Martin County, Minnesota

Martin County is a county in Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,025.[1] Its county seat is Fairmont.[2]

Martin County
County
Martin County Courthouse in Fairmont
Martin County Courthouse in Fairmont
Map of Minnesota highlighting Martin County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting 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
 (2020)
 • Total20,025
 • Estimate 
(2022)
19,650 Decrease
 • Density28.1/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, Morgan Lewis Martin, introduced the legislative act to organize the Minnesota Territory. But 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 Minnesota's border with 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 ft (429 m) ASL.[6] The county has an 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.Note%±
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%
202020,025−3.9%
2022 (est.)19,650[9]−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census
Martin County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 17,947 89.62%
Black or African American (NH) 112 0.6%
Native American (NH) 32 0.16%
Asian (NH) 92 0.46%
Pacific Islander (NH) 6 0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH) 516 2.6%
Hispanic or Latino 1,320 6.6%

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,802 people, 9,067 households, and 6,047 families in the county. The population density was 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km2). There were 9,800 housing units at an average density of 13.8 per square mile (5.3/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. As of 2020, the county has selected the Democratic presidential nominee in only one election since 1952.

United States presidential election results for Martin County, Minnesota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 7,480 67.94% 3,305 30.02% 224 2.03%
2016 7,062 67.06% 2,733 25.95% 736 6.99%
2012 6,657 60.69% 4,054 36.96% 257 2.34%
2008 6,053 56.29% 4,413 41.04% 288 2.68%
2004 6,311 57.13% 4,590 41.55% 146 1.32%
2000 5,686 54.83% 4,166 40.17% 519 5.00%
1996 4,303 40.91% 4,718 44.86% 1,496 14.22%
1992 4,438 38.23% 4,019 34.62% 3,152 27.15%
1988 5,724 53.34% 4,922 45.87% 85 0.79%
1984 7,308 60.67% 4,673 38.80% 64 0.53%
1980 7,057 57.40% 4,301 34.98% 936 7.61%
1976 6,484 51.92% 5,672 45.42% 332 2.66%
1972 7,569 64.59% 3,816 32.57% 333 2.84%
1968 7,115 59.43% 4,271 35.67% 587 4.90%
1964 6,529 53.84% 5,575 45.98% 22 0.18%
1960 8,479 66.81% 4,194 33.04% 19 0.15%
1956 8,152 71.16% 3,289 28.71% 15 0.13%
1952 9,411 77.63% 2,673 22.05% 39 0.32%
1948 4,662 43.31% 6,015 55.88% 87 0.81%
1944 5,182 53.68% 4,443 46.02% 29 0.30%
1940 6,409 59.79% 4,290 40.02% 21 0.20%
1936 3,090 31.45% 6,492 66.08% 243 2.47%
1932 3,004 38.26% 4,731 60.26% 116 1.48%
1928 5,110 64.10% 2,822 35.40% 40 0.50%
1924 4,238 56.24% 751 9.97% 2,546 33.79%
1920 5,142 78.46% 1,221 18.63% 191 2.91%
1916 1,741 47.16% 1,756 47.56% 195 5.28%
1912 578 17.46% 1,141 34.47% 1,591 48.07%
1908 1,922 59.05% 1,054 32.38% 279 8.57%
1904 2,167 70.66% 656 21.39% 244 7.96%
1900 1,819 54.69% 1,233 37.07% 274 8.24%
1896 1,739 54.31% 1,327 41.44% 136 4.25%
1892 1,189 57.22% 661 31.81% 228 10.97%
1888 1,161 64.68% 471 26.24% 163 9.08%
1884 736 62.43% 260 22.05% 183 15.52%
1880 863 81.96% 190 18.04% 0 0.00%
1876 634 79.85% 160 20.15% 0 0.00%
1872 685 81.45% 156 18.55% 0 0.00%
1868 520 83.74% 101 16.26% 0 0.00%
1864 190 91.79% 17 8.21% 0 0.00%
1860 40 86.96% 6 13.04% 0 0.00%
County Board of Commissioners[16]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner Elliot Belgard District 1 2024
Commissioner Jaime Bleess District 2 2026
Commissioner and Vice Chair Kathy Smith District 3 2024
Commissioner and Chairperson Richard Coons District 4 2026
Commissioner Steven Flohrs District 5 2024
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Julie Rosen[17] Republican District 23
House of Representatives Bob Gunther[18] Republican District 23A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Brad Finstad[19] Republican 1st
Senate Amy Klobuchar[20] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[21] Democrat N/A

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  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 May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States 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. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States 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". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 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 21, 2014.
  14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Martin County, Minnesota".
  15. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  16. "Commissioners". www.co.martin.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  17. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  18. "Rep. Bob Gunther (23A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  19. "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term". August 12, 2022.
  20. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

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.

43.68°N 94.56°W / 43.68; -94.56

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