The State of Rural Minnesota 2013 is a presentation produced annually by the Center for Rural Policy & Development in St. Peter, MN, showing how population, income, poverty, education, and many other indicators vary across the state.

1. State of Rural
Minnesota
Report
2013

2. Who we are
In 1997, a group of rural Minnesota advocates
came together to create a rural policy “think tank”
that would provide policy makers, rural advocates
and concerned citizens with an objective, unbiased
and politically “unspun” examination of
contemporary rural issues.
 Based in St. Peter, Minn.
 Non-partisan, non-profit policy research
organization
 Dedicated to providing Minnesota’s policy makers
with an unbiased evaluation of issues from a rural
perspective.
 The Center is recognized as a leading resource for
rural policy research and development.
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

3. A State of Diverse Regions
 Ruralplexes:
Regions based on common
characteristics. Developed
for the Center by former
State Demographer Tom
Gillaspy and State
Economist Tom Stinson.
 The State of Rural Minnesota
uses these regions to show
major characteristics and
trends of Minnesota’s
people and economy.
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

4. Growth of Minnesota’s regions,
1900 to 2010
450.0%
400.0%
350.0%
300.0% Metroplex
250.0%
Southeast River Valley
Southwestern Cornbelt
200.0%
Northwest Valley
150.0% Up North
Central Lakes
100.0%
50.0%
0.0%
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
-50.0%
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

5. Demographics
Population change, 1960-2010 (U.S. Census)
Population, Population,
Region Percent change
1960 2010
Metroplex 1,854,630 3,634,786 96.0%
Southeast River
507,663 552,682 8.9%
Valley
Southwestern
218,331 164,341 -24.7%
Cornbelt
Northwest Valley 271,849 292,150 7.5%
Up North 359,839 363,617 1.0%
Central Lakes 201,552 296,349 47.0%
Minnesota 3,413,864 5,303,925 55.4%
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

6. Population change, 1990-2010
!"#$%&'%(%
-/((,&0 E&,$"A
!"#$%&'%
()$%*&&+,
6"4,)"33
?(M%!&A/,
H$3(4"7/
8&3# 8$00/01(&0 2&&#
!"#$
-&&.)/.)/01
E$+%!"#$
;(",."
23$"45"($4
 From 1990 to 2010, the state’s
F&47"0 6")0&7$0
JA99"4+ 2",,
23"B H$.#$4 population grew by nearly 1
:/(#/0
million, to 5.3 million. The most
24&5%*/01 2"43(&0 dramatic growth was seen in the
*"+$0"
<(($4%="/3
Twin Cities suburbs, stretching up
*/3#/0
8/0$
=&++
6/33$%
into the Central Lakes area.
>4"0( 6&44/,&0 !".,
-"0"9$.
G&A13",
!"#$"%&'$()%*"
H$0(&0
?($@$0, 8&C$ ;,"0(/
=4"@$4,$ ?($"40,
!"#$%&'()*)+
*",)/01(&0 2)/,"1&
H/1% ?)$49A40$
?(&0$
?5/'( :0&#"
',*,+&-$&)*,+
-"0+/B&)/
6$$#$4
(*)+&-$&,*,+
2)/CC$5"
,M
*4/1)(
E"7
!".%NA/%8"43$ J$00$C/0 ()*)+&-$&.,*,+
6.!$&+
E$0@/33$ 2"4@$4
D$33&5%6$+/./0$ /)*)+&012&03$4"
?/93$B
!/0.&30 !B&0 ?.&(( G"#&("
E$+5&&+
F/.&33$( E/.$
!$%?A$A4 >&&+)A$ *"9",)"
H4&50
8/C$,(&0$
?($$3$ G&+1$
*",$."
6A44"B *"(&05"0 <37,($+ */0&0"
2&((&05&&+
H3A$%L"4()
E&.# F&93$, K/337&4$ J&A,(&0
I".#,&0 6"4(/0 K"4/9"A3( K4$$9&40 6&5$4 50-0&6$789":
;*<*&="1676&!78"07>
?$@7#0-A$1&B6-AC0-"6&?8$D80C
E&="1-"8&F$8&G780#&?$#A9H&012&5"4"#$@C"1-
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

