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Brolga

The brolga (Antigone rubicunda), formerly known as the native companion, is a bird in the crane family. It has also been given the name Australian crane, a term coined in 1865 by well-known ornithologist John Gould in his Birds of Australia.

The brolga is a common, gregarious wetland bird species of tropical and south-eastern Australia and New Guinea. It is a tall, upright bird with a small head, long beak, slender neck, and long legs. Its plumage is mainly grey, with black wing tips, and it has an orange-red band on its head. The brolga's courting dance is similar to that of other cranes. The nest is built of wetland vegetation, either on an elevated piece of land or floating on shallow water in marshland, and usually two eggs are laid. Incubation takes 32 days, and the newly hatched young are precocial. The adult diet is omnivorous and includes plant matter, invertebrates, and small vertebrates.

Although the bird is not considered endangered over the majority of its range, populations are showing some decline, especially in southern Australia, and local action plans are being undertaken in some areas. It has featured on the Queensland coat of arms since 1977 and was formally declared as the bird emblem of the state in 1986.

Taxonomy
When first described by the naturalist George Perry in 1810, the brolga was misclassified as a species of Ardea, the genus that includes the herons and egrets. It is, in fact, a member of the Gruiformes—the order that includes the crakes, rails, and cranes, and a member of the genus Antigone. Ornithologist John Gould used the name Grus australasianus when he wrote about it and noted it to be widespread in the north and east of Australia. He also recorded that it was easy to tame, and that James Macarthur had kept a pair at his home in Camden. Calling it the Australian crane, he mentioned that its early colonial name had been native companion. The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union made brolga, a popular name derived from Gamilaraay burralga, the official name for the bird in 1926.

In 1976, it was suggested that the brolga, sarus crane (Antigone antigone), and white-naped crane (Antigone vipio) formed a natural group on the basis of similarities in their calls. This was further confirmed by molecular studies of their DNA. These also showed that the brolga is more closely related to the white-naped crane than it is to the morphologically more similar sarus crane.

The brolga was formerly placed in the genus Grus, but a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010 found that the genus, as then defined, was polyphyletic. In the resulting rearrangement to create monophyletic genera, four species, including the brolga, were placed in the resurrected genus Antigone that had originally been erected by German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach in 1853

Two subspecies were suspected to exist: A. r. argentea found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and western Queensland and A. r. rubicunda, occurring in New Guinea, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. However, mitochondrial analyses have shown both populations sharing haplotypes indicating that they are a single taxon, though microsatellite markers show limited gene flow between the two populations.

Description
The brolga is a tall bird with a large beak, a long and slender neck, and stilt-like legs. The sexes are indistinguishable in appearance, though females are usually a little smaller. The adult has a grey-green, skin-covered crown, and the face, cheeks, and throat pouch are also featherless and are coral red. Other parts of the head are olive green and clothed in dark bristles. The gular pouch, which is particularly pendulous in adult males, is covered with such dense bristles as to make it appear black. The beak is greyish-green in adult birds, long and slender, and the irises are yellowish-orange. The ear coverts appear as a grey patch of small feathers surrounded by red naked skin and the body plumage is silvery-grey. The feathers on the back and the wing coverts have pale margins. The primary wing feathers are black and the secondaries grey. The legs and feet are greyish-black. Juveniles lack the red band and have fully feathered heads with dark irises. A fully grown brolga can reach a height of 0.7 to 1.4 m and has a wingspan of 1.7 to 2.4 m. Adult males have an average body mass of 6.8 kg with females averaging 5.66 kg. The weight can range from 3.6 to 8.7 kg. Heights up to 1.8 m in male brolga have been reported but presumably need confirmation. The brolga is the heaviest flying bird regularly found in mainland Australia, averaging slightly higher in body mass than other large resident species such as black swan, Australian pelican and the Australian race of sarus crane (Asian sarus cranes are heavier and significantly taller). Brolgas are as well as much heavier on average than the biggest flying land birds such as the very sexually-dimorphic Australian bustard and wedge-tailed eagle), although heavier birds such as wandering albatross may be seen as marine vagrants off the mainland. Brolgas probably rival black-necked storks and sarus cranes as the tallest flying birds in Australia.

The brolga can easily be confused with the sarus crane, but the latter's red head-colouring extends partly down the neck, while the brolga's is confined to the head. The brolga is more silvery-grey in colour than the sarus, the legs are blackish rather than pink, and the trumpeting and grating calls it makes are at a lower pitch. Additionally, in Australia, sarus crane distribution is limited to north-eastern areas, compared to the more widespread distribution of the brolga.

Distribution and habitat

Brolgas are widespread and often abundant in north and north-east Australia, especially north-east Queensland, and are common as far south as Victoria. They are also found in southern New Guinea and as rare vagrants in New Zealand and the northern part of Western Australia. The population in northern Australia is estimated at between 20,000 and 100,000 birds and in southern Australia, 1,000 birds. The number of individuals in New Guinea is unknown. Until 1961, brolgas were thought to be the only species of crane in Australia, until the sarus crane was also located in Queensland.

Brolga movements in Australia are poorly understood, though seasonal flocks are observed in eastern Queensland in nonbreeding areas regularly, and a few coastal populations are suspected to move up to 500 km inland. Little is known of the movements and habitats of the New Guinea populations.

Further south, in Victoria and New South Wales, rainfall is spread more evenly throughout the year and the driest season lasts from December to May. At this time, southern populations congregate in inland flocking areas, which include upland marshes, the edges of reservoirs and lakes, pastures, and agricultural land. When rain arrives in June and July, they disperse to the coastal freshwater marshes, shallow lakes, wet meadows, and other wetlands where they breed. In south-west Victoria, breeding sites during and immediately after spring are freshwater wetlands, while freshwater, brackish and saline wetland sites are used for flocking during the autumn.

Queensland has the greatest numbers of brolgas, and sometimes flocks of over 1,000 individuals are seen. The bird is the official bird emblem for the state and also appears on its coat of arms. Breeding pairs and flocks are distributed across several floodplains along the Gulf of Carpentaria. Brolgas here preferentially use two grassland-dominated regional ecosystems (2.3.1 and 2.3.4), though over 30% of the cranes share four additional Eucalyptus-dominated woodland regional ecosystems with sarus cranes. Brolga numbers were highest in floodplains where grassland habitats dominated, and the largest flocks were also found in grassland habitats.

Ecology and behaviour
The social unit of brolgas is very similar to that observed in sarus cranes. In breeding areas, breeding pairs defend territories against other brolgas, and when breeding efforts are successful, they remain in territories with one or two chicks. Nonbreeding birds, being young birds of past years as well as adults that do not yet have breeding territories, are also found in breeding areas, likely throughout the year. In the nonbreeding season, they gather into large flocks, which appear to be many self-contained individual groups rather than a single social unit. Within the flock, families sometimes remain separate and coordinate their activities with one another rather than with the flock as a whole. In south-western Queensland, 26–40% of all crane sightings were breeding pairs and families in the Gilbert and Flinders river floodplains. Flocks were relatively rarer, but birds in flocks in the Flinders river floodplain constituted 80% of all brolgas counted. In south-west Victoria, distinct breeding (spring) and flocking (autumn) seasons are noted. When taking off from the ground, their flight is ungainly, with much flapping of wings. The bird's black wingtips are visible while it is in the air, and once it gathers speed, its flight is much more graceful and it often ascends to great heights. Here, it may be barely discernible as it wheels in great circles, sometimes emitting its hoarse cry.

Diet
Brolgas are omnivorous and forage in wetlands, saltwater marshes, and farmlands. They tear up the ground with their powerful beaks in search of bulbs and edible roots. Northern populations have a very varied diet, with minimal contribution of vegetation. They also eat the shoots and leaves of wetland and upland plants, cereal grains, seeds, insects, mollusks, crustaceans, frogs, and lizards. In saltwater marshes, they may drink saline water, as they have glands near their eyes through which they can excrete excess salt. Isotopic analyses of molted feathers in their breeding grounds along the Gulf of Carpentaria showed their diet to be diverse across multiple trophic levels, with minimal contribution of vegetation. Analyses showed strong niche separation between brolgas and sarus cranes by diet. Their diet in dry season flocks at Atherton Highlands likely are very different owing to the largely agricultural landscape.

Mating and breeding
Brolgas are monogamous and usually bond for life, though new pairings may follow the death of one individual. A feature of a bonded couple is the synchronous calling, which the female usually initiates. She stands with her wings folded and beak pointed to the sky and emits a series of trumpeting calls. The male stands alongside in a similar posture, but with his wings flared and primaries drooping, which is the only time when sex can be differentiated reliably. The male emits one longer call for every two emitted by the female.

