Colonel William A. Phillips

Todd County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,262.[1] Its county seat is Long Prairie.[2]

History

The county was created by the Minnesota Territorial legislature on February 20, 1855, although the county government was not organized until January 1, 1867, with Long Prairie as the county seat. It was named for John Blair Smith Todd, who was a delegate from Dakota Territory to the United States House of Representatives, and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.[3]

In 1976 the Todd County Bicentennial Commission compiled an extensive history of the County in a 316 page spiral bound book. The book includes histories of Todd County Villages, townships, and forgotten post offices, among other items.[4]

Geography

The Crow Wing River flows southeastward along the northeastern border of Todd County. The Long Prairie River flows east-northeast through the central part of the county, discharging into the Crow Wing on the county's northeastern border.[5] The Wing River, northwest of the Long Prairie River, also flows into the Crow Wing. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and etched with drainages. The area is devoted to agriculture.[6] The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest point on the west border at 1,483 ft (452 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 980 sq mi (2,500 km2), of which 945 sq mi (2,450 km2) is land and 35 sq mi (91 km2)(3.5%) is water.[8]

Soils of Todd County[9]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Lakes[6]

  • Bass Lake
  • Beauty Lake
  • Big Birch Lake (part)
  • Big Lake
  • Big Swan Lake
  • Buckhorn Lake
  • Bunker Lake
  • Cedar Lake
  • Charlotte Lake
  • Coal Lake
  • Fairly Lake
  • Fawn Lake
  • Felix Lake
  • Goose Lake
  • Guernsey Lake
  • Hayden Lake
  • Horseshoe Lake
  • Juergens Lake
  • Keller Lake
  • Lady Lake
  • Lake Osakis (part)
  • Latimer Lake
  • Lawrence Lake
  • Little Birch Lake (part)
  • Little Sauk Lake
  • Long Lake (Birchdale Twp.)
  • Long Lake (Burnhamville Twp.)
  • Maple Lake
  • Mary Lake (part)
  • McCarrahan Lake
  • Mill Lake
  • Mound Lake
  • Mud Lake
  • Pauley Lake
  • Pendergast Lake
  • Pine Island Lake
  • Rice Lake
  • Sauk Lake (part)
  • Schreiers Lake
  • Sheet Lake
  • Trace Lake
  • Twin Lakes (part)
  • West Union Lake

Protected areas[6]

  • Aurzada Wildlife Management Area
  • Buckhorn Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Burleene State Wildlife Management Area
  • Dower State Wildlife Management Area
  • Elgin Woods Wildlife Management Area
  • Iona Wildlife Management Area
  • Ireland State Wildlife Management Area
  • Long Prairie River Wildlife Management Area
  • Oak Ridge State Wildlife Management Area
  • Ojakis Wildlife Management Area (part)
  • Owen-Hinz Wildlife Management Area
  • Quistorff Wildlife Management Area
  • Randall State Wildlife Management Area
  • Santer Wildlife Management Area
  • Sheet Lake Wildlife Management Area
  • West Union Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860430
18702,036373.5%
18806,133201.2%
189012,930110.8%
190022,21471.8%
191023,4075.4%
192026,05911.3%
193026,1700.4%
194027,4384.8%
195025,420−7.4%
196023,119−9.1%
197022,114−4.3%
198024,99113.0%
199023,363−6.5%
200024,4264.5%
201024,8951.9%
202025,2621.5%
2023 (est.)25,667[10]1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census

Todd County Racial Composition[15]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 22,117 87.55%
Black or African American (NH) 95 0.37%
Native American (NH) 76 0.3%
Asian (NH) 97 0.38%
Pacific Islander (NH) 72 0.29%
Other/Mixed (NH) 597 2.36%
Hispanic or Latino 2,208 8.74%

2000 census

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 24,426 people, 9,342 households, and 6,511 families in Todd County. The population density was 25.8 per square mile (10.0/km2). There were 11,900 housing units at an average density of 12.6 per square mile (4.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.54% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 1.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.1% were of German, 11.3% Norwegian and 5.6% Polish ancestry.

There were 9,342 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,281, and the median income for a family was $39,920. Males had a median income of $28,630 versus $20,287 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,658. About 9.60% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Amish

Todd County has a large concentration of Amish, about the same population size as the Amish settlement at Harmony.[16] It is home to five different Amish communities, with altogether seven church districts in 2013, which indicates a total population of about 1000 people.