7. Long-term population
change, 1960-2010
-/((,&0 E&,$"A
!"#$%&'%
()$%*&&+,
6"4,)"33
?(M%!&A/,
H$3(4"7/
8&3# 8$00/01(&0
2&&#
!"#$
-&&.)/.)/01
E$+%!"#$
;(",."
23$"45"($4
F&47"0 6")0&7$0
JA99"4+ 2",,  Looking at how the population has
23"B H$.#$4 changed since 1960 shows the
:/(#/0
relentless shift from the rural
24&5%*/01 2"43(&0 counties to the urban and
*"+$0"
<(($4%="/3
suburban cores of the Twin Cities,
*/3#/0
8/0$
=&++
St. Cloud and Rochester.
Sherburne County has seen the
6/33$%
>4"0( 6&44/,&0 !".,
-"0"9$.
G&A13",
?($@$0, 8&C$
H$0(&0
!"#$"%&'$()%*"
most growth, increasing by 588%.
;,"0(/
=4"@$4,$ ?($"40,
!"#$%&'()*)+
*",)/01(&0 2)/,"1&
H/1% ?)$49A40$
?(&0$
?5/'( :0&#"
',-*-+&.$&')*/+
-"0+/B&)/
6$$#$4
)*)+&.$&,-*-+
2)/CC$5"
,M
*4/1)(
E"7
!".%NA/%8"43$ J$00$C/0 ()*)+&.$&01*-+
6.!$&+
E$0@/33$ 2"4@$4
D$33&5%6$+/./0$ 02*)+&345&36$7"
?/93$B
!/0.&30 !B&0 ?.&(( G"#&("
E$+5&&+
F/.&33$( E/.$
!$%?A$A4 >&&+)A$ *"9",)"
H4&50
8/C$,(&0$
?($$3$ G&+1$
*",$."
6A44"B *"(&05"0 <37,($+ */0&0"
2&((&05&&+
H3A$%L"4()
E&.# F&93$, K/337&4$ J&A,(&0
I".#,&0 6"4(/0 K"4/9"A3( K4$$9&40 6&5$4
83.3&9$:;<"=
>*?*&@"49:9&!:;"3:
A&@"4.";&B$;&C:;3#&D$#E<F&345&8"7"#$GH"4.
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

8. Projected population
change, 2010-2035
L<((6)0 E)64/7
I/J4')D'
(A4'K))16
;/86A/FF
=($'I)7<6
U4F(8/><
G)FJ G400<0?()0
B))J
I/J4
L))9A<9A<0?
E41'I/J4
O(/69/
BF4/8M/(48

T)8>/0 ;/A0)>40
W722/81 B/66 Minnesota’s State Demographic
BF/H U49J48 Center projects that population
trends will continue much as they
N<(J<0
B8)M'K<0? B/8F()0 have: the western and southern
K/140/
P((48'Q/<F
K<FJ<0
G<04
counties will continue to lose
population while growth will
Q)11
;<FF4'
continue to radiate out from the
R8/0( ;)88<6)0 I/96
L/0/249
5)7?F/6
!"#$"%&'$()%*"
=(43406 G)@4 =(4/806
U40()0
O6/0(<
Twin Cities and north into the
Q8/34864 !"#$%&'()'!#$*&
central lakes region.
K/6A<0?()0 BA<6/?)
U<?' =A4827804
=()04
=M<D( N0)J/
#&'()'%$+&
L/01<H)A<
;44J48
,$#&'()'*-$+&
BA<@@4M/
6$
K8<?A(
E/>
I/9'Z7<'G/8F4 W4004@<0 *%$#&'()'"+$+&
;9I4)1
E403<FF4 B/8348
S4FF)M';41<9<04 .#$#&'/01'/2)34
=<2F4H
I<09)F0 IH)0 =9)(( 5/J)(/
E41M))1
T<9)FF4( E<94
I4'=7478 R))1A74 K/2/6A/
U8)M0
G<@46()04
=(44F4 5)1?4
K/649/
;788/H K/()0M/0 PF>6(41 K<0)0/
B)(()0M))1
UF74'Y/8(A
E)9J T)2F46 X<FF>)84 W)76()0
V/9J6)0 ;/8(<0 X/8<2/7F( X8442)80 ;)M48 5/(/'6)7894:
;<0046)(/'=(/(4'54>)?8/@A<9'B40(48
C'B40(48'D)8'E78/F'G)F<9H'/01'5434F)@>40(
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

9. Population projections
Projected population change, 2010-2035 (Minn. State Demographic Center).
Projected pop.,
Region Population, 2010 Percent change
2035
Metroplex 3,634,786 4,569,350 25.7%
Southeast River
552,682 613,890 11.1%
Valley
Southwestern
164,341 160,740 -2.2%
Cornbelt
Northwest Valley 292,150 333,790 14.3%
Up North 363,617 398,300 9.5%
Central Lakes 296,349 369,420 24.7%
Minnesota 5,303,925 6,446,270 21.5%
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

