# Meeker County, Minnesota *County in Minnesota, United States* Meeker County lies in the U.S. state of [[Minnesota]]. Litchfield is its county seat, and the 2020 census counted 23,400 residents.[^1] The territorial legislature formed the county on February 23, 1856, from part of Davis County. It took its name from [[Bradley B. Meeker]], a justice of the [[Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court]] from 1849 to 1853. The county seat moved from Forest City to Litchfield after a railroad spur reached Litchfield and a vote was held in 1869, and the county's boundaries have stayed the same since 1858.[^2] ## History The federal government established the Wisconsin Territory effective July 3, 1836. The territory lasted until 1848, when its eastern part became the state of Wisconsin. The [[Minnesota Territory]] took effect on March 3, 1849, and its new territorial legislature organized nine counties that October. Dakota was one of those nine. Cass County was later partitioned from it in 1851, and Nicollet, Pierce and Sibley counties in 1853.[^2] Parts of those counties formed Davis County in 1855. On February 23, 1856, the territorial legislature carved Meeker County out of Davis. The county was named for Bradley B. Meeker (1813–1873). Forest City, settled during the 1850s, was designated county seat in 1856 and was platted under that name in 1857.[^2] Settlement at the future site of Litchfield also began in 1856, under the name Ness. A spur of the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad later reached the area. In the fall of 1869 a vote was taken to relocate the county seat there, and the town was platted that year and renamed Litchfield.[^2] Kandiyohi County was formed from Meeker County's western portion on March 20, 1858. Meeker County's boundaries have not changed since that date.[^2] On August 17, 1862, four young Dakota men killed five homesteaders at Acton, which set off the Dakota War of 1862. At the battle of Acton on September 3, a larger Dakota force ambushed the 75 men of Company B, 9th Minnesota, who withdrew to Hutchinson. Dakota forces attacked Forest City soon afterward.[^2] ## Geography The county's terrain is low, rolling hills with light woodland and many lakes and ponds. The land that is available is used for farming. The ground falls toward the south and east. The highest point is 1,261 ft (384 m) above sea level, just southwest of Lake Hope and 7.9 miles (12.7 km) west-southwest of Litchfield.[^3] The county covers 645 square miles (1,670 km²) in total. Of this, 608 square miles (1,570 km²) are land and 37 square miles (96 km²), or 5.7%, are water.[^3] ### Major highways U.S. Highway 12 crosses the county, along with Minnesota State Highways 4, 7, 15, 22, 24 and 55.[^3] ### Adjacent counties Neighboring counties are Stearns to the north, Wright to the east, McLeod to the southeast, Renville to the southwest and Kandiyohi to the west.[^3] ### Protected areas The county contains the following protected areas: - Acton, Greenleaf, Madsen, Popular and Wieker State Wildlife Management Areas - part of Knapp State Wildlife Management Area - Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area[^3] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 census counted 23,400 people, with a median age of 42.5 years. Residents under 18 made up 23.8% of the population and those 65 or older made up 20.8%. There were 103.6 males per 100 females overall, and 102.9 per 100 among adults.[^4] The census recorded the following racial makeup: | Category | Share | |---|---| | White | 93.4% | | Black or African American | 0.4% | | American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.2% | | Asian | 0.3% | | Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander | under 0.1% | | Some other race | 1.7% | | Two or more races | 4.0% | Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 4.1% of the population.[^4] Rural residents made up 71.9% of the population and urban residents 28.1%.[^4] The census counted 9,263 households: - 27.9% had children under 18. - 55.7% were married couples. - 18.3% were headed by a man with no spouse or partner present. - 19.1% were headed by a woman with no spouse or partner present. - 26.7% were one-person households. - 12.6% had a person aged 65 or older living alone.[^4] Of 10,576 housing units, 12.4% stood vacant. Owners occupied 80.6% of occupied units and renters 19.4%. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate 7.1%.[^4] ### 2000 census The 2000 census recorded 22,644 people, 8,590 households and 6,133 families, a density of 37.2 per square mile. There were 9,821 housing units, an average of 16.2 per square mile. White residents made up 97.35% of the population.[^4] ## Communities ### Cities The county's cities are: - Cedar Mills - Cosmos - Darwin - Dassel - Eden Valley (part) - Grove City - Kingston - Litchfield (county seat) - Watkins[^5] ### Unincorporated communities The unincorporated communities are: - Acton - Beckville - Corvuso - Crow River - Forest City - Greenleaf - Jennie - Lamson - Manannah - Rosendale - Strout[^5] ### Townships Seventeen townships are recorded as of 1888: - Acton - Cedar Mills - Collinwood - Cosmos - Danielson - Darwin - Dassel - Ellsworth - Forest City - Forest Prairie - Greenleaf - Harvey - Kingston - Litchfield - Manannah - Swede Grove - Union Grove[^5] ## Politics Republican candidates have generally carried the county. As of 2020, voters there had backed the [[Republican Party (United States)]] nominee in 78% of national elections held since 1980.[^6] ## Notable people - Magnus Johnson (1871–1936), a farmer from the county, was a United States Senator from 1923 to 1925.[^7] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Meeker County, Minnesota*, lead section (revision 1378407380, retrieved 25 October 2026) — state, county seat, 2020 population. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeker_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Meeker County, Minnesota*, "History" section (revision 1378407380, retrieved 25 October 2026) — territorial and county formation dates, naming, county seats, 1858 partition, 1862 events at Acton and Forest City. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeker_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Meeker County, Minnesota*, "Geography" section (revision 1378407380, retrieved 25 October 2026) — terrain, elevation, area, highways, adjacent counties, protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeker_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Meeker County, Minnesota*, "Demographics" section (revision 1378407380, retrieved 25 October 2026) — 2020 and 2000 census figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeker_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Meeker County, Minnesota*, "Communities" section (revision 1378407380, retrieved 25 October 2026) — cities, unincorporated communities, townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeker_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Meeker County, Minnesota*, "Politics" section (revision 1378407380, retrieved 25 October 2026) — Republican share of national elections since 1980, as of 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeker_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Meeker County, Minnesota*, "Notable people" section (revision 1378407380, retrieved 25 October 2026) — Magnus Johnson's dates and Senate term. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeker_County,_Minnesota