Big Stone County, Minnesota

Big Stone County, Minnesota
Big Stone County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,166. Its county seat is Ortonville.
History
The county was formed in 1862, and was organized in 1874.
Geography
Big Stone County lies on the western side of Minnesota. Its southwest boundary line abuts the east boundary line of the state of South Dakota. The Little Minnesota River flows along the county's southwestern boundary. Since 1937, a dam (Big Stone Lake Dam) has impounded the river's waters, creating Big Stone Lake. Water flowing out from this lake flows along the south boundary line of the county, and is known as the Minnesota River from that point. Fish Creek flows southwesterly through the northwestern part of the county, discharging into Big Stone Lake at the county's southwestern boundary.
The terrain of Big Stone County is low rolling hills, wooded or devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the south and east, although its southwestern portion slopes to the river valley. Its highest point is on its north line near the northwestern corner, east of Lagoona Beach, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (5.5%) is water.
Lakes
Artichoke Lake - south edge in Akron Township, vast majority in Artichoke Township
Barry Lake - Toqua Township
Bentsen Lake - east half in Otrey Township, west half in Big Stone Township
Big Stone Lake - Ortonville Township, Browns Valley Township, Foster Township, Prior Township, Big Stone Township
Clear Lake - Toqua Township
Cup Lake - Almond Township
Deep Lake - Big Stone Township
East Toqua Lake - Graceville Township
Eli Lake - south three-quarters in Almond Township, west quarter in Clinton
Fogarty Lake - Toqua Township
Horseshoe Lake - Odessa Township
Lannon Lake - Graceville Township
Lindgren Lake - Ortonville Township
Lake Leo - Graceville Township
Lone Tree Lake - east three-quarters in Malta Township, west quarter in Almond Township
Long Lake - Artichoke Township
Long Tom Lake - northeast edge in Otrey Township, vast majority in Odessa Township
Lysing Lake - vast majority in Almond Township, south edge in Big Stone Township
Marsh Lake - Akron Township
Moonshine Lake - Moonshine Township
Moulton Lake - Big Stone Township
Mundweiler Lake - Big Stone Township
Munnwyler Lake - Ortonville Township
Olson Lake - Big Stone Township
Olson Lake - Otrey Township
Otrey Lake - Otrey Township
Peterson Lake - Odessa Township
South Rothwell Lake - north edge in Graceville Township, vast majority in Almond Township
Smithwicks Lake - Graceville Township
Swenson Lake - Big Stone Township
Twin Lakes - Big Stone Township
West Toqua Lake - Graceville Township
Walter Lake - Ortonville Township
Source: United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles
Major highways
U.S. Highway 12
U.S. Highway 75
Minnesota State Highway 7
Minnesota State Highway 28
Adjacent counties
Traverse County - north
Stevens County - northeast
Swift County - southeast
Lac qui Parle County - south
Grant County, South Dakota - southwest
Roberts County, South Dakota - northwest
Protected areas
Big Stone Lake State Park
Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Big Stone Wildlife Management Preserve (part)
Clinton Prairie Scientific and Nature Area
Dismal Swamp State Wildlife Management Area
Freed State Wildlife Management Area
Lac qui Parle State Wildlife Management Area
Otrey State Wildlife Management Area
Reisdorph State Wildlife Management Area
Victor State Wildlife Management Area
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Ortonville have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in February 1994 and a record high of was recorded in July 1966. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in December to in July.
Demographics
2020 census
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,820 people, 2,377 households, and 1,611 families in the county. The population density was . There were 3,171 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.7% were of German, 21.0% Norwegian, 8.0% Swedish and 6.3% Irish ancestry.
There were 2,377 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.
The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,721, and the median income for a family was $37,354. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $20,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,708. About 7.80% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Barry
Beardsley
Clinton
Correll
Graceville
Johnson
Odessa
Ortonville
Unincorporated communities
Artichoke
Big Stone Colony
Bonanza Grove
Foster
Lagoona Beach
Yankeetown
Townships
Akron Township
Almond Township
Artichoke Township
Big Stone Township
Browns Valley Township
Foster Township
Graceville Township
Malta Township
Moonshine Township
Odessa Township
Ortonville Township
Otrey Township
Prior Township
Toqua Township
Government and politics
Big Stone County voters have tended to vote down the middle for several decades. In recent elections the vote has been more Republican than Democratic. In 2016 Donald Trump expanded the thin margin Mitt Romney won the county by in 2012 as Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton registered only 33% of the vote to Trump's 58%.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Big Stone County, Minnesota
References
External links
Big Stone County website
Minnesota counties
1874 establishments in Minnesota
Populated places established in 1874