Kandiyohi County, Minnesota

History

Kandiyohi County is named after a Dakota word meaning "where the buffalo fish come" (kandi’ - the buffalo fish + oh-hi’-yu - v. of hiyu - to come through). Kandiyohi County was organized in 1858 with its county seat in Kandiyohi, which was then called Kandiyohi Station and was just a railroad stop. The original county occupied only the southern half of its current area. Development was slow, and in 1870 the state legislature called for Monongalia County to merge with Kandiyohi and make one larger county. It took until 21 November 1871 to agree on the centrally-located Willmar as the county seat.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 862 square miles (2,230 km²), of which 797 square miles (2,060 km²) are land and 66 square miles (170 km²) (7.6%) are covered by water. Kandiyohi County is one of seven southern Minnesota counties that have no forest soils; only prairie ecosystems of savannas and prairies exist.

Lakes

Adjacent counties

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 41,203 people, 15,936 households, and 10,979 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 18,415 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.62% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. 8.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.4% were of German, 25.8% Norwegian, 9.9% Swedish and 5.6% Dutch ancestry.

There were 15,936 households, out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.80% 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 3.05.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,772, and the median income for a family was $48,016. Males had a median income of $32,272 versus $22,128 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,627. About 5.90% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.10% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Unincorporated communities