Pope County, Minnesota

Pope County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,308.^[1] Its county seat is Glenwood.^[2] The county was formed in 1862 and organized in 1866.

Pope County
County
The 1930 Beaux-Arts, Pope County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°35′N 95°27′W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	February 20, 1862 (created) 1866 (organized)
Named after	John Pope
Seat	Glenwood
Largest city	Glenwood
Area
• Total	717 sq mi (1,860 km2)
• Land	670 sq mi (1,700 km2)
• Water	47 sq mi (120 km2)  6.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,308
• Estimate  (2023)	11,400
• Density	16.9/sq mi (6.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.co.pope.mn.us

History

Pope County was identified by the state legislature in 1862^[3] and named for John Pope, a Union Army general who had worked as a surveyor in the area.^[4] Its organization was effected in 1866.

Pope County was the location of several protests against the CU Powerline in the 1970s.

Geography

Soils of Pope County^[5]

Soils of Glacial Lakes State Park area

The Chippewa River flows south through the county's western part. The Little Chippewa River flows south-southwest through its central part, discharging into the Chippewa southeast of Cyrus. The East Branch Chippewa River flows south-southwest through the eastern part of the county toward its union with the Chippewa in neighboring Swift County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved with drainages and dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is devoted to agriculture.^[6] The terrain slopes to the south and west, with its highest point near the northeast corner at 1,388 ft (423 m) ASL.^[7] The county has an area of 717 square miles (1,860 km²), of which 670 square miles (1,700 km²) is land and 47 square miles (120 km²) (6.6%) is water.^[8]

Major highways

• Minnesota State Highway 9
• Minnesota State Highway 28
• Minnesota State Highway 29
• Minnesota State Highway 55
• Minnesota State Highway 104
• Minnesota State Highway 114

Airports

Source:^[6]

• Glenwood Municipal Airport (D32)
• Starbuck Municipal Airport (GHW)

Adjacent counties

• Douglas County - north
• Stearns County - east
• Kandiyohi County - southeast
• Swift County - south
• Stevens County - west
• Grant County - northwest

Protected areas

Source:^[6]

• Bruce Hitman Heron Rookery Scientific and Natural Area
• Farwell State Wildlife Management Area
• Glacial Lakes State Park
• Langhei Scientific and Natural Area
• Little Jo State Wildlife Management Area
• Lowry State Wildlife Management Area
• New Prairie State Wildlife Management Area
• Noordmans State Wildlife Management Area
• Skarpness State Wildlife Management Area
• Van Luik State Wildlife Management Area
• Wade State Wildlife Management Area

Major lakes

Source:^[6]

• Amelia Lake
• Goose Lake
• Lake Emily
• Lake Johanna
• Lake Minnewaska
• Lake Reno (part)
• Lake Simon
• Pelican Lake
• Pike Lake
• Scandinavian Lake

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	2,691		—
1880	5,874		118.3%
1890	10,032		70.8%
1900	12,577		25.4%
1910	12,746		1.3%
1920	13,631		6.9%
1930	13,085		−4.0%
1940	13,544		3.5%
1950	12,862		−5.0%
1960	11,914		−7.4%
1970	11,107		−6.8%
1980	11,657		5.0%
1990	10,745		−7.8%
2000	11,236		4.6%
2010	10,995		−2.1%
2020	11,308		2.8%
2023 (est.)	11,400	[9]	0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census

Pope County Racial Composition^[14]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	10,751	95.1%
Black or African American (NH)	34	0.3%
Native American (NH)	27	0.24%
Asian (NH)	50	0.44%
Pacific Islander (NH)	0	0%
Other/Mixed (NH)	255	2.3%
Hispanic or Latino	191	1.7%

2000 census

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,236 people, 4,513 households, and 3,064 families in the county. The population density was 16.8 per square mile (6.5/km²). There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of 8.70 per square mile (3.36/km²)/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.85% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.8% were of Norwegian and 31.6% German ancestry.

There were 4,513 households, out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 5.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.10% 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 2.99.