10. Population projections,
2010-2035
30.0%
25.7%
24.7%
25.0%
21.5%
20.0%
14.3%
15.0%
11.1%
9.5%
10.0%
5.0%
-2.2%
0.0%
-5.0%
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

11. Median Age, 2010
-/((,&0 E&,$"A
!"#$%&'%
()$%*&&+,
6"4,)"33
?(M%!&A/,
H$3(4"7/
8&3# 8$00/01(&0
2&&#
!"#$
-&&.)/.)/01
E$+%!"#$
;(",."
23$"45"($4

F&47"0 6")0&7$0
JA99"4+ 2",, Median age—the age at which half
23"B H$.#$4 the population is older and half is
younger—gives an indication of
:/(#/0
24&5%*/01 2"43(&0 the overall age of the population in
*"+$0"
<(($4%="/3
*/3#/0
8/0$
an area. Fast-growing counties
with young families, large
=&++
6/33$%
institutions of higher education, or
>4"0( 6&44/,&0 !".,
-"0"9$.
G&A13",
!"#$%&'()"'*+"%,-.
?($@$0, 8&C$
H$0(&0
;,"0(/
large minority populations tend to
?($"40,
!"#$%&'()*
have a lower median age.
=4"@$4,$
*",)/01(&0 2)/,"1&
H/1% ?)$49A40$
?(&0$
?5/'( :0&#"
'()*&+$&',),
-"0+/B&)/
6$$#$4
-*)*&+$&-.),
2)/CC$5"
,M
*4/1)(
E"7
!".%NA/%8"43$ J$00$C/0 -')*&+$&-/),
6.!$&+
E$0@/33$ 2"4@$4
D$33&5%6$+/./0$ -()*&012&$3"4
?/93$B
!/0.&30 !B&0 ?.&(( G"#&("
E$+5&&+
F/.&33$( E/.$
!$%?A$A4 >&&+)A$ *"9",)"
H4&50
8/C$,(&0$
?($$3$ G&+1$
*",$."
6A44"B *"(&05"0 <37,($+ */0&0"
2&((&05&&+
H3A$%L"4()
E&.# F&93$, K/337&4$ J&A,(&0
I".#,&0 6"4(/0 K"4/9"A3( K4$$9&40 6&5$4
50+0&6$748"9
:);)&<"1676&!74"07
=&<"1+"4&>$4&?740#&@$#A8B&012&5"3"#$CD"1+
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

12. Population under age 18, 2010
!"#$%&'%(%
-/((,&0 E&,$"A
!"#$%&'%
()$%*&&+,
6"4,)"33
?(M%!&A/,
H$3(4"7/
8&3# 8$00/01(&0
2&&#
!"#$
-&&.)/.)/01
E$+%!"#$
;(",."
23$"45"($4
F&47"0 6")0&7$0
JA99"4+ 2",,  The highest percentage of people
23"B H$.#$4 under age 18 is concentrated in
:/(#/0
the Twin Cities ring suburbs, but
24&5%*/01 2"43(&0 also in counties like Mahnomen,
*"+$0"
<(($4 ="/3
Dodge and Roseau. For the state
*/3#/0
8/0$
=&++
as a whole, approximately one
quarter of the population is
6/33$
>4"0( 6&44/,&0 !".,
-"0"9$.
G&A13",
!"#$"%&'()
?($@$0, 8&C$
H$0(&0
'&(&*+',(,-+*&.(% under age 18.
?($"40, ;,"0(/
=4"@$4,$ !"##$%&'($)*+,-
*",)/01(&0 2)/,"1&
H/1 ?)$49A40$
?(&0$
?5/'( :0&#"
)*+,-$%.$))+/-
-"0+/B&)/
6$$#$4
)0+1-$%.$)2+2-
2)/CC$5"
,M
*4/1)(
E"7
!".%NA/%8"43$ J$00$C/0 )2+,-$%.$),+/-
6.!$&+
E$0@/33$ 2"4@$4
D$33&5%6$+/./0$ )3+1-$'(4$'5.6"
?/93$B
!/0.&30 !B&0 ?.&(( G"#&("
E$+5&&+
F/.&33$( E/.$
!$%?A$A4 >&&+)A$ *"9",)"
H4&50
8/C$,(&0$
?($$3$ G&+1$
*",$."
6A44"B *"(&05"0 <37,($+ */0&0"
2&((&05&&+
H3A$%L"4()
E&.# F&93$, I".#,&0 6"4(/0 K"4/9"A3( K4$$9&40 6&5$4 K/337&4$ J&A,(&0
7'%'$#.89:";
<+=+$>"(#8#$?89"'8
@.A8B'%C.($D#%CE'%"$@9.F9'E
G$>"(%"9$H.9$I89'B$@.BC:J$'(4$7"6"B.AE"(%
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

