Demographics of Minnesota
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| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 6,077 |
|
|
| 1860 | 172,023 | 2,730.7% | |
| 1870 | 439,706 | 155.6% | |
| 1880 | 780,773 | 77.6% | |
| 1890 | 1,310,283 | 67.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,751,394 | 33.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,075,708 | 18.5% | |
| 1920 | 2,387,125 | 15% | |
| 1930 | 2,563,953 | 7.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,792,300 | 8.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,982,483 | 6.8% | |
| 1960 | 3,413,864 | 14.5% | |
| 1970 | 3,804,971 | 11.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,075,970 | 7.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,375,099 | 7.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,919,479 | 12.4% | |
| Est. 2006 | 5,167,101 | [1] | 5% |
The Census Bureau estimates that Minnesota's population was 5,167,101 in 2006, making it the 21st most populous state in the United States. The population has increased 247,609 or 5.0% since 2000.[1] The gain since 2000 has resulted from a natural increase of 196,095 people (432,306 births minus 236,211 deaths) and net migration of 60,351 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 86,925 people, while migration within the country produced a net loss of 26,574 people.
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[edit] Population
From fewer than 6,100 people in 1850, Minnesota's population grew to over 1.75 million by 1900. Each of the next six decades saw a 15% rise in population, reaching 3.41 million in 1960. Growth then slowed, rising 11% to 3.8 million in 1970, and an average of 9% over the next three decades to 4.91 million in the 2000 census.[2] As of July 1, 2006, the state's population was estimated at 5,167,101 by the U.S. Census Bureau.[3] The rate of population change, and age and gender distributions, approximate the national average. Minnesota's growing minority groups, however, still form a significantly smaller proportion of the population than in the nation as a whole.[1] The center of population of Minnesota is located in Hennepin County, in the city of Rogers.[4]
[edit] Age distribution
The population distribution by age in 2000 was:[5]
- 18+ 3,632,585 (73.8%)
- 21+ 3,414,300 (69.4%)
- 62+ 696,775 (14.2%)
- 65+ 594,266 (12.1%)
- Median age (years) 35.4
[edit] Location
Approximately 60% of the states population lives within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and 40% in the remainder of the state, which is a result of the migration of jobs from farming, mining, and logging, prevalent in the 19th century, to the current concentration in professional, office, and service jobs, concentrated in the metropolitan areas.
[edit] The 10 most populous counties (2006)[1]
| County | Seat | Projected Population | % Gain since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hennepin | Minneapolis | 1,122,093 | +0.5 |
| Ramsey | Saint Paul | 493,215 | -3.5 |
| Dakota | Hastings | 388,001 | +9.0 |
| Anoka | Anoka | 327,005 | +9.7 |
| Washington | Stillwater | 225,000 | +11.9 |
| St. Louis | Duluth | 196,067 | -2.2 |
| Stearns | St Cloud | 144,096 | +8.2 |
| Olmsted | Rochester | 137,189 | +10.7 |
| Scott | Shakopee | 124,092 | +38.7 |
| Wright | Buffalo | 114,730 | +27.6 |
[edit] Race and ancestry
Over 75% of Minnesota's residents are of Western European descent, with the largest reported ancestries being German (37.3%), Norwegian (17.0%), Irish (12.2%), and Swedish (10.0%).[6] As of 2004, 6.1% of residents were foreign-born, compared to 12% for the nation.[6][7] The state has had the reputation of being relatively homogeneous, but that is changing. The Hispanic population of Minnesota is increasing rapidly,[8] and recent immigrants have come from all over the world, including Hmongs,[9] Somalis, Vietnamese, Indians and emigrants from the former Soviet bloc.
