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Not to be confused with Traverse, Minnesota or Grand Traverse County, Michigan.

Traverse County
County
Old District No. 44 School
Old District No. 44 School
Map of Minnesota highlighting Traverse County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°46′N 96°28′W / 45.77°N 96.47°W / 45.77; -96.47
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1862 (created)
1881 (organized)
Named forLake Traverse[1]
SeatWheaton
Largest cityWheaton
Area
 • Total586 sq mi (1,520 km2)
 • Land574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,360
 • Estimate 
(2023)
3,136 Decrease
 • Density5.9/sq mi (2.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.traverse.mn.us

Traverse County (locally /ˈtrævərs/ TRAV-ərss) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,360,[2] making it the least-populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Wheaton.[3] The county was founded in 1862 and organized in 1881.[4]

Geography[edit]

Traverse County lies on the western edge of Minnesota. Its western border abuts the eastern borders of the states of North and South Dakota. The Red River flows northward along the county's western line. The Mustinka River flows southwestward through the county's upper portion, discharging into Lake Traverse. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, fully devoted to agriculture except in developed areas.[5] The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point at the southeastern corner, at 1,119 ft (341 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 586 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 574 square miles (1,490 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.0%) is water.[7]

Soils of Traverse County[8]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Protected areas[edit]

  • Reservation Dam State Wildlife Management Area
  • White Rock Dam State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes[5][edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
187013—
18801,50711,492.3%
18904,516199.7%
19007,57367.7%
19108,0496.3%
19207,943−1.3%
19307,938−0.1%
19408,2834.3%
19508,053−2.8%
19607,503−6.8%
19706,254−16.6%
19805,542−11.4%
19904,463−19.5%
20004,134−7.4%
20103,558−13.9%
20203,360−5.6%
2023 (est.)3,136[9]−6.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[2]

2020 Census[edit]

Traverse County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 2,851 84.85%
Black or African American (NH) 21 0.63%
Native American (NH) 183 5.45%
Asian (NH) 0 0%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 0%
Other/Mixed (NH) 108 3.21%
Hispanic or Latino 197 5.86%

2000 census[edit]

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the 2000 census, there were 4,134 people, 1,717 households, and 1,129 families in the county. The population density was 7.2 per square mile (2.8/km2). There were 2,199 housing units at an average density of 3.83 per square mile (1.48/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.42% White, 0.02% Black or African American, 2.81% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.2% were of German, 13.0% Norwegian, 7.6% Swedish and 5.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 1,717 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.20% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 25.30% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 21.70% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 26.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,617, and the median income for a family was $39,655. Males had a median income of $29,821 versus $20,100 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,378. About 9.30% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

Government and politics[edit]

Traverse County has a balanced electorate. Since 1980 the county has selected the Republican Party candidate 54% of the time in national elections (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Traverse County, Minnesota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,172 62.88% 661 35.46% 31 1.66%
2016 1,049 58.34% 630 35.04% 119 6.62%
2012 861 46.62% 943 51.06% 43 2.33%
2008 933 45.85% 1,043 51.25% 59 2.90%
2004 1,076 50.26% 1,026 47.92% 39 1.82%
2000 1,074 51.00% 884 41.98% 148 7.03%
1996 775 34.77% 1,135 50.92% 319 14.31%
1992 841 33.86% 1,053 42.39% 590 23.75%
1988 1,061 42.85% 1,399 56.50% 16 0.65%
1984 1,399 51.00% 1,325 48.30% 19 0.69%
1980 1,574 51.95% 1,258 41.52% 198 6.53%
1976 1,130 35.24% 2,020 62.99% 57 1.78%
1972 1,276 41.77% 1,744 57.09% 35 1.15%
1968 1,277 41.41% 1,669 54.12% 138 4.47%
1964 1,073 32.30% 2,247 67.64% 2 0.06%
1960 1,463 40.75% 2,122 59.11% 5 0.14%
1956 1,467 45.87% 1,724 53.91% 7 0.22%
1952 1,809 50.63% 1,756 49.15% 8 0.22%
1948 1,008 31.28% 2,151 66.74% 64 1.99%
1944 1,296 42.76% 1,721 56.78% 14 0.46%
1940 1,434 40.50% 2,094 59.14% 13 0.37%
1936 761 24.20% 2,297 73.06% 86 2.74%
1932 608 18.53% 2,633 80.23% 41 1.25%
1928 1,214 38.79% 1,899 60.67% 17 0.54%
1924 1,002 39.32% 202 7.93% 1,344 52.75%
1920 1,759 73.20% 550 22.89% 94 3.91%
1916 774 48.71% 779 49.02% 36 2.27%
1912 131 10.34% 561 44.28% 575 45.38%
1908 685 54.93% 514 41.22% 48 3.85%
1904 885 77.50% 247 21.63% 10 0.88%
1900 768 50.29% 720 47.15% 39 2.55%
1896 589 36.65% 963 59.93% 55 3.42%
1892 413 39.33% 317 30.19% 320 30.48%
County Board of Commissioners[16]
Position Name District
Commissioner Chad Metz District 1
Commissioner Kayla Schmidt District 2
Commissioner Mark Gail District 3
Commissioner Jerrel Olson District 4
Commissioner Dwight Nelson District 5
State Legislature (2020-2022)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Torrey Westrom[17] Republican District 12
  House of Representatives Jeff Backer[18] Republican District 12A
U.S Congress (2020-2022)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Republican 7th
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[19] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[20] Democrat N/A

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 550.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Traverse County MN Google Maps (accessed April 2, 2019)
  6. ^ "Find an Altitude/Traverse County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 2, 2019)
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  8. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  13. ^ "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 25, 2014.
  14. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Traverse County, Minnesota".
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  16. ^ "County Commissioners | Traverse County, Minnesota". Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  18. ^ "Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

45°46′N 96°28′W / 45.77°N 96.47°W / 45.77; -96.47

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traverse_County,_Minnesota