Norman County, Minnesota


Norman County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,441, and was estimated to be 6,284 in 2024. The county seat and the largest city is Ada. The county is in Minnesota's Red River Valley region.

History

Norwegians started settling in Norman County in the early 1870s and up until December 27, 1906 that also included what is now Mahnomen County. The county was created by the Minnesota legislature on March 17, 1881, with Ada as county seat. Even though Twin Valley was much closer to the geographic center of the county Ada was chosen as the county seat, sparking a 6 year legal battle.
It was named in recognition of the many settlers who came from Scandinavian countries, especially Norway. Another source posits that it was named for Norman Kittson, an early historical figure of the region.

Geography

Norman County lies on Minnesota's western border, abutting North Dakota across the Red River, which flows north along the county's west line. The Wild Rice River flows west through the lower part of the county, discharging into the Red slightly north of the county's southwest corner. The Marsh River rises in central Norman County and flows northwest into the Red near the county's northwest corner. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved by drainages and lightly dotted with lakes and swampy areas. The terrain is devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the north and west with its highest point near its southeast corner, at ASL.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the 26th largest county in Minnesota by total area.
Flom Township contains a prominent, irregular hill of morainic drift known as Frenchman's Bluff. It rises above the shoreline of the former Lake Agassis, to the northwest.

Major highways

Source:
  • Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
  • Agassiz No. 1 State Wildlife Management Area
  • Agassiz No. 2 State Wildlife Management Area
  • Dalby State Wildlife Management Area
  • Faith State Wildlife Management Area
  • Home Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Moccasin State Wildlife Management Area
  • Neal State Wildlife Management Area
  • Prairie Smoke Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
  • Sandpiper Scientific and Natural Area
  • Santee Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
  • Syre State Wildlife Management Area
  • Twin Valley Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
  • Twin Valley State Wildlife Management Area
  • Vangsness State Wildlife Management Area

    Lakes

Source:
As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the median home value in Norman County was $145,108.
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 2,676 estimated households in Norman County with an average of 2.34 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $69,833. Approximately 12.3% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Norman County has an estimated 63.4% employment rate, with 20.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.4% holding a high school diploma.
The top five reported ancestries were English, Spanish, Indo-European, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Other.

Racial and ethnic composition

Norman County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition
Race / ethnicity Pop. 1980Pop. 1990Pop. 2000Pop. 2010
White alone 9,267
7,816
6,957
6,293
5,702
Black or African American alone 0
4
7
11
17
Native American or Alaska Native alone 47
67
121
100
115
Asian alone 32
16
23
25
18
Pacific Islander alone ——0
0
0
Other race alone 0
0
4
32
Mixed race or multiracial ——95
143
269
Hispanic or Latino 33
72
227
276
288
Total9,379
7,975
7,442
6,852
6,441

2024 estimate

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 6,284 people and 2,676 households residing in the county. There were 3,249 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 92.6% White , 0.9% African American, 2.5% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.9% of the population.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,441. The median age was 44.9 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 90.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 1.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 5.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.5% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 2,733 households in the county, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.4% were married-couple households, 21.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 3,230 housing units, of which 15.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.9% were owner-occupied and 21.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.6%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,852 people, 2,863 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 3,421 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 94.21% White, 0.19% African American, 1.59% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.34% from some other races and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.03% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 7,442 people, 3,010 households, and 2,007 families in the county. The population density was. There were 3,455 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 95.30% White, 0.11% African American, 1.73% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.13% from some other races and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.05% of the population.
In terms of ancestry, 57.5% were of Norwegian and 21.7% German.
There were 3,010 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.30% were non-families. 31.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.04.
The county population contained 25.70% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% of over age 64. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,535, and the median income for a family was $41,280. Males had a median income of $28,674 versus $20,619 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,895. About 7.10% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.70% of those under age 18 and 14.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

From 1932 to 2012, Norman County voted Democratic, typically by large margins, in all but three elections, two were the nationwide Republican landslide victories of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 and Richard Nixon in 1972, and the third was in 2000, when strong third party showings in the state helped swing the county to George W. Bush. The 2016 election, however, saw the county swing significantly to the right, as Donald Trump won the county by over 13%. He increased his margin of victory in 2020 to nearly 16%, and turned in the best performance for a Republican in Norman County since Herbert Hoover in 1928. Trump increased his margin of victory to over 22% in the county in 2024, breaking this record yet again.