Minnesota

Stearns

158,292
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Stearns

Stearns, Minnesota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 4,505. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 158,292.

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

On the ground today, 35 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020158,292
2010150,642
2000133,166
1990118,791
1980108,161
197095,400
196080,345
195070,681
194067,200
193062,121
192055,741
191047,733
190044,464
189034,844
188021,956
187014,206
18604,505
Source

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

Historic places in Stearns

National Register of Historic Places listings in Stearns, Minnesota.

Church of the Sacred Heart (Catholic)
Freeport
Majerus, Michael, House
St. Cloud
Borgerding, Christopher, House
Belgrade
St. Benedict's Convent and College Historic District
St. Joseph
Palmer House Hotel
Sauk Centre
Church of the Immaculate Conception-Catholic
Avon
Church of St. Boniface
Melrose
Pan Motor Company Office and Sheet Metal Works
St. Cloud
First State Bank
St. Joseph
Oster, John, House
Cold Spring
Church of St. Stephen-Catholic
St. Stephen
Arnold, Francis, House
St. Cloud
St. Cloud Commercial Historic District
St. Cloud
Foley-Brower-Bohmer House
St. Cloud
Fair Haven Flour Mill
Fairhaven
Clark and McCormack Quarry and House
Rockville
Lewis, Sinclair, Boyhood Home
Sauk Centre
Peters, Ferdinand, House
Cold Spring
Hermanutz, Eugene, House
Cold Spring
Bishop's House/Chancery Office
St. Cloud
Gogala, Anton, Farmstead
St. Anthony
Church of St. Joseph-Catholic
St. Joseph
Bensen, John N., House
St. Cloud
Church of St. Mary Help of Christians-Catholic
St. Augusta
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Other counties in Minnesota

Explore census history and historic records for more Minnesota counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Stearns County, Minnesota

This page charts the census history of Stearns 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 Stearns

When does Stearns first appear in the US census?
Stearns, Minnesota first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 4,505.
What is the population of Stearns?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Stearns had a recorded population of 158,292.
How many historic places are in Stearns?
35 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Stearns, Minnesota.
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