Renville County, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Renville County
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Renville County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
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 Minnesota's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | February 20, 1855 (created) November 8, 1866 (organized) |
| Named for | Joseph Renville |
| Seat | Olivia |
| Largest city | Olivia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 987 sq mi (2,560 km2) |
| • Land | 983 sq mi (2,550 km2) |
| • Water | 4.2 sq mi (11 km2) 0.4%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,723 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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14,348  |
| • Density | 15.0/sq mi (5.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
Renville County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. A county is like a smaller region within a state. In 2020, about 14,723 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, where the county government is located, is Olivia.
Contents
History of Renville County
The area that is now Renville County was officially created on February 20, 1855. This was done by the government of the Minnesota Territory. The county was named after Joseph Renville. He was a fur trapper and trader. He also helped communicate with local Native American groups.
The county's government officially started on November 8, 1866. At first, the county seat was Beaver Falls. But starting in 1885, people in and around Olivia wanted the county seat moved. It finally moved to Olivia in 1900.
The 1862 Dakota War
Renville County was a very important place during the Dakota War of 1862. This war involved the U.S. Army and the Dakota people. The county is located right across the Minnesota River from the Lower Sioux Agency.
Two big battles happened in Birch Cooley Township. These were the Battle of Redwood Ferry and the Battle of Birch Coulee. In both battles, the U.S. Army was defeated by the Dakota. There were also many attacks by the Dakota on homes in the county.
The burned-out ruins of the Joseph Brown House Ruins can still be seen today. Many monuments in the county remember the people who lost their lives in this conflict.
Geography of Renville County
Renville County covers about 987 square miles. Most of this area, about 983 square miles, is land. The rest, about 4.2 square miles, is water.
The Minnesota River flows along the county's southwestern border. Other creeks like Hawk Creek and Beaver Creek also flow through the county. The land here has rolling hills and many lakes and ponds. Most of the land is used for farming. The highest point in the county is about 1,122 feet (342 meters) above sea level.
Main Roads
U.S. Highway 71
U.S. Highway 212
Minnesota State Highway 4
Minnesota State Highway 19
Minnesota State Highway 23
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Neighboring Counties
Renville County shares its borders with nine other counties. This is a lot! Only two other counties in Minnesota, Beltrami and Stearns, touch as many neighbors.
- Kandiyohi County - to the north
- Meeker County - to the northeast
- McLeod County - to the east
- Sibley County - to the southeast
- Nicollet County - to the southeast
- Brown County - to the south
- Redwood County - to the southwest
- Yellow Medicine County - to the west
- Chippewa County - to the northwest
Lakes in Renville County
- Beckendorf Lake
- Boon Lake
- Hodgson Lake
- Lake Allie
- Mud Lake
- Phare Lake
- Preston Lake
- Round Grove Lake (part)
- Round Lake
Protected Natural Areas
These are places set aside to protect nature or history.
- Beaver Falls County Park
- Camp Town Park
- County Park No. 2
- County Park No. 4
- Fort Ridgely State Park (part)
- Birch Coulee Battlefield
- Prieve State Wildlife Management Area (part)
- Skalbekken County Park
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 245 | — | |
| 1870 | 3,219 | 1,213.9% | |
| 1880 | 10,791 | 235.2% | |
| 1890 | 17,099 | 58.5% | |
| 1900 | 23,693 | 38.6% | |
| 1910 | 23,123 | −2.4% | |
| 1920 | 23,634 | 2.2% | |
| 1930 | 23,645 | 0.0% | |
| 1940 | 24,625 | 4.1% | |
| 1950 | 23,954 | −2.7% | |
| 1960 | 23,249 | −2.9% | |
| 1970 | 21,139 | −9.1% | |
| 1980 | 20,401 | −3.5% | |
| 1990 | 17,673 | −13.4% | |
| 2000 | 17,154 | −2.9% | |
| 2010 | 15,730 | −8.3% | |
| 2020 | 14,723 | −6.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 14,348 | −8.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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The population of Renville County has changed a lot over the years. In 1860, only 245 people lived there. The population grew a lot by 1900, reaching over 23,000 people. Since then, the number of people living in the county has slowly decreased. In 2020, about 14,723 people lived in Renville County.
Who Lives in Renville County (2020 Census)
The U.S. Census helps us understand the different groups of people living in an area. Here's a look at the different backgrounds of people in Renville County in 2020:
| Group | Number of People | Percentage of Total |
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| White people (not Hispanic) | 12,766 | 86.7% |
| Black or African American people (not Hispanic) | 60 | 0.41% |
| Native American people (not Hispanic) | 103 | 0.7% |
| Asian people (not Hispanic) | 61 | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander people (not Hispanic) | 5 | 0.03% |
| Other or Mixed backgrounds (not Hispanic) | 409 | 2.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino people | 1,319 | 9% |
Communities in Renville County
Renville County has several towns and smaller communities.
Cities
- Bird Island
- Buffalo Lake
- Danube
- Fairfax
- Franklin
- Hector
- Morton
- Olivia (This is the county seat)
- Renville
- Sacred Heart
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller places that don't have their own city government.
Ghost Town
- Vicksburg (A town that no longer exists or is abandoned)
Townships
Townships are smaller divisions of land within a county, often rural areas.
- Bandon Township
- Beaver Falls Township
- Birch Cooley Township
- Bird Island Township
- Boon Lake Township
- Brookfield Township
- Cairo Township
- Camp Township
- Crooks Township
- Emmet Township
- Ericson Township
- Flora Township
- Hawk Creek Township
- Hector Township
- Henryville Township
- Kingman Township
- Martinsburg Township
- Melville Township
- Norfolk Township
- Osceola Township
- Palmyra Township
- Preston Lake Township
- Sacred Heart Township
- Troy Township
- Wang Township
- Wellington Township
- Winfield Township
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Renville (Minnesota) para niños
