 22.7% 743 16.0% 524
County Board of Commissioners[16]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner and Chairperson Glen Mathiason District 1 2020
Commissioner Dan Belshan District 2 2022
Commissioner and Vice Chair Jim Nelson District 3 2020
Commissioner Christopher Shoff District 4 2022
Commissioner Mike Lee District 5 2020
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Dan Sparks[17] Democrat District 27
  House of Representatives Peggy Bennett[18] Republican District 27A
  House of Representatives Jeanne Poppe[19] Democrat District 27B
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Jim Hagedorn[20] Republican 1st
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[21] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[22] Democrat N/A

See also

References
  1. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 198.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 131.
  6. Freeborn County MN Google Maps (accessed 8 March 2019)
  7. "Find an Altitude/Freeborn County MN" Google Maps (accessed 8 March 2019)
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  9. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp 43–48. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  11. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  15. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  16. "Board of Commissioners | Freeborn County, MN - Official Website". www.co.freeborn.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  17. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  18. "Rep. Peggy Bennett (27A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  19. "Rep. Jeanne Poppe (27B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  20. "Representative Jim Hagedorn". Representative Jim Hagedorn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  21. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

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