# Pope County, Minnesota

Pope County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,308. Its county seat is Glenwood. The county was formed in 1862 and organized in 1866.

## History

Pope County was identified by the state legislature in 1862 and named for John Pope, a Union Army general who had worked as a surveyor in the area. Its organization was effected in 1866.
Pope County was the location of several protests against the CU Powerline in the 1970s.

## Geography

The Chippewa River flows south through the county's western part. The Little Chippewa River flows south-southwest through its central part, discharging into the Chippewa southeast of Cyrus. The East Branch Chippewa River flows south-southwest through the eastern part of the county toward its union with the Chippewa in neighboring Swift County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved with drainages and dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south and west, with its highest point near the northeast corner at 1,388 ft (423 m) ASL. The county has an area of 717 square miles (1,860 km$^2$), of which 670 square miles (1,700 km$^2$) is land and 47 square miles (120 km$^2$) (6.6%) is water.

### Major highways

* Minnesota State Highway 9
* Minnesota State Highway 28
* Minnesota State Highway 29
* Minnesota State Highway 55
* Minnesota State Highway 104
* Minnesota State Highway 114

### Airports

* Glenwood Municipal Airport (D32)
* Starbuck Municipal Airport (GHW)

### Adjacent counties

* Douglas County - north
* Stearns County - east
* Kandiyohi County - southeast
* Swift County - south
* Stevens County - west
* Grant County - northwest

### Protected areas

* Bruce Hitman Heron Rookery Scientific and Natural Area
* Farwell State Wildlife Management Area
* Glacial Lakes State Park
* Langhei Scientific and Natural Area
* Little Jo State Wildlife Management Area
* Lowry State Wildlife Management Area
* New Prairie State Wildlife Management Area
* Noordmans State Wildlife Management Area
* Skarpness State Wildlife Management Area
* Van Luik State Wildlife Management Area
* Wade State Wildlife Management Area

### Major lakes

* Amelia Lake
* Goose Lake
* Lake Emily
* Lake Johanna
* Lake Minnewaska
* Lake Reno (part)
* Lake Simon
* Pelican Lake
* Pike Lake
* Scandinavian Lake

## Demographics
### 2020 Census

Pope County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 10,751 | 95.1% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 34 | 0.3% |
| Native American (NH) | 27 | 0.24% |
| Asian (NH) | 50 | 0.44% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 255 | 2.3% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 191 | 1.7% |

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,236 people, 4,513 households, and 3,064 families in the county. The population density was 16.8 per square mile (6.5/km$^2$). There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of 8.70 per square mile (3.36/km$^2$)/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.85% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.8% were of Norwegian and 31.6% German ancestry.
There were 4,513 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.10% 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 2.99.
The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,633, and the median income for a family was $42,818. Males had a median income of $30,452 versus $20,511 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,032. About 5.80% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 12.10% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Brooten (part)
* Cyrus
* Farwell
* Glenwood (county seat)
* Long Beach
* Lowry
* Sedan
* Starbuck
* Villard
* Westport

### Unincorporated communities

* Grove Lake
* Terrace

### Ghost town

* New Prairie

### Townships

* Bangor Township
* Barsness Township
* Ben Wade Township
* Blue Mounds Township
* Chippewa Falls Township
* Gilchrist Township
* Glenwood Township
* Grove Lake Township
* Hoff Township
* Lake Johanna Township
* Langhei Township
* Leven Township
* Minnewaska Township
* New Prairie Township
* Nora Township
* Reno Township
* Rolling Forks Township
* Walden Township
* Westport Township
* White Bear Lake Township

