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Blue Earth County, Minnesota facts for kids

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Blue Earth County
Blue Earth County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Blue Earth County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Minnesota
Founded March 5, 1853
Named for Blue Earth River
Seat Mankato
Largest city Mankato
Area
 • Total 766 sq mi (1,980 km2)
 • Land 748 sq mi (1,940 km2)
 • Water 18 sq mi (50 km2)  2.3%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 69,112
 • Estimate 
(2021)
69,280 Increase
 • Density 90.2/sq mi (34.8/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 1st

Blue Earth County is a county in the State of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 69,112. Its county seat is Mankato. The county is named for the Blue Earth River and for the deposits of blue-green clay once evident along the banks of the Blue Earth River.

Blue Earth County is part of the Mankato-North Mankato metropolitan area.

History

The area of Blue Earth County was once known as the "Big Woods" and occupied by the Dakota Indians. It was started by a French explorer, Pierre-Charles Le Sueur. He was one of the first white people in this area, arriving where the Minnesota and Blue Earth rivers meet. There, he made an unsuccessful attempt to mine copper from the blue earth found in the area. The area remained under French control until 1803, but soon after was passed to the United States by the Louisiana Purchase.

When Minnesota became a territory in 1849, the territorial government became interested in having the river valley for settlement. In 1850 the first steamboat trip, starting in St. Paul, traveled on the Minnesota River and came to the Blue Earth River. The first White settlers, P.K. Johnson and Henry Jackson came off the boat and settled in present-day Mankato. The ratification of the Mendota and Traverse des Sioux Treaties in 1851 effectively forced the Dakota to leave the area for nearby reservations.

The county of Blue Earth was created after a division of the Minnesota Territory on March 5, 1853 from portions of Dakota County and free territory. It was named after the Blue Earth River. The first government officials were appointed by Alexander Ramsey, who was the territorial governor. That October the first election was held for government officials with 22 ballots being taken.

Unfulfilled treaty promises and starvation on the Indians reservation led to the Dakota War of 1862, which resulted in Dakota defeat and the largest mass execution in US history in Mankato. In 1868 the railroads' arrival helped with the growth and development of many areas, including Blue Earth. The railroads allowed many White ethnic immigrants and Yankee settlers into the area. Blue Earth has grown into a very good county for agriculture, industry, business, education, and culture, and continues to grow today.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 766 square miles (1,980 km2), of which 748 square miles (1,940 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (2.3%) is water. The Blue Earth River and Le Sueur River flow through a part of the county. The land surface is relatively flat with over 30 lakes in the county. There are many "closed forest savannas" that some call the big woods in the county's northeast. The rivers that flow out of the northeast are surrounded by these big woods. Most of the county is grassland prairie but scattered parts are wet prairie. Some spots that surround the rivers are oak openings and barren brushland.

Lakes

  • Crystal Lake in Lake Crystal
  • Albert Lake: in Jamestown Township
  • Alice Lake: in Le Ray Township
  • Armstrong Lake: in Butternut Valley Township
  • Ballantyne Lake: in Jamestown Township
  • Born Lake: in Le Ray Township
  • Cottonwood Lake: in Medo Township
  • Duck Lake: in Jamestown Township
  • Eagle Lake: the southern half of the larger, northern lake is in Mankato Township and the northern half is in Lime Township with the eastern part of it just barely extending into Jamestown Township the eastern half of the smaller, southern lake is in Le Ray Township and the western half is in Mankato Township
  • George Lake: in Jamestown Township
  • Gilfillin Lake: mostly in Jamestown Township, but the extreme southern edge juts into Le Ray Township
  • Ida Lake: in Shelby Township
  • Indian Lake: is in Le Ray Township
  • Knights Lake: western half is in Mapleton Township and eastern half is in Danville Township
  • Lake Crystal mostly in Judson Township, but the southern third is in Garden City Township
  • Lieberg Lake: in Butternut Valley Township
  • Lily Lake: Judson Township
  • Loon Lake: in Garden City Township
  • Long Lake: in Jamestown Township
  • Lura Lake: mostly in Sterling Township, but the eastern fifth extends into Mapleton Township and a very small part extends into Faribault County
  • Madison Lake: southern three-quarters is in Le Ray Township and the northern quarter is in Jamestown Township
  • Mennenga Lake: Judson Township
  • Mills Lake: in Garden City Township
  • Minnesota Lake: almost entirely in Faribault County, but the extreme northern edge extends into Danville Township
  • Mud Lake: in Jamestown Township
  • Perch Lake: mostly in Beauford Township, but the eastern fifth of the lake extends into Medo Township
  • Porter Lake: in Ceresco Township
  • Rice Lake: in McPherson Township
  • Severson Lake: in Medo Township
  • Strom Lake: in Butternut Valley Township
  • Wita Lake: in Lime Township