Brolgas are well known for their ritualised, intricate mating dances. The performance begins with a bird picking up some grass and tossing it into the air before catching it in its bill. The bird then jumps a metre (yard) into the air with outstretched wings and continues by stretching its neck, bowing, strutting around, calling, and bobbing its head up and down. Sometimes, just one brolga dances for its mate; often they dance in pairs; and sometimes a whole group of about a dozen dance together, lining up roughly opposite each other before they start. The brolga breeds throughout its range in Australia and New Guinea. The start of the breeding season is largely determined by rainfall rather than the time of year; thus, the season is February to May after the rainy season in the monsoonal areas, and September to December in southern Australia. It is unclear whether all breeding pairs leave breeding territories to join flocks during the dry season or return the subsequent breeding season, and this behavior may vary with location. In food-rich habitats, nests can be quite close together, and in Queensland, are found in the same area as those of the sarus crane. The nest, which is built by both sexes, is a raised mound of uprooted grass, and other plant material sited on a small island in shallow water, or occasionally floating. Sometimes, the birds make hardly any nest, take over a disused swan nest, or simply lay on bare ground. Nests were initiated between November and February in the Gilbert and Flinders River basins, and tracked rainfall episodes in each river basin.

A single brood is produced per year. The clutch size is usually two, but occasionally one or three eggs are laid about two days apart. The dull white eggs are sparsely spotted or blotched with reddish brown, with the markings being denser at the larger end of the egg. They measure 95 by, though larger eggs were found in a clutch of three eggs. Both sexes incubate the eggs, with the female sitting on the nest at night. Hatching is not synchronised, and occurs after about 32 days of incubation. The newly hatched chicks are covered with grey down and weigh about 100 g. They are precocial and are able to leave the nest within a day or two. Both parents feed and guard the young. The chicks fledge within 4–5 weeks, are fully feathered within 3 months, and are able to fly about 2 weeks later. When threatened, they hide and stay quiet, while the parents perform a broken-wing display to distract the predator. The adults continue to protect the young for up to 11 months, or for nearly 2 years if they do not breed again in the interim. Breeding pairs maintain discrete territories within which they raise chicks. Territory sizes in Victoria, south-eastern Australia, ranged between 70 and 523 hectares, and each crane territory had a mix of farmland and wetlands. Families roosted in wetlands at night, and moved an average distance of 442 m to and from these night roosts. Each family used multiple wetlands within their territories, either switching between them, or using wetlands sequentially. Breeding success of territorial pairs (estimated as percentage of pairs that successfully fledged at least one chick) was 59% in the Gilbert River basin and 46% in the Flinders River basin (using a total of 80 pairs located on territories), with 33% of all successful pairs fledging two chicks each.

Conservation status
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the brolga as being of "least concern" because it has a large range and a population of more than 10,000 individuals. Although the population may be declining slowly, this is not at a rate that would warrant the brolga being included in a more vulnerable category. Brolgas are not listed as threatened on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, their conservation status varies from state to state within Australia. For example, the brolga is listed as threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared. It is also included in the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria where it is listed as vulnerable.

The suspected chief threats faced by the brolga, particularly in the southern part of its range, are habitat destruction particularly spread of blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) into breeding habitats, the drainage of wetlands, collision with powerlines, burning and grazing regimes, spread of invasive species, and harvesting of eggs. It is more secure in the north-eastern part of its distribution range as the floodplains of Queensland are mostly unsuitable for farming and much of it is in private ownership, but development activities that change or reduce habitat diversity, especially in the Gulf Plains, can have unknown impacts on their populations. Wind farms are an emerging threat, and research on movement and habitat use by breeding pairs and chicks show the importance of locating turbines away from wetlands important for night roosting.

Conservation measures being undertaken include international cooperation, legal protection, research, monitoring, habitat management, education, and the maintenance of captive flocks for propagation and reintroduction. Although the bird breeds well in the wild, breeding it in captivity has proved to be much more problematic.

title: Brolga


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Winona County, Minnesota

Winona County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, its population was 49,671. Its county seat is Winona. Winona County comprises the Winona, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The Wisconsin Territory was established by the federal government effective July 3, 1836, and existed until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as Wisconsin) in 1848. The federal government set up the Minnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. One of those original counties, Wabasha, had its southern section partitioned off on March 5, 1853, into a new county, Fillmore. On February 23, 1854, the legislature partitioned the northern part of Fillmore County, plus a small section of Wabasha, to create Winona County, with the village of Winona as county seat. The county name was taken from the village name, which is said to derive from a Dakota legend about a woman, Winona, (a relative of Chief Wabasha) who was betrothed to a warrior she did not love. Rather than marry him, she jumped to her death from a rock on Lake Pepin now called "Maiden's Rock". This is known as the Winona legend.

The county boundaries have remained unchanged since 1854.

Geography
Winona County lies on Minnesota's border with Wisconsin and is part of the driftless area that defines southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois. The Mississippi, flowing south-southeast, defines the county's eastern border. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (St. Paul District ) maintains the lock and dam system in this region.

The Whitewater River flows north-northeast through the northwest part of the county toward its discharge into the Mississippi just above Winona County. The eastern part of the county is drained into the Mississippi by east-flowing streams including Rollingstone Creek, Garvin Brook, Cedar Creek, and Big Trout Creek. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills with the east portion particularly etched by drainages, and lightly sprinkled with lakes. The land is devoted to agriculture where possible. The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point at 1,365 ft ASL on a hill 2 mi east of Wilson. The county has an area of 642 sqmi, of which 626 sqmi is land and 15 sqmi (2.4%) is water.

Within Minnesota, Winona County borders Wabasha County, Olmsted County, Fillmore County and Houston County.

Transit

 * Winona Transit Service
 * Jefferson Lines
 * Amtrak (Empire Builder)

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-90.svg|20px]] Interstate 90
 * [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 14
 * [[Image:US 61.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 61
 * [[Image:MN-43.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 43
 * [[Image:MN-74.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 74
 * [[Image:MN-76.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 76
 * [[Image:MN-248.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 248

Public airports

 * Winona Municipal Airport (ONA) (Max Conrad Field), NW of Winona

Adjacent counties

 * Wabasha County - northwest
 * Buffalo County, Wisconsin - north
 * Trempealeau County, Wisconsin - northeast
 * La Crosse County, Wisconsin - east
 * Houston County - south
 * Fillmore County - southwest
 * Olmsted County - west

Protected areas

 * Great River Bluffs State Park
 * John A Latsch State Park
 * Richard John Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
 * Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (part)
 * Whitewater State Park
 * Whitewater State Wildlife Management Area (part)
 * Callahan Unit
 * McCarthy Ravine Unit
 * South Branch Unit
 * Upper South Branch Unit

Lakes

 * Airport Lake
 * Bartlet Lake
 * Bollers Lake
 * Hunters Lake
 * Lake Goodview
 * Lake Winona
 * Rileys Lake

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,985 people, 18,744 households, and 11,696 families in the county. The population density was 79.8 /mi2. There were 19,551 housing units at an average density of 31.2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 95.80% White, 0.77% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.87% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. 1.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.8% were of German, 13.9% Norwegian, 9.9% Polish and 7.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 18,744 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.30% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.60% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.04.

The county population contained 22.80% under the age of 18, 18.60% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 20.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33. For every 100 females there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,700, and the median income for a family was $49,845. Males had a median income of $31,926 versus $23,406 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,077. About 5.60% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

In 2016, Winona County planning commissioners voted to approve new permits for existing commercial dog breeding operations, also known as "puppy mills", despite overwhelming evidence of animal cruelty and neglect. Due to the high number of kennels in the county, Winona county has earned the dubious title "Puppy Mill Capital of Minnesota".

Micropolitan Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated Winona County as the Winona, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area (μSA), with Winona as its principal city. The US Census Bureau ranked this μSA as the 591st most populous Core Based Statistical Area of the United States as of April 1, 2020.

Politics
Winona County has historically been a swing county at the federal level, but in the 21st century leans Democratic. Winona County's seat is considered a college town due to the presence of Winona State University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. In 2016, the county backed Donald Trump, the first time a Republican presidential nominee carried the county since 1988. In 2020, the county backed Joe Biden by a plurality. In the 2022 elections, Winona County voted for the Republican nominee for all statewide offices.

Winona County is represented in the Minnesota House of Representatives by Steve Jacob (R) and Gene Pelowski (DFL). Jeremy Miller (R) and Steve Drazkowski (R) represent it in the Minnesota Senate. Winona County is in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District, which is represented by Brad Finstad (R).

