Minnesota

Renville

14,723
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Renville

Renville, Minnesota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 245. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 14,723.

Its recorded population peaked at 24,625 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 40 percent.

On the ground today, 26 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Acton, Sioux Uprising — Battle of Birch Coulee 1862, Ambush at Redwood Agency, and 9 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202014,723
201015,730
200017,154
199017,673
198020,401
197021,139
196023,249
195023,954
194024,625
193023,645
192023,634
191023,123
190023,693
189017,099
188010,791
18703,219
1860245
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Renville

Military engagements that took place in Renville, Minnesota.

Battle of Acton
1862
Sioux Uprising — Battle of Birch Coulee 1862
1862
Ambush at Redwood Agency
1862
Yellow Medicine Agency Attack — Dakota War (August 18, 1862)
1862
Battle of Birch Coulee — Messenger Attack (September 2, 1862)
1862
Redwood Agency Attack
1862
Lower Sioux Agency Attack
1862
Battle of Birch Coulee — Burial Detail Ambush (September 2, 1862)
1862
Battle of Redwood Agency — Trader Stores Attack
1862
Minnesota — Wood Lake — Sibley's Advance
1862
Sacred Heart Creek Massacre
1862
Dakota War – Battle of Birch Coulee
1862
Camp Release to Mankato March 1862
1862
Camp Release
1862
Lower Sioux Agency Massacre
1862
Battle of Birch Coulee
1862
Minnesota River Valley Sack — Beaver Falls and Surrounding Townships
1862
Redwood Ferry Massacre
1862
Battle of Wood Lake (Dakota War 1862)
1862
Battle of Wood Lake — Sibley's Decisive Victory (September 23, 1862)
1862
Simon Anawangmani and the Friendly Dakota 1862
1862
Sacred Heart Creek Attack — Dakota War (August 1862)
1862
Battle of Birch Coulee — Night Phase
1862
Battle of Birch Coulee (Dakota War 1862)
1862
Minnesota Uprising – Wood Lake Battle
1862
Attack on Sacred Heart Creek (August 1862)
1862

Historic places in Renville

National Register of Historic Places listings in Renville, Minnesota.

Birch Coulee
Morton
Brown, Joseph, House Ruins
Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Public School
Sacred Heart
Heins Block
Olivia
Minneapolis and St. Louis Depot
Fairfax
Renville County Courthouse and Jail
Olivia
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 Renville County, Minnesota

This page charts the census history of Renville 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 Renville

When does Renville first appear in the US census?
Renville, Minnesota first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 245.
What is the population of Renville?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Renville had a recorded population of 14,723.
When did Renville's population peak?
Renville's recorded population peaked at 24,625 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Renville?
26 documented military engagements took place in Renville, including Battle of Acton, Sioux Uprising — Battle of Birch Coulee 1862, Ambush at Redwood Agency.
How many historic places are in Renville?
9 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Renville, Minnesota.
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