Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yellow Medicine County
U.S. county
Yellow Medicine County Courthouse in Granite Falls in 2007
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	March 6, 1871
Named for	Yellow Medicine River
Seat	Granite Falls
Largest city	Granite Falls
Area
• Total	763 sq mi (1,980 km2)
• Land	759 sq mi (1,970 km2)
• Water	4.1 sq mi (11 km2)  0.5%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,528
• Estimate  (2021)	9,411
• Density	12.6/sq mi (4.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th

Yellow Medicine County is a county in the State of Minnesota. Its eastern border is formed by the Minnesota River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,528. Its county seat is Granite Falls.

The Upper Sioux Indian Reservation, related to the historical Yellow Medicine Agency that was located here, is entirely within the county. It was established under the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851, by which the Dakota ceded much territory in the region to the United States.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 763 square miles (1,980 km²), of which 759 square miles (1,970 km²) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km²) (0.5%) is water.

Lakes

• Burton Lake: in Burton Township
• Culver Lake: eastern third is in Fortier Township; the rest is in South Dakota
• Curtis Lake: in Echo Township
• Highbank Lake: in Sioux Agency Township
• Kvistid Lake: in Sioux Agency Township
• Lake Louie: in Friendship Township
• Lone Tree Lake: in Sioux Agency Township
• Miedd Lake: in Normania Township
• Miller Lake: in Omro Township
• Mud Lake: in Wood Lake Township
• Spellman Lake: in Normania Township
• Timm Lake: in Posen Township
• Tyson Lake: in Posen Township
• Wood Lake: in Wood Lake Township

Rivers

• Lac qui Parle River
• Minnesota River
• Spring Creek
• Yellow Medicine River

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 59
• U.S. Highway 75
• U.S. Highway 212
• Minnesota State Highway 23
• Minnesota State Highway 67
• Minnesota State Highway 68
• Minnesota State Highway 274

Adjacent counties

• Lac qui Parle County (north)
• Chippewa County (northeast)
• Renville County (east)
• Redwood County (southeast)
• Lyon County (south)
• Lincoln County (southwest)
• Deuel County, South Dakota (west)

Demographics

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,080 people, 4,439 households, and 2,974 families residing in the county. The population density was 15 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 4,873 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.09% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 2.04% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 36.5% were of Norwegian and 34.6% German ancestry.

There were 4,439 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,393, and the median income for a family was $42,002. Males had a median income of $27,770 versus $20,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,120. About 7.10% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Townships

Unincorporated communities

• Burr
• Lorne
• Normania
• Sprong Creek

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Yellow Medicine para niños