# McLeod County, Minnesota *County in Minnesota, United States* McLeod County is one of the counties of the U.S. state of [[Minnesota]]. Its county seat is Glencoe, and the 2020 census counted 36,771 residents.[^1] The county makes up the Hutchinson, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area and belongs to the [[Minneapolis]]–St. Paul, MN–WI Combined Statistical Area.[^1] The Minnesota Territorial [[Legislature]] established the county on March 1, 1856.[^2] It is named for Martin McLeod, a Canadian-born fur trader who served as a territorial representative from 1849 to 1856.[^2] Events of the Dakota War of 1862 in the county include the siege of Hutchinson and the killing of the White family near Brownton.[^2] ## History Indigenous peoples lived in the area for thousands of years. When Europeans arrived, it was [[Dakota]] Sioux territory.[^2] The territorial act of March 1, 1856, that created the county also placed its seat at Glencoe.[^2] Martin McLeod had founded the Glencoe townsite on June 11, 1855, and he belonged to its townsite company when the county was formed.[^2] As a young man, McLeod joined James Dickson's 1836 expedition to the Red River of the North. He recorded the journey in the *Diary of Martin McLeod*, a manuscript in the collections of the [[Minnesota Historical Society]].[^2] In 1859, three Czech families already settled in the county were joined by the families of Josef Vosmek, Josef Zicha, Antonin Nunvar and Jan Vanous.[^2] These families had come from Bohemia and lived in Caledonia for several years before moving. Later settlers took homesteads nearby, in what is now Rich Valley Township.[^2] Several events of the Dakota War of 1862 took place within the county's borders. Among them were the siege of Hutchinson and the killing of the White family near Brownton.[^2] ## Geography The county covers 506 square miles (1,310 km²).[^3] Of that total, 491 square miles (1,270 km²) are land and 14 square miles (36 km²), or 2.8%, are water.[^3] The land is low and rolling, with lakes and shallow drainages and gullies, and it slopes toward the east.[^3] The highest elevation, 1,096 ft (334 m) above sea level, lies on the upper western border.[^3] Most land is in agricultural use, and only savanna and prairie soils occur in the county.[^3] The northeast once held substantial Maple-Basswood, or "Big Woods", forest.[^3] The South Fork of the Crow River runs east across the upper central part of the county. Buffalo Creek runs east across the lower central part. Both streams continue into Wright County.[^3] Neighboring counties are Wright to the northeast, Carver to the east, Sibley to the south, Renville to the west and Meeker to the northwest.[^3] The major highways are US Highway 212 and Minnesota State Highways 7, 15 and 22.[^3] ## Demographics The 2020 census counted 36,771 residents, and their median age was 41.5.[^4] Of these residents, 22.5% were under 18 and 19.7% were 65 or older.[^4] The census reported the county's racial makeup as 90.3% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian and 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander.[^4] A further 2.5% reported some other race and 5.4% reported two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 6.9% of the total.[^4] Urban areas held 55.5% of residents and rural areas 44.5%.[^4] The county had 15,004 households in 2020. Of these, 27.8% included children under 18 and 51.8% were married-couple households.[^4] Of the 15,820 housing units, 5.2% stood vacant.[^4] Among occupied units, 76.4% were owner-occupied and 23.6% were renter-occupied.[^4] The 2000 census had recorded 34,898 people living in 13,449 households and 9,427 families.[^4] That count gave a density of 71.1 people per square mile.[^4] ## Communities The county has nine cities: Biscay, Brownton, Glencoe (the county seat), Hutchinson, Lester Prairie, Plato, Silver Lake, Stewart and Winsted.[^5] Its unincorporated communities are Fernando, Heatwole, Komensky, Lake Addie, Sherman, South Silver Lake and Sumter.[^5] The source lists fourteen townships: Acoma, Bergen, Collins, Glencoe, Hale, Hassan Valley, Helen, Hutchinson, Lynn, Penn, Rich Valley, Round Grove, Sumter and Winsted.[^5] ## Politics The county's voters have historically favored Republican candidates.[^6] Through 2024, the county had backed the candidate of the [[Democratic Party (United States)]] in a single national election since 1964.[^6] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Martin McLeod, the county's namesake, was a Canadian-born fur trader and a territorial representative from 1849 to 1856.[^2] ### What - The county forms the Hutchinson, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area and is part of the Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN–WI Combined Statistical Area.[^1] ### When - The Minnesota Territorial Legislature created the county on March 1, 1856.[^2] - Martin McLeod founded the Glencoe townsite on June 11, 1855.[^2] ### Where - The county seat is Glencoe.[^1] ### How much - The county's total area is 506 square miles, of which 14 square miles are water.[^3] ### How many - The 2020 census population was 36,771, and the 2000 census population was 34,898.[^4] - In 2020, the county had 15,004 households and 15,820 housing units.[^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *McLeod County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25) — population at the 2020 census, county seat, micropolitan and combined statistical area membership. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *McLeod County, Minnesota*, History section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — creation on March 1, 1856; naming for Martin McLeod; the Dickson expedition and the McLeod diary; the Glencoe townsite; Czech settlement; and events of the Dakota War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *McLeod County, Minnesota*, Geography section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — area, water share, terrain, highest point, soils, rivers, adjacent counties and highways. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *McLeod County, Minnesota*, Demographics section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 and 2000 census population, age, racial composition, urban and rural split, households and housing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *McLeod County, Minnesota*, Communities section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — list of cities, unincorporated communities and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *McLeod County, Minnesota*, Politics section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — traditional Republican voting and the single Democratic national-election result since 1964, as of 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_County,_Minnesota