## Government and politics

Pope County has been a swing district in the past, but strongly supported the Republican nominee in the last three presidential elections.
United States presidential election results for Pope County, Minnesota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 4,677 | 64.80% | 2,398 | 33.22% | 143 | 1.98% |
| 2020 | 4,417 | 62.90% | 2,477 | 35.27% | 128 | 1.82% |
| 2016 | 3,793 | 60.03% | 2,106 | 33.33% | 420 | 6.65% |
| 2012 | 3,142 | 50.30% | 2,981 | 47.73% | 123 | 1.97% |
| 2008 | 3,069 | 46.96% | 3,317 | 50.75% | 150 | 2.29% |
| 2004 | 3,303 | 49.30% | 3,301 | 49.27% | 96 | 1.43% |
| 2000 | 2,808 | 46.90% | 2,771 | 46.28% | 408 | 6.81% |
| 1996 | 1,992 | 36.03% | 2,803 | 50.70% | 734 | 13.28% |
| 1992 | 1,886 | 31.59% | 2,619 | 43.87% | 1,465 | 24.54% |
| 1988 | 2,627 | 45.48% | 3,074 | 53.22% | 75 | 1.30% |
| 1984 | 3,064 | 52.27% | 2,757 | 47.03% | 41 | 0.70% |
| 1980 | 3,159 | 51.34% | 2,527 | 41.07% | 467 | 7.59% |
| 1976 | 2,251 | 36.74% | 3,746 | 61.14% | 130 | 2.12% |
| 1972 | 2,610 | 45.94% | 2,910 | 51.22% | 161 | 2.83% |
| 1968 | 2,504 | 46.65% | 2,592 | 48.29% | 272 | 5.07% |
| 1964 | 2,213 | 38.39% | 3,549 | 61.57% | 2 | 0.03% |
| 1960 | 3,062 | 51.39% | 2,883 | 48.39% | 13 | 0.22% |
| 1956 | 2,725 | 51.33% | 2,577 | 48.54% | 7 | 0.13% |
| 1952 | 3,593 | 60.00% | 2,381 | 39.76% | 14 | 0.23% |
| 1948 | 2,114 | 38.70% | 3,251 | 59.52% | 97 | 1.78% |
| 1944 | 2,607 | 48.27% | 2,781 | 51.49% | 13 | 0.24% |
| 1940 | 2,805 | 46.06% | 3,266 | 53.63% | 19 | 0.31% |
| 1936 | 1,869 | 35.65% | 3,200 | 61.05% | 173 | 3.30% |
| 1932 | 1,688 | 31.46% | 3,571 | 66.56% | 106 | 1.98% |
| 1928 | 3,382 | 66.13% | 1,667 | 32.60% | 65 | 1.27% |
| 1924 | 2,079 | 45.88% | 151 | 3.33% | 2,301 | 50.78% |
| 1920 | 3,466 | 76.34% | 709 | 15.62% | 365 | 8.04% |
| 1916 | 1,321 | 51.18% | 1,121 | 43.43% | 139 | 5.39% |
| 1912 | 379 | 16.63% | 443 | 19.44% | 1,457 | 63.93% |
| 1908 | 1,794 | 76.86% | 442 | 18.94% | 98 | 4.20% |
| 1904 | 1,729 | 88.17% | 159 | 8.11% | 73 | 3.72% |
| 1900 | 1,774 | 76.40% | 481 | 20.71% | 67 | 2.89% |
| 1896 | 1,773 | 70.53% | 688 | 27.37% | 53 | 2.11% |
| 1892 | 1,037 | 57.32% | 282 | 15.59% | 490 | 27.09% |
County Board of Commissioners :
| Position | Name | District |
| Commissioner | Paul Gremmels | District 1 |
| Commissioner | Gordy Wagner | District 2 |
| Commissioner | Paul Gerde | District 3 |
| Commissioner | Larry Lindor | District 4 |
| Commissioner | Paul Wildman | District 5 |
State Legislature (2018-2020) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| Senate | Torrey Westrom | Republican | District 12 |
| House of Representatives | Jeff Backer | Republican | District 12A |
| House of Representatives | Paul Anderson | Republican | District 12B |
U.S Congress (2018-2020) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| House of Representatives | Collin Peterson | Democrat | 7th |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar | Democrat | N/A |
| Senate | Tina Smith | Democrat | N/A |