Rice County, Minnesota

This article is about the Minnesota county. For the city with the same name, see Rice, Minnesota.
Rice County, Minnesota
Map of Minnesota highlighting Rice County
Location in the state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded March 5, 1853[1]
Named for Henry Mower Rice[2]
Seat Faribault
Largest city Faribault
Area
 • Total 516 sq mi (1,336 km2)
 • Land 496 sq mi (1,285 km2)
 • Water 20 sq mi (52 km2), 3.9%
Population (Est.)
 • (2013) 65,049
 • Density 129/sq mi (50/km²)
Congressional districts 1st, 2nd
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.rice.mn.us

Rice County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,142.[3] Its county seat is Faribault.[4]

Rice County comprises the Faribault-Northfield, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 516 square miles (1,340 km2), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 20 square miles (52 km2) (3.9%) is water.[5] The Cannon River flows northeastwardly through the county, collecting the Straight River in Faribault. The North Fork of the Zumbro River has its headwaters in the southeastern part of the county.[6] Rice is one of 17 Minnesota savanna counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils.

Native vegetation based on NRCS soils information[7]

Examples of native vegetation in the county: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Townsend_Woods_SNA_New_Wiki_Version.JPG

Lakes

Henry Mower Rice, one of Minnesota's first senators and the namesake of the county

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18607,543—
187016,083113.2%
188022,48139.8%
189023,9686.6%
190026,0808.8%
191025,911−0.6%
192028,3079.2%
193029,9745.9%
194032,1607.3%
195036,23512.7%
196038,9887.6%
197041,5826.7%
198046,08710.8%
199049,1836.7%
200056,66515.2%
201064,14213.2%
Est. 201365,0491.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[3]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 56,665 people, 18,888 households, and 13,353 families residing in the county. The population density was 114 people per square mile (44/km²). There were 20,061 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.59% White, 1.31% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.87% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 5.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.1% were of German, 14.7% Norwegian, 7.2% Irish and 5.3% Czech ancestry.

There were 18,888 households out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 15.80% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,651, and the median income for a family was $56,407. Males had a median income of $36,771 versus $26,151 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,695. About 4.00% of families and 6.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.70% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Communities

Cities

Townships

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  2. ↑ Fedo, Michael (2002). Pocket Guide to Minnesota Place Names. Canada: Minnesota Historical Society Press. p. 127. ISBN 0-87351-424-6.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  6. ↑ Minnesota Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 1994. p. 33. ISBN 0-89933-222-6.
  7. ↑ Nelson,Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 43-48. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.

External links

 Scott County Dakota County
Le Sueur County Goodhue County
   Rice County, Minnesota  
Waseca County Steele County Dodge County

Coordinates: 44°22′N 93°18′W / 44.36°N 93.30°W