13. Projected population age
19 and under, 2035
-/((,&0 E&,$"A
!"#$%&'%
()$%*&&+,
6"4,)"33
?(M%!&A/,
H$3(4"7/
8&3# 8$00/01(&0
2&&#
!"#$
-&&.)/.)/01
E$+%!"#$
;(",."
23$"45"($4

F&47"0 6")0&7$0
JA99"4+ 2",, The population age 19 and under
23"B H$.#$4 is projected to stay highest in the
Twin Cities.
:/(#/0
24&5%*/01 2"43(&0
*"+$0"
<(($4%="/3
*/3#/0
=&++
8/0$  Some rural counties are projected
>4"0( 6&44/,&0
6/33$%
!".,
to have higher rates of young
-"0"9$.
G&A13",
!"#$"%&'()' people as well, most likely due to
&(&*+',(,-+*&.(%
=4"@$4,$
?($@$0, 8&C$ ?($"40,
H$0(&0
;,"0(/
!"##$%&'($)*+,-
the presence of a college or a
large minority population.
*",)/01(&0 2)/,"1&
H/1% ?)$49A40$
?(&0$
?5/'( :0&#"
)*+,-$%.$)/+0-
-"0+/B&)/
6$$#$4
)1+,-$%.$)1+0-
2)/CC$5"
,M
*4/1)(
E"7
!".%NA/%8"43$ J$00$C/0 )2+,-$%.$)2+0-
6.!$&+
E$0@/33$ 2"4@$4
D$33&5%6$+/./0$ )3+,-$'(4$'5.6"
?/93$B
!/0.&30 !B&0 ?.&(( G"#&("
E$+5&&+
F/.&33$( E/.$
!$%?A$A4 >&&+)A$ *"9",)"
H4&50
8/C$,(&0$
?($$3$ G&+1$
*",$."
6A44"B *"(&05"0 <37,($+ */0&0"
2&((&05&&+
H3A$%L"4()
E&.# F&93$, K/337&4$ J&A,(&0
I".#,&0 6"4(/0 K"4/9"A3( K4$$9&40 6&5$4
7'%'$#.89:";
<=(("#.%'$>%'%"$7"?.@9'A&=:$B"(%"9
C$B"(%"9$D.9$E89'F$G.F=:H$'(4$7"6"F.A?"(%
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

14. Population 65+, 2010
!"#$%&'%(%
-/((,&0 E&,$"A
!"#$%&'%
()$%*&&+,
6"4,)"33
?(M%!&A/,
H$3(4"7/
8&3# 8$00/01(&0
2&&#
!"#$
-&&.)/.)/01
E$+%!"#$
;(",."
23$"45"($4
 The higher percentage of seniors
F&47"0 6")0&7$0
JA99"4+ 2",,
23"B H$.#$4 remaining in rural counties has
:/(#/0
many implications for state and
24&5%*/01 2"43(&0 local government, such as a
*"+$0"
<(($4%="/3
demand for increased levels of
*/3#/0
8/0$
=&++
6/33$%
service to those living on low and/
or fixed incomes.
>4"0( 6&44/,&0 !".,
!"#$"%&'()'
-"0"9$.
G&A13",
&(&*+',(,-+*&.(%
H$0(&0
?($@$0, 8&C$ ;,"0(/
=4"@$4,$ ?($"40,
!"##$%&'($)*+,-
*",)/01(&0 2)/,"1&
H/1% ?)$49A40$
?(&0$
?5/'( :0&#"
)*+,-$%.$),+/-
-"0+/B&)/
6$$#$4
)0+1-$%.$)2+3-
2)/CC$5"
,M
*4/1)(
E"7
!".%NA/%8"43$ J$00$C/0 )2+,-$%.$*1+/-
6.!$&+
E$0@/33$ 2"4@$4
D$33&5%6$+/./0$ *)+1-$'(4$'5.6"
?/93$B
!/0.&30 !B&0 ?.&(( G"#&("
E$+5&&+
F/.&33$( E/.$
!$%?A$A4 >&&+)A$ *"9",)"
H4&50
8/C$,(&0$
?($$3$ G&+1$
*",$."
6A44"B *"(&05"0 <37,($+ */0&0"
2&((&05&&+
H3A$%L"4()
E&.# F&93$, I".#,&0 6"4(/0 K"4/9"A3( K4$$9&40 6&5$4 K/337&4$ J&A,(&0
7'%'$#.89:";
<+=+$>"(#8#$?89"'8
@.A8B'%C.($D#%CE'%"$@9.F9'E
$G$>"(%"9$H.9$I89'B$@.BC:J$'(4$7"6"B.AE"(%
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

