# Todd County, Minnesota *County in central Minnesota, United States* Todd County lies in central [[Minnesota]]. The 2020 census counted 25,262 residents, and Long Prairie is the county seat.[^1] The [[Minnesota Territorial Legislature]] created the county on February 20, 1855, but its government was not organized until January 1, 1867. The name honors John Blair Smith Todd, who represented Dakota Territory as a delegate to the [[United States House of Representatives]] and served as a Union Army general in the American Civil War.[^1] Since 1960 the county has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in 76% of national elections, as of 2024.[^1] ## History Territorial lawmakers established the county on February 20, 1855. Its government began operating nearly twelve years later, on January 1, 1867, with Long Prairie designated as the seat.[^1] Todd, the county's namesake, was Dakota Territory's delegate to the U.S. House and a Union general during the Civil War.[^1] In 1976 the Todd County Bicentennial Commission produced a 316-page spiral-bound county history. It covers the county's villages and townships as well as post offices that no longer exist.[^1] ## Geography The [[Crow Wing River]] runs southeast along the county's northeastern edge. Through the middle of the county, the [[Long Prairie River]] flows east-northeast before joining the Crow Wing at the northeastern boundary. The Wing River, located northwest of the Long Prairie, is another Crow Wing tributary.[^1] The landscape is one of rolling hills with lakes and drainage channels, and land use is agricultural. Elevation falls toward the east and south; the highest point, 1,483 ft (452 m) above sea level, is on the western boundary.[^1] Of the county's 980 square miles (2,500 km²) of total area, 945 square miles (2,450 km²) are land and 35 square miles (91 km²), or 3.5%, are water.[^1] ### Major highways Routes serving the county include [[Interstate 94]]; U.S. Highways 10, 52 and 71; and [[Minnesota State Highway 27]], [[Minnesota State Highway 28]], [[Minnesota State Highway 210]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 287]].[^1] ### Adjacent counties Neighboring counties are Wadena (north), Cass (northeast), Morrison (east), Stearns (south), Douglas (west) and Otter Tail (northwest).[^1] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 count recorded 25,262 people with a median age of 41.5. Children under 18 made up 25.3% of the population, and residents aged 65 or older made up 20.5%. There were 105.5 males per 100 females overall and 104.6 males per 100 females among adults 18 and over.[^1] By race, 88.7% of residents were White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian and 0.3% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander; 5.2% reported some other race and 4.6% two or more races. Residents of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race, accounted for 8.7%.[^1] Nearly all residents, 99.4%, lived in rural areas, against 0.6% in urban areas.[^1] The census counted 9,898 households. Children under 18 lived in 28.2% of them; 53.8% were married couples; 19.9% were headed by a man and 19.0% by a woman with no spouse or partner present. Single individuals made up about 27.5% of households, and 13.2% consisted of a person 65 or older living alone.[^1] Of 12,770 housing units, 22.5% stood vacant. Owners occupied 80.5% of occupied units and renters 19.5%; vacancy rates were 1.3% for owner housing and 7.6% for rentals.[^1] ### 2000 census The 2000 census recorded 24,426 people in 9,342 households and 6,511 families, for a density of 25.8 people per square mile (10.0/km²). Housing units numbered 11,900, or 12.6 per square mile. Residents were 97.54% White and 0.11% Black or African American.[^1] ## Communities ### Cities The county's cities are Bertha, Browerville, Burtrum, Clarissa, Eagle Bend, Grey Eagle, Hewitt, Long Prairie (the county seat), Osakis (partly in Douglas County), Staples (partly in Wadena County) and West Union.[^1] ### Unincorporated communities Philbrook, Pillsbury and Ward Springs are unincorporated communities.[^1] ### Townships The townships are Bartlett, Bertha, Birchdale, Bruce, Burleene, Burnhamville, Eagle Valley, Fawn Lake, Germania, Gordon, Grey Eagle, Hartford, Iona, Kandota, Leslie, Little Elk, Little Sauk, Long Prairie, Moran, Reynolds, Round Prairie, Staples, Stowe Prairie, Turtle Creek, Villard, Ward, West Union and Wykeham.[^1] ## Government and politics In national elections since 1960, county voters have backed the [[Republican Party (United States)]] candidate 76% of the time, as of 2024. Donald Trump's second-highest county result in Minnesota came from Todd County in each of the 2016, 2020 and 2024 elections, each time trailing only neighboring Morrison County.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Todd County, Minnesota* (retrieved 2026-10-25, revision 1375331414), CC BY-SA 4.0 — county creation and naming, geography, highways, adjacent counties, 2000 and 2020 census figures, communities and electoral summary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Todd_County,_Minnesota