# Grant County, Minnesota

Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,074. Its county seat is Elbow Lake.

## History

The county was created on March 6, 1868. It was named for Civil War General and US President Ulysses S. Grant. Its government was organized in 1874.

## Geography

The Chippewa River flows generally southward through the eastern part of Grant County. The Mustinka River flows south and then west-southwest through the upper and central parts of western Grant County. The terrain consists of low rolling hills dotted with lakes, its usable areas devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on its upper eastern border, at 1,375 ft (419 m) ASL. The county has an area of 575 square miles (1,490 km$^2$), of which 548 square miles (1,420 km$^2$) is land and 27 square miles (70 km$^2$) (4.7%) is water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 94
* U.S. Highway 52
* U.S. Highway 59
* Minnesota State Highway 9
* Minnesota State Highway 27
* Minnesota State Highway 55
* Minnesota State Highway 78
* Minnesota State Highway 79

### Adjacent counties

* Otter Tail County - north
* Douglas County - east
* Pope County - southeast
* Stevens County - south
* Traverse County - southwest
* Wilkin County - northwest

### Protected areas

Source:
* Alvstad State Wildlife Management Area
* Berksow State Wildlife Management Area
* Chippewa State Wildlife Management Area
* Helsene State Wildlife Management Area
* Isaacson State Wildlife Management Area
* Kube-Swift State Wildlife Management Area
* Malsville State Wildlife Management Area
* Marple State Wildlife Management Area
* Mustinka State Wildlife Management Area
* Storm-Bordson State Wildlife Management Area
* Wilts State Wildlife Management Area

## Demographics
### 2020 Census

Grant County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 5,699 | 93.83% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 13 | 0.2% |
| Native American (NH) | 27 | 0.44% |
| Asian (NH) | 14 | 0.23% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 7 | 0.11% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 179 | 2.94% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 135 | 2.22% |

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,289 people, 2,534 households, and 1,740 families in the county. The population density was 11.6 per square mile (4.5/km$^2$). There were 3,098 housing units at an average density of 5.74 per square mile (2.22/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.28% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.2% were of Norwegian, 30.0% German and 7.4% Swedish ancestry.
There were 2,534 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.
The county population contained 23.90% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 22.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,775, and the median income for a family was $42,214. Males had a median income of $28,428 versus $20,240 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,131. About 6.00% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Ashby
* Barrett
* Elbow Lake (county seat)
* Herman
* Hoffman
* Norcross
* Wendell

### Unincorporated communities

* Charlesville (partial)
* Erdahl

### Ghost towns

* Hereford
* Pomme de Terre
* Thorsborg

### Townships

* Delaware Township
* Elbow Lake Township
* Elk Lake Township
* Erdahl Township
* Gorton Township
* Land Township
* Lawrence Township
* Lien Township
* Logan Township
* Macsville Township
* North Ottawa Township
* Pelican Lake Township
* Pomme de Terre Township
* Roseville Township
* Sanford Township
* Stony Brook Township

## Government and politics

Grant County is a swing district that has leaned Republican in recent elections. As of 2024, the county has selected the Republican presidential candidate in 67% of national elections from 1980 inclusive.
United States presidential election results for Grant County, Minnesota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,266 | 63.96% | 1,187 | 33.50% | 90 | 2.54% |
| 2020 | 2,269 | 62.10% | 1,300 | 35.58% | 85 | 2.33% |
| 2016 | 2,063 | 59.40% | 1,105 | 31.82% | 305 | 8.78% |
| 2012 | 1,748 | 50.13% | 1,647 | 47.23% | 92 | 2.64% |
| 2008 | 1,646 | 45.66% | 1,850 | 51.32% | 109 | 3.02% |
| 2004 | 1,893 | 49.57% | 1,856 | 48.60% | 70 | 1.83% |
| 2000 | 1,804 | 49.78% | 1,507 | 41.58% | 313 | 8.64% |
| 1996 | 1,284 | 36.05% | 1,806 | 50.70% | 472 | 13.25% |
| 1992 | 1,201 | 32.76% | 1,561 | 42.58% | 904 | 24.66% |
| 1988 | 1,693 | 46.04% | 1,950 | 53.03% | 34 | 0.92% |
| 1984 | 2,111 | 52.84% | 1,867 | 46.73% | 17 | 0.43% |
| 1980 | 2,054 | 48.08% | 1,822 | 42.65% | 396 | 9.27% |
| 1976 | 1,635 | 37.69% | 2,624 | 60.49% | 79 | 1.82% |
| 1972 | 1,899 | 46.84% | 2,085 | 51.43% | 70 | 1.73% |
| 1968 | 1,929 | 47.11% | 1,982 | 48.40% | 184 | 4.49% |
| 1964 | 1,734 | 39.72% | 2,631 | 60.26% | 1 | 0.02% |
| 1960 | 2,239 | 48.93% | 2,333 | 50.98% | 4 | 0.09% |
| 1956 | 2,064 | 49.41% | 2,107 | 50.44% | 6 | 0.14% |
| 1952 | 2,665 | 59.51% | 1,791 | 40.00% | 22 | 0.49% |
| 1948 | 1,789 | 40.77% | 2,378 | 54.19% | 221 | 5.04% |
| 1944 | 1,898 | 48.93% | 1,969 | 50.76% | 12 | 0.31% |
| 1940 | 2,443 | 51.28% | 2,291 | 48.09% | 30 | 0.63% |
| 1936 | 1,566 | 38.43% | 2,358 | 57.87% | 151 | 3.71% |
| 1932 | 1,148 | 29.17% | 2,702 | 68.67% | 85 | 2.16% |
| 1928 | 2,057 | 54.33% | 1,687 | 44.56% | 42 | 1.11% |
| 1924 | 1,674 | 49.21% | 118 | 3.47% | 1,610 | 47.33% |
| 1920 | 2,427 | 75.80% | 533 | 16.65% | 242 | 7.56% |
| 1916 | 878 | 49.19% | 778 | 43.59% | 129 | 7.23% |
| 1912 | 146 | 9.36% | 381 | 24.42% | 1,033 | 66.22% |
| 1908 | 1,099 | 70.04% | 376 | 23.96% | 94 | 5.99% |
| 1904 | 1,209 | 87.67% | 102 | 7.40% | 68 | 4.93% |
| 1900 | 1,062 | 65.76% | 456 | 28.24% | 97 | 6.01% |
| 1896 | 1,002 | 56.29% | 739 | 41.52% | 39 | 2.19% |
| 1892 | 776 | 55.35% | 319 | 22.75% | 307 | 21.90% |
County Board of Commissioners :
| Position | Name | District |
| Commissioner and Chairperson | Troy Johnson | District 1 |
| Commissioner | Dwight Walvatne | District 2 |
| Commissioner | Ken Johnson | District 3 |
| Commissioner | Bill LaValley | District 4 |
| Commissioner | Doyle Sperr | District 5 |
State Legislature (2021-2023) :
| Position | Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| | Senate | Torrey Westrom | Republican | District 12 |
| | House of Representatives | Jeff Backer | Republican | District 12A |
U.S Congress (2021-2023) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach | Republican | 7th |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar | Democrat | N/A |
| Senate | Tina Smith | Democrat | N/A |