Blue Earth County, Minnesota


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

lived and hunted in the area of Blue Earth County, particularly the Sisseton. French explorer Pierre-Charles Le Sueur was an early European explorer in this area, arriving where the Minnesota and Blue Earth Rivers meet. He made an unsuccessful attempt to mine copper from the blue-green clay the Dakota used as paint. The area remained under French control until 1803 when it passed to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase.
When Minnesota became a territory in 1849, the territorial government became interested in settling the river valley. In 1850 the first steamboat trip, starting in St. Paul, traveled on the Minnesota River and came to the Blue Earth River. The first Euro-American settlers, P. K. Johnson and Henry Jackson, debarked and settled in present-day Mankato. The ratification of the Mendota and Traverse des Sioux treaties in 1851 effectively forced the eastern Dakota to move to nearby reservations.
Blue Earth County was created after a division of the Minnesota Territory on March 5, 1853, from portions of Dakota County and free territory. It was named for the Blue Earth River. The first government officials were appointed by Alexander Ramsey, the territorial governor. That October the first election was held, with 22 ballots being taken.
On February 27, 1855, the Winnebago ceded of their reservation near Long Prairie in exchange for on the Blue Earth River. On May 24, 1855, they relocated and became so successful at farming that neighboring settlers coveted their land.
Blue Earth County is near the Lower Sioux reservation, which was created in 1858. Starvation on the reservation and the lack of timely arrival of government annuities led to the Dakota War of 1862, followed by removal of all Native Americans from the county. In 1868 the railroad's arrival promoted the county's growth and development by bringing immigrants and goods to the area.

Geography

The Minnesota River flows southeast along the western part of the county's northern boundary. It is joined by the Blue Earth River, which flows north through the western central part of the county. The Watonwan River flows northwest through the northeastern part of the county, discharging into the Blue Earth. The Little Cobb River flows northwest through the southeastern part of the county, meeting with the Cobb River, which flows north through the lower part of the county into the Blue Earth River. The Le Sueur River also flows west-northwest through the southeastern part of the county, discharging into the Blue Earth River.
The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, with the area devoted to agriculture. It slopes generally to the north. Its southwest corner is above sea level.
The county has an area of, of which is land and, or 2.3%, is water. The Blue Earth River and Le Sueur River flow through part of the county. The land surface is relatively flat, with over 30 lakes. 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 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.

Major highways

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Mankato have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of was recorded in August 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in June.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 69,112. The median age was 32.3 years. 20.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.2 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 84.2% White, 5.7% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.7% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.8% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.
66.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 33.6% lived in rural areas.
There were 27,193 households in the county, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.0% were married-couple households, 22.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 29,169 housing units, of which 6.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 61.5% were owner-occupied and 38.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.6%.
Race
White 57,22282.8%
Black or African American 3,8735.6%
Native American 2080.3%
Asian 1,8342.7%
Pacific Islander 240.03%
Other/Mixed 27304%
Hispanic or Latino3,2214.7%

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, the county had 55,941 people, 21,062 households, and 12,616 families. The population density was. There were 21,971 housing units at an average density of. The county's racial makeup 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, 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.
21.40% of the county's population was under the age of 18, 22.10% were from age 18 to 24, 25.60% were from age 25 to 44, 18.80% were from age 45 to 64, and 12.10% were age 65 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 county's median household income was $38,940, and the median family income was $50,257. Males had a median income of $32,087 versus $22,527 for females. The county's per capita income 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

Blue Earth County has voted for the winning presidential candidate in 16 of the 19 elections since 1952, the exceptions being 1960, 1988, and 2004.