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Murray County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 44°01′N 95°46′W / 44.02°N 95.76°W / 44.02; -95.76
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Murray County
County
Murray County Government Center in Slayton, Minnesota
Murray County Government Center in Slayton, Minnesota
Map of Minnesota highlighting Murray County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 44°01′N 95°46′W / 44.02°N 95.76°W / 44.02; -95.76
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMay 23 (created)
June 17, 1872 (organized)
Named forWilliam Pitt Murray
SeatSlayton
Largest citySlayton
Area
 • Total
720 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Land705 sq mi (1,830 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
8,179
 • Estimate 
(2023)
8,049 Decrease
 • Density11.6/sq mi (4.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.murray-countymn.com

Murray County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 8,179 at the 2020 census.[1] Its county seat is Slayton.[2]

History

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In 1853 the Minnesota Territory legislature created Blue Earth County from unorganized Dakota Territory lands. In 1855 the legislature partitioned a portion of western Blue Earth to create Brown County. Then on May 23, 1857, a portion of Brown was partitioned off to create Murray County, although it was not organized at that time. On June 17, 1872, the county government was effected, with Currie, which had been founded that same year, as county seat. The county was named for William Pitt Murray (1825-1910), a prominent civic and political figure in Minnesota during its nascent era.

Also in 1872 the township of Center was platted (so named for its central position in the county). This settlement grew rapidly, and its residents soon began agitating to have the county seat moved there.[3] In 1882 the town was renamed as Slayton, and a county vote changed the county seat to Slayton effective June 1, 1889.[4]

In the history of record keeping, Minnesota has been struck by two F-5 tornadoes, and both occurred in Murray County: the Chandler-Lake Wilson Tornado (June 16, 1992) and the Tracy Tornado (June 13, 1968) that began in Murray County before crossing north into Lyon County.

Geography

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The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds, with all available area devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the south and east. However, its highest elevation occurs on Buffalo Ridge, a promontory extending about two miles along the crest of the Coteau des Prairies in central Chanarambie Township. The bluff rises a few hundred feet above the adjacent valleys.[4] The county has a total area of 720 square miles (1,900 km2), of which 705 square miles (1,830 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (2.1%) is water.[6]

The Mississippi-Missouri watershed divide runs through the western part of the county, near Chandler, along Buffalo Ridge. The county's highest point is on that ridge, at 1,920' ASL.[7]

Soils of Murray County [8]
Soils of Lake Shetek State Park area

Major highways

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Airports

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[5]

Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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[5]

  • Badger Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Bergman State Wildlife Management Area
  • Big Slough State Wildlife Management Area
  • Buffalo Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Chandler State Wildlife Management Area
  • County Line State Wildlife Management Area
  • Current Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Great Oasis State Wildlife Management Area
  • Haberman State Wildlife Management Area
  • Hjermstad Lake State Wildlife Management Area
  • Irruption State Wildlife Management Area
  • Klinker State Wildlife Management Area
  • Lake Shetek State Park
  • Lange State Wildlife Management Area
  • Leeds State Wildlife Management Area
  • Lowville State Wildlife Management Area
  • Mason State Wildlife Management Area
  • McCord-Laible State Wildlife Management Area
  • Nelson State Wildlife Management Area
  • Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
  • Peters State Wildlife Management Area
  • Phelan State Wildlife Management Area
  • Reinhold State Wildlife Management Area
  • Rupp State Wildlife Management Area
  • Ruthton State Wildlife Management Area
  • Schoeberl State Wildlife Management Area
  • Shetek State Wildlife Management Area
  • Sweetman State Wildlife Management Area
  • Tutt State Wildlife Management Area
  • Van Eck State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes

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[5]

  • Bear Lake (drained)
  • Bloody Lake
  • Buffalo Lake
  • Corabelle Lake
  • Current Lake
  • Fox Lake
  • Fulda First Lake
  • Iron Lake
  • Julia Lake (part)
  • Lake Louisa
  • Lake Maria
  • Lake Sarah
  • Lake Shetek
  • Lake Wilson
  • Lime Lake (formerly known as Lizzard Lake and Lake St. Rose)[9]
  • Long Lake (part)
  • North Badger Lake
  • Round Lake
  • Smith Lake
  • South Badger Lake
  • Summit Lake
  • Talcot Lake (part)

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
186029—
1870209620.7%
18803,6041,624.4%
18906,69285.7%
190011,91178.0%
191011,755−1.3%
192013,63116.0%
193013,9022.0%
194015,0608.3%
195014,801−1.7%
196014,743−0.4%
197012,508−15.2%
198011,507−8.0%
19909,660−16.1%
20009,165−5.1%
20108,725−4.8%
20208,179−6.3%
2023 (est.)8,049[10]−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census

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Murray County Racial Composition[15]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 7,483 91.5%
Black or African American (NH) 26 0.32%
Native American (NH) 9 0.11%
Asian (NH) 105 1.3%
Pacific Islander (NH) 3 0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH) 171 2.1%
Hispanic or Latino 382 4.7%

2000 census

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2022 US Census population pyramid for Murray County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,165 people, 3,722 households, and 2,601 families in the county. The population density was 13 per square mile (5.0/km2). There were 4,357 housing units at an average density of 6.18 per square mile (2.39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.34% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 1.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 47.3% were of German, 12.9% Norwegian, 12.5% Dutch and 5.1% Swedish ancestry.

