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Olmsted County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 43°59′59″N 92°24′37″W / 43.999688°N 92.410155°W / 43.999688; -92.410155
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Olmsted County, Minnesota
County
Olmsted County Government Center (pre-expansion)
Olmsted County Government Center (pre-expansion)
Map of Minnesota highlighting Olmsted County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Coordinates: 43°59′59″N 92°24′37″W / 43.999688°N 92.410155°W / 43.999688; -92.410155
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1855 (created)
August 27, 1855 (organized)
Named afterDavid Olmsted
SeatRochester
Largest cityRochester
Area
 • Total
654.754 sq mi (1,695.81 km2)
 • Land653.509 sq mi (1,692.58 km2)
 • Water1.245 sq mi (3.22 km2)  0.19%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
162,847
 • Estimate 
(2024)
166,424 Increase
 • Density249.189/sq mi (96.2123/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code507 and 924
Congressional district1st
Websiteolmstedcounty.gov

Olmsted County is a county located in the in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population is 162,847,[1] and was estimated to be 166,424 in 2024,[2] making it the seventh-most populous county in Minnesota. The county seat and the largest city is Rochester.[3]

Olmsted County is part of the Rochester metropolitan area.

History

[edit]

The Wisconsin Territory was established by the federal government effective July 3, 1836, and existed until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as Wisconsin) in 1848. Therefore, the federal government set up the Minnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. One of those original counties, Wabasha, had portions partitioned off in 1853 to create Fillmore and Rice counties. Then on February 20, 1855,[4] portions of Rice, Wabasha, and Fillmore counties were partitioned off to create the present county, with Rochester (which was also platted that year) as county seat. The county name recognized David Olmsted (1822-1861),[5] a member of the first territorial council and the fourth mayor of St. Paul.[6][7]

The county boundaries have remained unchanged since 1855.

Geography

[edit]

Olmsted County is a fairly unusual mix of urban and rural areas in that there's no transition or buffer between the two environments. Rochester, Minnesota's third-largest city with roughly 123,000 people, sits in the Zumbro River valley at the center of the county. Outside the valley, with the exception of a small amount of urban growth in the last few years, is farmland with small agricultural communities and no directly adjacent suburbs. Stewartville, the county's second-largest city, has about 6,000 people.

Olmsted County is drained by three rivers, all flowing to the Mississippi. The Zumbro flows northward through the west central part of the county, into Wabasha County. The Whitewater flows northeast from the northeast part of the county into Winona County, and the Root flows east-southeastward through the lower part of the county into Fillmore County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched by drainage gullies and marked by occasional buttes. The available area is devoted to agriculture or developed for other uses.[8] The terrain slopes to the east and north,[9] and its highest point is a hill 7.5 miles (12.1 km) west of Stewartville, at 1,380 ft (420 m) ASL.[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 654.754 square miles (1,695.81 km2), of which 653.509 square miles (1,692.58 km2) is land and 1.245 square miles (3.22 km2) (0.19%) is water.[11] It is the 46th largest county in Minnesota by total area.[12]

Soils of Olmsted County[13]

It is one of four Minnesota counties that have no natural lakes (the other three are Mower, Pipestone, and Rock).

Transit

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Major highways

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Airports

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Source:[8]

  • Chester Woods Park
  • High Forest Wildlife Management Area
  • Keller Wildlife Management Area
  • Marian Marshall Wildlife Management Area
  • Nelson Fen Wildlife Management Area
  • Oronoco Scientific and Natural Area
  • Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo
  • Root River Park
  • Schumann State Wildlife Management Area
  • Suess State Wildlife Management Area
  • Whitewater Wildlife Management Area (part)

Lakes

[edit]

Olmsted County has no natural lakes, but does have six reservoirs created by dams:

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18609,524—
187019,793107.8%
188021,5438.8%
189019,806−8.1%
190023,11916.7%
191022,497−2.7%
192028,01424.5%
193035,42626.5%
194042,65820.4%
195048,22813.1%
196065,53235.9%
197084,10428.3%
198092,0069.4%
1990106,47015.7%
2000124,27716.7%
2010144,24816.1%
2020162,84712.9%
2024 (est.)166,424[14]2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18] 2010–2020[2]

As of the second quarter of 2025, the median home value in Olmsted County was $380,616.[19]

According to realtor website Zillow, the average price of a home as of November 30, 2025, in Olmsted County is $337,521.[20]

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 67,723 estimated households in Olmsted County with an average of 2.41 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $92,942. Approximately 5.9% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Olmsted County has an estimated 69.6% employment rate, with 51.6% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 95.7% holding a high school diploma.[2] There were 73,143 housing units at an average density of 111.92 per square mile (43.2/km2).

