Martin County, Minnesota

Martin County is a county in Minnesota, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 20,840.[1] Its county seat is Fairmont.[2]

Martin County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°41′N 94°34′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMay 23, 1857
Named forHenry Martin
SeatFairmont
Largest cityFairmont
Area
 • Total730 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Land712 sq mi (1,840 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  2.4%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total20,840
 • Estimate 
(2019)
19,683
 • Density27.9/sq mi (10.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.martin.mn.us

History

The county was created by the Minnesota Territory legislature on May 23, 1857, with Fair Mount (which was also platted in 1857) designated as county seat. The town's name was later shortened to Fairmont. Two explanations have been advanced for the county's name. A delegate to the US congress from the Wisconsin Territory introduced the legislative act to organize the Minnesota Territory; his name was Morgan Lewis Martin. However, in 1904 the county's oldest residents attested that the name referred to Henry Martin, an early settler from Connecticut who ran several businesses during the pre-territory era.[3][4]

Geography

Martin County lies on the south side of Minnesota. Its south border abuts the north border of the state of Iowa. The East Fork of the Des Moines River flows southeastward through the lower western part of the county. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds, completely devoted to agriculture where possible.[5] The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point near its southwest corner, at 1,407' (429m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 730 square miles (1,900 km2), of which 712 square miles (1,840 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (2.4%) is water.[7]

Soils of Martin County[8]

Major highways

Airports

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[5]
  • Ceylon State Wildlife Management Area
  • Fox Lake Refuge
  • Luedtke State Wildlife Management Area
  • Perch Creek State Wildlife Management Area
  • State Wildlife Management Area
  • Truman Wildlife Area

Lakes[5]
  • Amber Lake
  • Big Twin Lake
  • Bright Lake
  • Budd Lake
  • Buffalo Lake (Cedar Township)
  • Buffalo Lake (Rutland Township)
  • Canright Lake
  • Cedar Lake
  • Clam Lake
  • Clayton Lake
  • Clear Lake
  • Creek Lake
  • Eagle Lake
  • East Chain Lake
  • Fish Lake (Cedar Township)
  • Fish Lake (Lake Belt Township)
  • Fox Lake
  • Hall Lake
  • High Lake
  • Iowa Lake (part)
  • Kiester Lake
  • Lake Charlotte
  • Lake George
  • Lake Imogene
  • Lake Seymour
  • Little Hat Lake
  • Little Twin Lake
  • Martin Lake
  • Mud Lake
  • Murphy Lake
  • North Lake
  • North Silver Lake
  • Okamanpeedan Lake (part)
  • Perch Lake
  • Pierce Lake
  • Rose Lake
  • Round Lake (Fox Lake Township)
  • Round Lake (Waverly Township)
  • Sager Lakes
  • Sisseton Lake
  • South Silver Lake
  • Susan Lake
  • Temperance Lake
  • Tuttle Lake
  • Watkins Lake
  • Wilmert Lake

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1860151—
18703,8672,460.9%
18805,24935.7%
18909,40879.2%
190016,93680.0%
191017,5183.4%
192021,08520.4%
193022,4016.2%
194024,65610.1%
195025,6554.1%
196026,9865.2%
197024,316−9.9%
198024,6871.5%
199022,914−7.2%
200021,802−4.9%
201020,840−4.4%
2019 (est.)19,683[9]−5.6%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 21,802 people, 9,067 households, and 6,047 families in the county. The population density was 30.6/sqmi (11.8/km2). There were 9,800 housing units at an average density of 13.8/sqmi (5.31/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.22% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 51.6% were of German, 11.9% Norwegian, 5.9% Swedish and 5.0% English ancestry.

There were 9,067 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 30.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.

The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,810, and the median income for a family was $44,541. Males had a median income of $30,467 versus $21,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,529. About 7.10% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and Politics

Martin County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. In only one national election since 1980 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2016).

