Freeborn County, Minnesota

Freeborn County, Minnesota
Freeborn County is a county in the state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,895. Its county seat is Albert Lea. Freeborn County comprises the Albert Lea Micropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Freeborn County was created on February 20, 1855, the territory being separated from Blue Earth and Rice Counties. Twelve other Minnesota counties were created the same day by the Minnesota Territorial Legislature. Freeborn County was named for William Freeborn, an early Minnesota pioneer, merchant, and territorial legislator.
Geography
Freeborn County lies on Minnesota's border with Iowa. The Shell Rock River flows southward from Albert Lea Lake in central Freeborn County, crossing into Iowa. Turtle Creek flows eastward through the upper eastern part of the county, crossing into Mower County. The terrain is hilly and etched with drainages and gullies. The Le Sueur River, a tributary of the Minnesota River, begins in the northern part of the county and flows northward into Waseca County. The Cobb River and the Maple River, two other small rivers, begin in the extreme northwest corner of the county, the Cobb from Freeborn Lake and the Maple from Penny Lake. Both run generally northwest, emptying into the LeSueur River, just upstream from where the LeSueur empties into the Minnesota River, on the western edge of Mankato. Most of the available land is devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the south and east, although the highest point is near the northeast corner, at ASL. The county has an area of , of which is land and (2.1%) is water.
Lakes
Albert Lea Lake
Bear Lake
Church Lake
Everhart Lake
Fountain Lake
Freeborn Lake
Geneva Lake
Goose Lake
Halls Lake
Hickory Lake
Lower Twin Lake
Penny Lake
Pickerel Lake
School Section Lake
State Line Lake
Sugar Lake
Trenton Lake (part)
Upper Twin Lake
White Lake
Protected areas
Bear Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Carex State Wildlife Management Area
Halls Lake State Wildlife Area
Moscow State Game Refuge
Myre-Big Island State Park
White Woods County Park
Transit
Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit
Major highways
Interstate 35
Interstate 90
U.S. Highway 65
U.S. Highway 69
Minnesota State Highway 13
Minnesota State Highway 109
Minnesota State Highway 251
Adjacent counties
Steele County - northeast
Mower County - east
Worth County, Iowa - south
Winnebago County, Iowa - southwest
Faribault County - west
Waseca County - northwest
Demographics
2020 Census
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,584 people, 13,356 households, and 9,015 families in the county. The population density was . There were 13,996 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.22% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.92% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 6.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.8% were of Norwegian, 26.2% German and 5.8% Danish ancestry.
There were 13,356 households, of which 29.1% had children under age 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.
The county population contained 24.0% under 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and older, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,964, and the median income for a family was $45,142. Males had a median income of $31,491 versus $21,799 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,325. About 5.6% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under 18 and 9.1% of those over 64.
Communities
Cities
Albert Lea (county seat)
Alden
Clarks Grove
Conger
Emmons
Freeborn
Geneva
Glenville
Hartland
Hayward
Hollandale
Manchester
Myrtle
Twin Lakes
Unincorporated communities
Armstrong
Corning (partial)
Gordonsville
Mansfield
Maple Island
Moscow
Oakland
Petran
Townships
Albert Lea Township
Alden Township
Bancroft Township
Bath Township
Carlston Township
Freeborn Township
Freeman Township
Geneva Township
Hartland Township
Hayward Township
London Township
Manchester Township
Mansfield Township
Moscow Township
Newry Township
Nunda Township
Oakland Township
Pickerel Lake Township
Riceland Township
Shell Rock Township
Government and politics
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Freeborn County, Minnesota
References
External links
Freeborn County website
Minnesota counties
1855 establishments in Minnesota Territory