The top five reported languages (people were allowed to report up to two languages, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (88.5%), Spanish (3.1%), Indo-European (2.6%), Asian and Pacific Islander (3.5%), and Other (2.3%).

The median age in the county was 38.2 years.

Olmsted County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 1980[21] Pop. 1990[22] Pop. 2000[23] Pop. 2010[24] Pop. 2020[25]
White alone (NH) 89,806
(97.61%)		 101,255
(95.10%)		 110,598
(88.99%)		 120,348
(83.43%)		 124,758
(76.61%)
Black or African American alone (NH) 404
(0.44%)		 767
(0.72%)		 3,293
(2.65%)		 6,751
(4.68%)		 10,959
(6.73%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 130
(0.14%)		 280
(0.26%)		 286
(0.23%)		 297
(0.21%)		 380
(0.23%)
Asian alone (NH) 983
(1.07%)		 3,157
(2.97%)		 5,270
(4.24%)		 7,771
(5.39%)		 10,190
(6.26%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 39
(0.03%)		 57
(0.04%)		 66
(0.04%)
Other race alone (NH) 151
(0.16%)		 41
(0.04%)		 137
(0.11%)		 246
(0.17%)		 548
(0.34%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 1,695
(1.36%)		 2,697
(1.87%)		 6,750
(4.14%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 532
(0.58%)		 970
(0.91%)		 2,959
(2.38%)		 6,081
(4.22%)		 9,196
(5.65%)
Total 92,006
(100.00%)		 106,470
(100.00%)		 124,277
(100.00%)		 144,248
(100.00%)		 162,847
(100.00%)

2024 estimate

[edit]
2022 US Census population pyramid for Olmsted County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the 2024 estimate, there were 166,424 people and 67,723 households residing in the county. The population density was 254.66 inhabitants per square mile (98.3/km2). There were 73,143 housing units at an average density of 111.92 per square mile (43.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.8% White (75.4% NH White), 8.6% African American, 0.5% Native American, 7.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.3% of the population.[26]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 162,847 people, 65,242 households, and 41,262 families residing in the county.[27] The population density was 249.19 inhabitants per square mile (96.2/km2). There were 69,270 housing units at an average density of 106.00 per square mile (40.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.84% White, 6.82% African American, 0.38% Native American, 6.31% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.48% from some other races and 6.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.65% of the population.[28]

2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 144,248 people, 57,084 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was 220.78 inhabitants per square mile (85.2/km2). There were 60,501 housing units at an average density of 92.60 per square mile (35.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.70% White, 4.76% African American, 0.24% Native American, 5.41% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from some other races and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.22% of the population.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census, there were 124,277 people, 47,807 households, and 32,317 families residing in the county. The population density was 190.0 inhabitants per square mile (73.4/km2). There were 49,422 housing units at an average density of 75.7 per square mile (29.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.33% White, 2.68% African American, 0.26% Native American, 4.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from some other races and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.38% of the population.

There were 47,807 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.09.

The county population contained 27.00% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,316, and the median income for a family was $61,610. Males had a median income of $40,196 versus $29,994 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,939. About 3.80% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

[edit]

Olmsted has historically been a Republican-leaning county, but rapid population growth in Rochester has made it more competitive in recent years. In 2020, Joe Biden won it by nearly 11 points, the best performance of any Democratic presidential nominee since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Although it has trended Democratic at the presidential level, Olmsted County continues to lean Republican in state and local races, with split ticket voting becoming more common. Two of the county's three seats in the Minnesota Senate are held by Republicans, as are two of the five seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Since 1970, Olmsted County has voted for the DFL nominee for governor thrice: in 1974, 2018, and 2022. In 2018, then-Representative Tim Walz benefitted from high recognition in the district with a reputation at the time as a moderate. Republican nominee Doug Wardlow concurrently won the greatest number of votes in Olmsted County in the 2018 Minnesota Attorney General election.