The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,633, and the median income for a family was $42,818. Males had a median income of $30,452 versus $20,511 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,032. About 5.80% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 12.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

A farm in Chippewa Falls Township

Cities

• Brooten (part)
• Cyrus
• Farwell
• Glenwood (county seat)
• Long Beach
• Lowry
• Sedan
• Starbuck
• Villard
• Westport

Unincorporated communities

• Grove Lake
• Terrace

Ghost town

• New Prairie

Townships

• Bangor Township
• Barsness Township
• Ben Wade Township
• Blue Mounds Township
• Chippewa Falls Township
• Gilchrist Township
• Glenwood Township
• Grove Lake Township
• Hoff Township
• Lake Johanna Township
• Langhei Township
• Leven Township
• Minnewaska Township
• New Prairie Township
• Nora Township
• Reno Township
• Rolling Forks Township
• Walden Township
• Westport Township
• White Bear Lake Township

Government and politics

Pope County has been a swing district in the past. In the 21st Century, the county has voted Republican in every election except for 2008. However, the margins were especially close in 2000, when Republican candidate George W. Bush won the county by 37 votes, and in 2004, when he won it by only 2 votes. Since 2016 the county has voted Republican by stronger margins, each of which were the best Republican performance since 1928.^[15]

United States presidential election results for Pope County, Minnesota^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	4,677	64.80%	2,398	33.22%	143	1.98%
2020	4,417	62.90%	2,477	35.27%	128	1.82%
2016	3,793	60.03%	2,106	33.33%	420	6.65%
2012	3,142	50.30%	2,981	47.73%	123	1.97%
2008	3,069	46.96%	3,317	50.75%	150	2.29%
2004	3,303	49.30%	3,301	49.27%	96	1.43%
2000	2,808	46.90%	2,771	46.28%	408	6.81%
1996	1,992	36.03%	2,803	50.70%	734	13.28%
1992	1,886	31.59%	2,619	43.87%	1,465	24.54%
1988	2,627	45.48%	3,074	53.22%	75	1.30%
1984	3,064	52.27%	2,757	47.03%	41	0.70%
1980	3,159	51.34%	2,527	41.07%	467	7.59%
1976	2,251	36.74%	3,746	61.14%	130	2.12%
1972	2,610	45.94%	2,910	51.22%	161	2.83%
1968	2,504	46.65%	2,592	48.29%	272	5.07%
1964	2,213	38.39%	3,549	61.57%	2	0.03%
1960	3,062	51.39%	2,883	48.39%	13	0.22%
1956	2,725	51.33%	2,577	48.54%	7	0.13%
1952	3,593	60.00%	2,381	39.76%	14	0.23%
1948	2,114	38.70%	3,251	59.52%	97	1.78%
1944	2,607	48.27%	2,781	51.49%	13	0.24%
1940	2,805	46.06%	3,266	53.63%	19	0.31%
1936	1,869	35.65%	3,200	61.05%	173	3.30%
1932	1,688	31.46%	3,571	66.56%	106	1.98%
1928	3,382	66.13%	1,667	32.60%	65	1.27%
1924	2,079	45.88%	151	3.33%	2,301	50.78%
1920	3,466	76.34%	709	15.62%	365	8.04%
1916	1,321	51.18%	1,121	43.43%	139	5.39%
1912	379	16.63%	443	19.44%	1,457	63.93%
1908	1,794	76.86%	442	18.94%	98	4.20%
1904	1,729	88.17%	159	8.11%	73	3.72%
1900	1,774	76.40%	481	20.71%	67	2.89%
1896	1,773	70.53%	688	27.37%	53	2.11%
1892	1,037	57.32%	282	15.59%	490	27.09%

County Board of Commissioners^[17]

County Board of Commissioners

Position		Name	District
	Commissioner	Paul Gremmels	District 1
	Commissioner	Gordy Wagner	District 2
	Commissioner	Paul Gerde	District 3
	Commissioner	Larry Lindor	District 4
	Commissioner	Paul Wildman	District 5

State Legislature (2018-2020)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	Senate	Torrey Westrom[18]	Republican	District 12
	House of Representatives	Jeff Backer[19]	Republican	District 12A
	House of Representatives	Paul Anderson[20]	Republican	District 12B

U.S Congress (2018-2020)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	House of Representatives	Collin Peterson[21]	Democrat	7th
	Senate	Amy Klobuchar[22]	Democrat	N/A
	Senate	Tina Smith[23]	Democrat	N/A

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pope County, Minnesota