Cities

 * Altura
 * Dakota
 * Elba
 * Goodview
 * La Crescent (mostly in Houston County)
 * Lewiston
 * Minneiska (partly in Wabasha County)
 * Minnesota City
 * Rollingstone
 * St. Charles
 * Stockton
 * Utica
 * Winona (county seat)

Census-designated place

 * Homer

Unincorporated communities

 * Bethany
 * Centerville
 * Clyde
 * Donehower
 * Dresbach
 * Fremont
 * Lamoille
 * Nodine
 * Oakridge
 * Pickwick
 * Pine Creek
 * Ridgeway
 * Saratoga
 * Troy
 * Whitman
 * Wilson
 * Witoka
 * Wyattville

Ghost towns

 * Ashton
 * Beaver
 * Enterprise
 * Grover
 * Whitewater Falls
 * Clyde

Townships

 * Dresbach
 * Elba
 * Fremont
 * Hart
 * Hillsdale
 * Homer
 * Mount Vernon
 * New Hartford
 * Norton
 * Pleasant Hill
 * Richmond
 * Rollingstone
 * Saint Charles
 * Saratoga
 * Utica
 * Warren
 * Whitewater
 * Wilson
 * Wiscoy

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Winona County, Minnesota


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Wilkin County, Minnesota

Wilkin County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population of Wilkin County was 6,506. Its county seat is Breckenridge. The county is named for Colonel Alexander Wilkin, a lawyer who served as Minnesota's U.S. marshal and was later killed in the Civil War.

Wilkin County is part of the Wahpeton, ND—MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN Combined Statistical Area.

History
In 1849, the newly organized Minnesota Territory legislature authorized the creation of nine large counties across the territory. One of those, Pembina (later renamed as Kittson), contained areas that were partitioned off on March 8, 1858, to create Toombs County, named after Robert Toombs (1810–85) of Georgia. Toombs had been a member of the US House of Representatives (1845–1853), and US Senate (1853–1861). He became the Confederate secretary of state in 1861; this disloyalty to the Union displeased county residents, who petitioned for a name change. Accordingly, in 1863, the county was renamed Andy Johnson County for Andrew Johnson, who was serving as the military governor of Tennessee at the time. However, Johnson's actions and positions as US President (1865–1869) also displeased county residents, so on March 6, 1868, the county name was again changed, to Wilkin County. It was named for Colonel Alexander Wilkin, a Minnesota attorney and secretary to the Minnesota Territory governor.

The future Breckenridge, Minnesota, was settled beginning in the 1850s, and a town was platted there in the spring of 1857. Thus when Toombs County was authorized in 1858, Breckenridge was listed as the county seat. It continued as the county seat through the subsequent county name changes.

Geography
Wilkin County lies on the west side of Minnesota. Its west border abuts the east border of the state of North Dakota (across a river). The Bois de Sioux River flows northward along the county's west border. The Rabbit River flows westward through the lower part of the county and discharges into the Bois de Sioux on the county's lower west border. The Otter Tail River flows west-northwestward through the central part of the county and merges with the Bois de Sioux at Breckenridge to form the Red River, which continues to flow along the county's west line northward toward the Hudson Bay in Canada.

Wilkin County terrain consists of low rolling hills, completely devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point on the upper east border at 1,250 ft ASL. The county has a total area of 751 sqmi, of which 751 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi (0.03%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-94.svg|20px]] Interstate 94
 * [[Image:US 52.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 52
 * [[Image:US 75.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 75
 * [[Image:MN-9.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 9
 * [[Image:MN-55.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 55
 * [[Image:MN-108.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 108
 * [[Image:MN-210.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 210

Adjacent counties

 * Clay County - north
 * Otter Tail County - east
 * Grant County - southeast
 * Traverse County - south
 * Richland County, North Dakota - west

Protected areas

 * Akron State Wildlife Management Area
 * Atherton State Wildlife Management Area
 * Richard M. and Mathilde Rice Elliot Scientific and Natural Area
 * Rothsay State Wildlife Management Area
 * Sunnyside Township State Game Refuge
 * Western Prairie Scientific and Natural Area

Lakes

 * Breckenridge Lake - formed by a dam on the Otter Tail River in Breckenridge Township

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,138 people, 2,752 households, and 1,926 families in the county. The population density was 9.50 /mi2. There were 3,105 housing units at an average density of 4.13 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.77% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.8% were of German and 29.2% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 2,752 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.09.

The county population contained 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,093, and the median income for a family was $46,220. Males had a median income of $31,273 versus $20,925 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,873. About 6.2% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Breckenridge (county seat)
 * Campbell
 * Doran
 * Foxhome
 * Kent
 * Nashua
 * Rothsay (part)
 * Wolverton

Unincorporated communities

 * Brushvale
 * Childs
 * Everdell
 * Lawndale
 * McCauleyville
 * Tenney

Townships

 * Akron
 * Andrea
 * Atherton
 * Bradford
 * Brandrup
 * Breckenridge
 * Campbell
 * Champion
 * Connelly
 * Deerhorn
 * Foxhome
 * Manston
 * McCauleyville
 * Meadows
 * Mitchell
 * Nilsen
 * Nordick
 * Prairie View
 * Roberts
 * Sunnyside
 * Tanberg
 * Wolverton

Politics
Wilkin County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1976 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

title: Wilkin County, Minnesota


text:
Talk:Haute-Saône

- Wondering how to edit this département entry? The WikiProject French departements standards might help.

title: Talk:Haute-Saône


text:
Watonwan County, Minnesota

Watonwan County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 11,253. Its county seat is St. James.

History
In 1849, the recently organized Minnesota Territory legislature authorized the creation of nine large counties across the territory. In 1853, one of those original counties, Dakota, had a large area partitioned off to create Blue Earth County. In 1855 the western part of Blue Earth was partitioned to create Brown County. On February 25, 1860, the southern part of Brown was partitioned to create this county, with Madelia as the designated county seat. The county was named for its eponymous river, whose name reflects the Dakota word "watanwan," meaning "fish bait" or "plenty of fish." The word first appears in the written record on an 1843 map of the area so naming the river.

In 1869 the first settlers arrived in the area of the future Saint James, and the area began growing. In 1870 an extension of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railway was terminated at the village, and railway officials decided to name the terminus Saint James. By 1878 the town had grown to the extent that a vote was taken to move the county seat there.

Geography
The terrain of Watonwan County consists of low rolling hills, carved by drainages and dotted with lakes and ponds. The area is completely devoted to agriculture where possible. The terrain slopes to the north and east, with its highest point near its southwest corner, at 1,293 ft ASL. The county has an area of 440 sqmi, of which 435 sqmi is land and 4.8 sqmi (1.1%) is water. The county is drained by the Watonwan River and its tributaries; the river flows eastward through the northern part of the county.

Major highways

 * [[Image:MN-4.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 4
 * [[Image:MN-15.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 15
 * [[Image:MN-30.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 30
 * [[Image:MN-60.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 60

Airports

 * St. James Municipal Airport (JYG, LID) - 3 mi east of St. James

Adjacent counties

 * Brown County - north
 * Blue Earth County - east
 * Martin County - south
 * Jackson County - southwest
 * Cottonwood County - west

Protected areas

 * Bergdahl State Wildlife Management Area
 * Lewisville State Wildlife Management Area
 * Turtle Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
 * Wilson State Wildlife Management Area
 * Woodlake State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes

 * Bergdahl Lake
 * Bullhead Lake
 * Butterfield Lake
 * Case Lake
 * Cottonwood Lake
 * Ewy Lake
 * Fedji Lake
 * Irish Lake
 * Long Lake
 * Mary Lake
 * Mud Lake
 * Kansas Lake
 * Saint James Lake
 * School Lake
 * Sulem Lake
 * Wilson Lake ("School Lake" in some records)
 * Wood Lake (part)

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,876 people, 4,627 households, and 3,141 families in the county. The population density was 27.3 /mi2. There were 5,036 housing units at an average density of 11.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 88.54% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.78% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 15.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.9% were of German, 17.3% Norwegian and 5.8% Swedish ancestry.

There were 4,627 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 7.30% 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 15.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.10.

The county population contained 27.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 24.30% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 18.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,441, and the median income for a family was $42,321. Males had a median income of $29,242 versus $19,788 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,413. About 7.80% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.50% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Butterfield
 * Darfur
 * La Salle
 * Lewisville
 * Madelia
 * Odin
 * Ormsby (partly in Martin County)
 * St. James (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

 * Echols
 * Godahl (partial)
 * Grogan
 * South Branch
 * Sveadahl
 * Tenmile Corner

Townships

 * Adrian Township
 * Antrim Township
 * Butterfield Township
 * Fieldon Township
 * Long Lake Township
 * Madelia Township
 * Nelson Township
 * Odin Township
 * Riverdale Township
 * Rosendale Township
 * St. James Township
 * South Branch Township

Government and politics
Watonwan County voters tend to vote Republican. In two-thirds of presidential elections since 1980, the county has selected the Republican nominee (as of 2020).

title: Watonwan County, Minnesota


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Washington County, Minnesota

Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 267,568, making it the fifth-most populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Stillwater. The largest city in the county is Woodbury, the eighth-largest city in Minnesota and the fourth-largest Twin Cities suburb.

