Hennepin County, Minnesota

Information about Hennepin County, Minnesota

Hennepin County, Minnesota
Map

Location in the state of Minnesota
Enlarge picture
Map of the USA highlighting Minnesota

Minnesota's location in the USA
Statistics
FoundedMarch 6, 1852 [1]
SeatMinneapolis
Largest CityMinneapolis
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
606 sq mi (1,571 km)
557  sq mi (1,442 km)
50  sq mi (129 km), 8.21%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
1,116,200
2,005/sq mi (774/km)
Time zoneCentral: UTC-6/-5
Website: www.hennepin.us
Named for: Louis Hennepin, a Franciscan missionary, explorer, and author.
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century French explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2000 the population was 1,116,200. Its county seat is Minneapolis6. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live in Hennepin County. The center of population of Minnesota is located in Hennepin County, in the city of Rogers [2].

History

Hennepin County was created in 1852 by the Minnesota Territorial Legislature. Father Louis Hennepin's name was chosen due to the fact he originally named St. Anthony Falls and recorded some of the earliest accounts of the area for the Western world. Hennepin County's early history is closely linked to the establishment of the cities of Minneapolis and St. Anthony.[1]

Law and government

Enlarge picture
Hennepin County Government Center located in the county seat of Minneapolis. Its stylized letter "H" shape serves as the logo for Hennepin County.
Like all counties in Minnesota, Hennepin is governed by an elected and nonpartisan board of commissioners. In Minnesota, county commissions usually have five members, but Hennepin, Ramsey, and St Louis counties have seven members. Each commissioner represents a district of equal population. In Hennepin the county commission appoints the medical examiner, county auditor-treasurer and . The sheriff and county attorney are also elected on a nonpartisan ticket. The county government's headquarters are in downtown Minneapolis in the Hennepin County Government Center. They county oversees the Hennepin County Library system, which in 2008 will merge with and incorporate the Minneapolis Public Library system.

The county commission elects a chair who presides at meetings. Commissioners as of May 2007

District Commissioner In office since Current term expires in January
1stMike Opat19932011
2ndMark Stenglein19972011
3rdGail Dorfman19992011
4thPeter McLaughlin19912011
5thRandy Johnson (chair)19792009
6thLinda Koblick20032009
7thPenny Steele19952009

Key Staff

Hennepin County's normal operations are coordinated by the County Administrator Richard Johnson and Assistant County Administrator Gothriel "Cindy" LaFleur. The various departments are headed by Thomas Merkel (Corrections), Mike Freeman (Attorney, [elected]),

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,571 km² (606 mi²). 1,442 km² (557 mi²) of it is land and 129 km² (50 mi²) of it (8.21%) is water. The highest waterfall on the Mississippi River, the Saint Anthony Falls, discovered by Louis Hennepin, is in Hennepin County next to downtown Minneapolis, but in the 19th century, the falls were converted to a series of dams. Barges and boats now pass through locks to move between the parts of the river above and below the dams.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Economy

Hennepin County has major economic centers in downtown Minneapolis and Bloomington.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.%
186012,849
—
187031,5660%
188067,0130%
1890185,2940%
1900228,3400%
1910333,4800%
1920415,4190%
1930517,7850%
1940568,8990%
1950676,5790%
1960842,8540%
1970960,0800%
1980941,4110%
19901,032,4310%
20001,116,2000%
Enlarge picture
Located across the street from the Government Center, the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility serves as the county jail
As of the census² of 2000, there were 1,116,200 people, 456,129 households, and 267,291 families residing in the county. The population density was 774/km² (2,005/mi²). There were 468,824 housing units at an average density of 325/km² (842/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.53% White, 8.95% Black or African American, 1.00% Native American, 4.80% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.06% from other races, and 2.60% from two or more races. 4.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.8% were of German, 12.0% Norwegian, 7.6% Irish and 7.2% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000. There were 456,129 households out of which 28.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.40% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.40% 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 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 33.70% from 25 to 44, 21.70% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,711, and the median income for a family was $65,985. Males had a median income of $42,466 versus $32,400 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,789. About 5.00% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns



Cities Townships Unorganized
† While mostly in Hennepin County, the city extends beyond the county border.
‡ Located in another county, but a part of the city extends into Hennepin County.


Colleges and universities

Miscellaneous topics

Library merger

In 2007, a merger proposal of the Minneapolis Public Library system into the Hennepin County Library system was being considered. [2]

Smoking ban

In May 2005, Hennepin County enacted a county-wide indoor smoking ban. Bar business depressed over the short run, as smokers went into neighboring counties to light up, but has since returned closer to normal, especially in the downtown Minneapolis clubs that are among the most popular live music venues in the state. In December, to great controversy, county officials responded to lobbying efforts from bar owners and returned smoking to bars located outside of Minneapolis, Bloomington and Golden Valley, which have their own municipal smoking bans.

Twins stadium

In August of 2006, the Board voted 4-3 to levy a 0.15% sales tax within the county to fund the majority of the cost for a baseball stadium for the Minnesota Twins. Legislation passed by the Minnesota Legislature in the waning hours of the 2005-2006 session, and signed by Governor Tim Pawlenty, authorized the county to levy the tax without a voter referendum. It also created the Minnesota Ballpark Authority which will construct and manage the stadium on behalf of the county. The tax will be in effect for 30 years, with clauses allowing it to be increased by the board of commissioners.

References

1. ^ JoEllen Haugo and Mary Jo Laakso (2001). History of Minneapolis. Minneapolis Public Library. Retrieved on September 7 2007.
2. ^ [3]

External links

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State of Minnesota

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Nickname(s): North Star State,
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Motto(s): L'Étoile du Nord (French: The Star of the North)

Capital Saint Paul

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Louis Hennepin, baptized Antoine, (12 May, 1626 – c. 1705) was a Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Recollect order (French: Récollets) and an explorer of the interior of North America.
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State of Minnesota

Flag of Minnesota Seal
Nickname(s): North Star State,
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Motto(s): L'Étoile du Nord (French: The Star of the North)

Capital Saint Paul

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Louis Hennepin, baptized Antoine, (12 May, 1626 – c. 1705) was a Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Recollect order (French: Récollets) and an explorer of the interior of North America.
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Minneapolis, Minnesota
Downtown seen from the North Loop

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Nickname: City of Lakes, Mill City
Motto: En Avant (French: 'Forward')
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Rogers, Minnesota
Location in Hennepin County, Minnesota
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Minnesota
County Hennepin
Founded
Incorporated
Government
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Louis Hennepin, baptized Antoine, (12 May, 1626 – c. 1705) was a Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Recollect order (French: Récollets) and an explorer of the interior of North America.
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Location: Minneapolis, MN

Built/Founded: 1848
Architect: Godfrey,Ard; Et al.

Added to NRHP: March 11, 1971

NRHP Reference#: 71000438 [1] Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony
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Ramsey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, founded in 1849 . As of 2000, the population was 511,035. Its county seat is St. Paul6, which is also Minnesota's state capital.
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