# Stevens County, Minnesota *County in the U.S. state of Minnesota* Stevens County lies in the U.S. state of [[Minnesota]]; Morris is its county seat. The 2020 census counted 9,671 residents.[^1] The [[Minnesota Legislature]] established the county by statute in 1862 without organizing it. It takes its name from Isaac Stevens, a railroad surveyor who later became a Union general. County government was not organized until 1872.[^1] In presidential elections the county has voted Republican in a majority of contests since 1980. Its Republican share in 2020 and in 2024 was the highest recorded there since 1952.[^1] ## History A legislative act dated February 20, 1862, created the county. The act did not organize the county or designate a seat of government.[^1] The name was meant to honor Isaac Stevens, who in 1853 had led a railroad survey party across Minnesota and helped draw national attention to the [[Minnesota Territory]]. The territorial legislature had tried to give Stevens's name to a county in 1855, but a clerical error named that county Stearns instead. The 1862 act corrected the mistake.[^1] By 1862 Stevens was serving as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and he died later that year. The county organized its government in 1872 and chose Morris, platted in 1869, as county seat.[^1] Morris is home to the [[University of Minnesota Morris]]. The campus grew in the early 20th century out of the [[Morris Industrial School for Indians]]. That school opened in 1887, and the Roman Catholic Sisters of Mercy first ran it under a federal contract.[^1] A moderate earthquake struck the county in 1975.[^1] ## Geography The [[Pomme de Terre River (Minnesota)|Pomme de Terre River]] runs south through the middle of the county and empties into the [[Minnesota River]]. The landscape is rolling and mainly agricultural, with a general southward slope. The northeast and southwest parts rise from the county's center.[^1] The highest elevation, 1,250 ft (380 m) above sea level, lies on the eastern part of the northern boundary. The county's total area is 575 square miles (1,490 km²): 564 square miles of land and 12 square miles (2.0%) of water.[^1] U.S. Highway 59, [[Minnesota State Highway 9]], [[Minnesota State Highway 28]] and Minnesota State Highway 329 pass through the county. Grant County borders it to the north, Douglas to the northeast, Pope to the east, Swift to the south, Big Stone to the southwest and Traverse to the northwest.[^1] The county's protected areas include the Verlyn Marth Memorial Prairie Scientific and Natural Area and fifteen state wildlife management areas: Alberta Marsh, Boekholt Grove, Bruillet, Cin, Dablow, Dolven, Everglade, Klason, Kline, Mathison, Muddy Creek, Reimers, Robertson, Selk and Thedin.[^1] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 9,671 residents and a median age of 34.7. Of these residents, 23.2% were younger than 18 and 17.5% were 65 or older. The census counted 100.3 males for every 100 females.[^1] By race, 85.3% of residents were White, 0.9% Black or African American, 1.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% Asian, 6.2% some other race and 5.1% two or more races. Residents of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race, were 10.2% of the population.[^1] The 2020 count placed 52.0% of residents in urban areas and 48.0% in rural areas. Children under 18 lived in 29.6% of the county's 3,697 households, and married couples headed 52.3% of households. Of 4,213 housing units, 12.2% were vacant. Owners occupied 67.4% of occupied units and renters 32.6%.[^1] The 2000 census counted 10,053 people, 3,751 households and 2,366 families, with a population density of 17.8 per square mile.[^1] ## Communities The county has five cities: Alberta, Chokio, Donnelly, Hancock and Morris, the county seat. Its sixteen townships are Baker, Darnen, Donnelly, Eldorado, Everglade, Framnas, Hodges, Horton, Moore, Morris, Pepperton, Rendsville, Scott, Stevens, Swan Lake and Synnes.[^1] ## Government and politics For several decades the county has been a swing county in presidential elections. As of 2020, Republican candidates had carried it in 56% of presidential elections since 1980.[^1] In 2016 the county moved sharply toward the Republican candidate, as did several other rural counties in western Minnesota. In 2020 the state as a whole moved strongly toward the Democratic candidate, but Stevens County moved further toward the Republican one. Donald Trump won nearly 60% of the county's vote that year, the highest share for any party there since 1952.[^1] In 2024 Trump's share rose to nearly 63%, once more the strongest Republican presidential result in the county since 1952.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Stevens County, Minnesota* (revision 1375309019, retrieved 2026-10-25) — county creation, naming, organization, geography, demographics, communities and presidential voting record. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevens_County,_Minnesota