Washington County is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Early development in the area was on the St. Croix River, which now forms the boundary with Wisconsin on the county's eastern side. The river provided a waterway to move settlers upstream and to transport logs downstream. The heavily forested area fostered an early logging and lumber economy. The area's first settlers arrived at the future Afton in 1837. In 1838 settlers started Dacotah, at the north edge of present Stillwater, at the junction of Brown's Creek and the St. Croix. The creek's name is from the founder of this settlement, Joseph Renshaw Brown. However, a sawmill was built at Marine-on-St.-Croix in 1839, and another was built in the current location of downtown Stillwater in 1844. The success of these soon attracted the settlers from Dacotah, and that community declined.

This area was part of Wisconsin Territory until the eastern part of that territory achieved statehood in 1848. Brown and other leaders called a meeting (the "Stillwater Convention") on August 26, 1848. The convention drafted a Memorial to Congress that a new territory be created with the name “Minnesota,” and elected Henry Hastings Sibley to deliver this citizens' petition to the U.S. Congress. Because of this convention, Stillwater calls itself the “Birthplace of Minnesota.” Congress responded by creating Minnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849.

The newly established territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October 1849. Washington County was one of the nine, named for George Washington, with Stillwater named as county seat. The county's first sheriff was appointed in 1849, and the county's school district began in 1850.

After the forests were depleted, the economy of Washington County became primarily agricultural. With the growth of neighboring Ramsey County and St. Paul, some of Washington County developed based on tourism and recreation, as with Mahtomedi and Landfall. Late in the 20th century, the population greatly increased with the suburban expansion of St. Paul.

Geography
Washington County lies on the east side of Minnesota. Its east border abuts the west border of the state of Wisconsin (across the St. Croix River). The Mississippi River flows south-southeastward west of Washington County, and forms the southwest border of the county as it flows toward its confluence with the St. Croix (at the county's southernmost point). Washington County terrain consists of low rolling hills, sloping to the south and east, with its highest point on the lower west border at 1,053 ft ASL. The county has a total area of 423 sqmi, of which 384 sqmi is land and 38 sqmi (9.1%) is water. It is the fourth-smallest county in Minnesota by land area and fifth-smallest by total area.

Major highways

 * I-35.svg Interstate 35
 * I-94.svg Interstate 94
 * I-494.svg Interstate 494
 * I-694.svg Interstate 694
 * US 8.svg US Highway 8
 * US 10.svg US Highway 10
 * US 12.svg US Highway 12
 * US 61.svg US Highway 61
 * MN-36.svg Minnesota State Highway 36
 * MN-95.svg Minnesota State Highway 95
 * MN-96.svg Minnesota State Highway 96
 * MN-97.svg Minnesota State Highway 97
 * MN-120.svg Minnesota State Highway 120
 * MN-244.svg Minnesota State Highway 244
 * List of county roads

Airports

 * Forest Lake Airport (25D) - south of Forest Lake
 * Lake Elmo Airport (21D) - northeast of Lake Elmo

Adjacent counties

 * Chisago County - north
 * Polk County, Wisconsin - northeast
 * St. Croix County, Wisconsin - east
 * Pierce County, Wisconsin - southeast
 * Dakota County - southwest
 * Ramsey County - west
 * Anoka County - northwest

Protected areas

 * Afton State Park
 * Big Marine Park Reserve
 * Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park
 * Falls Creek Scientific and Natural Area
 * Gateway State Trail
 * Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
 * Hardwood Creek Wildlife Management Area
 * Katherine Abbott Park
 * Lake Elmo Park Reserve
 * Lost Valley Scientific and Natural Area
 * Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (part)
 * Pine Point Regional Park
 * Point Douglas Park
 * Rutstrum State Wildlife Management Area
 * Saint Croix Bluffs Regional Park
 * Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)
 * Saint Croix Savanna Scientific and Natural Area
 * Square Lake County Park
 * Sunfish Lake Park
 * William O'Brien State Park

2020 census
''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 can be of any race.''

2010 census
The ethnic makeup of the country, according to the 2010 census, was the following:
 * 87.77% White
 * 3.60% Black
 * 0.49% Native American
 * 5.07% Asian
 * >0.01% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
 * 2.10% Two or more races
 * 0.97% Other races
 * 3.41% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

As of the census of 2010, there were 238,136 people, 87,446 households, and 64,299 families in the county. The population density was 620 /mi2. There were 87,446 housing units at an average density of 228 /mi2. 39.4% were of German, 14.4% Irish, 13.0% Norwegian, and 9.9% Swedish ancestry. There were 87,446 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.02 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.03 males. The median income for a household in the county was $79,735, and the median income for a family was $92,497. The per capita income for the county was $36,786. About 5.2% of the population was below the poverty line.

According to the 2007-2011 American Community Survey, of the county's population 25 years and over, 1.4% had less than 9th grade education, 2.8% held 9th to 12th grade with no diploma, 23.6% had High school graduate or equivalent, 22.2% held Some college with no degree, 27.0% had bachelor's degree, and 13.0% earned Graduate or professional degree.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 201,130 people, 71,462 households, and 54,668 families in the county. The population density was 524 /mi2. There were 73,635 housing units at an average density of 192 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 93.63% White, 1.83% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races.

There were 71,462 households, out of which 41.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.50% were non-families. 18.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.19.

The county population contained 29.40% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 7.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $66,305, and the median income for a family was $74,576 (these figures had risen to $78,067 and $90,867 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $49,815 versus $33,804 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,148. About 2.00% of families and 2.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.50% of those under age 18 and 4.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics and government
Washington County voters slightly tend to vote Democratic. In 63% of national elections since 1948, the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

Like all counties in Minnesota, Washington is governed by an elected and nonpartisan board of commissioners. Each commissioner represents a district of approximately equal population.

Washington County is divided among three congressional districts. Northern Washington County is represented by Minnesota's 6th congressional district (CPVI R+12), central Washington County by Minnesota's 4th congressional district (CPVI D+14), and southern Washington County by Minnesota's 2nd congressional district (CPVI EVEN).

Largest employers
According to the county's 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the top employers in the county are:

Points of interest

 * Afton State Park
 * Afton Alps Ski Area
 * Gateway State Trail
 * William O'Brien State Park

Cities

 * Afton
 * Bayport
 * Birchwood Village
 * Cottage Grove
 * Dellwood
 * Forest Lake
 * Grant
 * Hastings (part)
 * Hugo
 * Lake Elmo
 * Lake St. Croix Beach
 * Lakeland
 * Lakeland Shores
 * Landfall
 * Mahtomedi
 * Marine on St. Croix
 * Newport
 * Oak Park Heights
 * Oakdale
 * Pine Springs
 * Saint Marys Point
 * Saint Paul Park
 * Scandia
 * Stillwater (county seat)
 * White Bear Lake (partly in Ramsey County)
 * Willernie
 * Woodbury

Unincorporated communities

 * Arcola
 * Basswood Grove
 * Carnelian Junction
 * Maple Island
 * Siegel

Ghost towns

 * Garen
 * Point Douglas

Townships

 * Baytown
 * Denmark
 * Grey Cloud Island
 * May
 * Stillwater
 * West Lakeland

Superfund sites and environmental damage
Washington County has had three locations listed as Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites due to soil and groundwater contamination. The Baytown Township Ground Water Plume and the Oakdale Dump are currently listed, while the Washington County Landfill was cleaned up and removed from the Superfund list in 1996.

title: Washington County, Minnesota


text:
Waseca County, Minnesota

Waseca County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,968. Its county seat is Waseca.

History
In 1849, the newly organized Minnesota Territory legislature authorized nine counties across the territory. One of those, Dakota, was partially subdivided in 1853 to create Blue Earth, Le Sueur, and Rice counties. In 1855, parts of those counties were partitioned to create Steele. On February 27, 1857, the territorial legislature authorized partitioning western Steele County to create Waseca County, with its seat at Wilton, a settlement which began in 1854. The county name was taken from the area's first farming settlement, started in 1855, near the present location of the city of Waseca. That settlement name came from the Dakota word meaning "rich," a reference to the fertile soil in the area.

The Winona and Saint Peter Railroad line past the town of Waseca was completed in the latter half of the 1860s, causing the town to bloom. By 1870 the vote was taken to relocate the county seat to that settlement.

Waseca County's boundaries have not changed since its creation.

