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Rice County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 44°22′N 93°18′W / 44.36°N 93.30°W / 44.36; -93.30
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This article is about the Minnesota county. For the city with the same name, see Rice, Minnesota.

Rice County
County
Rice County Courthouse
Rice County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Rice County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°22′N 93°18′W / 44.36°N 93.3°W / 44.36; -93.3
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMarch 5, 1853
Named forHenry Mower Rice
SeatFaribault
Largest cityFaribault
Area
 • Total
516 sq mi (1,340 km2)
 • Land496 sq mi (1,280 km2)
 • Water20 sq mi (50 km2)  3.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
67,097
 • Estimate 
(2023)
67,948 Increase
 • Density135.3/sq mi (52.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts1st, 2nd
Websitewww.co.rice.mn.us

Rice County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,097.[1] Its county seat is Faribault.[2]

Rice County comprises the Faribault-Northfield, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area.

History

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Rice County was founded on March 5, 1853.[3] It was named for Henry Mower Rice, a fur trader who became instrumental in creation of the Minnesota Territory and its subsequent growth and development.[4]

Geography

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The Cannon River flows northeasterly through the center of the county, on its way to discharge into the Mississippi River at Red Wing. The Straight River flows northerly into the county from Steele County to its discharge point into the Cannon River at Faribault. The North Fork of the Zumbro River rises in south-central Rice County, and flows eastward into Goodhue County on its way to discharge into the Mississippi east of Kellogg.

The county terrain consists of low, rolling hills, entirely devoted to agriculture, and dotted with lakes.[5] The county slopes to the east and north; its highest point is near its SE corner, at 1,263 ft (385 m) ASL.[6] The county has an area of 516 square miles (1,340 km2), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (3.9%) is water.[7] The Cannon River flows northeastwardly through the county, collecting the Straight River in Faribault. The North Fork of the Zumbro River has its headwaters in the county's southeastern part.[8] Rice is one of 17 Minnesota savanna counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils.

Soils of Rice County[9]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas[5]

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  • Cannon Lake Wilderness Area
  • Cannon River Trout Lily Scientific and Natural Area
  • Faribault State Wildlife Management Area
  • Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
  • River Bend Nature Area
  • Sakatah Lake State Park (part)
  • Shager Park
  • Townsend Woods Scientific and Natural Area
  • Whitney Island Scientific and Natural Area

Lakes[5]

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  • Cannon Lake
  • Caron Lake
  • Cedar Lake
  • Circle Lake
  • Crystal Lake
  • Duban Lake
  • Dudley Lake
  • Fox Lake
  • French Lake
  • Hatch Lake
  • Horseshoe Lake (part)
  • Hunt Lake
  • Kelly Lake
  • Mazaska Lake
  • Metogga Lake
  • Mud Lake
  • Phelps Lake
  • Rice Lake
  • Roberds Lake
  • Sakatah Lake (part)
  • Shields Lake
  • Sprague Lake
  • Union Lake
  • Weinberger Lake
  • Wells Lake
  • Willing Lake

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18607,543—
187016,083113.2%
188022,48139.8%
189023,9686.6%
190026,0808.8%
191025,911−0.6%
192028,3079.2%
193029,9745.9%
194032,1607.3%
195036,23512.7%
196038,9887.6%
197041,5826.7%
198046,08710.8%
199049,1836.7%
200056,66515.2%
201064,14213.2%
202067,0974.6%
2023 (est.)67,948[10]1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census

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Rice County Racial Composition[15]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 51,523 76.8%
Black or African American (NH) 4,353 6.5%
Native American (NH) 297 0.44%
Asian (NH) 1,554 2.32%
Pacific Islander (NH) 10 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH) 2,577 3.84%
Hispanic or Latino 6,783 10.11%

2000 census

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 56,665 people, 18,888 households, and 13,353 families in the county. The population density was 114 per square mile (44/km2). There were 20,061 housing units at an average density of 40.4 per square mile (15.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.59% White, 1.31% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.87% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 5.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.1% were of German, 14.7% Norwegian, 7.2% Irish and 5.3% Czech ancestry.

