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Freeborn County, Minnesota

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Template:Infobox U.S. county

Freeborn County is a county in the state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,895.[1] Its county seat is Albert Lea.[2] Freeborn County comprises the Albert Lea Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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Freeborn County was created on February 20, 1855, the territory being separated from Blue Earth and Rice Counties. Twelve other Minnesota counties were created the same day by the Minnesota Territorial Legislature.[3] Freeborn County was named for William Freeborn, an early Minnesota pioneer, merchant, and territorial legislator.[4]

Geography

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Freeborn County lies on Minnesota's border with Iowa. The Shell Rock River flows southward from Albert Lea Lake in central Freeborn County, crossing into Iowa. Turtle Creek flows eastward through the upper eastern part of the county, crossing into Mower County. The terrain is hilly and etched with drainages and gullies. The Le Sueur River, a tributary of the Minnesota River, begins in the northern part of the county and flows northward into Waseca County. The Cobb River and the Maple River, two other small rivers, begin in the extreme northwest corner of the county, the Cobb from Freeborn Lake and the Maple from Penny Lake. Both run generally northwest, emptying into the LeSueur River, just upstream from where the LeSueur empties into the Minnesota River, on the western edge of Mankato. Most of the available land is devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain generally slopes to the south and east, although the highest point is near the northeast corner, at 1,296 ft (395 m) ASL.[6] The county has an area of 722 square miles (1,870 km2), of which 707 square miles (1,830 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (2.1%) is water.[7]

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Soils of Freeborn County[8]
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Soils of Island in Myhre-Big Island State Park

Lakes

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Source:[5]

  • Albert Lea Lake
  • Bear Lake
  • Church Lake
  • Everhart Lake
  • Fountain Lake
  • Freeborn Lake
  • Geneva Lake
  • Goose Lake
  • Halls Lake
  • Hickory Lake
  • Lower Twin Lake
  • Penny Lake
  • Pickerel Lake
  • School Section Lake
  • State Line Lake
  • Sugar Lake
  • Trenton Lake (part)
  • Upper Twin Lake
  • White Lake

Protected areas

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Source:[5]

  • Bear Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Carex State Wildlife Management Area
  • Halls Lake State Wildlife Area
  • Moscow State Game Refuge
  • Myre-Big Island State Park
  • White Woods County Park

Transit

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Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Template:US Census population

Racial and ethnic composition

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Freeborn County, Minnesota – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[9] Pop 1990[10] Pop 2000[11] Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 35,252 31,771 30,061 27,701 25,071 97.04% 96.10% 92.26% 88.63% 81.15%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2 11 65 200 460 0.01% 0.03% 0.20% 0.64% 1.49%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 35 61 59 55 76 0.10% 0.18% 0.18% 0.18% 0.25%
Asian alone (NH) 76 126 171 232 1,135 0.21% 0.38% 0.52% 0.74% 3.67%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [14] x [15] 2 10 5 x x 0.01% 0.03% 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 13 15 4 17 79 0.04% 0.05% 0.01% 0.05% 0.26%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [16] x [17] 173 290 886 x x 0.53% 0.93% 2.87%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 951 1,076 2,049 2,750 3,183 2.62% 3.25% 6.29% 8.80% 10.30%
Total 36,329 33,060 32,584 31,255 30,895 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,895. The median age was 43.7 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.5 males age 18 and over.[18][19]

The racial makeup of the county was 84.1% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.7% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.1% from some other race, and 6.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.3% of the population.[19]

58.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 41.8% lived in rural areas.[20]

There were 13,076 households in the county, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.2% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]

There were 14,114 housing units, of which 7.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 75.1% were owner-occupied and 24.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%.[18]

2000 census

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 32,584 people, 13,356 households, and 9,015 families in the county. The population density was 46.1 per square mile (17.8/km2). There were 13,996 housing units at an average density of 19.8 per square mile (7.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.22% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.92% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 6.29% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.8% were of Norwegian, 26.2% German and 5.8% Danish ancestry.

There were 13,356 households, of which 29.1% had children under age 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.

The county population contained 24.0% under 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 40. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and older, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,964, and the median income for a family was $45,142. Males had a median income of $31,491 versus $21,799 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,325. About 5.6% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under 18 and 9.1% of those over 64.