Geography
The Le Sueur River flows westward through the county toward its confluence with the Blue Earth River in Blue Earth County. It is augmented by the Little Le Sueur, which drains the southeast part of the county. Bull Run Creek flows westward from Silver Lake through the lower central part of the county into Blue Earth County; the Little Cobb River rises in southern Waseca County and flows westward into Blue Earth County to its confluence with the Cobb River.

The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved by drainages and dotted with lakes. The area is devoted to agriculture wherever possible. The terrain slopes to the north and west, with its highest point near its southeast corner, at 1,240 ft ASL. The county has an area of 433 sqmi, of which 423 sqmi is land and 9.6 sqmi (2.2%) is water.

Waseca is one of seven southern Minnesota counties that have no forest ecosystems, only prairie and savanna soils.

Transit

 * Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 14
 * [[Image:MN-13.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 13
 * [[Image:MN-30.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 30
 * [[Image:MN-60.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 60 (runs along north border of county only)
 * [[Image:MN-83.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 83
 * Minnesota State Highway 230

Adjacent counties

 * Rice County - northeast
 * Steele County - east
 * Freeborn County - southeast
 * Faribault County - southwest
 * Blue Earth County - west
 * Le Sueur County - northwest

Protected areas

 * Findley State Wildlife Management Area
 * Kanne State Wildlife Management Area
 * Moonan State Wildlife Management Area
 * Mueller State Wildlife Management Area
 * Senn-Rich State Wildlife Management Area
 * Teal State Wildlife Management Area
 * Waseca State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes

 * Buffalo Lake
 * Clear Lake
 * Everson Lake
 * Goose Lake
 * Hayes Lake
 * Knutsen Lake
 * Lake Elysian (part)
 * Lilly Lake
 * Lily Lake (part)
 * Loon Lake
 * Mott Lake
 * Reeds Lake
 * Reese Lake
 * Rice Lake (Janesville Township)
 * Rice Lake (Woodville Township)
 * Saint Olaf Lake
 * Sibert Lake
 * Silver Lake
 * Toners Lake
 * Trenton Lake (part)
 * Watkins Lake

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,526 people, 7,059 households, and 4,990 families in the county. The population density was 46.2 /mi2. There were 7,427 housing units at an average density of 17.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 94.65% White, 2.26% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 2.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 47.6% were of German, 15.5% Norwegian, 7.4% Irish and 5.5% American ancestry.

There were 7,059 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 25.8% under 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36. For every 100 females there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 111.3 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,440, and the median income for a family was $50,081. Males had a median income of $34,380 versus $22,630 for females. The per capita income was $18,631. About 4.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under 18 and 5.8% of those 65 or over.

Cities

 * Elysian (part)
 * Janesville
 * New Richland
 * Waldorf
 * Waseca (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

 * Alma City
 * Lake Elysian
 * Matawan
 * Otisco
 * Palmer
 * Saint Mary
 * Smiths Mill
 * Vista
 * Wilton

Townships

 * Alton Township
 * Blooming Grove Township
 * Byron Township
 * Freedom Township
 * Iosco Township
 * Janesville Township
 * New Richland Township
 * Otisco Township
 * St. Mary Township
 * Vivian Township
 * Wilton Township
 * Woodville Township

Politics
Waseca County has traditionally voted Republican. In only three presidential elections since 1936 has the county selected the Democratic nominee (as of 2020).

title: Waseca County, Minnesota


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Wadena County, Minnesota

Wadena County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,065. Its county seat is Wadena.

History
The newly organized Minnesota Legislature created the county on June 11, 1858. A settlement began at the future city of Wadena in 1871, and by 1873 a post office was in operation there. The settlement was designated the county seat when the state legislature organized the county on February 21, 1873. The town took the name of a trading post 15 mi to the east, which had flourished for several years but was largely abandoned by that time. The trading post was named for Chief Wadena, an Ojibwe Indian chief of the late 19th century in northwestern Minnesota.

Wadena County comprises 15 townships, first surveyed in 1863. Each township is six miles square and contains 36 sections of land (with the exception of Bullard and Thomastown, which have a slightly different configuration because their boundaries are aligned with the Leaf and Crow Wing Rivers, respectively). In 1857 Augustus Aspinwall laid out a town site in what is now Section 15, Thomastown township, at the junction of the Crow Wing and Partridge rivers, and named it Wadena. When the railroad went through the area in 1872, it ran about three miles south of this site and the town quickly withered away.

During the last part of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th, there were two railroads in the county. The Northern Pacific main line running east to west through Wadena was built in 1872, while the Great Northern branch or "K" line which ran from Sauk Centre to Bemidji, via Sebeka and Menahga, was completed in 1891. The line from Park Rapids to Long Prairie was abandoned in 1984 while the rest was abandoned in the early 1970s with the northern section from Park Rapids to Cass Lake since converted to the Heartland Trail.

Wadena used to be served by the Greyhound Bus Line, Elliott Bros. Transportation Co., Northwest Transportation Co., Red Bus Line, Gray Bus Line, Liederbach Bus Co. and Mercury Bus line.

There are four historical societies in the county, including the Wadena County Historical Society, the Verndale Historical Society, the Sebeka Finnish American Historical Society and the Menahga Historical Society.

In 2010 there were four organized school districts in the county: Wadena, Verndale, Sebeka and Menahga. In 1906 there were 52 school districts in the county, most of which were rural schools.

Sebeka once had Minnesota's second-largest creamery. Over the years there have been approximately ten creameries in the county and ten cheese factories.

Geography
The Crow Wing River flows south through the east-central part of the county and forms the lower part of the county's eastern border as it turns to flow southeast. The Partridge River flows east through the southern part of the county, discharging into the Crow Wing in the county's southeast corner. The Leaf River flows east through the central part of the county, discharging into the Crow Wing in the county's eastern portion. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, carved by drainages, devoted to agriculture wherever possible. The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest point near its northwest corner, at 1,460 ft ASL. The county has a total area of 543 sqmi, of which 536 sqmi is land and 7.0 sqmi (1.3%) is water. Wadena is one of 17 Minnesota counties with more savanna soils than prairie or forest soils.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 10.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 10
 * [[Image:US 71.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 71
 * [[Image:MN-29.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 29
 * [[Image:MN-87.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 87

Airports

 * Staples Municipal Airport (SAZ) - north of Staples

Adjacent counties

 * Hubbard County - north
 * Cass County - east
 * Todd County - south
 * Otter Tail County - southwest
 * Becker County - northwest

Protected areas

 * Burgen Lake Prairie Wildlife Management Area
 * Dry Sand State Wildlife Management Area
 * Huntersville State Forest
 * Lyons State Forest
 * Old Wadena County Park
 * Old Wadena Historic District

Lakes

 * Bill Lake
 * Blueberry Lake
 * Burgen Lake
 * Duck Lake (part)
 * Finn Lake
 * Granning Lake
 * Jim Cook Lake
 * Lily Lake
 * Lovejoy Lake
 * Lower Twin Lake
 * Mud Lake
 * Radabaugh Lake
 * Rice Lake
 * Round Lake
 * Simon Lake
 * Spirit Lake
 * Stocking Lake
 * Strike Lake]
 * Thomas Lake
 * Upper Twin Lake (part)
 * Yaeger Lake

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,713 people, 5,426 households, and 3,608 families in the county. The population density was 25.6 /mi2. There were 6,334 housing units at an average density of 11.8 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.89% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.5% were of German, 14.0% Norwegian, 12.5% Finnish, 9.0% United States or American and 5.3% Swedish ancestry.

There were 5,426 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 29.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.02.

The county population contained 25.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 19.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,651, and the median income for a family was $38,618. Males had a median income of $28,424 versus $21,027 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,146. About 9.70% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Aldrich
 * Menahga
 * Nimrod
 * Sebeka
 * Staples (part)
 * Verndale
 * Wadena (county seat; partly in Otter Tail County)

Unincorporated communities

 * Bluegrass
 * Huntersville
 * Oylen

Ghost towns

 * Leaf River
 * Shell City

Townships

 * Aldrich Township
 * Blueberry Township
 * Bullard Township
 * Huntersville Township
 * Leaf River Township
 * Lyons Township
 * Meadow Township
 * North Germany Township
 * Orton Township
 * Red Eye Township
 * Rockwood Township
 * Shell River Township
 * Thomastown Township
 * Wadena Township
 * Wing River Township

Government and politics
Wadena County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

title: Wadena County, Minnesota


text:
Wabasha County, Minnesota

Wabasha County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,387. Its county seat is Wabasha.