Location Founded in Church dis-
tricts in 2013
Affiliation
Bertha/Hewitt 1973 1 Swartzentruber
Long Prairie/Osakis 1995 2
Clarissa/Browerville 2001 2
Bertha/Staples 2003 1 Swartzentruber
Eagle Bend 2007 1

[17]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and politics

Todd County voters tend to vote Republican. In 71% of national elections since 1960, the county selected the Republican Party candidate (as of 2020). In both 2016 and 2020, Todd County was Donald Trump's second strongest county in Minnesota behind neighboring Morrison County both times.

United States presidential election results for Todd County, Minnesota[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,753 73.57% 3,286 24.79% 218 1.64%
2016 8,485 70.75% 2,783 23.21% 725 6.05%
2012 6,719 56.93% 4,819 40.83% 265 2.25%
2008 6,637 54.15% 5,277 43.05% 343 2.80%
2004 6,945 56.86% 5,034 41.21% 235 1.92%
2000 6,031 54.37% 4,132 37.25% 929 8.38%
1996 4,078 38.11% 4,520 42.24% 2,103 19.65%
1992 3,990 35.93% 4,059 36.55% 3,055 27.51%
1988 5,633 52.40% 5,023 46.73% 94 0.87%
1984 6,585 58.25% 4,657 41.19% 63 0.56%
1980 6,451 53.27% 4,975 41.08% 685 5.66%
1976 4,278 38.03% 6,530 58.05% 440 3.91%
1972 5,387 53.14% 4,270 42.12% 480 4.74%
1968 4,883 51.62% 3,992 42.20% 585 6.18%
1964 4,006 41.29% 5,673 58.47% 23 0.24%
1960 5,255 50.85% 5,051 48.88% 28 0.27%
1956 5,075 56.51% 3,882 43.22% 24 0.27%
1952 6,731 65.92% 3,439 33.68% 41 0.40%
1948 4,166 43.69% 5,157 54.08% 212 2.22%
1944 5,636 59.37% 3,803 40.06% 54 0.57%
1940 6,302 57.73% 4,553 41.71% 61 0.56%
1936 3,780 37.79% 5,627 56.26% 595 5.95%
1932 3,114 33.17% 6,023 64.16% 250 2.66%
1928 5,682 59.81% 3,733 39.29% 85 0.89%
1924 4,441 53.00% 557 6.65% 3,381 40.35%
1920 5,448 71.10% 1,464 19.11% 750 9.79%
1916 1,919 44.50% 1,922 44.57% 471 10.92%
1912 1,038 27.76% 1,068 28.56% 1,633 43.67%
1908 2,334 57.37% 1,305 32.08% 429 10.55%
1904 2,961 74.83% 741 18.73% 255 6.44%
1900 2,212 56.28% 1,487 37.84% 231 5.88%
1896 2,043 52.28% 1,739 44.50% 126 3.22%
1892 1,251 42.09% 1,118 37.62% 603 20.29%
County Board of Commissioners[19]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner and Vice chair Barb Becker District 1 2024
Commissioner Tim Denny District 2 2026
Commissioner Rod Erickson District 3 2024
Commissioner Lew Noska District 4 2026
Commissioner and Chairperson Randy Neumann District 5 2024
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Paul Gazelka[20] Republican District 9
House of Representatives John Poston[21] Republican District 9A
House of Representatives Ron Kresha[22] Republican District 9B
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Collin Peterson[23] Democrat 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[24] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[25] Democrat N/A

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 543. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  4. ^ Downes, James (July 1976). Todd County Histories. Long Prairie, MN: Todd County Bicentennial Commission. pp. Title page.
  5. ^ Sandy, John H. (2022). "Long Prairie River Region: Natural Environment and Land Use". Red River Nature Research Institute. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Todd County MN Google Maps (accessed March 14, 2019)
  7. ^ "Find an Altitude/Todd County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 14, 2019)
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  9. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 53-56. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  15. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Todd County, Minnesota".
  16. ^ "Minnesota Amish". amishamerica.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  17. ^ Donnermeyer, Joe; Luthy, David (October 21, 2019). "Amish Settlements across America: 2013". Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies. 1 (2): 107–129. doi:10.18061/1811/57700. hdl:1811/57700. ISSN 2471-6383.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  19. ^ "Meet Your Commissioners | Todd County Board of Commissioners". Todd County, Minnesota. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  21. ^ "Rep. John Poston (09A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  22. ^ "Rep. Ron Kresha (09B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  23. ^ "Congressman Collin Peterson". Congressman Collin Peterson. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  25. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

External links

46°04′N 94°54′W / 46.07°N 94.90°W / 46.07; -94.90