| Goodhue County, Minnesota | |
Location in the state of Minnesota |
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Minnesota's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | March 5, |
|---|---|
| Named for | James Madison Goodhue, the first printer-editor in Minnesota |
| Seat | Red Wing |
| Largest city | Red Wing |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
780.44 sq mi (2,021 km²) 758.27 sq mi (1,964 km²) 22.17 sq mi (57 km²), 2.84% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
46,183 58/sq mi (22/km²) |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www.co.goodhue.mn.us |
Goodhue County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 46,183.[1] Its county seat is Red Wing[2]. Nearly all of Prairie Island Indian Community is within the county.
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The county was formed from territory within Wabasha County on March 5, 1853. County boundaries were defined in 1854 and further refined again in 1855.
Hamline University, Minnesota's first college of higher learning, was originally located in Red Wing, Minnesota. It opened its doors in 1854 but closed during the Civil War due to low enrollment. Hamline University re-opened in Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1869.
The county was a leading producer of wheat during the mid-nineteenth century and for several years the county boasted the highest wheat production in the country, sending wheat through numerous mills in Red Wing and then transporting the grain along the Mississippi River.
The confluence of fires at two of Red Wing's mills in the 1880s and developing railroad routes across Minnesota incited farmers from neighboring counties to begin sending their wheat to Minneapolis mills, reducing the county's importance in the wheat trade by the turn of the century.
The first municipal swimming pool in the state was built in the county.
In October 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited the county for a bridge dedication ceremony. The Hiawatha Bridge had been built to replace the Old High Bridge that spanned the Mississippi River since 1895. This visit drew 20,000 people. Eisenhower hoped that his visit would help in the elections, swaying Minnesota voters to vote for Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential election in the coming month. The visit wasn't enough, however, as John F. Kennedy carried the state on his way to being elected the next president.
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 780.44 square miles (2,021.3 km2), of which 758.27 square miles (1,963.9 km2) (or 97.16%) is land and 22.17 square miles (57.4 km2) (or 2.84%) is water.[3]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 8,977 |
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| 1870 | 22,018 | 145.3% | |
| 1880 | 29,651 | 34.7% | |
| 1890 | 28,806 | −2.8% | |
| 1900 | 31,137 | 8.1% | |
| 1910 | 31,637 | 1.6% | |
| 1920 | 30,799 | −2.6% | |
| 1930 | 31,317 | 1.7% | |
| 1940 | 31,564 | 0.8% | |
| 1950 | 32,118 | 1.8% | |
| 1960 | 33,035 | 2.9% | |
| 1970 | 34,804 | 5.4% | |
| 1980 | 38,749 | 11.3% | |
| 1990 | 40,690 | 5.0% | |
| 2000 | 44,127 | 8.4% | |
| 2010 | 46,183 | 4.7% | |
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As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 44,127 people, 16,983 households, and 11,905 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 17,879 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.57% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.1% were of German, 22.0% Norwegian, 7.9% Swedish and 6.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 16,983 households out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% 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 3.04.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,972, and the median income for a family was $55,689. Males had a median income of $36,282 versus $25,442 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,934. About 3.70% of families and 5.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.20% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
| Cities | Townships | Unincorporated | Ghost Town | |
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† Most of these cities are in Goodhue County, but a part extends into Wabasha County.
‡ Fragments of Dennison extend into Rice County, and Pine Island into Olmsted County.
| Dakota County | Pierce County, Wisconsin and Pepin County, Wisconsin | |||
| Rice County | Wabasha County | |||
| Goodhue County, Minnesota | ||||
| Dodge County | Wabasha County and Olmsted County |
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