# Kittson County, Minnesota *County in northwestern Minnesota on the Canada–United States border* Kittson County occupies the northwestern corner of [[Minnesota]]. It lies on the international border with Canada, with the province of Manitoba to its north. The 2020 census counted 4,207 residents, and the county seat is Hallock.[^1] The county takes its name from Norman W. Kittson, an early entrepreneur in the Red River fur trade. It began as Pembina County, one of five large counties the [[Minnesota Territory]] legislature established on October 27, 1849. It received its present name on March 9, 1878.[^1] ## History Archaeological expeditions in the 1930s and 1970s examined burial mounds on the sand ridges of the eastern county. They confirmed human occupation going back about 1,800 years, to the Woodland Period.[^2] The account names the Laurel, Arvilla, St. Croix and Blackduck complexes as early occupants. It places the Cree, Assiniboine, Sioux and Ojibwe in the county about 400 years ago.[^2] Fur traders were the first explorers of the region. Pembina, North Dakota's oldest settlement, lies across the Red River from the county. It dates from 1797, when Charles Baptiste Chaboillez of the Northwest Fur Company established a trading post there. The Hudson Bay and American Fur Companies later operated in Pembina as well.[^2] Alexander Henry the younger built a fort at Pembina for the North West Company. He is thought to have been the first white man to try agriculture in the valley.[^2] Joe Rolette founded an American Fur Company post at Pembina. He and Norman W. Kittson opened the area by developing the Red River ox cart trails. Steamboats later took over the carriage of furs and supplies from the ox carts, and the railroad in turn took over from the steamboats.[^2] Pembina County was not organized when the territorial legislature created it in 1849. The legislature gave it the name Kittson County on March 9, 1878. Less than a year later, on February 25, 1879, part of the county was split off to form [[Marshall County, Minnesota]].[^2] ## Geography The county borders North Dakota to the west and Canada to the north. The Red River forms its western boundary and runs northward. The South Fork of Two Rivers crosses the middle of the county eastward and joins the Middle Fork at Hallock. The combined stream meets the North Fork a few miles before reaching the Red. The Joe River leaves the county to the northwest and enters the Red a few miles inside Canada.[^3] Most of the land is gently rolling and used for agriculture. The land falls toward the north and west, and the highest point is near the southeast corner at 1,079 feet (329 m) above sea level.[^3] The total area is 1,104 square miles. Of this, 1,099 square miles is land and 4.8 square miles (0.4%) is water.[^3] Glacial Lake Agassiz once covered the county, and its traces remain in the landscape. Remnants of McCauleyville Beach survive as sandy soil and sand ridges in the east. Elevation drops about 140 feet from the eastern part of the county to the black soils near the Red River Valley in the west. Lake Bronson is an artificial reservoir finished in 1937.[^3] ### Transportation and borders U.S. Highways 59 and 75 cross the county, along with Minnesota State Highways 11, 171, 175 and 220.[^3] In Manitoba, the Town of Emerson and the Rural Municipalities of Franklin and Stuartburn lie to the north. [[Roseau County, Minnesota]] lies to the east and Marshall County to the south.[^3] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 4,207 residents, with a median age of 48.9 years. Of these residents, 21.2% were under 18 and 26.6% were 65 or older. There were 101.3 males for every 100 females.[^4] By race, residents were 95.3% White and 0.1% Black or African American. The census also recorded 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% some other race, and 3.2% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 2.0%. The census classified the entire population as rural.[^4] The 2020 count found 1,846 households, and 23.0% of them had children under 18. Of the county's 2,272 housing units, 18.8% were vacant. Owners occupied 81.0% of occupied units and renters 19.0%.[^4] In 2000, the census had counted 5,285 people, 2,167 households and 1,447 families, at a density of 4.81 people per square mile.[^4] ## Communities The incorporated cities are: - Donaldson - Hallock (county seat) - Halma - Humboldt - Karlstad - Kennedy - Lake Bronson (called "Bronson" until 1939) - Lancaster - St. Vincent Unincorporated communities are Caribou, Northcote, Noyes, Orleans and Robbin, and Pelan is a ghost town.[^5] The county has 26 townships, from Arveson to Thompson. It also has three unorganized territories: East Kittson, McKinley and North Red River.[^5] ## Politics Over several decades, the county's presidential vote has moved between the parties with a Democratic lean. As of 2020, the county had backed the Democratic nominee in 60% of presidential elections since 1980.[^6] Barack Obama carried it by 6 points in 2012. Donald Trump won it by 22 points in 2016 and carried it again by wide margins in 2020 and 2024. In 2024 he won more than 61% of the vote, the strongest Republican presidential result in the county since Warren G. Harding in 1920.[^6] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Kittson County, Minnesota* (revision 1378382287, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead and History section: location, 2020 population, county seat, naming, and creation and renaming of Pembina County. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittson_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Kittson County, Minnesota* (revision 1378382287, retrieved 2026-10-25) — History section: archaeology, fur trade, and the 1849, 1878 and 1879 legislative actions. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittson_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Kittson County, Minnesota* (revision 1378382287, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Geography section: rivers, terrain, area, Lake Agassiz, highways and adjacent jurisdictions. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittson_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Kittson County, Minnesota* (revision 1378382287, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Demographics section: 2020 and 2000 census figures. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittson_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Kittson County, Minnesota* (revision 1378382287, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Communities section: cities, unincorporated communities, townships and unorganized territories. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittson_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Kittson County, Minnesota* (revision 1378382287, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Politics section: presidential voting record, 1920–2024. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittson_County,_Minnesota