Olmsted County, Minnesota

Olmsted County, Minnesota

Olmsted County Government Center

Seal
Map of Minnesota highlighting Olmsted County
Location in the state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded February 20, 1855[1]
Named for David Olmsted
Seat Rochester
Largest city Rochester
Area
 • Total 655 sq mi (1,696 km2)
 • Land 653 sq mi (1,691 km2)
 • Water 1.5 sq mi (4 km2), 0.2%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 151,436
 • Density 221/sq mi (85/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.olmsted.mn.us

Olmsted County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 144,248.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Rochester.[3] The county was founded in 1855 and named for David Olmsted, a member of the first territorial council and the first mayor of St. Paul.[4][5]

Olmsted County is part of the Rochester, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 655 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 653 square miles (1,690 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.2%) is water.[6]

Native vegetation based on NRCS soils information[7]

It is one of four counties in Minnesota that does not have any natural lakes (the other three being Mower, Pipestone, and Rock).

Lakes

Though Olmsted County does not have any natural lakes, it does have six reservoirs created by dams.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18609,524—
187019,793107.8%
188021,5438.8%
189019,806−8.1%
190023,11916.7%
191022,497−2.7%
192028,01424.5%
193035,42626.5%
194042,65820.4%
195048,22813.1%
196065,53235.9%
197084,10428.3%
198092,0069.4%
1990106,47015.7%
2000124,27716.7%
2010144,24816.1%
Est. 2015151,436[8]5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2015[2]

As of the census of 2000, there were 124,277 people, 47,807 households, and 32,317 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile (73/km²). There were 49,422 housing units at an average density of 76 per square mile (29/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.33% White, 2.68% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 4.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. 2.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The ancestral makeup of the county was 33.7% German, 16.1% Norwegian, 8.0% Irish and 5.2% English.

There were 47,807 households out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.00% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,316, and the median income for a family was $61,610. Males had a median income of $40,196 versus $29,994 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,939. About 3.80% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Olmsted is a historically Republican county. Rapid population growth in Rochester, however, has been turning the county more competitive in the last several decades.

Presidential Election Results 1960–2012[13]
Year Democratic Republican
2012 50.2% 39,338 47.0% 36,832
2008 50.6% 38,711 47.3% 36,202
2004 46.5% 33,285 52.2% 37,371
2000 43.5% 25,822 51.6% 30,641
1996 43.9% 22,857 43.9% 22,860
1992 33.6% 19,039 41.3% 23,404
1988 40.9% 19,423 58.3% 27,683
1984 36.4% 16,335 62.8% 28,129
1980 34.2% 13,983 55.5% 22,704
1976 37.0% 14,676 60.7% 24,030
1972 28.4% 9,817 69.0% 23,806
1968 42.1% 13,417 54.3% 17,292
1964 55.9% 16,195 43.9% 12,699
1960 40.3% 10,918 59.4% 16,080

Communities

The Helleckson Homestead, built about 1850, preserved in Olmsted County Oxbow Park

Cities

Townships

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ History of Olmsted County
  5. ↑ "Minnesota Government Series, State Counties". Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  7. ↑ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 43 - 48. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  13. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Olmsted.
 Goodhue County Wabasha County
Dodge County Winona County
   Olmsted County, Minnesota  
Mower County Fillmore County

Coordinates: 44°00′N 92°24′W / 44.00°N 92.40°W / 44.00; -92.40

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