US House of Representatives

[edit]
Name Congressional District Assumed office Party
Brad Finstad 1st District 2022 Republican

Minnesota Senate

[edit]
Name District Assumed office Party
Steve Drazkowski District 20 2023 Republican
Carla Nelson District 24 2011 Republican
Liz Boldon District 25 2023 DFL

Minnesota House of Representatives

[edit]
Name District Assumed office Party
Steve Jacob District 20A 2023 Republican
Duane Quam District 24A 2011 Republican
Tina Liebling District 24B 2005 DFL
Kim Hicks District 25A 2023 DFL
Andy Smith District 25B 2023 DFL
United States presidential election results for Olmsted County, Minnesota[29][30]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1892 2,344 50.79% 1,931 41.84% 340 7.37%
1896 3,201 62.83% 1,741 34.17% 153 3.00%
1900 2,818 61.62% 1,597 34.92% 158 3.46%
1904 2,745 68.54% 1,140 28.46% 120 3.00%
1908 2,472 58.03% 1,621 38.05% 167 3.92%
1912 720 18.21% 1,542 39.01% 1,691 42.78%
1916 2,101 49.67% 1,926 45.53% 203 4.80%
1920 7,130 77.12% 1,756 18.99% 359 3.88%
1924 5,722 56.50% 857 8.46% 3,548 35.04%
1928 8,334 63.63% 4,720 36.04% 44 0.34%
1932 5,254 40.81% 7,340 57.01% 280 2.17%
1936 5,316 35.63% 8,958 60.04% 645 4.32%
1940 9,096 51.83% 8,393 47.82% 62 0.35%
1944 8,355 54.70% 6,873 45.00% 46 0.30%
1948 8,131 46.55% 9,155 52.41% 181 1.04%
1952 14,566 67.92% 6,792 31.67% 89 0.41%
1956 13,789 65.62% 7,172 34.13% 51 0.24%
1960 16,080 59.41% 10,918 40.34% 67 0.25%
1964 12,699 43.87% 16,195 55.94% 56 0.19%
1968 17,292 54.31% 13,417 42.14% 1,131 3.55%
1972 23,806 68.96% 9,817 28.44% 898 2.60%
1976 24,030 60.66% 14,676 37.04% 911 2.30%
1980 22,704 55.50% 13,983 34.18% 4,224 10.32%
1984 28,129 62.76% 16,335 36.44% 359 0.80%
1988 27,683 58.28% 19,423 40.89% 398 0.84%
1992 23,404 41.30% 19,039 33.60% 14,219 25.09%
1996 22,860 43.92% 22,857 43.92% 6,327 12.16%
2000 30,641 51.59% 25,822 43.48% 2,929 4.93%
2004 37,371 52.21% 33,285 46.50% 919 1.28%
2008 36,202 47.34% 38,711 50.62% 1,557 2.04%
2012 36,832 47.03% 39,338 50.23% 2,146 2.74%
2016 35,668 44.51% 36,268 45.26% 8,193 10.22%
2020 39,692 43.43% 49,491 54.16% 2,202 2.41%
2024 39,467 43.41% 49,121 54.02% 2,336 2.57%

Education

[edit]

K-12 school districts include:[31]

Communities

[edit]
The Helleckson Homestead, built about 1850, preserved in Olmsted County Oxbow Park (Destroyed in 2019 floods)

Cities

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Olmsted County, Minnesota". www.census.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  4. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  5. ^ "Upham, Warren. Minnesota Geographic Names (1920)". Google Maps. p. 385. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "History of Olmsted County". www.co.olmsted.mn.us. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "Minnesota Government Series, State Counties". Minnesota House of Representatives. Archived from the original on September 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2008.
  8. ^ a b c "Olmsted County, MN". Google Maps. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  9. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Olmsted County MN"". Google Maps. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  10. ^ "Olmsted County High Point". PeakBagger.com. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  11. ^ "2025 County Gazetteer Files – Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Olmsted County, Minnesota". www.census.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  13. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 43 - 48. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  14. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  15. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  17. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  18. ^ "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 January 7, 2014.
  19. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  20. ^ "Olmsted County, MN Housing Market". Zillow. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  21. ^ "Olmsted County, Minnesota — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  22. ^ "1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics Minnesota" (PDF). www.census.gov. October 6, 2022. p. 30. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  23. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Olmsted County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  24. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Olmsted County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  25. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Olmsted County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  26. ^ "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2024". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  27. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  28. ^ "How many people live in Olmsted County, Minnesota". USA Today. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
  29. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  30. ^ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,467 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 112 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 93 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 19 votes.
  31. ^ "2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Olmsted County, MN" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 15, 2025. - Text list
[edit]
Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Olmsted.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Olmsted_County,_Minnesota&oldid=1327628709"