Mower County is located in southeastern Minnesota along the Iowa border, part of the state’s Upper Midwest prairie and river-valley region. Established in 1853 and named for territorial governor John Edward Mower, the county developed around agriculture and later diversified with manufacturing and regional services centered on its largest city. Mower County is mid-sized by Minnesota standards, with a population of about 40,000 residents. The landscape is largely rural, characterized by productive farmland, gentle rolling terrain, and waterways including the Upper Iowa River headwaters and tributaries of the Cedar River system. Agriculture remains prominent, alongside food processing, light manufacturing, and healthcare-related employment tied to the Austin area. Communities in the county combine small-town culture with regional commercial activity, reflecting a mix of rural traditions and modern industry. The county seat is Austin.

Mower County Local Demographic Profile

Mower County is located in southeastern Minnesota along the Iowa border, with Austin as its principal city and county seat. The county is part of the broader Upper Midwest agricultural and manufacturing region.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Mower County, Minnesota, the county had:

  • Population (2020 Census): 39,163
  • Population (2023 estimate): 40,042

Age & Gender

According to data.census.gov (ACS 5-year tables for Mower County), the county’s age structure is summarized by major age groups:

  • Under 18 years: 23.1%
  • 18 to 64 years: 59.8%
  • 65 years and over: 17.1%

Gender composition (ACS 5-year):

  • Female: 49.3%
  • Male: 50.7%

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts profile for Mower County (race categories reflect “one race” unless noted), the county’s composition includes:

  • White: 83.3%
  • Black or African American: 4.6%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4%
  • Asian: 1.1%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.0%
  • Two or more races: 6.2%
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 12.3%

Household Data

According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts:

  • Households (2018–2022): 15,607
  • Persons per household (2018–2022): 2.48

Housing Data

According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts:

  • Housing units (2018–2022): 17,188
  • Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2018–2022): 69.5%
  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units (2018–2022, dollars): $173,600
  • Median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage (2018–2022, dollars): $1,327
  • Median gross rent (2018–2022, dollars): $819

For local government and planning resources, visit the Mower County official website.

Email Usage

Mower County’s mix of small cities (Austin) and dispersed rural areas reduces population density in many townships, which can constrain broadband buildout and make digital communication less uniform across the county.

Direct county-level email usage statistics are generally not published; email adoption is commonly inferred from proxy indicators such as household broadband and computer access. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) data portal, key digital access measures for Mower County include rates of household broadband subscriptions and the share of households with a desktop or laptop computer, both of which are strongly associated with routine email use for work, school, healthcare, and government services.

Age structure also affects email uptake: older populations tend to have lower overall internet use and may rely more on phone or in-person communication, while working-age adults and students show higher reliance on email and account-based services. County-level age distribution is available through the ACS demographic profiles.

Gender distribution is typically near-balanced and is not a primary predictor of email use compared with age, income, and connectivity.

Infrastructure limitations are reflected in broadband availability gaps and service quality in rural areas; countywide planning and connectivity context are commonly documented via the Mower County government and state broadband resources such as the Minnesota DEED Office of Broadband Development.

Mobile Phone Usage

Mower County is in southeastern Minnesota along the Iowa border, anchored by the city of Austin and surrounded by smaller towns and agricultural land. This mixed urban–rural settlement pattern, relatively flat to gently rolling terrain typical of the region, and lower population density outside Austin influence mobile connectivity by increasing the distance between cell sites and making service quality more variable in rural areas than in the county’s population centers.

Mobile access and penetration indicators (adoption vs availability)

Network availability (coverage)

Network availability refers to whether mobile broadband service is reported as present in a location, not whether residents subscribe.

  • The primary public sources for county-scale mobile broadband availability are the Federal Communications Commission’s provider-reported datasets and maps. The FCC’s mobile coverage information can be viewed through the FCC National Broadband Map, which includes mobile broadband availability by technology (including 4G LTE and 5G) and provider-reported coverage.
  • Minnesota also publishes statewide broadband context and program information through the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development (DEED). State materials are useful for understanding broader regional infrastructure patterns, but do not consistently provide county-specific mobile subscription rates.

Limitations: FCC mobile availability is based on provider submissions and represents reported coverage, not guaranteed in-building performance, signal strength at street level, or user experience during congestion.

Household adoption (subscriptions and device access)

Adoption refers to whether households or individuals actually subscribe to and use mobile service.

