# Morrison County, Minnesota *County in central Minnesota, U.S.* Morrison County is a county in central [[Minnesota]] with its seat at Little Falls. The 2020 census counted 34,010 residents.[^1] The Camp Ripley Military Reservation covers a large part of the county's north-central area.[^1] The county was formed on February 25, 1856, from a portion of the northern section of Benton County.[^2] Before European settlement, Dakotah and Ojibwe people lived around the [[Mississippi River]] in this part of the state. From the 17th through the 19th century, French and English fur traders and voyageurs used the river for transport and trade.[^3] The county takes its name from William and Allan Morrison, brothers in the fur trade.[^3] Its presidential vote has leaned Republican since 1984, and it has backed Republicans in every federal election of the 21st century.[^4] ## History Dakotah and Ojibwe people made their home along the Mississippi in this part of central Minnesota. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, French and English fur traders and voyageurs passed through, moving goods on the river and trading with its Native inhabitants.[^3] The source gives the Morrison brothers' names as William and Allan in one passage and as William and Allen in another.[^3] Three 19th-century expeditions followed the river through what became Morrison County. [[Zebulon Pike]] passed through in 1805. Lewis Cass, then governor of Michigan Territory, led an expedition in 1820. Joseph Nicollet came in 1836; an explorer and scientist, he drew the first accurate map of the river corridor there.[^5] Some of the earliest European settlers were missionaries. In 1838 a Methodist group lived for a time beside the Little Elk River.[^6] In 1849 the Reverend Frederic Ayer and Elisabeth (Taylor) Ayer came to the Belle Prairie area, where they opened a mission and a school for the Ojibwe.[^6] Father Francis Xavier Pierz arrived in 1852. He started a number of central Minnesota communities, including Sobieski and Rich Prairie, later renamed Pierz, both in Morrison County.[^6] The U.S. legislature established the Wisconsin Territory effective July 3, 1836. That territory lasted until 1848, when its eastern part was admitted as the state of Wisconsin. The [[Minnesota Territory]] followed, effective March 3, 1849, and in October of that year its newly organized legislature created nine counties.[^2] Benton County was one of the nine. On February 25, 1856, part of its northern section was split off to form Morrison County, and Little Falls was designated the county seat.[^2] ## Geography Within the county, the Mississippi runs south through the west-central portion. The Platte River runs south-southwest across the middle of the county. It enters the Mississippi at the point where both rivers leave the county along the Stearns County line.[^7] The Little Elk River has its source in the county and runs east to the Mississippi just above Little Falls; it takes in the South Branch of the Little Elk at Randall. The Nokasippi River enters the Mississippi just above Camp Ripley.[^7] The Skunk River begins in the county's northeast and runs west-southwest to meet the Platte southeast of Little Falls.[^7] The land is low and rolling, partly wooded and cut by drainages and gullies, and all available area is in agricultural use. It slopes generally to the south, and from both the east and west borders toward the river valley.[^8] The highest point is on the Camp Ripley Military Reservation, 1,521 feet (464 m) above sea level. It lies 2.4 miles east and 1.4 miles north of the east end of Lake Alexander.[^8] The county covers 1,153 square miles (2,990 km²). Of that, 1,125 square miles are land and 28 square miles (2.5%) are water.[^8] U.S. Highway 10 and Minnesota State Highways 25, 27, 28, 115, 238 and 371 serve the county. Little Falls/Morrison County Airport (LXL) lies southeast of Little Falls.[^9] Neighboring counties are Cass (north), Crow Wing (northeast), Mille Lacs (east), Benton (southeast), Stearns (south) and Todd (west).[^9] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 34,010 people, with a median age of 42.2 years. Residents under 18 made up 23.6% of the population, and those 65 or older made up 20.4%. There were 103.0 males for every 100 females.[^10] By race, the census reported 94.8% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% some other race, and 3.2% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 1.9% of the population.[^10] In 2020, 72.3% of residents lived in rural areas and 27.7% in urban areas.[^11] Of the 13,688 households, 28.1% had children under 18 and 52.2% were married-couple households.[^11] Of the 16,074 housing units, 14.8% stood vacant. Among occupied units, 78.1% were owner-occupied and 21.9% renter-occupied.[^11] The 2000 census had counted 31,712 people in 11,816 households and 8,460 families, a density of 28.2 people per square mile.[^12] ## Communities The source lists 16 cities. These are Bowlus, Buckman, Elmdale, Flensburg, Genola, Harding, Hillman, Lastrup, Little Falls (the county seat), Motley (part), Pierz, Randall, Royalton (part), Sobieski, Swanville (part) and Upsala.[^13] The unincorporated communities are Belle Prairie, Center Valley, Cushing, Darling, Freedhem, Gregory, Lincoln, Little Rock, Morrill, North Prairie, Platte, Ramey, Shamineau Park, Sullivan and Vawter.[^13] The source also lists 31 townships, one of which, Rail Prairie Township, is noted as defunct.[^13] ## Politics In earlier decades the county's voters were split fairly evenly. From 1984 onward the county has moved toward the Republican Party, choosing the Democratic presidential nominee only twice in that span.[^4] Every 21st-century federal election has gone Republican in the county, by a wider Republican margin each time.[^4] ## Education The county is served by the following school districts: Brainerd, Foley, Holdingford, Little Falls, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Melrose, Milaca, Onamia, Pierz, Pillager, Royalton, Staples-Motley, Swanville and Upsala.[^14] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - The county bears the name of the fur-trading brothers William and Allan (also spelled Allen) Morrison.[^3] - Father Francis Xavier Pierz began founding communities in the area in 1852.[^6] ### What - Morrison County is a Minnesota county with its seat at Little Falls.[^1] ### When - The Minnesota Territory took effect March 3, 1849, and its legislature created nine counties in October 1849.[^2] - Morrison County was created from part of Benton County on February 25, 1856.[^2] ### Where - The county borders Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Benton, Stearns and Todd counties.[^9] - It covers 1,153 square miles, of which 28 square miles are water.[^8] ### How many - Population: 34,010 at the 2020 census and 31,712 at the 2000 census.[^10][^12] - Places: 16 cities and 31 listed townships, one of them defunct.[^13] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead: 2020 population, county seat, Camp Ripley Military Reservation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — History: Wisconsin and Minnesota territories, nine original counties, and the February 25, 1856 partition of Benton County. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — History: Dakotah and Ojibwe inhabitants, fur traders and voyageurs, and the county's naming (both spellings, Allan and Allen). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Politics: voting pattern since 1984 and in the 21st century. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — History: Pike (1805), Cass (1820) and Nicollet (1836) expeditions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — History: Methodist missionaries (1838), the Ayers at Belle Prairie (1849), and Father Pierz (1852). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Geography: Mississippi, Platte, Little Elk, Nokasippi and Skunk rivers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Geography: terrain, highest point and area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Geography: major highways, airport and adjacent counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Demographics: 2020 census population, age, sex ratio and racial composition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^11]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Demographics: 2020 urban/rural share, households and housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^12]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Demographics: 2000 census population, households, families and density. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^13]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Communities: cities, unincorporated communities and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota [^14]: Wikipedia, *Morrison County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407386, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Education: school districts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_County,_Minnesota