Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

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. Its county seat is Granite Falls.
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
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.
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 did not come into being.
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. The terrain slopes to the east and slightly to the north; its highest point is on the west border, near its SW corner, at ASL. The county has an area of , of which is land and (0.5%) is water.
Lakes
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
Florida Creek
Lac qui Parle River
Minnesota River
Spring Creek
Stony Run Creek
Yellow Medicine River
Major highways
U.S. Highway 59
U.S. Highway 75
U.S. Highway 212
Minnesota State Highway 23
Minnesota State Highway 67
Minnesota State Highway 68
Minnesota State Highway 167
Minnesota State Highway 274 (decommissioned in 2022)
Adjacent counties
Lac qui Parle County - north
Chippewa County - northeast
Renville County - east
Redwood County - southeast
Lyon County - south
Lincoln County - southwest
Deuel County, South Dakota - west
Protected areas
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
2020 Census
2000 census
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 . There were 4,873 housing units at an average density of . 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
Canby
Clarkfield
Echo
Granite Falls (county seat; partly in Chippewa County)
Hanley Falls
Hazel Run
Porter
St. Leo
Wood Lake
Unincorporated communities
Burr (original name Stanley)
Lorne
Normania
Spring Creek
Townships
Burton Township
Echo Township
Florida Township
Fortier Township
Friendship Township
Hammer Township
Hazel Run Township
Lisbon Township
Minnesota Falls Township
Norman Township
Normania Township
Omro Township
Oshkosh Township
Posen Township
Sandnes Township
Sioux Agency Township
Stony Run Township
Swede Prairie Township
Tyro Township
Wergeland Township
Wood Lake Township
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.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota
References
External links
Yellow Medicine County. GovOffice.com
Yellow Medicine County. RootsWeb.com
Minnesota counties
1871 establishments in Minnesota
Populated places established in 1871