There were 18,888 households, out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 25.30% under the age of 18, 15.80% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,651, and the median income for a family was $56,407. Males had a median income of $36,771 versus $26,151 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,695. About 4.00% of families and 6.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.70% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

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  • Ackman Park 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Faribault
  • Albers Park in Webster
  • Caron Park in Cannon City
  • Falls Creek Park 1-mile (1.6 km) east of Faribault
  • Heron Island in Shieldsville
  • Hirdler Park 10 miles (16 km) west of Faribault
  • Kalina Park in Wheatland
  • King Mill Park in Faribault

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Politics

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From its first participating election in 1860 through 1960, Rice County was traditionally Republican, voting for the Republican nominee in every election save 1912 (when it voted for Bull Moose nominee and former Republican president Theodore Roosevelt) and Franklin Roosevelt's 1932 and 1936 landslides.[16] From 1964 through 2012, it became a Democratic stronghold, voting for the Democratic nominee in every election save Richard Nixon's 1972 landslide. In 2016, it voted for a Republican for the first time since 1972 (and for a Republican who was not winning a majority of the national popular vote for the first time since 1960), although it gave him only a plurality, with 7.9% voting third party. However, in 2020, with the third party vote sinking to 2.3%, it voted Republican again, making it the first time since 1956 and 1960 that the county has voted Republican two elections in a row (although the Republican margin was only 62 votes out of over 35,000 cast).

United States presidential election results for Rice County, Minnesota[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 17,464 48.94% 17,402 48.76% 820 2.30%
2016 15,429 47.56% 14,437 44.50% 2,577 7.94%
2012 14,384 44.58% 17,054 52.85% 829 2.57%
2008 13,723 43.16% 17,381 54.66% 695 2.19%
2004 13,881 45.15% 16,425 53.42% 439 1.43%
2000 10,876 41.80% 13,140 50.50% 2,005 7.71%
1996 7,016 30.09% 12,821 54.98% 3,483 14.94%
1992 7,015 29.09% 10,908 45.24% 6,190 25.67%
1988 9,460 44.48% 11,570 54.40% 237 1.11%
1984 10,456 48.58% 10,880 50.55% 189 0.88%
1980 8,168 39.51% 9,531 46.10% 2,974 14.39%
1976 8,311 42.39% 10,590 54.01% 706 3.60%
1972 9,195 52.62% 8,065 46.15% 215 1.23%
1968 7,037 45.94% 7,785 50.82% 497 3.24%
1964 5,518 37.18% 9,299 62.65% 26 0.18%
1960 8,248 54.87% 6,752 44.92% 31 0.21%
1956 8,471 65.24% 4,489 34.57% 24 0.18%
1952 9,334 68.17% 4,330 31.62% 29 0.21%
1948 6,301 51.14% 5,832 47.33% 188 1.53%
1944 6,824 60.27% 4,470 39.48% 28 0.25%
1940 8,143 63.25% 4,687 36.40% 45 0.35%
1936 4,888 39.65% 5,928 48.09% 1,511 12.26%
1932 4,743 42.29% 6,289 56.08% 183 1.63%
1928 6,576 56.50% 5,014 43.08% 49 0.42%
1924 5,883 61.26% 1,199 12.49% 2,521 26.25%
1920 6,500 74.58% 2,040 23.41% 175 2.01%
1916 2,408 51.66% 2,083 44.69% 170 3.65%
1912 1,020 22.19% 1,613 35.09% 1,964 42.72%
1908 2,821 61.46% 1,614 35.16% 155 3.38%
1904 3,160 71.36% 1,063 24.01% 205 4.63%
1900 2,924 60.36% 1,688 34.85% 232 4.79%
1896 3,483 60.99% 2,002 35.06% 226 3.96%
1892 2,245 48.29% 1,794 38.59% 610 13.12%
County Board of Commissioners[18]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner Jim Purfeerst District 1 2024
Commissioner Galen Malecha District 2 2024
Commissioner Gerry Hoisington District 3 2026
Commissioner Steve Underdahl District 4 2026
Commissioner Jeff Docken District 5 2024
U.S Congress (2021-2023)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Brad Finstad[19] Republican 1st
  House of Representatives Angie Craig[20] Democrat 2nd
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[21] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[22] Democrat N/A

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  4. ^ Fedo, Michael (2002). Pocket Guide to Minnesota Place Names. Canada: Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 127. ISBN 0-87351-424-6. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c Rice County MN Google Maps (accessed April 3, 2019)
  6. ^ "Find an Altitude/Rice County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 3, 2019)
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  8. ^ Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth ME: DeLorme. 1994. p. 33. ISBN 0-89933-222-6.
  9. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "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 24, 2014.
  15. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Rice County, Minnesota".
  16. ^ "County winners, 1836-2016". Google Docs. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  18. ^ "Board of Commissioners | Rice County, MN". www.co.rice.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "Republican Rep. Brad Finstad sworn in to finish Hagedorn's House term". August 12, 2022.
  20. ^ "Representative Angie Craig". Representative Angie Craig. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  21. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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44°22′N 93°18′W / 44.36°N 93.30°W / 44.36; -93.30

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