Brown County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brown County
U.S. county
Brown County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 20, 1855 (created) 1856 (organized)
Named for	Joseph Renshaw Brown
Seat	New Ulm
Largest city	New Ulm
Area
• Total	618 sq mi (1,600 km2)
• Land	611 sq mi (1,580 km2)
• Water	7.4 sq mi (19 km2)  1.2%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	25,912
• Estimate  (2021)	25,819
• Density	41.9/sq mi (16.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	1st

Brown County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,912. Its county seat is New Ulm. The county was formed in 1855 and organized in 1856.

Brown County comprises the New Ulm, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Mankato-New Ulm-North Mankato, MN Combined Statistical Area.

History

Brown County was founded in 1855. It was named for Joseph Renshaw Brown, a member of the Governor's Council of Minnesota in 1855.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 618 square miles (1,600 km²), of which 611 square miles (1,580 km²) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km²) (1.2%) is water. The Minnesota River flows along the county's northern boundary; two of its tributaries, the Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Rivers, flow eastwardly through the county.

Lakes

• Altermatt Lake: almost entirely in Leavenworth Township, but the southern shore extends into Mulligan Township
• Bachelor Lake: in Stark Township
• Boise Lake: in Burnstown Township
• Clear Lake: in Sigel Township
• Gilman Lake: in Stark Township
• Horseshoe Lake: in Milford Township
• Juni Lake: in Sigel Township
• Lake Cottonwood: in Cottonwood Township
• Lake Hanska: eastern half is in Lake Hanska Township; western half is in Albin Township
• Linden Lake: in Linden Township
• Lone Tree Lake: in Eden Township
• Omsrud Lake: in Lake Hanska Township
• School Lake: in Sigel Township
• Sleepy Eye Lake: in Home Township
• Zanders Lake: mostly in Stark Township, but the eastern fifth is in Sigel Township

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 14
• Minnesota State Highway 4
• Minnesota State Highway 15
• Minnesota State Highway 68
• Minnesota State Highway 257

Adjacent counties

• Nicollet County (northeast)
• Blue Earth County (southeast)
• Watonwan County (south)
• Cottonwood County (southwest)
• Redwood County (west)
• Renville County (northwest)

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of New Ulm have ranged from a low of 6 °F (−14 °C) in January to a high of 83 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −37 °F (−38 °C) was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.64 inches (16 mm) in January to 4.82 inches (122 mm) in June.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,911 people, 10,598 households, and 7,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 11,163 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.82% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 67.1% were of German and 9.6% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 10,598 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 6.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 29.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.30% 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 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,800, and the median income for a family was $49,811. Males had a median income of $32,347 versus $23,918 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,535. About 4.40% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.00% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Cobden
• Comfrey (partial)
• Evan
• Hanska
• New Ulm (county seat)
• Sleepy Eye
• Springfield

Townships

Census-designated place

• Searles

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

Other unincorporated communities

• Essig
• Godahl (partial)
• Leavenworth

Images for kids

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  1862 Johnson Map showing Brown County was much bigger at the time of the Sioux Uprising and would be later broken up into several other counties