Traverse County, Minnesota

Traverse County (locally /ˈtrævərs/ TRAV-ərss) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 3,558,[2] making it the least-populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Wheaton.[3] The county was founded in 1862 and organized in 1881.[4]

Not to be confused with Grand Traverse County, Michigan.

Traverse County
U.S. county
Old District No. 44 School
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°46′N 96°28′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1862 (created)
1881 (organized)
Named forLake Traverse[1]
SeatWheaton
Largest cityWheaton
Area
 • Total586 sq mi (1,520 km2)
 • Land574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.0%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,558
 • Estimate 
(2019)
3,259
 • Density5.78/sq mi (2.23/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.traverse.mn.us

Geography

Traverse County lies on the western edge of Minnesota. Its western border abuts the eastern borders of the states of North and South Dakota. The Red River flows northward along the county's western line. The Mustinka River flows southwestward through the county's upper portion, discharging into Lake Traverse. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, fully devoted to agriculture except in developed areas.[5] The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point at the southeastern corner, at 1,119' (341m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 586 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.0%) is water.[7]

Soils of Traverse County[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas
  • Reservation Dam State Wildlife Management Area
  • White Rock Dam State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes[5]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
187013—
18801,50711,492.3%
18904,516199.7%
19007,57367.7%
19108,0496.3%
19207,943−1.3%
19307,938−0.1%
19408,2834.3%
19508,053−2.8%
19607,503−6.8%
19706,254−16.6%
19805,542−11.4%
19904,463−19.5%
20004,134−7.4%
20103,558−13.9%
2019 (est.)3,259[9]−8.4%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 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 4,134 people, 1,717 households, and 1,129 families in the county. The population density was 7.2/sqmi (2.78/km2). There were 2,199 housing units at an average density of 3.83/sqmi (1.48/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.42% White, 0.02% Black or African American, 2.81% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.2% were of German, 13.0% Norwegian, 7.6% Swedish and 5.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 1,717 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.20% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 25.30% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 21.70% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 26.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,617, and the median income for a family was $39,655. Males had a median income of $29,821 versus $20,100 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,378. About 9.30% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and Politics

Traverse County has a balanced electorate. Since 1980 the county has selected the Republican Party candidate 50% of the time in national elections (as of 2016).

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 62.9% 1,172 35.5% 661 1.7% 31
2016 58.3% 1,049 35.0% 630 6.6% 119
2012 46.6% 861 51.1% 943 2.3% 43
2008 45.9% 933 51.3% 1,043 2.9% 59
2004 50.3% 1,076 47.9% 1,026 1.8% 39
2000 51.0% 1,074 42.0% 884 7.0% 148
1996 34.8% 775 50.9% 1,135 14.3% 319
1992 33.9% 841 42.4% 1,053 23.8% 590
1988 42.9% 1,061 56.5% 1,399 0.7% 16
1984 51.0% 1,399 48.3% 1,325 0.7% 19
1980 52.0% 1,574 41.5% 1,258 6.5% 198
1976 35.2% 1,130 63.0% 2,020 1.8% 57
1972 41.8% 1,276 57.1% 1,744 1.2% 35
1968 41.4% 1,277 54.1% 1,669 4.5% 138
1964 32.3% 1,073 67.6% 2,247 0.1% 2
1960 40.8% 1,463 59.1% 2,122 0.1% 5
1956 45.9% 1,467 53.9% 1,724 0.2% 7
1952 50.6% 1,809 49.2% 1,756 0.2% 8
1948 31.3% 1,008 66.7% 2,151 2.0% 64
1944 42.8% 1,296 56.8% 1,721 0.5% 14
1940 40.5% 1,434 59.1% 2,094 0.4% 13
1936 24.2% 761 73.1% 2,297 2.7% 86
1932 18.5% 608 80.2% 2,633 1.3% 41
1928 38.8% 1,214 60.7% 1,899 0.5% 17
1924 39.3% 1,002 7.9% 202 52.8% 1,344
1920 73.2% 1,759 22.9% 550 3.9% 94
1916 48.7% 774 49.0% 779 2.3% 36
1912 10.3% 131 44.3% 561 45.4% 575[lower-alpha 1]
1908 54.9% 685 41.2% 514 3.9% 48
1904 77.5% 885 21.6% 247 0.9% 10
1900 50.3% 768 47.2% 720 2.6% 39
1896 36.7% 589 59.9% 963 3.4% 55
1892 39.3% 413 30.2% 317 30.5% 320
County Board of Commissioners[15]
Position Name District
Commissioner Todd Johnson District 1
Commissioner Kevin Leininger District 2
Commissioner and Chairperson Mark Gail District 3
Commissioner David Salberg District 4
Commissioner Thomas Monson Jr. District 5
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Torrey Westrom[16] Republican District 12
  House of Representatives Jeff Backer[17] Republican District 12A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Collin Peterson[18] Democrat 7th
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[19] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[20] Democrat N/A

See also
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Traverse County, Minnesota

Notes
  1. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 541 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 16 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 13 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 5 votes.

References
  1. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 550.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  5. Traverse County MN Google Maps (accessed April 2, 2019)
  6. "Find an Altitude/Traverse County MN" Google Maps (accessed 2 April 2019)
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 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 25, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  15. "County Commissioners | Traverse County, Minnesota". Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  16. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  17. "Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  18. "Congressman Collin Peterson". Congressman Collin Peterson. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

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