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 67.1% 7,062 26.0% 2,733 7.0% 736
2012 60.7% 6,657 37.0% 4,054 2.3% 257
2008 56.3% 6,053 41.0% 4,413 2.7% 288
2004 57.1% 6,311 41.6% 4,590 1.3% 146
2000 54.8% 5,686 40.2% 4,166 5.0% 519
1996 40.9% 4,303 44.9% 4,718 14.2% 1,496
1992 38.2% 4,438 34.6% 4,019 27.2% 3,152
1988 53.3% 5,724 45.9% 4,922 0.8% 85
1984 60.7% 7,308 38.8% 4,673 0.5% 64
1980 57.4% 7,057 35.0% 4,301 7.6% 936
1976 51.9% 6,484 45.4% 5,672 2.7% 332
1972 64.6% 7,569 32.6% 3,816 2.8% 333
1968 59.4% 7,115 35.7% 4,271 4.9% 587
1964 53.8% 6,529 46.0% 5,575 0.2% 22
1960 66.8% 8,479 33.0% 4,194 0.2% 19
1956 71.2% 8,152 28.7% 3,289 0.1% 15
1952 77.6% 9,411 22.1% 2,673 0.3% 39
1948 43.3% 4,662 55.9% 6,015 0.8% 87
1944 53.7% 5,182 46.0% 4,443 0.3% 29
1940 59.8% 6,409 40.0% 4,290 0.2% 21
1936 31.5% 3,090 66.1% 6,492 2.5% 243
1932 38.3% 3,004 60.3% 4,731 1.5% 116
1928 64.1% 5,110 35.4% 2,822 0.5% 40
1924 56.2% 4,238 10.0% 751 33.8% 2,546
1920 78.5% 5,142 18.6% 1,221 2.9% 191
1916 47.2% 1,741 47.6% 1,756 5.3% 195
1912 17.5% 578 34.5% 1,141 48.1% 1,591
1908 59.1% 1,922 32.4% 1,054 8.6% 279
1904 70.7% 2,167 21.4% 656 8.0% 244
1900 54.7% 1,819 37.1% 1,233 8.2% 274
1896 54.3% 1,739 41.4% 1,327 4.3% 136
1892 57.2% 1,189 31.8% 661 11.0% 228
County Board of Commissioners[15]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner and Vice Chair Elliot Belgard District 1 2020
Commissioner Tom Mahoney District 2 2022
Commissioner Kathy Smith District 3 2020
Commissioner Richard Coons District 4 2022
Commissioner and Chairperson Steven Flohrs District 5 2020
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Julie Rosen[16] Republican District 23
  House of Representatives Bob Gunther[17] Republican District 23A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Jim Hagedorn[18] Republican 1st
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[19] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[20] Democrat N/A

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names (1920), pp. 332-3 (accessed April 18, 2019)
  4. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 162.
  5. Martin County MN Google Maps (accessed April 18, 2019)
  6. ""Find an Altitude/Martin County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 18, 2019)". Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  8. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  10. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  15. "Commissioners". www.co.martin.mn.us. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  16. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  17. "Rep. Bob Gunther (23A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  18. "Representative Jim Hagedorn". Representative Jim Hagedorn. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  19. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  20. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved 2020-06-24.

Further reading
  • William H. Budd, History of Martin County: A True and Complete History of the County from its Earliest Settlement Down to 1880. Fairmont, MN: The Independent, 1897.
  • Roscoe C. Hunt, "Pioneer Physicians of Martin County Prior to 1900," Minnesota Medicine, vol. 25, no. 10 (Oct. 1942) and vol. 25, no. 11 (Nov. 1942).
  • Ray F. Kesler, Service Record Book of Men and Women of World War II, Martin County. Fairmont, MN: n.p., n.d. [1950s].
  • Martin County Historical Society, Martin County, 1857-1932: Diamond Jubilee Celebration and Homecoming, Fairmont, Minnesota, June 26 to July 4, 1932. Fairmont, MN: Martin County Historical Society, 1932.
  • Martin County Home Council, Martin County's Heritage. Fairmont, MN.: Martin County Extension Home Council, 1972–1976.
  • Allen L Moore, Historical Narrative of Martin County, Before 1850. Fairmont, MN: Martin County Historical Society, 1932.
  • Arthur M. Nelson, Know Your Own County: A History of Martin County, Minnesota. Fairmont, MN: Martin County Historical Society, 1947.
  • Arthur M. Nelson, Martin County Men in the Great War, 1917-1919. Fairmont, MN: Sentinel Publishing Co., 1920.
  • Sentinel, A Pictorial History of Martin County, MN. Marceline, MO: Heritage House, 1992.

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