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Renville County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 44°43′N 94°58′W / 44.72°N 94.96°W / 44.72; -94.96
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Renville County
County
Renville County Courthouse
Renville County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Renville County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°43′N 94°58′W / 44.72°N 94.96°W / 44.72; -94.96
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1855 (created)
November 8, 1866 (organized)
Named forJoseph Renville
SeatOlivia
Largest cityOlivia
Area
 • Total
987 sq mi (2,560 km2)
 • Land983 sq mi (2,550 km2)
 • Water4.2 sq mi (11 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
14,723
 • Estimate 
(2023)
14,348 Decrease
 • Density15.0/sq mi (5.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.renvillecountymn.com

Renville County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census the population was 14,723.[1] Its county seat is Olivia.[2]

History

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The Minnesota Territory legislature created the county on February 20, 1855. It was named for Joseph Renville, a fur trapper, trader, British officer in the War of 1812, and interlocutor with local Native American groups. Organization of the county's governing structure was completed on November 8, 1866, with Beaver Falls as county seat. Beginning in 1885, citizens in and around Olivia began pressing for the seat to be moved to Olivia, which happened in 1900.[3]

1862 Dakota War

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Renville County, located directly across the Minnesota River from the Lower Sioux Agency, was the site of extensive combat during the Dakota War of 1862. The U.S. army's defeats at the Battle of Redwood Ferry and the Battle of Birch Coulee at the hands of the Dakota both occurred in Birch Cooley Township, in addition to numerous Dakota raids on white homesteads in the county. The burned-out Joseph Brown House Ruins still stand, and various monuments throughout the County memorialize settlers killed in the conflict.[4]

Geography

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The Minnesota River flows southeast along the county's southwestern border. Hawk Creek flows south through the county's western end, discharging into the Minnesota. Beaver Creek drains the central part of the county, flowing southeast before turning southwest to discharge into the Minnesota. The county terrain consists of rolling hills etched by drainages and sprinkled with lakes and ponds. The area is devoted to agriculture.[5] The county terrain slopes to the south, with its highest point near the midpoint of the northern border, at 1,122 ft (342 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 987 square miles (2,560 km2), of which 983 square miles (2,550 km2) is land and 4.2 square miles (11 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7]

Soils of Renville County[8]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Renville, Beltrami, and Stearns are Minnesota's only counties that abut nine other counties.

Lakes[5]

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  • Beckendorf Lake
  • Boon Lake
  • Hodgson Lake
  • Lake Allie
  • Mud Lake
  • Phare Lake
  • Preston Lake
  • Round Grove Lake (part)
  • Round Lake

Protected areas[5]

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860245—
18703,2191,213.9%
188010,791235.2%
189017,09958.5%
190023,69338.6%
191023,123−2.4%
192023,6342.2%
193023,6450.0%
194024,6254.1%
195023,954−2.7%
196023,249−2.9%
197021,139−9.1%
198020,401−3.5%
199017,673−13.4%
200017,154−2.9%
201015,730−8.3%
202014,723−6.4%
2023 (est.)14,348[9]−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census

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Renville County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 12,766 86.7%
Black or African American (NH) 60 0.41%
Native American (NH) 103 0.7%
Asian (NH) 61 0.41%
Pacific Islander (NH) 5 0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH) 409 2.8%
Hispanic or Latino 1,319 9%

2000 census

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2022 US Census population pyramid for Renville County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 17,154 people, 6,779 households, and 4,623 families in the county. The population density was 17.5 per square mile (6.8/km2). There were 7,413 housing units at an average density of 7.54 per square mile (2.91/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.72% White, 0.06% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.77% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 5.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 50.9% were of German, 16.3% Norwegian and 5.1% Swedish ancestry.

There were 6,779 households, out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 5.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.05.

The county population contained 26.50% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 19.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,652, and the median income for a family was $45,065. Males had a median income of $30,473 versus $22,179 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,770. About 6.30% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.80% of those under age 18 and 8.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Ghost town

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Townships

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Politics

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Before 1996, Renville County was a fairly balanced precinct. Since 1996, only Republican Party candidates have received the county vote in national elections (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for Renville County, Minnesota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 5,610 69.62% 2,280 28.29% 168 2.08%
2020 5,467 67.26% 2,496 30.71% 165 2.03%
2016 4,890 64.29% 2,117 27.83% 599 7.88%
2012 4,149 53.81% 3,394 44.02% 167 2.17%
2008 3,956 48.63% 3,904 47.99% 275 3.38%
2004 4,430 53.06% 3,787 45.36% 132 1.58%
2000 4,036 49.69% 3,533 43.50% 553 6.81%
1996 2,887 35.04% 3,956 48.02% 1,395 16.93%
1992 2,852 31.97% 3,414 38.27% 2,654 29.75%
1988 4,356 48.80% 4,454 49.89% 117 1.31%
1984 5,571 57.86% 3,972 41.25% 86 0.89%
1980 5,544 53.08% 4,058 38.85% 842 8.06%
1976 4,482 42.50% 5,762 54.64% 301 2.85%
1972 5,329 53.06% 4,499 44.79% 216 2.15%
1968 4,821 48.67% 4,535 45.78% 550 5.55%
1964 4,340 41.58% 6,072 58.18% 25 0.24%
1960 5,885 54.20% 4,958 45.67% 14 0.13%
1956 5,728 57.52% 4,213 42.31% 17 0.17%
1952 6,742 63.45% 3,828 36.02% 56 0.53%
1948 4,297 44.40% 5,227 54.00% 155 1.60%
1944 5,160 57.49% 3,747 41.74% 69 0.77%
1940 6,196 57.15% 4,588 42.32% 58 0.53%
1936 3,049 32.25% 5,344 56.53% 1,060 11.21%
1932 2,631 30.03% 5,967 68.11% 163 1.86%
1928 5,107 57.18% 3,731 41.77% 94 1.05%
1924 3,405 42.66% 641 8.03% 3,935 49.30%
1920 5,995 73.64% 1,283 15.76% 863 10.60%
1916 2,432 55.25% 1,660 37.71% 310 7.04%
1912 703 18.02% 1,310 33.57% 1,889 48.41%
1908 2,275 60.22% 1,364 36.10% 139 3.68%
1904 2,925 77.94% 639 17.03% 189 5.04%
1900 2,809 64.77% 1,326 30.57% 202 4.66%
1896 2,553 55.16% 1,978 42.74% 97 2.10%
1892 1,370 39.95% 984 28.70% 1,075 31.35%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Upham, Warren. Minnesota Place Names (1920) p. 455 (accessed April 5, 2019)
  4. ^ "Historical Markers and War Memorials in Renville County, Minnesota". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Renville County MN Google Maps (accessed April 5, 2019)
  6. ^ "Find an Altitude/Renville County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 5, 2019)
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  8. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "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 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Renville County, Minnesota".
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
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44°43′N 94°58′W / 44.72°N 94.96°W / 44.72; -94.96

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