Wabasha County is part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The recently organized Minnesota Territory legislature created Wabasha County on October 27, 1849, one of nine original counties in the territory. An area on the Mississippi River's west bank, originally called Cratte's Landing, had grown into a town named Wabasha, then a city, and when the legislature created the county west of the river around this city, Wabasha was designated the county seat. The city had been named for three successive chiefs of Mississippi bands of Dakota Indians.

Wabasha County's area was reduced in 1853 when sections were partitioned off to create Fillmore, Goodhue, and Rice counties. More area was partitioned off in 1854 to create Winona County, and another part in 1855 to create Olmsted County. The county boundaries have remained the same since 1855.

Geography
Wabasha County lies on Minnesota's border with Wisconsin (across the Mississippi River. The Mississippi flows southeast along the county's eastern line. The North Fork of the Whitewater River flows east through the southern part of the county, then discharges into the Whitewater in Olmsted County. The combined Whitewater then enters the southeastern part of Wabasha County, flowing northeast to its discharge point into the Mississippi. The Zumbro River flows east-northeast through the county to its discharge point into the Mississippi. East Indian Creek and Miller Creek drain the northern part of the county into the Mississippi. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, considerably rutted by drainages, with all available area devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest point on its upper west border at 1,191 ft ASL. The county has a total area of 550 sqmi, of which 523 sqmi is land and 27 sqmi (4.8%) is water. Wabasha is one of 17 Minnesota counties with more savanna soils than either forest or prairie soils.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 61.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 61
 * [[Image:US 63.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 63
 * [[Image:MN-42.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 42
 * [[Image:MN-60.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 60
 * [[Image:MN-74.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 74
 * [[Image:MN-247.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 247

Adjacent counties

 * Pepin County, Wisconsin - northeast
 * Buffalo County, Wisconsin - east
 * Winona County - southeast
 * Olmsted County - south
 * Goodhue County - west, northwest

Protected areas

 * Carley State Park
 * Kellogg-Weaver Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
 * Mazeppa State Wildlife Management Area
 * McCarthy Lake State Wildlife Management Area
 * Miller Creek Aquatic Management Area
 * Zumbro Falls Woods Scientific and Natural Area

Lakes

 * Lake Pepin (part)
 * Robinson Lake
 * Zumbro Lake (part)
 * These lakes are located within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
 * Cross Lake
 * Half Moon Lake
 * Maloney Lake
 * McCarthy Lake
 * Peterson Lake
 * Robinson Lake

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,610 people, 8,277 households, and 5,876 families in the county. The population density was 41.3 /mi2. There were 9,066 housing units at an average density of 17.3 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.97% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. 1.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 53.3% were of German, 11.1% Norwegian, 7.3% Irish and 5.0% American ancestry.

There were 8,277 households, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.

The county population contained 27.10% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,117, and the median income for a family was $50,480. Males had a median income of $33,053 versus $24,316 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,664. About 4.10% of families and 6.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.00% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Bellechester (partly in Goodhue County)
 * Elgin
 * Hammond
 * Kellogg
 * Lake City (partly in Goodhue County)
 * Mazeppa
 * Millville
 * Minneiska (partly in Winona County)
 * Plainview
 * Wabasha (county seat)
 * Zumbro Falls

Unincorporated communities

 * Bear Valley
 * Camp Lacupolis
 * Conception
 * Dumfries
 * Jarrett
 * Maple Springs
 * Oak Center
 * Reads Landing
 * South Troy
 * Theilman
 * Weaver
 * West Albany
 * West Newton

Townships

 * Chester
 * Elgin
 * Gillford
 * Glasgow
 * Greenfield
 * Highland
 * Hyde Park
 * Lake
 * Mazeppa
 * Minneiska
 * Mount Pleasant
 * Oakwood
 * Pepin
 * Plainview
 * Watopa
 * West Albany
 * Zumbro

Politics
Wabasha County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only two national elections since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

title: Wabasha County, Minnesota


text:
Talk:Savoie

-

Untitled
Wondering how to edit this département entry? The WikiProject French departements standards might help.

WikiProject France Assessment
WikiProject France Assessment

This article was listed on WikiProject France under articles needing assessment. This article has been rated start-class because:
 * Although there is a general overview of the topic, I did feel like there should be a link to the history of Savoie in its respective subheading. Also, there are no sources/references.
 * Good images.
 * See: WikiProject French departements

Lazulilasher (talk) 18:27, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

Assessment comment
Substituted at 05:32, 30 April 2016 (UTC)

title: Talk:Savoie


text:
Traverse County, Minnesota

Traverse County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,360, making it the least-populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Wheaton. The county was founded in 1862 and organized in 1881.

Geography
Traverse County lies on the western edge of Minnesota. Its western border abuts the eastern borders of the states of North and South Dakota. The Red River flows northward along the county's western line. The Mustinka River flows southwestward through the county's upper portion, discharging into Lake Traverse. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, fully devoted to agriculture except in developed areas. The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point at the southeastern corner, at 1,119 ft ASL. The county has a total area of 586 sqmi, of which 574 sqmi is land and 12 sqmi (2.0%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 75.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 75
 * [[Image:MN-9.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 9
 * [[Image:MN-27.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 27
 * [[Image:MN-28.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 28
 * [[Image:MN-117.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 117

Adjacent counties

 * Wilkin County - north
 * Grant County - northeast
 * Stevens County - southeast
 * Big Stone County - south
 * Roberts County, South Dakota - southwest
 * Richland County, North Dakota northwest

Protected areas

 * Reservation Dam State Wildlife Management Area
 * White Rock Dam State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes

 * Lake Traverse (part)
 * Mud Lake - (part)
 * Saint Marys Lake
 * Wet Lake

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 4,134 people, 1,717 households, and 1,129 families in the county. The population density was 7.2 /mi2. There were 2,199 housing units at an average density of 3.83 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 96.42% White, 0.02% Black or African American, 2.81% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.2% were of German, 13.0% Norwegian, 7.6% Swedish and 5.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 1,717 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 6.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.20% were non-families. 32.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 25.30% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 21.70% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 26.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,617, and the median income for a family was $39,655. Males had a median income of $29,821 versus $20,100 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,378. About 9.30% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Browns Valley
 * Dumont
 * Tintah
 * Wheaton (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

 * Boisberg
 * Charlesville (partial)
 * Collis
 * Dakomin

Townships

 * Arthur Township
 * Clifton Township
 * Croke Township
 * Dollymount Township
 * Folsom Township
 * Lake Valley Township
 * Leonardsville Township
 * Monson Township
 * Parnell Township
 * Redpath Township
 * Tara Township
 * Taylor Township
 * Tintah Township
 * Walls Township
 * Windsor Township

Government and politics
Traverse County was historically a swing county, although in recent years it has swung substantially Republican. Since 1980 the county has selected the Republican Party candidate 54% of the time in national elections (as of 2020).

title: Traverse County, Minnesota


text:
Todd County, Minnesota

Todd County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,262. Its county seat is Long Prairie.

History
The county was created by the Minnesota Territorial legislature on February 20, 1855, although the county government was not organized until January 1, 1867, with Long Prairie as the county seat. It was named for John Blair Smith Todd, who was a delegate from Dakota Territory to the United States House of Representatives, and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

In 1976 the Todd County Bicentennial Commission compiled an extensive history of the County in a 316 page spiral bound book. The book includes histories of Todd County Villages, townships, and forgotten post offices, among other items.

Geography
The Crow Wing River flows southeastward along the northeastern border of Todd County. The Long Prairie River flows east-northeast through the central part of the county, discharging into the Crow Wing on the county's northeastern border. The Wing River, northwest of the Long Prairie River, also flows into the Crow Wing. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, dotted with lakes and etched with drainages. The area is devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest point on the west border at 1,483 ft ASL. The county has a total area of 980 mi2, of which 945 mi2 is land and 35 mi2(3.5%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-94.svg|20px]] Interstate 94
 * [[Image:US 10.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 10
 * [[Image:US 52.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 52
 * [[Image:US 71.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 71
 * [[Image:MN-27.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 27
 * [[Image:MN-28.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 28
 * [[Image:MN-210.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 210
 * [[Image:MN-287.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 287

Adjacent counties

 * Wadena County (north)
 * Cass County (northeast)
 * Morrison County (east)
 * Stearns County (south)
 * Douglas County (west)
 * Otter Tail County (northwest)