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Government and politics

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From 1932 to 2012, Freeborn County voted for the Democratic candidate in all but five elections, four of which were nationwide Republican landslides (1952, 1956, 1972, and 1980), and the fifth was in 1960 in one of the closest elections in American history. After voting for Bill Clinton by at least 15% in both 1992 and 1996, against George W. Bush by at least 10% in both 2000 and 2004, and for Barack Obama by at least 14% in both 2008 and 2012, the 2016 election saw a dramatic swing to the right, as Donald Trump won the county by more than 17%. Though his margin of victory slightly shrank to 16% in 2020, his vote share of nearly 57% was the best for a Republican in the county since 1928. In 2024, Trump won the county with nearly 60% of the vote and by a margin of over 21%, the largest margin of victory for a Republican presidential candidate since Herbert Hoover 1928.[21]

United States presidential election results for Freeborn County, Minnesota[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1892 2,004 61.27% 743 22.71% 524 16.02%
1896 3,400 72.25% 1,179 25.05% 127 2.70%
1900 2,934 74.17% 838 21.18% 184 4.65%
1904 2,876 78.19% 461 12.53% 341 9.27%
1908 2,465 61.14% 976 24.21% 591 14.66%
1912 672 17.04% 880 22.31% 2,392 60.65%
1916 2,418 60.07% 1,347 33.47% 260 6.46%
1920 6,772 81.96% 1,131 13.69% 360 4.36%
1924 6,139 63.75% 480 4.98% 3,011 31.27%
1928 7,815 72.70% 2,859 26.60% 76 0.71%
1932 4,931 44.62% 5,838 52.82% 283 2.56%
1936 4,653 37.81% 7,378 59.96% 274 2.23%
1940 6,683 48.85% 6,942 50.75% 55 0.40%
1944 5,728 46.77% 6,486 52.96% 32 0.26%
1948 5,238 39.45% 7,825 58.94% 213 1.60%
1952 8,450 56.25% 6,525 43.44% 46 0.31%
1956 7,632 51.63% 7,138 48.29% 11 0.07%
1960 8,970 52.73% 8,018 47.14% 22 0.13%
1964 6,136 36.72% 10,554 63.16% 19 0.11%
1968 7,315 44.16% 8,671 52.35% 577 3.48%
1972 9,747 56.90% 7,163 41.82% 220 1.28%
1976 8,220 45.62% 9,470 52.56% 328 1.82%
1980 8,475 47.65% 8,212 46.17% 1,098 6.17%
1984 8,413 47.09% 9,338 52.26% 116 0.65%
1988 7,226 44.56% 8,836 54.48% 156 0.96%
1992 5,089 28.57% 7,759 43.56% 4,965 27.87%
1996 5,166 32.31% 8,458 52.90% 2,364 14.79%
2000 6,843 42.40% 8,514 52.75% 782 4.85%
2004 7,681 43.48% 9,733 55.09% 252 1.43%
2008 6,955 40.25% 9,915 57.38% 410 2.37%
2012 6,969 41.72% 9,326 55.82% 411 2.46%
2016 8,808 54.88% 6,041 37.64% 1,202 7.49%
2020 9,578 56.95% 6,889 40.96% 351 2.09%
2024 10,003 59.88% 6,448 38.60% 253 1.51%
2016 1 33.33% 1 33.33% 1 33.33%


County Board of Commissioners[23]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner and Chairman Brad Edwin District 1 2028
Commissioner Dawn Kaasa District 2 2026
Commissioner Lukas Severson District 3 2028
Commissioner Christopher Shoff District 4 2026
Commissioner Nicole Eckstrom District 5 2028
State Legislature (2025-2027)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Gene Dornink[24] Republican 23
House of Representatives Peggy Bennett[25] Republican 23A
House of Representatives Patricia Mueller[26] Republican 23B
U.S Congress (2025-2027)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Brad Finstad[27] Republican 1st
Senate Amy Klobuchar[28] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[29] Democrat N/A

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 198.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 131.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Freeborn County MN Google Maps (accessed March 8, 2019)
  6. ↑ "Find an Altitude/Freeborn County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 8, 2019)
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  8. ↑ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp 43–48. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2
  9. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Minnesota - Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Minnesota: Table 4-6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 17-79. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 24, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Freeborn County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Freeborn County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Freeborn County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  15. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  16. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  17. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  20. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  21. ↑ Simon, Steve (November 21, 2024). "2024 State Canvassing Board Certificate". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Board of Commissioners | Freeborn County, MN - Official Website". www.co.freeborn.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  24. ↑ [email protected], ANNIE HARMAN (November 9, 2022). "ELECTION RESULTS: Dornink claims victory in newly drawn district". Southernminn.com. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  25. ↑ Stultz, Sarah (November 6, 2024). "Bennett elected to 6th term in House". Albert Lea Tribune. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  26. ↑ Johnson, Eric (November 6, 2024). "Patricia Mueller retains District 23B seat". Albert Lea Tribune. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Minnesota election results: Brad Finstad wins reelection in CD1". FOX 9. November 5, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  28. ↑ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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Template:Geographic Location

Template:Freeborn County, Minnesota Template:Minnesota Coordinates: 43°40′N 93°21′W / 43.67°N 93.35°W / 43.67; -93.35

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