Editing Swift County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Swift County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = February 18
 | founded year         = 1870<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Place Names |url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620201420/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=March 19, 2014 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society}}</ref>
 | seat wl              = Benson
 | largest city wl      = Benson
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 752
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 742
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 8.82
 | area percentage      = 1.3%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 9838
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 9719 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 13.3
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = www.swiftcounty.com
 | named for            = [[Henry Adoniram Swift]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Upham |first=Warren |url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog |title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |year=1920 |page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n556 539]}}</ref>
 | ex image             = 2012-0828-Swift-CountyCourthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Swift County Courthouse]], Benson
 | district             = 7th
}}

'''Swift County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 9,838.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/swiftcountyminnesota/PST045222 |access-date=April 23, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Benson, Minnesota|Benson]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==History==
Swift County is in west central Minnesota and consists of {{convert|757|sqmi|km2|sigfig=2}} with three tiers of seven townships each. It was established on February 18, 1870, and named for [[Henry Adoniram Swift]], the third governor of Minnesota (1863–64).

The Indians had grievances against the government, including delays in sending annuities that caused near starvation several times. In August 1862, an Indian rebellion broke out in Minnesota. The warfare reached the settlements just getting started in northeastern Swift County. By late September 1862, the Indian War was almost over but the settlers hesitated to venture back to Swift County until 1865, when all danger was apparently over. Scandinavians and Germans were in decided majority among the early settlers. A number of them came with the honor and privileges of Civil War veterans.

In 1869, the [[St. Paul & Pacific Railroad]] reached Willmar, and the next year it arrived in Benson. The railroad company determined the number of future trading centers (Kerkhoven, DeGraff, Benson, Randall) in the county by locating sites at intervals of approximately {{convert|8|mi|km|0}}. The Swift County Courthouse was built in 1897 and was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1976. Benson is the county seat. Railroad tracks run through Benson's downtown business district with parks on each side.

===Historic buildings===
Historic buildings in Swift County include:
* [[Gethsemane Episcopal Church (Appleton, Minnesota)|Gethsemane Episcopal Church]] in [[Appleton, Minnesota|Appleton]] built in 1879 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

==Geography==
The [[Minnesota River]] flows southeast along the county's lower western border. The [[Pomme de Terre River (Minnesota)|Pomme de Terre River]] flows south-southwest through the county's western part, discharging into the Minnesota. The [[Chippewa River (Minnesota)|Chippewa River]] flows south-southwest through the county's central part, discharging into the Minnesota south of the county. The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture.<ref name="SCM">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Swift+County,+MN/@45.2822162,-95.962573,89931m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x52caef6c3db9d79d:0x24cef7b12ff62341!8m2!3d45.2315651!4d-95.7196042 ''Swift County MN''  Google Maps (accessed March 13, 2019)]</ref> It slopes to south and the west, with its highest point near its northeast corner at {{convert|1,240|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Swift County MN"  Google Maps (accessed March 13, 2019)]</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|752|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|742|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|10|sqmi}} (1.3%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102023/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

Swift County is primarily agricultural, but also hosts agriculture equipment manufacturers and an ethanol plant. It has 24 lakes and nine rivers and streams. Lake Oliver is one of the county's biggest, at {{convert|416|acre|km2|sigfig=2}}. Caltopo shows the true highpoint to be 1300&nbsp;ft in elevation about 1/3 of a mile southwest of the Monson State Wildlife Management Area:latitude 45.3046&longitude=-95.3031[[File:Swift Co Pie Chart Wiki 2016 Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Swift County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 65-67. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]{{Stack|[[File:Monson Lake SP Area Wiki Version.jpg|thumb|right|Soils of Monson Lake State Park area]]}}

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=32em}}
* [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 12 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 12]]
* [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 59#Minnesota|U.S. Highway 59]]
* [[Image:MN-7.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 7]]
* [[Image:MN-9.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 9]]
* [[Image:MN-29.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 29]]
* [[Image:MN-104.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 104]]
* [[Image:MN-119.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 119]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=32em}}
* [[Stevens County, Minnesota|Stevens County]] - northwest
* [[Pope County, Minnesota|Pope County]] - northeast
* [[Kandiyohi County, Minnesota|Kandiyohi County]] - east
* [[Chippewa County, Minnesota|Chippewa County]] - south
* [[Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota|Lac qui Parle County]] - southwest
* [[Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone County]] - west
{{div col end}}

===Airport===
[[Appleton Municipal Airport]] provides [[general aviation]] service for Swift County.