Lakes

 * Bass Lake
 * Beauty Lake
 * Big Birch Lake (part)
 * Big Lake
 * Big Swan Lake
 * Buckhorn Lake
 * Bunker Lake
 * Cedar Lake
 * Charlotte Lake
 * Coal Lake
 * Fairly Lake
 * Fawn Lake
 * Felix Lake
 * Goose Lake
 * Guernsey Lake
 * Hayden Lake
 * Horseshoe Lake
 * Juergens Lake
 * Keller Lake
 * Lady Lake
 * Lake Osakis (part)
 * Latimer Lake
 * Lawrence Lake
 * Little Birch Lake (part)
 * Little Sauk Lake
 * Long Lake (Birchdale Twp.)
 * Long Lake (Burnhamville Twp.)
 * Maple Lake
 * Mary Lake (part)
 * McCarrahan Lake
 * Mill Lake
 * Mound Lake
 * Mud Lake
 * Pauley Lake
 * Pendergast Lake
 * Pine Island Lake
 * Rice Lake
 * Sauk Lake (part)
 * Schreiers Lake
 * Sheet Lake
 * Trace Lake
 * Twin Lakes (part)
 * West Union Lake

Protected areas

 * Aurzada Wildlife Management Area
 * Buckhorn Lake State Wildlife Management Area
 * Burleene State Wildlife Management Area
 * Dower State Wildlife Management Area
 * Elgin Woods Wildlife Management Area
 * Iona Wildlife Management Area
 * Ireland State Wildlife Management Area
 * Long Prairie River Wildlife Management Area
 * Oak Ridge State Wildlife Management Area
 * Ojakis Wildlife Management Area (part)
 * Owen-Hinz Wildlife Management Area
 * Quistorff Wildlife Management Area
 * Randall State Wildlife Management Area
 * Santer Wildlife Management Area
 * Sheet Lake Wildlife Management Area
 * West Union Wildlife Management Area

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 24,426 people, 9,342 households, and 6,511 families in Todd County. The population density was 25.8 /mi2. There were 11,900 housing units at an average density of 12.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.54% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 1.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 52.1% were of German, 11.3% Norwegian and 5.6% Polish ancestry.

There were 9,342 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.

The county population contained 27.40% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,281, and the median income for a family was $39,920. Males had a median income of $28,630 versus $20,287 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,658. About 9.60% of families and 12.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

Amish
Todd County has a large concentration of Amish, about the same population size as the Amish settlement at Harmony. It is home to five different Amish communities, with altogether seven church districts in 2013, which indicates a total population of about 1000 people.

Cities

 * Bertha
 * Browerville
 * Burtrum
 * Clarissa
 * Eagle Bend
 * Grey Eagle
 * Hewitt
 * Long Prairie (county seat)
 * Osakis (partly in Douglas County)
 * Staples (partly in Wadena County)
 * West Union

Unincorporated communities

 * Philbrook
 * Pillsbury
 * Ward Springs

Townships

 * Bartlett
 * Bertha
 * Birchdale
 * Bruce
 * Burleene
 * Burnhamville
 * Eagle Valley
 * Fawn Lake
 * Germania
 * Gordon
 * Grey Eagle
 * Hartford
 * Iona
 * Kandota
 * Leslie
 * Little Elk
 * Little Sauk
 * Long Prairie
 * Moran
 * Reynolds
 * Round Prairie
 * Staples
 * Stowe Prairie
 * Turtle Creek
 * Villard
 * Ward
 * West Union
 * Wykeham

Government and politics
Todd County voters tend to vote Republican. In 71% of national elections since 1960, the county selected the Republican Party candidate (as of 2020). In both 2016 and 2020, Todd County was Donald Trump's second strongest county in Minnesota behind neighboring Morrison County both times.

title: Todd County, Minnesota


text:
Talk:Haute-Savoie

- Wondering how to edit this département entry? The WikiProject French departements standards might help.

"Haute" Savoie
I have added a request for citation where the text mentions that the department is so named due to the high nature of the terrain. I suspect this is wrong, and a translation of Upper, rather than High for Haute is more appropriate. Given that the department Savoie contains more geographically elevated terrain than Haute-Savoie, it would therefore be more appropriate to call Savoie, Haute-Savoie. Any further comments or reference would be appreciated Sarahburge (talk) 14:51, 15 March 2011 (UTC)
 * I agree. The translation should be Upper Savoy, not Higher Savoy. See, for example, Free Zones of Upper Savoy and District of Gex Case (France v. Switzerland) (1932) P.C.I.J., Ser. A/B, No. 46.
 * CNRTL gives:
 * 4. ... a) Domaine géographique, dans des syntagmes ... ♦ P. anal. [Suivi d'un nom de pays ou d'une région bordant la mer] La partie la plus éloignée de la mer, ou la plus reculée (et parfois montagneuse). La haute Normandie, le haut pays breton. Tous ceux qui avaient pris à cœur le plébiscite de Haute-Silésie s'étaient cru, par leur passion même, naturalisés Hauts Silésiens et étaient partis là-bas (Giraudoux, Siegfried et Lim., 1922, p. 199). Il sortit nuitamment de la ville et alla avec le reste de ses troupes fourrager en Haute Égypte (Grousset, Croisades, 1939, p. 200).
 * There is the same sense in English: Upper can either be the more elevated or the more interior part of a geographic area.
 * It is acceptable in English to use Haute-Savoie: Oxford Language Dictionaries Online, French to English gives "(département) la Haute-Savoie = Haute-Savoie".
 * Otherthinker (talk) 11:07, 6 August 2011 (UTC)

It is wrong to brook this wiki page heading as "Haute-Savoie". The right wording would be the known English exynom "Upper Savoy". The aforesaid is in keeping with other nearby English exynoms/overnames such as "Upper Wallis" or "Upper Vallis". It is misleading to cherrypick by dint of an online dictionary "Haut-Savoie" at the expense of the far more known, brooked and official exynom "Upper Savoy". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.5.84.89 (talk) 16:10, 8 September 2017 (UTC)

Emmental cheese
The link in the agriculture section goes to the town of Emmental and not the emmentaler cheese article here

Problem is, I don't know how to do the html mumbo-jumbo to proper standards. I just fix typos and grammar when I see agggregious ones. DirtPriest (talk) 04:56, 14 August 2015 (UTC)
 * ✅ This how you do it:

External links modified
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External links modified
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title: Talk:Haute-Savoie


text:
Swift County, Minnesota

Swift County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,838. Its county seat is Benson.

History
Swift County is in west central Minnesota and consists of 757 sqmi with three tiers of seven townships each. It was established on February 18, 1870, and named for Henry Adoniram Swift, the third governor of Minnesota (1863–64).

The Indians had grievances against the government, including delays in sending annuities that caused near starvation several times. In August 1862, an Indian rebellion broke out in Minnesota. The warfare reached the settlements just getting started in northeastern Swift County. By late September 1862, the Indian War was almost over but the settlers hesitated to venture back to Swift County until 1865, when all danger was apparently over. Scandinavians and Germans were in decided majority among the early settlers. A number of them came with the honor and privileges of Civil War veterans.

In 1869, the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad reached Willmar, and the next year it arrived in Benson. The railroad company determined the number of future trading centers (Kerkhoven, DeGraff, Benson, Randall) in the county by locating sites at intervals of approximately 8 mi. The Swift County Courthouse was built in 1897 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Benson is the county seat. Railroad tracks run through Benson's downtown business district with parks on each side.

Historic buildings
Historic buildings in Swift County include:
 * Gethsemane Episcopal Church in Appleton built in 1879 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

Politics
Swift County was traditionally a Democratic stronghold, as it voted Democratic in every election from 1932 to 2012 with the exception of the 1952 landslide victory of Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 2016, a dramatic swing against the Democrats in the Rust Belt saw Swift County shifting a massive 36% toward the Republican Party, with Donald Trump winning it over Hillary Clinton by 26%, and further increasing his margin of victory to nearly 30% against Joe Biden in 2020.

Geography
The Minnesota River flows southeast along the county's lower western border. The Pomme de Terre River flows south-southwest through the county's western part, discharging into the Minnesota. The Chippewa River flows south-southwest through the county's central part, discharging into the Minnesota south of the county. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture. It slopes to south and the west, with its highest point near its northeast corner at 1,240 ft ASL. The county has an area of 752 sqmi, of which 742 sqmi is land and 10 sqmi (1.3%) is water.

Swift County is primarily agricultural, but also hosts agriculture equipment manufacturers and an ethanol plant. It has 24 lakes and nine rivers and streams. Lake Oliver is one of the county's biggest, at 416 acre. Caltopo shows the true highpoint to be 1300 ft in elevation about 1/3 of a mile southwest of the Monson State Wildlife Management Area:latitude 45.3046&longitude=-95.3031

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 12
 * [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 59
 * [[Image:MN-7.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 7
 * [[Image:MN-9.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 9
 * [[Image:MN-29.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 29
 * [[Image:MN-104.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 104
 * [[Image:MN-119.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 119

Adjacent counties

 * Stevens County - northwest
 * Pope County - northeast
 * Kandiyohi County - east
 * Chippewa County - south
 * Lac qui Parle County - southwest
 * Big Stone County - west

Airport
Appleton Municipal Airport provides general aviation service for Swift County.