15. Projected population age 65+,
2035
-/((,&0 E&,$"A
!"#$%&'%
()$%*&&+,
6"4,)"33
?(M%!&A/,
H$3(4"7/
8&3# 8$00/01(&0
2&&#
!"#$
-&&.)/.)/01
E$+%!"#$
;(",."
23$"45"($4
 While the trend in aging is
F&47"0 6")0&7$0
JA99"4+ 2",,
23"B H$.#$4 projected to continue through
:/(#/0
2035 much as it has, the growth in
24&5%*/01 2"43(&0 the aging population may be offset
*"+$0"
<(($4%="/3
in some southern and western
*/3#/0
8/0$
=&++
6/33$%
counties by the presence of
minorities and immigrants and by
>4"0( 6&44/,&0 !".,
-"0"9$.
G&A13",
!"#$"%&'()'
&(&*+',(,-+*&.(%
?($@$0, 8&C$
H$0(&0
;,"0(/
colleges.
=4"@$4,$ ?($"40,
!"##$%&'($)*+,-
*",)/01(&0 2)/,"1&
H/1% ?)$49A40$
?(&0$
?5/'( :0&#"
)*+,-$%.$)/+0-
-"0+/B&)/
6$$#$4
)1+,-$%.$)2+0-
2)/CC$5"
,M
*4/1)(
E"7
!".%NA/%8"43$ J$00$C/0 )3+,-$%.$4,+0-
6.!$&+
E$0@/33$ 2"4@$4
D$33&5%6$+/./0$ 4*+,-$'(5$'6.7"
?/93$B
!/0.&30 !B&0 ?.&(( G"#&("
E$+5&&+
F/.&33$( E/.$
!$%?A$A4 >&&+)A$ *"9",)"
H4&50
8/C$,(&0$
?($$3$ G&+1$
*",$."
6A44"B *"(&05"0 <37,($+ */0&0"
2&((&05&&+
H3A$%L"4()
E&.# F&93$, K/337&4$ J&A,(&0
I".#,&0 6"4(/0 K"4/9"A3( K4$$9&40 6&5$4
8'%'$#.9:;"<
=>(("#.%'$?%'%"$8"@.A:'B&>;$C"(%":
D$C"(%":$E.:$F9:'G$H.G>;I$'(5$8"7"G.B@"(%
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

16. Natural rate of increase,
2010
-/((,&0 E&,$"A
!"#$%&'%
()$%*&&+,
6"4,)"33
?(M%!&A/,
H$3(4"7/
8&3# 8$00/01(&0
2&&#
!"#$
-&&.)/.)/01
E$+%!"#$
;(",."
23$"45"($4
 Natural increase is simply the
F&47"0 6")0&7$0
JA99"4+ 2",,
23"B H$.#$4 number of births minus the
:/(#/0
number of deaths. The highest
24&5%*/01 2"43(&0 increases have been in the western
*"+$0"
<(($4%="/3
suburbs, Dodge County, Olmsted
*/3#/0
8/0$
=&++
6/33$%
County and in the north central
counties. Meanwhile, several rural
6&44/,&0
>4"0( !".,
!"#$%"&'()*%+",+'
-"0"9$.
G&A13",
-+%'./000'%+,(1+)#,
?($@$0, 8&C$
H$0(&0
;,"0(/
counties showed a natural
?($"40,
!"#$"%&"
decrease. Natural increase,
=4"@$4,$
*",)/01(&0 2)/,"1&
H/1% ?)$49A40$
?(&0$
'(')*+),(-
?5/'( -"0+/B&)/
6$$#$4
:0&#"
however, this does not take into
,(.)*+)/(0
2)/CC$5" consideration immigration, which
,M
*4/1)(
E"7
-(')*+)1(0
!".%NA/%8"43$
E$0@/33$
6.!$&+
2"4@$4
J$00$C/0
is driving population growth in
2(')%34)%5+6"
some rural counties.
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Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013

17. Minorities in Minnesota, 2010
Minnesota 16.9%
Central Lakes 6.8%
Up North 10.7%
Northwest Valley 7.2%
Southwestern Cornbelt 11.2%
Non-white population
as percentage of total Southeast River Valley 8.9%
population (U.S.
Census Bureau,
Metroplex 20.7%
2010).
0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0%
Center for Rural Policy & Development, 2013