Faribault County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Faribault County (/ˈfɛərb/ FAIR-boh)[1] is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,921.[2] Its county seat is Blue Earth.[3]

Country United States
FoundedFebruary 20, 1855
Quick facts Country, State ...
Faribault County, Minnesota
Faribault County Courthouse in Blue Earth
Map of Minnesota highlighting Faribault County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Coordinates: 43°41′N 93°57′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1855
Named afterJean Baptiste Faribault
SeatBlue Earth
Largest cityBlue Earth
Area
  Total
722 sq mi (1,870 km2)
  Land712 sq mi (1,840 km2)
  Water9.4 sq mi (24 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
13,921
  Estimate 
(2024)
13,886 Decrease
  Density19.6/sq mi (7.55/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.faribault.mn.us
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History

The county was founded in 1855.[4] It was named for Jean-Baptiste Faribault, a settler and French fur trader among the Sioux Indians.[5]

Geography

Faribault County lies on the south side of Minnesota. Its southern border abuts the north border of the state of Iowa. The Blue Earth River flows northerly through the west-central part of the county; it enters from Iowa as two branches, West Branch and Middle Branch, merging at 5 miles (8.0 km) into the county. It is joined by East Branch near the city of Blue Earth, thence flows northward into Blue Earth County. The Maple River flows west-northwestward through the upper central part of the county, entering from Freeborn County and exiting to Blue Earth County. The Cobb River also flows through the NE part of the county, from Freeborn to Blue Earth county.[6]

The county terrain consists of semi-arid rolling hills, devoted to agriculture. The SE portion is a glacial moraine near Kiester, and is known as the Kiester Moraine.[7] The county has an area of 722 sq mi (1,870 km2), of which 712 sq mi (1,840 km2) is land and 9.4 sq mi (24 km2) (1.3%) is water.[8]

Lakes

Source:[6]

Airports

Source:[9]

Major highways

Soils of Faribault County[10]

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Source:[6]

  • Walnut Lake State Wildlife Management Area

Demographics

More information Census, Pop. ...
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18601,335
18709,940644.6%
188013,01630.9%
189016,70828.4%
190022,05532.0%
191019,949−9.5%
192020,9985.3%
193021,6423.1%
194023,94110.6%
195023,879−0.3%
196023,685−0.8%
197020,896−11.8%
198019,714−5.7%
199016,937−14.1%
200016,181−4.5%
201014,553−10.1%
202013,921−4.3%
2024 (est.)13,886[11] Decrease−0.3%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]
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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 13,921. The median age was 44.9 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.7 males age 18 and over.[16][17]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.9% from some other race, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.3% of the population.[17]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[18]

There were 6,086 households in the county, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.4% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]

There were 6,916 housing units, of which 12.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.9% were owner-occupied and 22.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[16]

2000 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Faribault County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,181 people, 6,652 households, and 4,476 families in the county. The population density was 22.7 per square mile (8.8/km2). There were 7,247 housing units at an average density of 10.2 per square mile (3.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.11% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.36% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 3.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 45.5% were of German, 21.2% Norwegian and 5.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 6,652 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.

The county population contained 24.40% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.20% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 22.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,440, and the median income for a family was $41,793. Males had a median income of $28,990 versus $20,224 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,193. About 5.50% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 10.20% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Government and politics

Faribault County has primarily supported Republican Party candidates in presidential elections throughout its history. Only six times since 1892 has a Republican candidate failed to win the county in a presidential election, most recently Bob Dole in 1996.

More information Year, Republican ...
United States presidential election results for Faribault County, Minnesota[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
1892 1,992 58.01% 1,070 31.16% 372 10.83%
1896 3,116 71.37% 1,107 25.36% 143 3.28%
1900 2,910 70.61% 936 22.71% 275 6.67%
1904 2,792 77.69% 611 17.00% 191 5.31%
1908 2,305 61.81% 1,039 27.86% 385 10.32%
1912 393 11.71% 919 27.38% 2,045 60.92%
1916 2,184 61.71% 1,123 31.73% 232 6.56%
1920 6,687 86.01% 869 11.18% 219 2.82%
1924 4,682 58.11% 578 7.17% 2,797 34.72%
1928 5,885 69.19% 2,545 29.92% 76 0.89%
1932 4,148 46.65% 4,590 51.62% 154 1.73%
1936 3,773 38.32% 5,603 56.90% 471 4.78%
1940 6,816 62.13% 4,099 37.36% 56 0.51%
1944 5,822 61.37% 3,640 38.37% 25 0.26%
1948 4,619 46.13% 5,261 52.54% 134 1.34%
1952 7,763 71.02% 3,120 28.55% 47 0.43%
1956 6,886 65.80% 3,554 33.96% 25 0.24%
1960 6,975 61.80% 4,301 38.11% 11 0.10%
1964 4,817 44.71% 5,946 55.18% 12 0.11%
1968 5,662 54.53% 4,335 41.75% 387 3.73%
1972 6,503 64.05% 3,519 34.66% 131 1.29%
1976 5,577 51.48% 5,049 46.61% 207 1.91%
1980 6,206 59.21% 3,620 34.54% 655 6.25%
1984 5,690 58.44% 3,993 41.01% 53 0.54%
1988 4,846 55.07% 3,879 44.08% 75 0.85%
1992 3,439 37.60% 3,339 36.51% 2,368 25.89%
1996 3,272 39.60% 3,817 46.20% 1,173 14.20%
2000 4,336 51.47% 3,624 43.02% 464 5.51%
2004 4,794 55.22% 3,767 43.39% 120 1.38%
2008 4,196 51.47% 3,736 45.83% 220 2.70%
2012 4,104 53.21% 3,407 44.17% 202 2.62%
2016 4,659 62.86% 2,153 29.05% 600 8.09%
2020 5,191 65.59% 2,531 31.98% 192 2.43%
2024 5,247 67.61% 2,352 30.31% 162 2.09%
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More information Position, Name ...
County Board of Commissioners[20]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner John Roper District 1 2024
Commissioner Greg Young District 2 2026
Commissioner and Vice Chair Bill Groskreutz District 3 2024
Commissioner Tom Loveall District 4 2023
Commissioner and Chairperson Bruce Anderson District 5 2024
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More information Position, Name ...
State Legislature (2025-2026)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Rich Draheim[21] Republican District 22
Senate Gene Dornink[22] Republican District 23
House of Representatives Bjorn Olson[23] Republican District 22A
House of Representatives Peggy Bennett[24] Republican District 23A
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More information Position, Name ...
U.S Congress (2025-2026)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Brad Finstad[25] Republican 1st
Senate Amy Klobuchar[26] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[27] Democrat N/A
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Education

School districts include:[28]

  • Alden-Conger Public School District
  • Blue Earth Area Public Schools
  • Granada-Huntley-East Chain School District
  • Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton School District
  • Maple River School District
  • United South Central School District

It also has the following state-operated schools:

See also

References

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