# Kandiyohi County, Minnesota *County in Minnesota, United States* Kandiyohi County is a county in the U.S. state of [[Minnesota]]. The 2020 census counted 43,732 residents, and Willmar is the county seat.[^1] The U.S. Census Bureau's Willmar, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area is made up of the county.[^1] The county was organized on March 20, 1858. It later absorbed Monongalia County and settled on Willmar as its seat in 1871. Under county option it was a dry county until May 1965.[^1] It has voted for the Republican candidate in every national election since 1996, through 2024.[^1] ## History The county's name comes from a [[Dakota]] word meaning "where the buffalo fish come." The source breaks the word into *kandi'*, the buffalo fish, and a form of *hiyu*, to come through.[^1] At its organization on March 20, 1858, the county covered only what is now its southern half.[^1] In 1870 the town of Kandiyohi became the county seat. It was then known as Kandiyohi Station because it was only a stop on the railroad line.[^1] Settlement was slow. That same year the state [[Legislature]] directed that Monongalia County merge with Kandiyohi.[^1] Agreement on Willmar, which lay near the center of the enlarged county, as county seat came only in 1871. The reference article's History section dates the agreement to November 21, 1871, while its lead gives November 20, 1871.[^1] A law signed in March 1915 let each Minnesota county decide whether to allow alcohol production. By then, every city in Kandiyohi County had already voted to ban alcohol.[^1] Kandiyohi was a dry county until county option was abolished in May 1965. Until then, no beverage stronger than 3.2 percent alcohol could be sold there.[^1] ## Geography Most of the county is farmland on rolling hills, some of them wooded. The land falls toward the south and west from a high point of 1,306 feet (398 m) above sea level near the northeastern corner.[^1] Of the county's 862 square miles (2,230 km²), 797 square miles (2,060 km²) are land and 66 square miles (170 km²), or 7.6 percent, are water.[^1] It is one of seven counties in southern Minnesota without forest soils. Its only ecosystems are prairie and savanna.[^1] The county has nearly 70 named lakes. Among them are Big Kandiyohi Lake, Green Lake, Little Kandiyohi Lake and Nest Lake. Several separate lakes are named Swan, Long and Woodcock in different townships.[^1] Major highways include U.S. Highways 12 and 71, with a business route of US 71. State highways include Minnesota State Highways 4, 7, 9, 23, 40, 55 and 104, with a business route of MN 23.[^1] The neighboring counties are Stearns to the north, Meeker to the east, Renville to the south, Chippewa to the southwest, Swift to the west and Pope to the northwest.[^1] Protected areas include Sibley State Park and the Burbank, Dietrich Lange, Oleander, Ringo-Nest, Roseville, Sunburg and Yohi state wildlife management areas.[^1] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 43,732 residents with a median age of 39.3 years. Of these, 24.9 percent were under 18 and 19.4 percent were 65 or older.[^1] There were 99.4 males for every 100 females overall, and 97.7 males for every 100 females aged 18 and over.[^1] By race, the census reported the county as follows: - White: 80.0 percent - Black or African American: 6.1 percent - American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5 percent - Asian: 1.3 percent - Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 0.1 percent - Some other race: 5.1 percent - Two or more races: 6.9 percent Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 13.5 percent of the population.[^1] Urban areas held 57.0 percent of residents and rural areas held 43.0 percent.[^1] The census counted 17,079 households. Children under 18 lived in 29.7 percent of them, and 51.8 percent were married couples.[^1] A male householder with no spouse or partner headed 17.9 percent of households. A female householder with no spouse or partner headed 23.7 percent.[^1] One-person households made up about 27.8 percent of the total. In 12.2 percent of households, the person living alone was 65 or older.[^1] Of the county's 19,950 housing units, 14.4 percent stood vacant. Owners occupied 72.3 percent of occupied units and renters 27.7 percent. Vacancy rates were 1.3 percent for homeowner units and 9.9 percent for rental units.[^1] The 2010 census counted 42,239 residents.[^1] In 2000 the census counted 41,203 people in 15,936 households and 10,979 families. Population density was 51.7 per square mile (20.0/km²), and the county had 18,415 housing units, or 23.1 per square mile.[^1] ## Communities The county's twelve cities are Atwater, Blomkest, Kandiyohi, Lake Lillian, New London, Pennock, Prinsburg, Raymond, Regal, Spicer, Sunburg and Willmar, the county seat.[^1] Its unincorporated communities include Hawick, Norway Lake, Priam, Roseland and Svea.[^1] The reference article lists twenty-four townships. Among them are Arctander, Burbank, Colfax, Dovre, Green Lake, Kandiyohi, Mamre and Willmar townships.[^1] ## Politics In recent years the county's voters have moved from the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] to the Republican Party. In national elections from 1996 through 2024, the county did not choose the Democratic candidate.[^1] [[Amy Klobuchar]], the Democratic incumbent, won the county in 2018 when she was reelected over Republican challenger Jim Newberger. She had also won it in 2006 and 2012.[^1] In 2024 she was reelected statewide but lost the county by 14%.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Kandiyohi County, Minnesota* (cached revision 1375330199, retrieved 2026-10-25) — county description, name, organization and county-seat history, county-option alcohol history, geography, census figures, communities and election results. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandiyohi_County,_Minnesota