Minnesota

Big Stone

5,166
2020 population
1870
first census record
16
census records

About Big Stone

Big Stone, Minnesota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1870, when it recorded a population of 24. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,166.

Its recorded population peaked at 10,447 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 51 percent.

On the ground today, 7 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,166
20105,269
20005,820
19906,285
19807,716
19707,941
19608,954
19509,607
194010,447
19309,838
19209,766
19109,367
19008,731
18905,722
18803,688
187024
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Big Stone

National Register of Historic Places listings in Big Stone, Minnesota.

Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot
Clinton
Big Stone County Courthouse
Ortonville
St. Pauli Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Almond Township
Browse all Minnesotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Minnesota

Explore census history and historic records for more Minnesota counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Big Stone County, Minnesota

This page charts the census history of Big Stone County, Minnesota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Big Stone

When does Big Stone first appear in the US census?
Big Stone, Minnesota first appears in the federal census in 1870, with a recorded population of 24.
What is the population of Big Stone?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Big Stone had a recorded population of 5,166.
When did Big Stone's population peak?
Big Stone's recorded population peaked at 10,447 in 1940.
How many historic places are in Big Stone?
7 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Big Stone, Minnesota.
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