Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

Yellow Medicine County is a county in the state of Minnesota. Its eastern border is formed by the Minnesota River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,528.[2] Its county seat is Granite Falls.[3]

Yellow Medicine County
County
Yellow Medicine County Courthouse in Granite Falls in 2007
Yellow Medicine County Courthouse in Granite Falls in 2007
Map of Minnesota highlighting Yellow Medicine County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°43′N 95°52′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMarch 6, 1871
Named forYellow Medicine River[1]
SeatGranite Falls
Largest cityGranite Falls
Area
 • Total763 sq mi (1,980 km2)
 • Land759 sq mi (1,970 km2)
 • Water4.1 sq mi (11 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total9,528
 • Estimate 
(2022)
9,486 Decrease
 • Density12.6/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.ym.mn.gov

The Upper Sioux Indian Reservation, related to the historical Yellow Medicine Agency that was here, is entirely within the county. It was established under the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851, by which the Dakota ceded much territory in the region to the United States.

History
Looking down the river with natural embankments of trees and brush
Yellow Medicine River

The county was established by the Minnesota legislature on March 6, 1871, with Granite Falls as the county seat. Its name comes from Yellow Medicine River, which runs through the eastern part of the county to the Minnesota. The river's name derives from a plant whose yellow root the native Dakota people used for medicinal purposes.[4]

It was proposed in 1878 to create a new county, taken from the western portions of Yellow Medicine, Lincoln, and Lac qui Parle counties. The state legislature approved the petition (subject to local voter approval), and Governor Pillsbury signed the act on February 27, 1879, but the proposal failed to garner a combined majority of votes in the three counties, and the proposed Canby County[5] did not come into being.[6]

Geography

Yellow Medicine County lies on the west side of Minnesota. Its west border abuts the state of South Dakota. The Minnesota River flows east-southeast along the county's northeast side on its way to discharge into the Mississippi River. The Yellow Medicine River flows northeast through the eastern part of the county, discharging into the Minnesota near the midpoint of the county's eastern border. The Stony Run Creek flows east through the northeast part of the county; the Florida Creek flows northeast through the west end of the county, and the Lac qui Parle River also flows northeast through the west central part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, carved by drainages. The area is devoted to agriculture.[7] The terrain slopes to the east and slightly to the north; its highest point is on the west border, near its SW corner, at 1,732 ft (528 m) ASL.[8] The county has an area of 763 square miles (1,980 km2), of which 759 square miles (1,970 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km2) (0.5%) is water.[9]

Soils of Yellow Medicine County[10]

Lakes[7]
  • Burton Lake
  • Culver Lake (part)
  • Curtis Lake
  • Highbank Lake
  • Kvistid Lake
  • Lake Louie
  • Lone Tree Lake
  • Miedd Lake
  • Miller Lake
  • Mud Lake
  • Spellman Lake
  • Timm Lake
  • Tyson Lake
  • Wood Lake

Rivers and drainages[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[7]
  • Bigrock State Wildlife Management Area
  • Christopherson State Wildlife Management Area
  • Clawson State Wildlife Management Area
  • Flinks State Wildlife Management Area
  • Miller-Richter State Wildlife Management Area
  • Mound Springs Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
  • Omro State Wildlife Management Area
  • Oshkosh State Wildlife Management Area
  • Penthole State Wildlife Management Area
  • Posen State Wildlife Management Area
  • Saint Leo State Wildlife Management Area
  • Sioux Nation State Wildlife Management Area
  • Stokke State Wildlife Management Area
  • Stony Run State Wildlife Management Area
  • Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area (part)
  • Upper Sioux Agency State Park

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18805,884—
18909,85467.5%
190014,60248.2%
191015,4065.5%
192016,5507.4%
193016,6250.5%
194016,9171.8%
195016,279−3.8%
196015,523−4.6%
197014,418−7.1%
198013,653−5.3%
199011,684−14.4%
200011,080−5.2%
201010,438−5.8%
20209,528−8.7%
2022 (est.)9,486[11]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]

2020 Census
Yellow Medicine County Racial Composition[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 8,408 88.3%
Black or African American (NH) 48 0.5%
Native American (NH) 276 3%
Asian (NH) 28 0.3%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1 0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH) 319 3.4%
Hispanic or Latino 448 4.7%

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,080 people, 4,439 households, and 2,974 families in the county. The population density was 14.6 per square mile (5.6/km2). There were 4,873 housing units at an average density of 6.42 per square mile (2.48/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.09% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 2.04% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 36.5% were of Norwegian and 34.6% German ancestry.

