Big Stone County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Big Stone County
U.S. county
Big Stone County Courthouse in Ortonville, Minnesota.
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 20, 1862 (created) 1874 (organized)
Named for	Big Stone Lake
Seat	Ortonville
Largest city	Ortonville
Area
• Total	528 sq mi (1,370 km2)
• Land	499 sq mi (1,290 km2)
• Water	29 sq mi (80 km2)  5.5%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,166
• Estimate  (2021)	5,145
• Density	10.1/sq mi (3.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th

Big Stone County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,166. Its county seat is Ortonville.

History

The county was formed in 1862 and organized in 1874.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 528 square miles (1,370 km²), of which 499 square miles (1,290 km²) is land and 29 square miles (75 km²) (5.5%) is water.

Lakes

• Artichoke Lake - south edge in Akron Township, vast majority in Artichoke Township
• Barry Lake - Toqua Township
• Bentsen Lake - east half in Otrey Township, west half in Big Stone Township
• Big Stone Lake - Ortonville Township, Browns Valley Township, Foster Township, Prior Township, Big Stone Township
• Clear Lake - Toqua Township
• Cup Lake - Almond Township
• Deep Lake - Big Stone Township
• East Toqua Lake - Graceville Township
• Eli Lake - south three-quarters in Almond Township, west quarter in Clinton
• Fogarty Lake - Toqua Township
• Horseshoe Lake - Odessa Township
• Lannon Lake - Graceville Township
• Lindgren Lake - Ortonville Township
• Lake Leo - Graceville Township
• Lone Tree Lake - east three-quarters in Malta Township, west quarter in Almond Township
• Long Lake - Artichoke Township
• Long Tom Lake - northeast edge in Otrey Township, vast majority in Odessa Township
• Lysing Lake - vast majority in Almond Township, south edge in Big Stone Township
• Marsh Lake - Akron Township
• Moonshine Lake - Moonshine Township
• Moulton Lake - Big Stone Township
• Mundweiler Lake - Big Stone Township
• Munnwyler Lake - Ortonville Township
• Olson Lake - Big Stone Township
• Olson Lake - Otrey Township
• Otrey Lake - Otrey Township
• Peterson Lake - Odessa Township
• South Rothwell Lake - north edge in Graceville Township, vast majority in Almond Township
• Smithwicks Lake - Graceville Township
• Swenson Lake - Big Stone Township
• Twin Lakes - Big Stone Township
• West Toqua Lake - Graceville Township
• Walter Lake - Ortonville Township

Source: United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 12
• U.S. Highway 75
• Minnesota State Highway 7
• Minnesota State Highway 28

Adjacent counties

• Traverse County, Minnesota (north)
• Stevens County, Minnesota (northeast)
• Swift County, Minnesota (southeast)
• Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota (south)
• Grant County, South Dakota (southwest)
• Roberts County, South Dakota (northwest)

National protected area

• Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Ortonville have ranged from a low of 1 °F (−17 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −44 °F (−42 °C) was recorded in February 1994 and a record high of 108 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1966. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.43 inches (11 mm) in December to 3.85 inches (98 mm) in July.

Demographics

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,820 people, 2,377 households, and 1,611 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 3,171 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.44% White, 0.17% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. 0.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.7% were of German, 21.0% Norwegian, 8.0% Swedish and 6.3% Irish ancestry.

There were 2,377 households out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.60% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 5.30% from 18 to 24, 21.90% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 24.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,721, and the median income for a family was $37,354. Males had a median income of $27,857 versus $20,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,708. About 7.80% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.50% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Townships

Unincorporated communities

• Artichoke
• Big Stone Colony
• Bonanza Grove
• Foster
• Lagoona Beach
• Yankeetown

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Big Stone para niños