There were 3,722 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 4.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.94.

The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 23.30% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,966, and the median income for a family was $40,893. Males had a median income of $27,101 versus $19,636 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,936. About 6.30% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Government and politics

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The county matched the national outcome every year from 1964 until 2008 except 1988, when during the farm crisis it voted for Michael Dukakis. However, like most other rural heavily white areas of the country, it has swung heavily Republican since 2016. In 67% of presidential elections since 1980, the county selected the Republican Party candidate (as of 2024).

United States presidential election results for Murray County, Minnesota[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 3,346 70.16% 1,329 27.87% 94 1.97%
2020 3,363 68.69% 1,449 29.60% 84 1.72%
2016 2,974 63.71% 1,295 27.74% 399 8.55%
2012 2,504 52.53% 2,160 45.31% 103 2.16%
2008 2,320 48.20% 2,345 48.72% 148 3.08%
2004 2,719 54.40% 2,218 44.38% 61 1.22%
2000 2,407 50.64% 2,093 44.04% 253 5.32%
1996 1,907 39.17% 2,173 44.63% 789 16.20%
1992 1,609 30.87% 1,993 38.23% 1,611 30.90%
1988 2,316 44.44% 2,840 54.49% 56 1.07%
1984 2,780 49.87% 2,741 49.17% 54 0.97%
1980 3,004 48.56% 2,714 43.87% 468 7.57%
1976 2,605 40.71% 3,685 57.59% 109 1.70%
1972 2,959 49.92% 2,893 48.81% 75 1.27%
1968 2,906 49.35% 2,662 45.21% 320 5.43%
1964 2,325 37.79% 3,822 62.13% 5 0.08%
1960 3,357 52.64% 3,009 47.19% 11 0.17%
1956 3,261 54.61% 2,695 45.13% 15 0.25%
1952 4,054 65.15% 2,145 34.47% 24 0.39%
1948 1,951 34.83% 3,594 64.16% 57 1.02%
1944 2,585 50.67% 2,495 48.90% 22 0.43%
1940 3,044 48.46% 3,203 51.00% 34 0.54%
1936 1,601 27.34% 3,926 67.05% 328 5.60%
1932 1,314 28.21% 3,264 70.07% 80 1.72%
1928 2,602 55.26% 2,078 44.13% 29 0.62%
1924 2,034 45.80% 334 7.52% 2,073 46.68%
1920 3,270 79.16% 698 16.90% 163 3.95%
1916 1,137 46.64% 1,193 48.93% 108 4.43%
1912 388 17.18% 775 34.32% 1,095 48.49%
1908 1,293 60.28% 762 35.52% 90 4.20%
1904 1,464 70.86% 537 25.99% 65 3.15%
1900 1,358 60.68% 816 36.46% 64 2.86%
1896 1,204 52.26% 1,054 45.75% 46 2.00%
1892 586 36.90% 517 32.56% 485 30.54%
County Board of Commissioners[17]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner and Chairperson Molly Malone District 1 2024
Commissioner Lori Gunnink District 2 2024
Commissioner Dennis Welgraven District 3 2026
Commissioner Jackie Meier District 4 2027
Commissioner Dave Thiner District 5 2024
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Bill Weber[18] Republican District 22
House of Representatives Joe Schomacker[19] Republican District 22A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Collin Peterson[20] Democrat 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[21] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[22] Democrat N/A

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Early W. Murray Co. MN Hist., pp. 76-77, retrieved August 3, 2007
  4. ^ a b Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names (1920), pp. 364-370 (accessed April 19, 2019)
  5. ^ a b c d Murray County MN Google Maps (accessed April 19, 2019)
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  7. ^ "Buffalo Ridge, Minnesota". Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  8. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 69-70. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  9. ^ Murray County Minnesota - Lime Lake Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved August 3, 2007
  10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  15. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Murray County, Minnesota".
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  17. ^ "Murray County, MN". www.murraycountymn.com. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  18. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  19. ^ "Rep. Joe Schomacker (22A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  20. ^ "Congressman Collin Peterson". Congressman Collin Peterson. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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44°01′N 95°46′W / 44.02°N 95.76°W / 44.02; -95.76

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