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Chippewa County
County
Chippewa County Bank in Montevideo.
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°02′N 95°34′W / 45.03°N 95.56°W / 45.03; -95.56
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 20, 1862 (created) 1868 (organized)
Named for	Chippewa River
Seat	Montevideo
Largest city	Montevideo
Area
• Total	588 sq mi (1,520 km)
• Land	581 sq mi (1,500 km)
• Water	6.7 sq mi (17 km)  1.1%
Population
• Total	12,598
• Estimate	12,172
• Density	21.7/sq mi (8.4/km)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.co.chippewa.mn.us

Chippewa County (/ˈtʃɪpəˌwɑː/ CHIP-ə-WAH) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,598. Its county seat is Montevideo. The county was formed in 1862, and was organized in 1868.

History

Chippewa County was organized on March 5, 1868, after having been part of Renville County. The northern boundary change separating it from Swift County led to reorganization on February 18, 1870. The first three county commissioners, appointed by the governor, were Daniel S. Wilkins, Ole Thorson and M. Davidson. The county commissioners first met at Wilkins's cabin on January 9, 1869. Wilkins was appointed chairman of the board. The first officers appointed were J.D. Baker as auditor; J.C. Eldred as register of deeds; Samuel J. Sargant as treasurer; George W. Daniels as judge of probate; Edward Alcorn as sheriff; J.D. Baker as superintendent of schools; Horace W. Griggs as coroner; George W. Frink as justice of the peace; and F.W. Palmer and M. Morris as constables.

County seat

Chippewa City was the first village to be laid out in Chippewa County. It was on the west side of the Chippewa River, just north of the confluence with the Minnesota River. Daniel S. Wilkins was the first settler to arrive in 1865, and he laid out Chippewa City in autumn 1868. Wilkins's cabin there was the location of the first county commissioners' meeting.

George W. Frink arrived in Chippewa County in 1867 and made claim to land on the east side of the Chippewa River, where he built a log house in Montevideo. With towns on both sides of the river, there was debate over which should be the county seat. L. R. Moyer reported that some men from Montevideo went to Chippewa City and took the county records, "lock, stock and barrel". They also stole the post office, and G. W. Fink was named postmaster. The state of Minnesota legalized the move and Montevideo remains the county seat.

Geography

The upper part of the county's western boundary is formed by the outline of Lac qui Parle reservoir, which was formed when the Minnesota River was dammed in 1939. The Minnesota River flows southeast from the lake, along the county's southwestern border, while the Chippewa River flows south through the western part of the county to discharge into the Minnesota at the county's southern border. The Dry Weather Creek drains the west-central part of the county into the Chippewa, while the Palmer Creek drains the lower central part of the county into the Minnesota near the county's southernmost point. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the south, and locally to the river valleys. The county's highest point is near its southeastern corner, section 23 of Rheiderland Township, at 1,142 ft (348 m) The county has a total area of 588 square miles (1,520 km), of which 581 square miles (1,500 km) is land and 6.7 square miles (17 km) (1.1%) is water.

Lakes

• Carlton Lake
• Long Lake
• Norboro Lake
• Round Lake
• Shakopee Lake
• Watson Sag

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 59
• U.S. Highway 212
• Minnesota State Highway 7
• Minnesota State Highway 23
• Minnesota State Highway 29
• Minnesota State Highway 40

Adjacent counties

• Swift County - north
• Kandiyohi County - northeast
• Renville County - southeast
• Yellow Medicine County - southwest
• Lac qui Parle County - west

Protected areas

• Boike State Wildlife Management Area
• Franko State Wildlife Management Area
• Gneiss Outcrops Scientific and Natural Area
• Minnesota River Valley Overlook
• Spartan State Wildlife Management Area

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Montevideo have ranged from a low of 2 °F (−17 °C) in January to a high of 83 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −37 °F (−38 °C) was recorded in January 1970 and a record high of 110 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.86 inches (22 mm) in December to 4.24 inches (108 mm) in June.

Demographics

2020 Census

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,088 people, 5,361 households, and 3,597 families in the county. The population density was 22.5 per square mile (8.7/km). There were 5,855 housing units at an average density of 10.1 per square mile (3.9/km). The racial makeup of the county was 96.78% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 1.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.8% were of Norwegian and 36.8% German ancestry.

There were 5,361 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.

The county population contained 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,582, and the median income for a family was $45,160. Males had a median income of $30,556 versus $20,384 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,039. About 4.80% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Clara City
• Granite Falls (partial)
• Maynard
• Milan
• Montevideo (county seat)
• Watson

Unincorporated communities

• Asbury
• Big Bend City
• Bunde
• Churchill
• Gluek
• Gracelock
• Hagan
• Louriston
• Wegdahl

Townships

• Big Bend Township
• Crate Township
• Grace Township
• Granite Falls Township
• Havelock Township
• Kragero Township
• Leenthrop Township
• Lone Tree Township
• Louriston Township
• Mandt Township
• Rheiderland Township
• Rosewood Township
• Sparta Township
• Stoneham Township
• Tunsberg Township
• Woods Township

Government and politics

Chippewa County voters have been fairly split in recent decades. As of 2024 the county has selected both the Democratic and Republican nominee in 6 of 12 presidential elections since 1980. Donald Trump was the first Republican nominee to win the county since George W. Bush in 2000, receiving 60.5% of the vote.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Chippewa County, Minnesota
• List of Minnesota placenames of Native American origin

References

1. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
2. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 102.
3. "Chippewa". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
4. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. Chippewa County History. Chippewa County Historical Society. 1993. p. 22. LCCN 93-071293.
7. Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
8. ^ Chippewa County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)
9. "Chippewa County topographic map, elevation, relief".
10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
11. ^ "Monthly Averages for Montevideo MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
12. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
13. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
15. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
16. "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 6, 2014.
17. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Chippewa County, Minnesota".
18. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
19. "County Commissioners | Chippewa County, MN". www.co.chippewa.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
20. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
21. "Rep. Tim Miller (17A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
22. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
23. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

External links

• Chippewa County government's website

v t e Places adjacent to Chippewa County, Minnesota
Swift County Kandiyohi County Lac qui Parle County Chippewa County, Minnesota Yellow Medicine County Renville County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States
County seat: Montevideo
Cities	Clara City Granite Falls‡ Maynard Milan Montevideo Watson
Townships	Big Bend Crate Grace Granite Falls Havelock Kragero Leenthrop Lone Tree Louriston Mandt Rheiderland Rosewood Sparta Stoneham Tunsberg Woods
Unincorporated communities	Asbury Big Bend City Bunde Churchill Gluek Gracelock Hagan Louriston Wegdahl
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Minnesota portal United States portal

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45°02′N 95°34′W / 45.03°N 95.56°W / 45.03; -95.56

• Minnesota counties
• Chippewa County, Minnesota
• Minnesota placenames of Native American origin
• 1868 establishments in Minnesota
• Populated places established in 1868