Minnesota

Blue Earth

69,112
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Blue Earth

Blue Earth, Minnesota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 4,803. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 69,112.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 6 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Cambria Site Conflict – Minnesota, Mankato Execution Site — Dakota War Aftermath, Mankato Executions — 38 Dakota Hanged (December 26, 1862), and 29 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202069,112
201064,013
200055,941
199054,044
198052,314
197052,322
196044,385
195038,327
194036,203
193033,847
192031,477
191029,337
190032,263
189029,210
188022,889
187017,302
18604,803
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Blue Earth

Military engagements that took place in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

Cambria Site Conflict – Minnesota
1200
Mankato Execution Site — Dakota War Aftermath
1862
Mankato Executions — 38 Dakota Hanged (December 26, 1862)
1862
Mankato Execution — Dakota War Aftermath
1862
Mankato Mass Execution — 38 Dakota Hanged (December 26, 1862)
1862
Mankato District Raids 1862
1862

Historic places in Blue Earth

National Register of Historic Places listings in Blue Earth, Minnesota.

Mankato Public Library and Reading Room
Mankato
First National Bank of Mankato
Mankato
Seppman Mill
Sky Line
Marsh Concrete Rainbow Arch Bridge
Courtland
First Baptist Church
Lake Crystal
Eberhart, Adolph O., House
Mankato
Hubbard, Renesselaer D., House
Mankato
Old Main, Mankato State Teachers College (Boundary Decrease)
Mankato
Cray, Lorin, House
Mankato
Troendle, Lucas, House
Mapleton
Brandrup, J. R., House
Mankato
Federal Courthouse and Post Office
Mankato
Dodd Ford Bridge
Shelby
Old Main, Mankato State Teachers College
Mankato
Kern Bridge
Skyline
First Presbyterian Church
Mankato
Mapleton Public Library
Mapleton
Blue Earth County Courthouse
Mankato
Browse all Minnesotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Minnesota

Explore census history and historic records for more Minnesota counties.

RedwoodRenvilleRiceRockRoseauScottSherburneSibleySt. LouisStearnsSteeleStevensSwiftToddTraverseWabashaWadenaWahnataWasecaWashington
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Everything a full report reveals about Blue Earth County, Minnesota

This page charts the census history of Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth

When does Blue Earth first appear in the US census?
Blue Earth, Minnesota first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 4,803.
What is the population of Blue Earth?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Blue Earth had a recorded population of 69,112.
Were any battles fought in Blue Earth?
6 documented military engagements took place in Blue Earth, including Cambria Site Conflict – Minnesota, Mankato Execution Site — Dakota War Aftermath, Mankato Executions — 38 Dakota Hanged (December 26, 1862).
How many historic places are in Blue Earth?
29 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Blue Earth, Minnesota.
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