# Big Stone County, Minnesota *County in western Minnesota; county seat Ortonville* Big Stone County is one of the counties of [[Minnesota]], with its seat at Ortonville; the 2020 census counted 5,166 residents.[^1] It sits on the state's western border with South Dakota and takes its name from Big Stone Lake.[^2][^3] The county was created in 1862 and organized in 1874.[^2] From 1928 to 2008 it backed the Democratic presidential candidate in all but two elections. Every presidential election since 2012 has gone Republican there, and the Republican margin exceeded 29% in 2024.[^8] ## History The county was established in 1862, and its organization followed in 1874.[^2] Its name comes from Big Stone Lake.[^2] ## Geography The county is on Minnesota's western side, and its southwest line runs along the eastern line of South Dakota.[^3] The Little Minnesota River follows the southwestern boundary. Since 1937 the Big Stone Lake Dam has held back the river's water and enlarged Big Stone Lake.[^3] The outflow from the lake runs along the county's southern line and is called the [[Minnesota River]] from that point.[^3] Fish Creek crosses the northwestern part of the county toward the southwest and empties into Big Stone Lake on the southwestern boundary.[^3] Low rolling hills make up the terrain, either wooded or in agricultural use. The land falls mostly toward the south and east, while the southwestern part drops toward the river valley.[^3] The highest elevation is 1,201 feet (366 m) above sea level. It lies on the county's northern line near the northwestern corner, 2.9 miles (4.7 km) east of Lagoona Beach.[^3] Of the county's 528 square miles in total, 499 are land and 29 (5.5%) are water.[^3] ### Lakes Lakes in the county include Artichoke, Barry, Bentsen, Big Stone, Clear, Cup, Deep, East Toqua, Eli, Fogarty, Horseshoe, Lannon and Lindgren lakes and Lake Leo, among others.[^3] Several of them cross township lines. Bentsen Lake is split between Otrey and Big Stone townships, and Big Stone Lake borders five townships.[^3] ## Climate and weather At Ortonville, average temperatures in recent years have run from a January low of 1 °F (−17 °C) to a July high of 84 °F (29 °C).[^4] The recorded extremes are −44 °F (−42 °C) in February 1994 and 108 °F (42 °C) in July 1966.[^4] Mean monthly precipitation varies from 0.43 inches (11 mm) in December to 3.85 inches (98 mm) in July.[^4] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 census counted 5,166 people, with a median age of 48.3 years.[^5] Just over a fifth of residents (21.1%) were under 18, and 27.0% were 65 or older. There were 97.0 males for every 100 females.[^5] The census classed 100.0% of residents as living in rural areas.[^5] By race, 93.5% of residents were counted as White and 0.6% as Black or African American.[^5] Another 0.9% were counted as American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% as Asian, and 0.1% as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. The remaining 1.5% were counted as some other race and 3.1% as two or more races. Residents of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race, made up 2.7% of the total.[^5] The county had 2,224 households.[^5] Of these, 23.7% included children under 18, and 52.2% were married-couple households. Single-person households accounted for 32.2%.[^5] A quarter (25.4%) of the 2,982 housing units stood vacant. Of the occupied units, 77.3% were owner-occupied and 22.7% renter-occupied.[^5] ### 2000 census The 2000 census recorded 5,820 people, 2,377 households and 1,611 families. Population density was 11.7 per square mile, and there were 3,171 housing units.[^6] ## Communities The county's cities are Barry, Beardsley, Clinton, Correll, Graceville, Johnson, Odessa and Ortonville.[^7] Its unincorporated communities include Artichoke, Big Stone Colony, Bonanza Grove, Foster, Lagoona Beach and Yankeetown.[^7] The fourteen townships are Akron, Almond, Artichoke, Big Stone, Browns Valley, Foster, Graceville, Malta, Moonshine, Odessa, Ortonville, Otrey, Prior and Toqua.[^7] ## Government and politics From 1928 to 2008 the county backed the Democratic presidential candidate every time except in 1952 and 1980, two years of nationwide Republican victories.[^8] Over 1928–2000, the only other Republican to come within 10% of carrying the county was Ronald Reagan in 1984.[^8] Democratic margins narrowed from 2000. George W. Bush lost the county by about 2% in both 2000 and 2004, each time by no more than 60 votes.[^8] Barack Obama carried it by more than 6% in 2008, the most recent Democratic win there.[^8] Mitt Romney won the county in 2012 by 40 votes, a margin under 1.5%.[^8] In 2016 Donald Trump won it by nearly 25% over Hillary Clinton. That was the first time since 1924 that a Republican carried the county by more than 5%.[^8] Trump's margin rose to more than 27% in 2020 and to more than 29% in 2024.[^8] ## Education The county is served by four school districts: Chokio-Alberta Public School District, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley School District, Lac qui Parle Valley School District and Ortonville Public Schools.[^9] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Big Stone County, Minnesota* (cached revision 1375323713, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead section: county description, 2020 population, county seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stone_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Big Stone County, Minnesota*, History section (revision 1375323713, retrieved 2026-10-25) — formation in 1862, organization in 1874, naming for Big Stone Lake. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stone_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Big Stone County, Minnesota*, Geography section (revision 1375323713, retrieved 2026-10-25) — location, rivers, dam, terrain, elevation, area, lakes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stone_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Big Stone County, Minnesota*, Climate and weather section (revision 1375323713, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Ortonville temperature and precipitation ranges and records. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stone_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Big Stone County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2020 census (revision 1375323713, retrieved 2026-10-25) — population, age, composition, households, housing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stone_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Big Stone County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2000 census (revision 1375323713, retrieved 2026-10-25) — population, households, families, density, housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stone_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Big Stone County, Minnesota*, Communities section (revision 1375323713, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated communities, townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stone_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Big Stone County, Minnesota*, Government and politics section (revision 1375323713, retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting record, 1928–2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stone_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Big Stone County, Minnesota*, Education section (revision 1375323713, retrieved 2026-10-25) — school districts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Stone_County,_Minnesota