There were 4,439 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 29.30% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

The county population contained 25.80% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,393, and the median income for a family was $42,002. Males had a median income of $27,770 versus $20,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,120. About 7.10% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and politics

Yellow Medicine County has recently been a swing county in national elections. Since 1980, the county has selected the Republican Party candidate in 56% of national elections (as of 2020). The county gave a majority to Barack Obama in 2008, but has trended more Republican in recent cycles.

United States presidential election results for Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,734 67.55% 1,688 30.54% 106 1.92%
2016 3,382 64.10% 1,524 28.89% 370 7.01%
2012 2,806 51.83% 2,465 45.53% 143 2.64%
2008 2,579 46.31% 2,816 50.57% 174 3.12%
2004 2,878 49.98% 2,799 48.61% 81 1.41%
2000 2,598 47.11% 2,528 45.84% 389 7.05%
1996 2,006 35.67% 2,741 48.74% 877 15.59%
1992 1,909 30.83% 2,593 41.87% 1,691 27.31%
1988 2,925 46.59% 3,282 52.28% 71 1.13%
1984 3,819 55.22% 3,018 43.64% 79 1.14%
1980 4,004 53.95% 2,833 38.18% 584 7.87%
1976 2,946 39.48% 4,337 58.12% 179 2.40%
1972 3,683 50.32% 3,462 47.30% 174 2.38%
1968 3,060 43.34% 3,587 50.81% 413 5.85%
1964 2,751 36.86% 4,707 63.06% 6 0.08%
1960 3,800 50.84% 3,649 48.82% 26 0.35%
1956 3,594 51.21% 3,416 48.67% 8 0.11%
1952 4,322 57.73% 3,143 41.99% 21 0.28%
1948 2,693 38.41% 4,164 59.38% 155 2.21%
1944 3,337 50.68% 3,214 48.81% 34 0.52%
1940 3,964 50.89% 3,786 48.61% 39 0.50%
1936 2,029 30.38% 3,921 58.71% 729 10.91%
1932 1,739 27.01% 4,580 71.14% 119 1.85%
1928 3,302 52.96% 2,861 45.89% 72 1.15%
1924 2,278 38.70% 151 2.56% 3,458 58.74%
1920 4,225 72.48% 814 13.96% 790 13.55%
1916 1,501 50.08% 1,238 41.31% 258 8.61%
1912 352 14.24% 737 29.81% 1,383 55.95%
1908 1,745 65.06% 786 29.31% 151 5.63%
1904 1,947 83.42% 258 11.05% 129 5.53%
1900 1,743 65.95% 763 28.87% 137 5.18%
1896 1,578 58.92% 1,015 37.90% 85 3.17%
1892 911 49.11% 364 19.62% 580 31.27%
County Board of Commissioners[18]
Position Name District
Commissioner Greg Renneke District 1
Commissioner John Berends District 2
Commissioner Mitch Kling District 3
Commissioner Ron Antony District 4
Commissioner Glen Kack District 5
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Gary Dahms[19] Republican District 16
House of Representatives Chris Swedzinski[20] Republican District 16A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Democrat 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[21] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[22] Democrat N/A

See also

References
  1. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 593.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. History of Yellow Medicine County Archived August 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Yellow Medicine County website, accessed May 25, 2010
  5. Gramarly.com
  6. Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names, p. 593 (1920). Accessed March 13, 2019
  7. Yellow Medicine County MN Google Maps (accessed March 13, 2019
  8. "Find an Altitude/Yellow Medicine County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 13, 2019)
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  10. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 69-70. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  15. "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 25, 2014.
  16. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota".
  17. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  18. "County Commissioners - Yellow Medicine County, MN". www.co.ym.mn.gov. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  19. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  20. "Rep. Chris Swedzinski (16A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. 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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