| Demographics of Minnesota (csv) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By race | White | Black | AIAN* | Asian | NHPI* |
| 2000 (total population) | 92.06% | 4.18% | 1.66% | 3.31% | 0.12% |
| 2000 (Hispanic only) | 2.70% | 0.14% | 0.12% | 0.04% | 0.01% |
| 2005 (total population) | 90.94% | 4.96% | 1.63% | 3.86% | 0.13% |
| 2005 (Hispanic only) | 3.40% | 0.17% | 0.12% | 0.04% | 0.01% |
| Growth 2000–05 (total population) | 3.07% | 23.98% | 2.69% | 21.44% | 8.84% |
| Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only) | 2.21% | 23.89% | 2.42% | 21.43% | 8.92% |
| Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only) | 31.49% | 26.47% | 6.23% | 22.75% | 8.24% |
| * AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | |||||
[edit] History of immigration
Immigration to Minnesota was fueled by the efforts of railroad companies and civic boosters who published books explaining Minnesota's virtues. New Minnesotans also sent letters back to the "old country" explaining the new hope and prosperity they had found in Minnesota. The first major wave of immigration, in the 1860s and 1870s, was primarily from Germany[10] and Ireland, and most settlers moved to farming areas in the central and southern regions of the state. Germans composed the largest immigrant group to Minnesota. When World War I started, 70% of the population was either foreign-born or had at least one parent born outside the United States. Of that number, more than one fourth were Germans. New Ulm, Saint Cloud, and Shakopee were particular centers of German immigration. Scandinavians from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark followed, but they tended to settle in distinctive communities of Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish groups instead of common Scandinavian communities. Irish immigrants were the fourth largest group after the Germans, Swedes, and Norwegians, many of whom came as a result of the potato famine. Others were encouraged to immigrate by Archbishop John Ireland. The Irish concentrated in Saint Paul. Later, southern and eastern Europeans became the dominant group immigrating to the United States, and they tended to settle in the Twin Cities, Duluth, and the Iron Range. The Mesabi Range was especially popular among eastern Europeans, who found employment in the iron mines. With extraordinary encouragement from Walter Mondale, Hmong and Vietnamese immigrants started to come to Minnesota around the mid-1970s as the pro-American governments in the region collapsed.[11][12]
[edit] Language
Over 90% of households speak only English and 9.4% speak languages other than English in the home. Of those, 57.7% report being able to speak English "very well." The homes in which English is not the first language can be further broken down into their native languages:[13]
- 36% Spanish
- 27% Asian and Pacific Island languages (Hmong, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mon-Khmer, Cambodian, Tagalog)
- 24% Other Indo-European languages (German, French, Russian, Scandinavian)
- 9% African languages (Somali, Amharic, Ibo, Twi, Yoruba, Bantu and Swahili)
- 4% Other (Native American, Arabic)
- See also: North Central American English
[edit] Religion
Although Christianity dominates the religious persuasion of residents, there is a long history of non-Christian faith. German-Jewish pioneers formed Saint Paul's first synagogue in 1856,[14] and there are now appreciable numbers of adherents to Islam, Buddhism, and other traditions. But Protestantism is adhered to by the majority of Minnesotans, and Roman Catholics are the largest single denomination.
