Martin County, Minnesota

Martin County, Minnesota
Martin County is a county in Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,025. Its county seat is Fairmont.
History
The county was created by the Minnesota Territory legislature on May 23, 1857, with Fair Mount (which was also platted in 1857) designated as county seat. The town's name was later shortened to Fairmont. Two explanations have been advanced for the county's name. A delegate to the US Congress from the Wisconsin Territory, Morgan Lewis Martin, introduced the legislative act to organize the Minnesota Territory. But in 1904 the county's oldest residents attested that the name referred to Henry Martin, an early settler from Connecticut who ran several businesses during the pre-territory era.
Geography
Martin County lies on Minnesota's border with Iowa. The East Fork of the Des Moines River flows southeastward through the lower western part of the county. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds, completely devoted to agriculture where possible. The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point near its southwest corner, at ASL. The county has an area of , of which is land and (2.4%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 90
Minnesota State Highway 4
Minnesota State Highway 15
Minnesota State Highway 263
Airports
Fairmont Municipal Airport (FRM)
Adjacent counties
Watonwan County - north
Blue Earth County - northeast
Faribault County - east
Kossuth County, Iowa - southeast
Emmet County, Iowa - southwest
Jackson County - west
Protected areas
Ceylon State Wildlife Management Area
Fox Lake Refuge
Luedtke State Wildlife Management Area
Perch Creek State Wildlife Management Area
State Wildlife Management Area
Truman Wildlife Area
Lakes
Amber Lake
Big Twin Lake
Bright Lake
Budd Lake
Buffalo Lake (Cedar Township)
Buffalo Lake (Rutland Township)
Canright Lake
Cedar Lake
Clam Lake
Clayton Lake
Clear Lake
Creek Lake
Eagle Lake
East Chain Lake
Fish Lake (Cedar Township)
Fish Lake (Lake Belt Township)
Fox Lake
Hall Lake
High Lake
Iowa Lake (part)
Kiester Lake
Lake Charlotte
Lake George
Lake Imogene
Lake Seymour
Little Hat Lake
Little Twin Lake
Martin Lake
Mud Lake
Murphy Lake
North Lake
North Silver Lake
Okamanpeedan Lake (part)
Perch Lake
Pierce Lake
Rose Lake
Round Lake (Fox Lake Township)
Round Lake (Waverly Township)
Sager Lakes
Sisseton Lake
South Silver Lake
Susan Lake
Temperance Lake
Tuttle Lake
Watkins Lake
Wilmert Lake
Demographics
2020 Census
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,802 people, 9,067 households, and 6,047 families in the county. The population density was . There were 9,800 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.22% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 51.6% were of German, 11.9% Norwegian, 5.9% Swedish and 5.0% English ancestry.
There were 9,067 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 30.00% 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 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.
The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 24.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,810, and the median income for a family was $44,541. Males had a median income of $30,467 versus $21,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,529. About 7.10% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.10% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Ceylon
Dunnell
Fairmont (county seat)
Granada
Northrop
Ormsby (part)
Sherburn
Trimont
Truman
Welcome
East Chain
Unincorporated communities
East Chain
Fox Lake
Imogene
Nashville Center
Wilbert
Townships
Cedar Township
Center Creek Township
East Chain Township
Elm Creek Township
Fairmont Township
Fox Lake Township
Fraser Township
Galena Township
Jay Township
Lake Belt Township
Lake Fremont Township
Manyaska Township
Nashville Township
Pleasant Prairie Township
Rolling Green Township
Rutland Township
Silver Lake Township
Tenhassen Township
Waverly Township
Westford Township
Government and politics
Martin County voters have been reliably Republican for decades. As of 2020, the county has selected the Democratic presidential nominee in only one election since 1952.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Martin County, Minnesota
References
Further reading
William H. Budd, History of Martin County: A True and Complete History of the County from its Earliest Settlement Down to 1880. Fairmont, MN: The Independent, 1897.
Roscoe C. Hunt, "Pioneer Physicians of Martin County Prior to 1900," Minnesota Medicine, vol. 25, no. 10 (Oct. 1942) and vol. 25, no. 11 (Nov. 1942).
Ray F. Kesler, Service Record Book of Men and Women of World War II, Martin County. Fairmont, MN: n.p., n.d. [1950s].
Martin County Historical Society, Martin County, 1857-1932: Diamond Jubilee Celebration and Homecoming, Fairmont, Minnesota, June 26 to July 4, 1932. Fairmont, MN: Martin County Historical Society, 1932.
Martin County Home Council, Martin County's Heritage. Fairmont, MN.: Martin County Extension Home Council, 1972–1976.
Allen L Moore, Historical Narrative of Martin County, Before 1850. Fairmont, MN: Martin County Historical Society, 1932.
Arthur M. Nelson, Know Your Own County: A History of Martin County, Minnesota. Fairmont, MN: Martin County Historical Society, 1947.
Arthur M. Nelson, Martin County Men in the Great War, 1917-1919. Fairmont, MN: Sentinel Publishing Co., 1920.
Sentinel, A Pictorial History of Martin County, MN. Marceline, MO: Heritage House, 1992.
External links
Martin County government’s website
Minnesota counties
1857 establishments in Minnesota Territory
Populated places established in 1857