===Protected areas<ref name=SCM/>===
{{div col|colwidth=32em}}
* Bench State Wildlife Management Area
* Camp Kerk State Wildlife Management Area
* Danvers State Wildlife Management Area
* Ehrenburg State Wildlife Management Area
* Hayes-Myhre State Wildlife Management Area
* Henry X State Wildlife Management Area
* Hollerberg Lake State Wildlife Management Area
* Monson Lake State Park
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 7473
|1890= 10161
|1900= 13503
|1910= 12949
|1920= 15093
|1930= 14735
|1940= 15469
|1950= 15837
|1960= 14936
|1970= 13177
|1980= 12920
|1990= 10724
|2000= 11956
|2010= 9783
|2020= 9838
|estyear=2023
|estimate=9719
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 18, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=October 25, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Swift County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web |title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Swift County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Swift%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|8,618
|87.6%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|79
|0.8%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|26
|0.26%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|78
|0.8%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|133
|1.35%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|242
|2.46%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|662
|6.73%
|}

===2000 census===
[[File:SwiftCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Swift County, from [[American Community Survey|ACS]] 5-year estimates]]
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 11,956 people, 4,353 households, and 2,881 families in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|16.1|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 4,821 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6.50|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 90.67% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.69% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.50% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.43% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 1.52% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.40% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.79% from two or more races. 2.68% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. Swift County has the highest percentage of Pacific Islander natives out of any U.S. county outside [[Hawaii]]. 34.4% were of [[German people|German]], 30.5% [[norwegian people|Norwegian]], 5.2% [[swedish people|Swedish]] and 5.1% [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry.

There were 4,353 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 30.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 23.00% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 29.60% from 25 to 44, 21.60% from 45 to 64, and 18.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 120.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,820, and the median income for a family was $44,208. Males had a median income of $29,362 versus $21,667 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $16,360. About 5.30% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.90% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Appleton, Minnesota|Appleton]]
* [[Benson, Minnesota|Benson]] (county seat)
* [[Clontarf, Minnesota|Clontarf]]
* [[Danvers, Minnesota|Danvers]]
* [[De Graff, Minnesota|De Graff]]
* [[Holloway, Minnesota|Holloway]]
* [[Kerkhoven, Minnesota|Kerkhoven]]
* [[Murdock, Minnesota|Murdock]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Fairfield, Minnesota|Fairfield]]
* [[Swift Falls, Minnesota|Swift Falls]]

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Appleton Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Appleton Township]]
* [[Benson Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Benson Township]]
* [[Camp Lake Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Camp Lake Township]]
* [[Cashel Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Cashel Township]]
* [[Clontarf Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Clontarf Township]]
* [[Dublin Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Dublin Township]]
* [[Edison Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Edison Township]]
* [[Fairfield Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Fairfield Township]]
* [[Hayes Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Hayes Township]]
* [[Hegbert Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Hegbert Township]]
* [[Kerkhoven Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Kerkhoven Township]]
* [[Kildare Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Kildare Township]]
* [[Marysland Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Marysland Township]]
* [[Moyer Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Moyer Township]]
* [[Pillsbury Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Pillsbury Township]]
* [[Shible Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Shible Township]]
* [[Six Mile Grove Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Six Mile Grove Township]]
* [[Swenoda Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Swenoda Township]]
* [[Tara Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Tara Township]]
* [[Torning Township, Swift County, Minnesota|Torning Township]]
* [[West Bank Township, Swift County, Minnesota|West Bank Township]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Swift County was traditionally a Democratic stronghold, as it voted Democratic in every election from 1932 to 2012 with the exception of the [[1952 United States presidential election|1952]] landslide victory of [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].<ref>Sullivan, Robert David; [http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’]; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016</ref> In 2016, a dramatic swing against the Democrats in the [[Rust Belt]] saw Swift County shifting a massive 36% toward the Republican Party, with [[Donald Trump]] winning it over [[Hillary Clinton]] by 26%, and further increasing his margin of victory to nearly 30% against [[Joe Biden]] in 2020, and to over 34% against [[Kamala Harris]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/145965 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422114344/https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/145965 |archive-date=2025-04-22 |url-status=live|title=2024 State Canvassing Board Certificate|last=Simon|first=Steve|author-link=Steve Simon|date=November 21, 2024|work=[[Minnesota Secretary of State]]|access-date=May 13, 2025}}</ref> Each of these were the best Republican performances in the county since 1920.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Swift County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,340|1,618|96|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,316|1,784|93|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,963|1,686|345|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|2,248|2,751|120|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|2,184|2,907|153|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|2,481|3,165|89|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,376|2,698|363|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,541|3,054|735|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,603|2,980|1,408|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|2,156|3,579|63|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|2,893|3,531|64|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|2,943|3,245|635|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,190|4,428|144|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|2,673|3,823|121|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,476|3,716|259|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,132|4,380|12|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,848|4,062|18|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,637|3,720|8|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,532|3,291|48|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,109|4,082|277|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,519|3,310|47|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,815|3,899|54|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,618|3,749|619|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,308|4,339|135|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,791|2,733|89|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|1,654|334|2,934|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,553|985|522|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,335|1,181|143|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|442|937|1,234|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,343|921|127|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,784|462|90|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,378|1,028|88|Minnesota}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,273|1,222|62|Minnesota}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|762|712|564|Minnesota}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Swift County, Minnesota]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.swiftcounty.com/ Swift County official website]
* [http://www.swiftcountymonitor.com/ Swift County Monitor website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Swift County, Minnesota
|Northwest = [[Stevens County, Minnesota|Stevens County]]
|Northeast = [[Pope County, Minnesota|Pope County]]
|East      = [[Kandiyohi County, Minnesota|Kandiyohi County]]
|South     = [[Chippewa County, Minnesota|Chippewa County]]
|Southwest = [[Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota|Lac qui Parle County]]
|West      = [[Big Stone County, Minnesota|Big Stone County]]  
}}

{{Swift County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|45.29|-95.68|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Swift County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1870]]