# Freeborn County, Minnesota *County in the state of Minnesota* Freeborn County is a county in [[Minnesota]] whose seat is Albert Lea.[^1] The 2020 census counted 30,895 residents. The county makes up the Albert Lea Micropolitan Statistical Area.[^1] The Minnesota Territorial Legislature formed the county on February 20, 1855, from land previously in Blue Earth and Rice Counties. It took its name from William Freeborn, a pioneer, merchant and territorial legislator.[^2] In presidential elections the county voted Democratic in all but five contests from 1932 to 2012. Since 2016 it has voted Republican, and Donald Trump's 2024 margin of over 21 percent was the widest for a Republican presidential candidate there since 1928.[^8] ## History On February 20, 1855, territorial lawmakers carved Freeborn County out of Blue Earth and Rice Counties. That same day the Minnesota Territorial Legislature also established twelve other Minnesota counties.[^2] The name honors William Freeborn, who was an early settler, a merchant and a member of the territorial legislature.[^2] ## Geography The county sits on the Minnesota–Iowa state line.[^3] Its total area is 722 square miles (1,870 km²). Of that, 707 square miles (1,830 km²) is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) is water, or 2.1 percent of the total.[^3] The land is hilly and cut by drainages and gullies. It generally descends toward the south and east, but its highest point, 1,296 ft (395 m) above sea level, lies near the northeast corner.[^3] From Albert Lea Lake, in the center of the county, the Shell Rock River runs south and crosses into Iowa. Turtle Creek runs east across the upper eastern part of the county and enters Mower County.[^3] The Le Sueur River is a tributary of the [[Minnesota River]]. It rises in the north of the county and runs north into Waseca County.[^3] Two smaller streams rise in the far northwest corner: the Cobb River, from Freeborn Lake, and the Maple River, from Penny Lake. Both flow generally northwest and join the Le Sueur River a short distance above its confluence with the Minnesota River on the western edge of [[Mankato]].[^3] Agriculture occupies most of the available land.[^3] ### Lakes and protected areas The county has more than a dozen listed lakes. Among them are Albert Lea Lake, Bear Lake, Fountain Lake, Freeborn Lake, Geneva Lake, Penny Lake, Pickerel Lake and White Lake. Part of Trenton Lake also lies in the county.[^4] Its protected areas include Myre-Big Island State Park and White Woods County Park. It also has the Bear Lake and Carex State Wildlife Management Areas, Halls Lake State Wildlife Area and Moscow State Game Refuge.[^4] ### Transportation Interstate 35 and Interstate 90 both serve the county, along with U.S. Highways 65 and 69 and Minnesota State Highway 13, among other routes. Southern Minnesota Area Rural Transit provides public transit service.[^4] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 census counted 30,895 people in the county, and their median age was 43.7.[^5] Residents under 18 made up 22.2 percent of the population, and those 65 or older made up 22.9 percent. There were 99.9 males for every 100 females, and 97.5 males for every 100 females among adults.[^5] By race, 84.1 percent of residents were White and 1.6 percent were Black or African American. Another 0.4 percent were American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.7 percent were Asian, and less than 0.1 percent were Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. Some other race accounted for 4.1 percent, and two or more races for 6.0 percent. People of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race, made up 10.3 percent.[^5] Urban areas held 58.2 percent of residents and rural areas held 41.8 percent.[^5] Of the 13,076 households, 26.2 percent included children under 18. Married couples headed 47.2 percent of households. Men with no spouse or partner present headed 19.4 percent, and women with no spouse or partner present headed 24.8 percent.[^5] One-person households accounted for about 31.6 percent of the total, and 15.2 percent had someone 65 or older living alone.[^5] Of the 14,114 housing units, 7.4 percent stood vacant. Owners occupied 75.1 percent of occupied units and renters 24.9 percent. Vacancy rates were 1.4 percent for homeowner units and 6.9 percent for rental units.[^5] ### 2000 census The 2000 census recorded 32,584 people living in 13,356 households, of which 9,015 were families.[^6] There were 46.1 people per square mile (17.8/km²). The county's 13,996 housing units averaged 19.8 per square mile (7.6/km²).[^6] By race, 95.22 percent of residents were White and 0.24 percent were Black or African American.[^6] ## Communities Albert Lea, the county seat, is one of fourteen cities. The others are Alden, Clarks Grove, Conger, Emmons, Freeborn, Geneva, Glenville, Hartland, Hayward, Hollandale, Manchester, Myrtle and Twin Lakes.[^7] The unincorporated communities are Armstrong, Gordonsville, Mansfield, Maple Island, Moscow, Oakland and Petran, and part of Corning also lies in the county.[^7] The county has twenty townships, including Albert Lea, Alden, Bancroft, Bath, Freeborn, Geneva, Hartland, Hayward, Manchester, Moscow, Riceland and Shell Rock.[^7] ## Government and politics Between 1932 and 2012 the county backed the Republican presidential candidate only five times. Four of those were nationwide Republican landslides, in 1952, 1956, 1972 and 1980. The fifth was the close 1960 election.[^8] Clinton carried the county by at least 15 percent in both 1992 and 1996. Voters there opposed George W. Bush by at least 10 percent in both 2000 and 2004 and supported Obama by at least 14 percent in both 2008 and 2012.[^8] In 2016 Donald Trump won the county by more than 17 percent. His margin fell slightly to 16 percent in 2020, but his share of nearly 57 percent that year was the highest for any Republican there since 1928.[^8] In 2024 he took nearly 60 percent of the vote and won by more than 21 percent. That was the widest Republican presidential margin in the county since Herbert Hoover in 1928.[^8] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Freeborn County, Minnesota* (revision 1375329522, retrieved 2026-10-25) — county seat, 2020 population and Micropolitan Statistical Area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeborn_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia, *Freeborn County, Minnesota* (revision 1375329522, retrieved 2026-10-25) — creation date, parent counties, the twelve other counties created the same day, and namesake. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeborn_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia, *Freeborn County, Minnesota* (revision 1375329522, retrieved 2026-10-25) — border location, rivers, terrain, elevation, area and land use. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeborn_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia, *Freeborn County, Minnesota* (revision 1375329522, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lists of lakes, protected areas, transit and major highways. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeborn_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia, *Freeborn County, Minnesota* (revision 1375329522, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 census age, sex, race, urban–rural, household and housing figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeborn_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia, *Freeborn County, Minnesota* (revision 1375329522, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2000 census population, household, density, housing and race figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeborn_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia, *Freeborn County, Minnesota* (revision 1375329522, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated communities and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeborn_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia, *Freeborn County, Minnesota* (revision 1375329522, retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential election results, 1932–2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeborn_County,_Minnesota