# Faribault County, Minnesota *County in the U.S. state of Minnesota* Faribault County (pronounced FAIR-boh) is a county on the southern edge of [[Minnesota]]. Its seat is the city of Blue Earth, and the 2020 census counted 13,921 residents.[^1] The county was founded in 1855. It takes its name from Jean-Baptiste Faribault, a French fur trader and settler who lived among the Sioux.[^2] The county borders Iowa to the south, and its rolling terrain is given over to agriculture.[^3] In presidential contests the county has mostly voted for [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidates. Since 1892 a Republican nominee has lost it only six times, most recently Bob Dole in 1996.[^4] ## History Faribault County was established in 1855.[^2] Its name honors Jean-Baptiste Faribault, who traded furs and settled among the Sioux.[^2] ## Geography The county sits along Minnesota's southern boundary, where its southern line meets the northern border of Iowa.[^3] Its total area is 722 square miles (1,870 km²). Of that, 712 square miles (1,840 km²) is land and 9.4 square miles (24 km²), or 1.3%, is water.[^3] The Blue Earth River runs north through the west-central part of the county. It crosses from Iowa as two streams, the West Branch and the Middle Branch, which join about 5 miles (8.0 km) inside the county line.[^5] The East Branch meets the river near the city of Blue Earth, and the river continues north into Blue Earth County.[^5] The Maple River crosses the upper central county on a west-northwesterly course from Freeborn County into Blue Earth County. The Cobb River passes through the northeastern county between the same two neighbors.[^5] Most of the land consists of semi-arid rolling hills used for farming.[^3] In the southeast, near Kiester, lies a glacial moraine called the Kiester Moraine.[^3] ### Lakes and protected areas The county's lakes include Bass Lake and Rice Lake in Delavan Township, Rice Lake in Foster Township, Hart Lake, Minnesota Lake, South Walnut Lake and Walnut Lake.[^6] Walnut Lake State Wildlife Management Area is the county's listed protected area.[^6] ### Transportation The county's major highways are Interstate 90, U.S. Highway 169, and Minnesota State Highways 22 and 109.[^7] Blue Earth and Wells each have a municipal airport.[^7] ### Adjacent counties Faribault County borders six counties:[^8] - Blue Earth County to the north - Waseca County to the northeast - Freeborn County to the east - Winnebago County, Iowa, to the southeast - Kossuth County, Iowa, to the southwest - Martin County to the west ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 census recorded 13,921 people, with a median age of 44.9 years.[^9] Residents under 18 made up 21.9% of the population, and those 65 and over made up 23.5%.[^9] There were 100.7 males for every 100 females overall, and 99.7 for every 100 among adults.[^9] By race, the census reported the following shares of residents:[^10] - White: 91.5% - Black or African American: 0.4% - American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% - Asian: 0.3% - Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: less than 0.1% - Some other race: 2.9% - Two or more races: 4.3% Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 7.3% of the population.[^10] The census classed 100.0% of residents as rural and less than 0.1% as urban.[^10] The county had 6,086 households, and 25.4% of them included children under 18.[^11] Married couples made up 47.4% of households. Male householders with no spouse or partner present headed 20.7%, and female householders with no spouse or partner present headed 24.1%.[^11] Single individuals made up 32.2% of households, and 16.1% had someone aged 65 or older living alone.[^11] Of 6,916 housing units, 12.0% were vacant. Owners occupied 77.9% of the occupied units and renters occupied 22.1%. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[^11] ### 2000 census The 2000 census counted 16,181 people in 6,652 households and 4,476 families. The population density was 22.7 per square mile (8.8/km²).[^12] There were 7,247 housing units, an average of 10.2 per square mile (3.9/km²).[^12] The 2020 count was 2,260 lower than the 2000 count.[^12] ## Communities ### Cities The county has eleven cities: Blue Earth (the county seat), Bricelyn, Delavan, Easton, [[Elmore]], Frost, Kiester, Minnesota Lake (which extends partly into Blue Earth County), Walters, Wells and Winnebago.[^13] ### Unincorporated communities The unincorporated communities are Baroda, Brush Creek, Dell, Guckeen, Huntley, Marna and Pilot Grove. Clayton and Homedahl are ghost towns.[^14] ### Townships The county has twenty townships: Barber, Blue Earth City, Brush Creek, Clark, Delavan, Dunbar, Elmore, Emerald, Foster, Jo Daviess, Kiester, Lura, Minnesota Lake, Pilot Grove, Prescott, Rome, Seely, Verona, Walnut Lake and Winnebago City.[^14] ## Government and politics In most presidential elections the county has favored Republican nominees.[^4] Since 1892 a Republican has failed to carry the county on only six occasions. The most recent was Bob Dole's 1996 campaign.[^4] ## Education Six school districts serve the county:[^15] - Alden-Conger - Blue Earth Area - Granada-Huntley-East Chain - Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton - Maple River - United South Central The state also operates two schools in the county, the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind and the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf.[^15] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (revision 1375289029, retrieved 2026-10-25), introduction — pronunciation, 2020 population and county seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), History section — founding in 1855 and naming for Jean-Baptiste Faribault. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography section — location on the Iowa border, terrain, Kiester Moraine and area figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Government and politics section — Republican presidential support since 1892 and the 1996 exception. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography section — courses of the Blue Earth, Maple and Cobb rivers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography: Lakes and Protected areas — named lakes and Walnut Lake State Wildlife Management Area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography: Major highways and Airports — highways and municipal airports. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography: Adjacent counties — bordering counties and directions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Demographics: 2020 census — population, median age, age shares and sex ratios. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Demographics: 2020 census — racial makeup, Hispanic or Latino share and urban/rural split. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^11]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Demographics: 2020 census — household composition, housing units, tenure and vacancy rates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^12]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Demographics: 2000 census — 2000 population, households, families, housing units and densities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^13]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Communities: Cities — the county's cities and the county seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^14]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Communities: Unincorporated communities and Townships — unincorporated places, ghost towns and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota [^15]: Wikipedia, *Faribault County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25), Education section — school districts and state-operated academies. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faribault_County,_Minnesota