A 2008 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life showed that 32% of Minnesotans were affiliated with Protestant traditions, 21% with Evangelical Protestants, 28% with Roman Catholic, 1% each with Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, and Black Protestant traditions, smaller amounts for other faiths, and 13% unaffiliated.[15] This is broadly consistent with a 2001 survey, which indicated that 25% of Minnesota's population was Roman Catholic, and 24% was Lutheran. Other religious groups represented were Baptists (5%), Methodists (4%), Presbyterians (2%), the Assembly of God (2%), and the Church of God (2%). Christians with unstated or other denominational affiliations, including other Mainline Protestants, totalled 13%, bringing the total Christian population to 77%. Non-Christian religions, such as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, together represented 3% of the population. Fourteen percent of respondents answered "no religion" on the survey, and 6% refused to answer.[16]
[edit] Education
Minnesota ranks 3rd in the nation, boasting that 90.9% of adult residents have achieved a high school diploma, and 11th in the nation with 30.7% having earned a bachelors degree or higher.[17] In 2004, about 65 percent of Minnesota's high school graduates enrolled in postsecondary education following graduation.[18] Due to a bubble in the population, in 2009 the state is expected to graduate the highest number of students in its history. In subsequent years, the number graduating is expected to decline.[18] This is especially true for caucasian students, whose proportion will decline from 87% in 2005 to 80% by 2015.[18] Many Minnesota adults pursue higher education in one of the state-supported colleges or Universities. These include those in the University of Minnesota system, which had 65,247 enrollees in 2004, and MnSCU which had 369,000 students in 2006.[19]
[edit] Occupation
The state continues to transform from an agricultural and natural resource-based economy to a high-tech and financial services-based one. Minnesota ranks 2nd in the nation, with 72.2% of adults in the labor force and 5.5% are unemployed. Occupations estimated in 2005 are:
- Management/professional 36%
- Sales and other office 26%
- Service 15%
- Manufacturing/production/transportation 13%
- Construction/mining/maintenance/repair 9%
- Farming/logging/fishing 1%[17]
Veterans of the armed forces account for 10.8% of the adult population, which is 40th in the nation. Adults with disabilities total 12.2% of the population.[17]
[edit] Income
In 2005 the median household income in the state was $52,024, 11th highest statewide average in the nation.[17] In contrast, 13.3% of individuals live below the poverty line, ranking 47th in the nation.[17]
[edit] Home ownership
Minnesota ranks first in the nation in owner-occupied home ownership, with 75.8% of residents living in their own home, with an average mortgage payment of $1351 per month. Twenty four percent are tenants.[17]
[edit] Marital status
The typical adult Minnesotan is married, although the numbers are shrinking. Fifty six percent report themselves as being married; widows/widowers comprise 5%; divorcees and those separated are 10%,[17] and those adults never married are 29%.[20]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Table 1: Estimates of Population Change for the United States and States, and for Puerto Rico and State Rankings: July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ Environmental Information Report, App. D Socioeconomic Information (PDF). Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (2003-05-30). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
- ^ national and state population estimates. Annual Population Estimates 2000 to 2006. US Census Bureau (2006-12-22). Retrieved on 2006-12-22.
- ^ statecenters. U.S. Census Bureau (2000). Retrieved on 2006-11-21.
- ^ Minnesota - DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics. Retrieved on 2006-07-26.
- ^ a b Minnesota - Selected Social Characteristics. U.S. Census Bureau (2004). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
- ^ National Selected Social Characteristics. U.S. Census Bureau (2004). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
- ^ Minnesota Population Projections by Race and Hispanic Origin (PDF). Minnesota Department of Administration (2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-14.
- ^ Modern Language Ass'n List of Hmong Language speakers by State using 2000 census data; Minnesota is third in the nation. Modern Language Association (2004). Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
- ^ - German Migration to Minnesota. Minnesota State University Anthropology Department. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ Lass, William E. [1977] (1998). Minnesota: A History, 2nd, New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-04628-1.
- ^ Henderson, O.Kay (2007). Mondale, Ray join to remember rescue of "boat people". Radio Iowa. Learfield Communications, Inc.. Retrieved on 2007-05-12.
- ^ S1601. Language Spoken at Home. U.S. Census Bureau (2005). Retrieved on 2006-12-04.
- ^ Gilman, Rhonda R. (1989). The Story of Minnesota's Past. Saint Paul, Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 99. ISBN 0-87351-267-7.
- ^ Religious Composition of Minnesota. Maps, U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. Pew Research Center (2008-02-25). Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
- ^ American Religious Identification Survey. Exhibit 15. The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Retrieved on 2006-11-24.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fact Sheet - Minnesota. U.S. Census Bureau (2005). Retrieved on 2006-12-04.
- ^ a b c Minnesota High School Graduates Will Peak in 2009. Insight Newsletter. Minnesota Office of Higher Education (April, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.
- ^ Amazing Facts (pdf). Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (January, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.
- ^ Fact Sheet - Minnesota. U.S. Census Bureau (2005). Retrieved on 2006-12-04.
