Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota


Yellow Medicine County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its eastern border is formed by the Minnesota River. As of the 2020 [United States census|2020 census], the population was 9,528. Its county seat is Granite Falls.
The Upper Sioux Indian Reservation, related to the historical Yellow Medicine Agency that was here, is entirely within the county. It was established under the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851, by which the Dakota ceded much territory in the region to the United States.
WWW Official Site

History

The county was established by the Minnesota legislature on March 6, 1871, with Granite Falls as the county seat. Its name comes from Yellow Medicine River, which runs through the eastern part of the county to the Minnesota. The river's name derives from the moonseed plant, Menispermum canadense, whose yellow root the native Dakota people used for medicinal purposes.
It was proposed in 1878 to create a new county, taken from the western portions of Yellow Medicine, Lincoln, and Lac qui Parle counties. The state legislature approved the petition, and Governor Pillsbury signed the act on February 27, 1879, but the proposal failed to garner a combined majority of votes in the three counties, and the proposed Canby County did not come into being.

Geography

Yellow Medicine County lies on the west side of Minnesota. Its west border abuts the state of South Dakota. The Minnesota River flows east-southeast along the county's northeast side on its way to discharge into the Mississippi River. The Yellow Medicine River flows northeast through the eastern part of the county, discharging into the Minnesota near the midpoint of the county's eastern border. The Stony Run Creek flows east through the northeast part of the county; the Florida Creek flows northeast through the west end of the county, and the Lac qui Parle River also flows northeast through the west central part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, carved by drainages. The area is devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east and slightly to the north; its highest point is on the west border, near its SW corner, at ASL. The county has an area of, of which is land and is water.

Lakes

Rivers and drainages

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

  • Bigrock State Wildlife Management Area
  • Christopherson State Wildlife Management Area
  • Clawson State Wildlife Management Area
  • Flinks State Wildlife Management Area
  • Miller-Richter State Wildlife Management Area
  • Mound Springs Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
  • Omro State Wildlife Management Area
  • Oshkosh State Wildlife Management Area
  • Penthole State Wildlife Management Area
  • Posen State Wildlife Management Area
  • Saint Leo State Wildlife Management Area
  • Sioux Nation State Wildlife Management Area
  • Stokke State Wildlife Management Area
  • Stony Run State Wildlife Management Area
  • Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area
  • Upper Sioux Agency State Park

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 9,528. The median age was 42.9 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.5 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 89.5% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 3.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.1% from some other race, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.
<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 4,040 households in the county, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.8% were married-couple households, 19.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 4,513 housing units, of which 10.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.7% were owner-occupied and 19.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.3%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,080 people, 4,439 households, and 2,974 families in the county. The population density was. There were 4,873 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 96.09% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 2.04% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 36.5% were of Norwegian and 34.6% German ancestry.
There were 4,439 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.
The county population contained 25.80% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males age 18 and over.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,393, and the median income for a family was $42,002. Males had a median income of $27,770 versus $20,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,120. About 7.10% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and politics

Yellow Medicine County has recently been a swing county in national elections. Since 1980, the county has selected the Republican Party candidate in 56% of national elections. The county gave a majority to Barack Obama in 2008, but has trended more Republican in recent cycles.