# Sherburne County, Minnesota *County in Central Minnesota, seat at Elk River* Sherburne County lies in [[Central Minnesota]], and its seat is Elk River.[^1] The 2020 census counted 97,183 residents.[^1] The county forms part of the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area, which takes its name from [[Minneapolis]] and its neighboring cities.[^1] The county was created in 1856 from the southern portion of Benton County. It took its name from [[Moses Sherburne]], an attorney who served as an associate justice of the territorial Supreme Court. Its boundaries have not been altered since its creation.[^2] In national elections the county has historically favored candidates of the [[Republican Party (United States)]]. As of 2024 it had voted for the Republican nominee in 80% of national elections held since 1980.[^3] ## History A federal act organized the [[Wisconsin Territory]] with effect from July 3, 1836. The territory lasted until 1848, when its eastern part entered the Union as the state of Wisconsin.[^2] The [[Minnesota Territory]] followed, effective March 3, 1849. In October 1849 its newly organized territorial legislature established nine counties, and Benton was among them.[^2] On February 25, 1856, the southern section of Benton County was split off as a new county. It was named for Moses Sherburne (1808–1868), an area attorney who sat as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Minnesota Territory from 1853 to 1857. He later retired to the county and lived his last year in Orono.[^2] Humboldt, a village in what is now Big Lake Township, was first settled in 1848. It was named county seat when the creation of the county was announced in 1856.[^2] Settlement of the present Elk River area also began in 1848, and two neighboring villages developed there: Orono, platted in 1855, and Elk River Village, platted in 1865.[^2] By 1867 the growth of the two villages led to a county vote that moved the seat from Humboldt to Elk River. The vote designated the site "The Lower Town" to set it apart from Orono, and Humboldt took the name Big Lake that same year.[^2] Orono and Elk River Village combined under the name Elk River in 1881.[^2] ## Geography The [[Mississippi River]] runs southeast along the county's southern edge. The [[Rum River]] crosses the upper eastern part of the county in the same direction.[^4] The [[Elk River (Minnesota)]] begins in neighboring Benton County and runs south-southeast across the western and southern parts of Sherburne County. It joins the Mississippi at the city of Elk River.[^4] The Saint Francis River also rises in Benton County. It runs south through the center of the county and empties into the Elk a short distance north of Big Lake.[^4] The landscape is made up of low, rolling, partly wooded hills, dotted with many lakes, ponds and depressions, and the land falls toward the south and east.[^4] Glacial deposits left the soil rich in sand and gravel, so the county is less suited to farming than much of [[Minnesota]].[^4] The highest ground lies 3 miles (4.8 km) east-southeast of [[St. Cloud]], at 1,110 feet (340 m) above sea level.[^4] Of the county's 451 square miles (1,170 km²) of total area, 433 square miles is land and 18 square miles (4.0%) is water.[^4] ### Highways and airports U.S. Highways 10 and 169 cross the county. So do [[Minnesota State Highway 24]], [[Minnesota State Highway 25]], [[Minnesota State Highway 101]] and Minnesota State Highway 301.[^4] Leaders Clear Lake Airport (8Y6) is one mile east of Clear Lake. [[Princeton Municipal Airport (Minnesota)]] (PNM) sits at the southwest edge of Princeton, on the line between Mille Lacs and Sherburne counties. [[St. Cloud Regional Airport]] (STC) is two miles east of Saint Cloud.[^4] ### Adjacent counties The county borders Mille Lacs County on the north and Isanti County on the northeast. Anoka County lies to the east and Hennepin County to the southeast. Wright County lies to the southwest, Stearns County to the west and Benton County to the northwest.[^4] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 97,183 residents, with a median age of 36.9 years. Of these residents, 26.4% were younger than 18 and 12.3% were 65 or older.[^5] The census counted 105.4 males for every 100 females, and the same ratio among adults aged 18 and over.[^5] The census race categories recorded 88.0% of residents as White, 3.8% as Black or African American, 0.5% as American Indian and Alaska Native, and 1.3% as Asian. Under 0.1% were recorded as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.2% as some other race and 5.2% as two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 2.9%.[^5] Urban areas held 49.1% of residents and rural areas held 50.9%.[^5] The county had 34,035 households, and 37.4% of them had children under 18. Married couples made up 59.5% of households. In 15.0% of households the householder was male with no spouse or partner present, and in 17.3% the householder was female with no spouse or partner present.[^5] About 19.5% of households consisted of individuals, and 7.9% had someone aged 65 or older living alone.[^5] Of 35,909 housing units, 5.2% stood vacant. Owners occupied 82.9% of occupied units and renters 17.1%. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.3%.[^5] The 2000 census counted 64,417 people in 21,581 households and 16,746 families. That count gave a density of 148 people per square mile. There were 22,827 housing units, or 52.7 per square mile.[^5] ## Communities The cities in the county are Baldwin, Becker, Big Lake, Clear Lake, Elk River (the county seat) and Zimmerman, together with parts of Princeton and St. Cloud.[^6] The unincorporated communities are Bailey, Briggs Lake, Cable, Orrock, Salida and Santiago.[^6] The nine townships are Becker, Big Lake, Blue Hill, Clear Lake, Haven, Livonia, Orrock, Palmer and Santiago.[^6] ## Politics The county has historically leaned Republican. As of 2024, the Republican candidate had carried it in 80% of national elections since 1980.[^3] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - The county is named for Moses Sherburne (1808–1868), an attorney and an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Minnesota Territory from 1853 to 1857.[^2] ### What - The county lies in Central Minnesota and is part of the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.[^1] - The 2020 census population was 97,183.[^1] ### When - February 25, 1856: the southern section of Benton County was partitioned off to form the county.[^2] - 1867: a county vote moved the seat from Humboldt to Elk River, and Humboldt was renamed Big Lake.[^2] - 1881: Orono and Elk River Village merged under the name Elk River.[^2] ### Where - The county seat is Elk River. The county's total area is 451 square miles, of which 18 square miles is water.[^1][^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Sherburne County, Minnesota*, lead section (revision 1375334479, retrieved 2026-10-25) — location, 2020 population, county seat and metropolitan statistical area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherburne_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Sherburne County, Minnesota*, History section (revision 1375334479, retrieved 2026-10-25) — territorial organization, 1856 partition from Benton County, namesake, 1867 county seat vote and renaming, 1881 merger, and unchanged boundaries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherburne_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Sherburne County, Minnesota*, Politics section (revision 1375334479, retrieved 2026-10-25) — traditional Republican voting and the 80% figure since 1980, as of 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherburne_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Sherburne County, Minnesota*, Geography section (revision 1375334479, retrieved 2026-10-25) — rivers, terrain, highest point, area, highways, airports and adjacent counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherburne_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Sherburne County, Minnesota*, Demographics section (revision 1375334479, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 and 2000 census population, age, sex ratio, race categories, households and housing figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherburne_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Sherburne County, Minnesota*, Communities section (revision 1375334479, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated communities and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherburne_County,_Minnesota