# Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota *County in southwestern Minnesota, United States* Yellow Medicine County lies in southwestern [[Minnesota]], with the [[Minnesota River]] forming its eastern boundary and the state of South Dakota on its west. Granite Falls is the county seat. The 2020 census counted 9,528 residents.[^1] The whole of the [[Upper Sioux Indian Reservation]] lies inside the county and is associated with the historical Yellow Medicine Agency once located there. The county's Wikipedia article states that the reservation was established under the 1851 [[Treaty of Traverse des Sioux]], by which the Dakota ceded much of the surrounding territory to the United States.[^1] ## History The [[Minnesota Legislature]] created the county on March 6, 1871, and named Granite Falls its seat. The county takes its name from the [[Yellow Medicine River]], which crosses the county's eastern portion before joining the Minnesota River. The river is named for the moonseed plant, *Menispermum canadense*; the [[Dakota people]] used its yellow root as medicine.[^1] In 1878 a petition proposed a new county to be formed from the western parts of Yellow Medicine, Lincoln and Lac qui Parle counties. The Legislature approved it on condition of local voter approval, and Governor Pillsbury signed the act on February 27, 1879. The voters of the three counties did not return a combined majority in favor, so the proposed Canby County was never formed.[^1] ## Geography The county sits on Minnesota's western edge, sharing its west border with South Dakota. Along its northeast side the Minnesota River runs east-southeast toward the [[Mississippi River]]. The Yellow Medicine River runs northeast across the eastern part of the county and enters the Minnesota at about the midpoint of the eastern border. Stony Run Creek runs east through the northeast, while Florida Creek and the [[Lac qui Parle River]] both run northeast, through the west end and the west-central part of the county respectively.[^1] The land is rolling, cut by drainages, and given over to agriculture. It falls toward the east and slightly to the north; the highest elevation, 1,732 feet (528 m) above sea level, is on the west border near the southwest corner. The county covers 763 square miles (1,980 km²): 759 square miles of land and 4.1 square miles (0.5%) of water.[^1] Lakes in the county include Burton, Culver (in part), Curtis, Highbank, Kvistid, Louie, Lone Tree, Miedd, Miller, Mud, Spellman, Timm, Tyson and Wood lakes. Major routes are U.S. Highways 59, 75 and 212 and [[Minnesota State Highway 23]], [[Minnesota State Highway 67]], [[Minnesota State Highway 68]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 167]]; [[Minnesota State Highway 274]] was decommissioned in 2022.[^1] Neighboring counties are Lac qui Parle (north), Chippewa (northeast), Renville (east), Redwood (southeast), Lyon (south), Lincoln (southwest) and Deuel County, South Dakota (west).[^1] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 9,528 residents with a median age of 42.9. Residents under 18 made up 22.9% of the population and those 65 or older 21.3%. By race, 89.5% were White, 3.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.1% some other race, and 4.5% two or more races; 4.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The census classified all but a fraction of a percent of residents as rural.[^1] In 2020 the county had 4,040 households and 4,513 housing units, 10.5% of them vacant; owners occupied 80.7% of occupied units and renters 19.3%.[^1] The 2000 census had counted 11,080 people in 4,439 households and 2,974 families, at 14.6 persons per square mile, with 4,873 housing units. The 2020 count was 1,552 residents fewer than in 2000.[^1] ## Communities Cities in the county are Canby, Clarkfield, Echo, Granite Falls (the seat, which extends partly into Chippewa County), Hanley Falls, Hazel Run, Porter, St. Leo and Wood Lake. Unincorporated communities are Burr (first called Stanley), Lorne, Normania and Spring Creek.[^1] The county has twenty-one townships: Burton, Echo, Florida, Fortier, Friendship, Hammer, Hazel Run, Lisbon, Minnesota Falls, Norman, Normania, Omro, Oshkosh, Posen, Sandnes, Sioux Agency, Stony Run, Swede Prairie, Tyro, Wergeland and Wood Lake.[^1] ## Government and politics Wikipedia describes the county as a swing county in recent national elections. From 1980 through 2020 it backed the [[Republican Party (United States)]] candidate in 56% of national elections. Barack Obama carried a majority there in 2008; later cycles have moved the county toward Republican candidates.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota* (revision 1376906531, retrieved 2026-10-25) — location, reservation and treaty statement, 1871 establishment, name origin, 1878–1879 Canby County proposal, geography, highways, 2020 and 2000 census figures, communities, and election history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Medicine_County,_Minnesota