Major highways

  • US 14.svg U.S. Highway 14
  • US 169 (MN).svg U.S. Highway 169
  • MN-22.svg Minnesota State Highway 22
  • MN-30.svg Minnesota State Highway 30
  • MN-60.svg Minnesota State Highway 60
  • MN-66.svg Minnesota State Highway 66
  • MN-68.svg Minnesota State Highway 68
  • MN-83.svg Minnesota State Highway 83

Adjacent counties

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Mankato, Minnesota
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
0.9
 
24
5
 
 
0.8
 
30
10
 
 
2
 
42
22
 
 
3.1
 
58
35
 
 
3.5
 
70
47
 
 
5.1
 
79
57
 
 
4.3
 
83
62
 
 
4.2
 
81
59
 
 
3.2
 
73
49
 
 
2.3
 
60
37
 
 
1.9
 
43
24
 
 
1.1
 
28
11
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Mankato have ranged from a low of 5 °F (−15 °C) in January to a high of 83 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −35 °F (−37 °C) was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in August 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.78 inches (20 mm) in February to 5.09 inches (129 mm) in June.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 4,803
1870 17,302 260.2%
1880 22,889 32.3%
1890 29,210 27.6%
1900 32,263 10.5%
1910 29,337 −9.1%
1920 31,477 7.3%
1930 33,847 7.5%
1940 36,203 7.0%
1950 38,327 5.9%
1960 44,385 15.8%
1970 52,322 17.9%
1980 52,314 0.0%
1990 54,044 3.3%
2000 55,941 3.5%
2010 64,013 14.4%
2015 (est.) 65,787 2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2015
USA Blue Earth County, Minnesota age pyramid
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 55,941 people, 21,062 households, and 12,616 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile (29/km²). There were 21,971 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.96% White, 1.19% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.79% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 47.6% were of German, 13.6% Norwegian and 6.5% Irish ancestry.

There were 21,062 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.60% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.10% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.40% under the age of 18, 22.10% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 18.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,940, and the median income for a family was $50,257. Males had a median income of $32,087 versus $22,527 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,712. About 6.10% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Townships

  • Beauford Township
  • Butternut Valley Township
  • Cambria Township
  • Ceresco Township
  • Danville Township
  • Decoria Township
  • Garden City Township
  • Jamestown Township
  • Judson Township
  • Le Ray Township
  • Lime Township
  • Lincoln Township
  • Lyra Township
  • Mankato Township
  • Mapleton Township
  • McPherson Township
  • Medo Township
  • Pleasant Mound Township
  • Rapidan Township
  • Shelby Township
  • South Bend Township
  • Sterling Township
  • Vernon Center Township

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Blue Earth County vote
by party in presidential elections
Year Republican Democratic
2016 46.6% 15,667 43.0% 14,428
2012 43.5% 14,916 53.0% 18,164
2008 42.2% 14,782 55.1% 19,325
2004 47.5% 15,737 50.9% 16,865
2000 47.2% 12,942 45.0% 12,329
1996 36.0% 9,082 49.2% 12,420
1992 31.6% 8,813 41.4% 11,531
1988 48.7% 11,959 50.4% 12,375
1984 54.3% 14,298 45.1% 11,877
1980 45.8% 11,966 41.8% 10,930
1976 46.7% 11,998 50.3% 12,930
1972 53.7% 12,702 45.0% 10,638
1968 49.0% 9,571 47.4% 9,254
1964 42.6% 8,009 56.9% 10,687
1960 58.4% 11,328 41.5% 8,052

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Blue Earth para niños

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