Protected areas

 * Bench State Wildlife Management Area
 * Camp Kerk State Wildlife Management Area
 * Danvers State Wildlife Management Area
 * Ehrenburg State Wildlife Management Area
 * Hayes-Myhre State Wildlife Management Area
 * Henry X State Wildlife Management Area
 * Hollerberg Lake State Wildlife Management Area
 * Monson Lake State Park

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,956 people, 4,353 households, and 2,881 families in the county. The population density was 16.1 /mi2. There were 4,821 housing units at an average density of 6.50 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 90.67% White, 2.69% Black or African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 1.52% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. 2.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Swift County has the highest percentage of Pacific Islander natives out of any U.S. county outside Hawaii. 34.4% were of German, 30.5% Norwegian, 5.2% Swedish and 5.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 4,353 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 30.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 23.00% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 29.60% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 120.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,820, and the median income for a family was $44,208. Males had a median income of $29,362 versus $21,667 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,360. About 5.30% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.90% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Appleton
 * Benson (county seat)
 * Clontarf
 * Danvers
 * De Graff
 * Holloway
 * Kerkhoven
 * Murdock

Unincorporated communities

 * Fairfield
 * Swift Falls

Townships

 * Appleton Township
 * Benson Township
 * Camp Lake Township
 * Cashel Township
 * Clontarf Township
 * Dublin Township
 * Edison Township
 * Fairfield Township
 * Hayes Township
 * Hegbert Township
 * Kerkhoven Township
 * Kildare Township
 * Marysland Township
 * Moyer Township
 * Pillsbury Township
 * Shible Township
 * Six Mile Grove Township
 * Swenoda Township
 * Tara Township
 * Torning Township
 * West Bank Township

title: Swift County, Minnesota


text:
Stevens County, Minnesota

Stevens County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,671. Its county seat is Morris.

History
The county was created by act of the Minnesota legislature on February 20, 1862. It was not organized at that time, and no county seat was named. The county was named for Isaac Stevens, who had led a railroad survey party across Minnesota in 1853 and was influential in bringing national attention to the Minnesota Territory. The territorial legislature had intended to thus honor Stevens in 1855 when another county was being created, but a clerical error caused that county to be named Stearns. The error was corrected by the 1862 act; by that time Stevens was a brigadier general for the Union Army in the American Civil War. Stevens was killed later that year. The county government was organized in 1872. Morris, which had been platted in 1869, was named the county seat.

The University of Minnesota Morris is in Morris. It was developed in the early 20th century from the Morris Industrial School for Indians, which opened in 1887 and was originally operated by the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy under contract to the federal government.

In 1975, a moderate earthquake occurred in the county.

Geography
The Pomme de Terre River flows south through central Stevens County, on its way to discharge into the Minnesota River. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, with the area mostly devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the south, although the northeast and southwest portions rise from the central part of the county. The county's highest point is on the eastern portion of the northern border, at 1,250 ft ASL. The county has an area of 575 sqmi, of which 564 sqmi is land and 12 sqmi (2.0%) is water.

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 59
 * [[Image:MN-9.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 9
 * [[Image:MN-28.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 28
 * [[Image:MN-329.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 329

Adjacent counties

 * Grant County - north
 * Douglas County - northeast
 * Pope County - east
 * Swift County - south
 * Big Stone County - southwest
 * Traverse County - northwest

Protected areas

 * Alberta Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
 * Boekholt Grove State Wildlife Management Area
 * Bruillet State Wildlife Management Area
 * Cin State Wildlife Management Area
 * Dablow State Wildlife Management Area
 * Dolven State Wildlife Management Area
 * Everglade State Wildlife Management Area
 * Klason State Wildlife Management Area
 * Kline State Wildlife Management Area
 * Mathison State Wildlife Management Area
 * Muddy Creek State Wildlife Management Area
 * Reimers State Wildlife Management Area
 * Robertson State Wildlife Management Area
 * Selk State Wildlife Management Area
 * Thedin State Wildlife Management Area
 * Verlyn Marth Memorial Prairie Scientific and Natural Area

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,053 people, 3,751 households, and 2,366 families in the county. The population density was 17.8 /mi2. There were 4,074 housing units at an average density of 7.22 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 96.13% White, 0.92% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 44.8% were of German, 20.8% Norwegian and 5.4% Irish ancestry.

There were 3,751 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 5.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.90% were non-families. 29.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% 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 2.99.

The county population contained 21.60% under the age of 18, 20.80% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 19.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,267, and the median income for a family was $47,518. Males had a median income of $32,045 versus $21,681 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,569. About 5.70% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.50% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Alberta
 * Chokio
 * Donnelly
 * Hancock
 * Morris (county seat)

Townships

 * Baker Township
 * Darnen Township
 * Donnelly Township
 * Eldorado Township
 * Everglade Township
 * Framnas Township
 * Hodges Township
 * Horton Township
 * Moore Township
 * Morris Township
 * Pepperton Township
 * Rendsville Township
 * Scott Township
 * Stevens Township
 * Swan Lake Township
 * Synnes Township

Government and politics
Stevens County has been a swing district for the past several decades. As of 2020 it has selected the Republican candidate in 56% of presidential elections since 1980. In 2016, Stevens County and several other counties in rural Western Minnesota swung sharply to the right. While Minnesota as a whole swung far to the left in 2020, Stevens County swung further right, giving Donald Trump nearly 60% of the vote - the most any party had got since 1952.

title: Stevens County, Minnesota


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Steele County, Minnesota

Steele County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,406. Its county seat is Owatonna.

Steele County comprises the Owatonna Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The county was created by the Minnesota Territory legislature on February 20, 1855, using areas partitioned from Rice, Blue Earth, and Le Sueur counties. Owatonna, the settlement of which had commenced in 1854, was named the county seat. The county was named for Franklin Steele, a prominent early resident of the territory.

Geography
The Straight River rises in Freeborn County and flows northward through the central part of Steele County, continuing into Rice County on the north. The South Branch of the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in Steele County and flows eastward into Dodge County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched with drainages, completely devoted to agriculture where possible. The terrain slopes to the east and north, with its highest point near the midpoint of its south border, at 1,293 ft ASL. The county has an area of 432 sqmi, of which 430 sqmi are land and 2.7 sqmi (0.6%) re water.

The Straight River flows northward through the county, and the Le Sueur River flows through its southwestern corner. The Middle Fork of the Zumbro River rises in NE Steele County.

Transit

 * Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-35.svg|20px]] Interstate 35 – runs north–south through west-central portion of county. Passes Medford, Clinton Falls, Owatonna, Hope and Ellendale.
 * [[Image:US 14.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 14 – runs east–west through upper central portion of county; passes Owatonna.
 * [[Image:US 218 (MN).svg|20px]] U.S. Route 218 – runs north-northwest from southeast corner of county to intersection with US 14, southeast of Owatonna.
 * [[Image:MN-30.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 30 – runs east–west across south part of county; passes Ellendale.

Airports

 * Owatonna Degner Regional Airport (OWA) - northwest of Owatonna

Adjacent counties

 * Rice – north
 * Dodge – east
 * Mower – southeast
 * Freeborn – south
 * Waseca – west

Protected areas

 * Aurora State Wildlife Management Area
 * Oak Glen State Wildlife Management Area
 * Rice Lake State Park
 * Somerset State Wildlife Management Area
 * Swan Lake State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes

 * Beaver
 * Fosilen
 * Kohlmeier
 * Lonergan
 * Oak Glen
 * Rice (part)
 * Rickert
 * Swan

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 33,680 people, 12,846 households, and 9,082 families in the county. The population density was 78.3 /mi2. There were 13,306 housing units at an average density of 30.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 95.19% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 3.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.6% were of German, 18.5% Norwegian, 5.2% Czech and 5.1% Irish ancestry.

There were 12,846 households, out of which 35.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

The county population contained 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,106, and the median income for a family was $53,981. Males had a median income of $36,366 versus $25,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,328. About 4.20% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Blooming Prairie (partly in Dodge County)
 * Ellendale
 * Medford
 * Owatonna (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

 * Bixby
 * Clinton Falls
 * Deerfield
 * Havana
 * Hope
 * Lemond
 * Litomysl
 * Meriden
 * Merton
 * Moland
 * Pratt
 * Saco
 * Steele Center

Ghost town

 * Rice Lake

Townships

 * Aurora
 * Berlin
 * Blooming Prairie
 * Clinton Falls
 * Deerfield
 * Havana
 * Lemond
 * Medford
 * Meriden
 * Merton
 * Owatonna
 * Somerset
 * Summit

Politics
Steele County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In only one national election since 1964 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.

title: Steele County, Minnesota