Stevens County, Minnesota

Stevens County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,671. Its county seat is Morris.

History
The county was created by act of the Minnesota legislature on February 20, 1862. It was not organized at that time, and no county seat was named. The county was named for Isaac Stevens, who had led a railroad survey party across Minnesota in 1853 and was influential in bringing national attention to the Minnesota Territory. The territorial legislature had intended to thus honor Stevens in 1855 when another county was being created, but a clerical error caused that county to be named Stearns. The error was corrected by the 1862 act; by that time Stevens was a brigadier general for the Union Army in the American Civil War. Stevens was killed later that year. The county government was organized in 1872. Morris, which had been platted in 1869, was named the county seat.

The University of Minnesota Morris is in Morris. It was developed in the early 20th century from the Morris Industrial School for Indians, which opened in 1887 and was originally operated by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy under contract to the federal government.

In 1975, a moderate earthquake occurred in the county.

Geography
The Pomme de Terre River flows south through central Stevens County, on its way to discharge into the Minnesota River. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, with the area mostly devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the south, although the northeast and southwest portions rise from the central part of the county. The county's highest point is on the eastern portion of the northern border, at 1,250 ft ASL. The county has an area of 575 sqmi, of which 564 sqmi is land and 12 sqmi (2.0%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 59
 * [[Image:MN-9.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 9
 * [[Image:MN-28.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 28
 * [[Image:MN-329.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 329

Adjacent counties

 * Grant County - north
 * Douglas County - northeast
 * Pope County - east
 * Swift County - south
 * Big Stone County - southwest
 * Traverse County - northwest

Protected areas

 * Alberta Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
 * Boekholt Grove State Wildlife Management Area
 * Bruillet State Wildlife Management Area
 * Cin State Wildlife Management Area
 * Dablow State Wildlife Management Area
 * Dolven State Wildlife Management Area
 * Everglade State Wildlife Management Area
 * Klason State Wildlife Management Area
 * Kline State Wildlife Management Area
 * Mathison State Wildlife Management Area
 * Muddy Creek State Wildlife Management Area
 * Reimers State Wildlife Management Area
 * Robertson State Wildlife Management Area
 * Selk State Wildlife Management Area
 * Thedin State Wildlife Management Area
 * Verlyn Marth Memorial Prairie Scientific and Natural Area

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,053 people, 3,751 households, and 2,366 families in the county. The population density was 17.8 /mi2. There were 4,074 housing units at an average density of 7.22 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 96.13% White, 0.92% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.8% were of German, 20.8% Norwegian and 5.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 3,751 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.

The county population contained 21.60% under the age of 18, 20.80% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 19.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,267, and the median income for a family was $47,518. Males had a median income of $32,045 versus $21,681 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,569. About 5.70% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.50% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Alberta
 * Chokio
 * Donnelly
 * Hancock
 * Morris (county seat)

Townships

 * Baker Township
 * Darnen Township
 * Donnelly Township
 * Eldorado Township
 * Everglade Township
 * Framnas Township
 * Hodges Township
 * Horton Township
 * Moore Township
 * Morris Township
 * Pepperton Township
 * Rendsville Township
 * Scott Township
 * Stevens Township
 * Swan Lake Township
 * Synnes Township

Government and politics
Stevens County has been a swing district for the past several decades. As of 2020 it has selected the Republican candidate in 56% of presidential elections since 1980. In 2016, Stevens County and several other counties in rural Western Minnesota swung sharply to the right. While Minnesota as a whole swung far to the left in 2020, Stevens County swung further right, giving Donald Trump nearly 60% of the vote - the most any party had got since 1952.