  • The most consistently available county-level adoption indicators come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), which measures household internet access types, including “cellular data plan.” County tables and profiles can be accessed via data.census.gov (search for Mower County, MN and internet subscription/access tables).
  • ACS indicators describe household-reported access and subscription types, not network performance or coverage quality.

Limitations: Public ACS tables can support county comparisons (cellular data plan, broadband such as cable/fiber/DSL, and “internet access” measures), but do not break out 4G vs 5G usage or handset capability at the county level.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G and 5G)

4G LTE availability and use

  • 4G LTE is the baseline mobile broadband technology across most of Minnesota, including rural counties, and is generally the most widely available mobile technology outside dense urban cores. County-specific 4G availability should be verified using the FCC National Broadband Map by selecting Mower County and filtering by mobile technologies.
  • Actual use of 4G depends on device capability, plan type, indoor reception, and congestion. Public county-level statistics on the share of residents using 4G specifically are not generally published.

5G availability and use

  • 5G availability is typically more localized than LTE and is often concentrated along highways, in cities, and near higher-demand areas. In Mower County, provider-reported 5G coverage footprints and categories can be reviewed using the FCC National Broadband Map.
  • Publicly available county-level adoption metrics distinguishing 5G subscriptions from LTE subscriptions are limited; most official adoption datasets report internet subscription types without specifying radio generation.

Common device types (smartphones vs other devices)

  • At the county level, public datasets more commonly report “cellular data plan” access rather than device type (smartphone vs basic phone vs hotspot). The ACS provides indicators related to internet subscriptions and devices in the home but does not provide a consistently detailed breakdown of smartphone ownership at the county level in standard tables. County access measures can be retrieved via data.census.gov.
  • Market-research measures of smartphone share and device mix are often proprietary and not published in a way that supports verifiable county-level reporting for Mower County.

Limitation: A definitive, county-specific distribution of smartphones versus non-smartphones is not typically available from official public datasets; the most defensible public proxy is the household “cellular data plan” subscription measure (adoption), which does not uniquely identify device form factors.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage

Settlement patterns and population density

  • Mower County’s population is concentrated in and around Austin, with smaller communities and rural townships elsewhere. Lower-density areas generally have fewer cell sites per square mile, which can reduce in-building performance and increase the likelihood of coverage gaps compared with denser neighborhoods.
  • County geography and municipal boundaries can be referenced through the Mower County website for local context, while demographic and housing patterns that correlate with connectivity and subscription adoption are available from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Income, age, and housing characteristics (adoption drivers)

  • Household income, age distribution, and housing tenure are commonly associated with differences in internet subscription type (mobile-only vs fixed broadband) and overall internet adoption. The ACS provides county-level measures for these characteristics alongside internet subscription measures on data.census.gov.
  • Public sources support describing correlations at a general level, but county-specific causal claims about why households choose mobile-only service versus fixed broadband are not directly measured in official datasets.

Rural coverage variability and indoor reception

  • Reported availability can differ materially from user experience due to building materials, tree cover, and distance from towers—factors that tend to be more consequential in rural areas and at the edges of coverage footprints. Official datasets primarily capture reported service presence rather than indoor signal quality; the FCC National Broadband Map is the standard reference for reported availability.

Clear distinction: availability vs adoption in Mower County

  • Availability (network supply): Best measured using the FCC National Broadband Map for provider-reported 4G/5G coverage and mobile broadband availability.
  • Adoption (household demand): Best measured using county ACS subscription indicators, including households reporting a cellular data plan, via data.census.gov.

Data gaps and limitations at the county level

  • Public, verifiable county-level statistics are generally available for household internet subscription types (including cellular data plan) through the ACS, and for provider-reported availability through FCC mapping.
  • Public, verifiable county-level statistics are generally not available for:
    • the share of users on 4G vs 5G subscriptions,
    • detailed device-type distributions (smartphone vs flip phone vs hotspot),
    • measured in-building performance or consistent countywide speed/latency distributions attributable solely to mobile networks.

Social Media Trends

Mower County is in southeastern Minnesota along the Iowa border, anchored by Austin (the county seat) and the I‑90 corridor. The county’s mix of a mid‑sized regional city, smaller towns, and a substantial manufacturing and healthcare presence contributes to social media use patterns that generally track statewide and national adoption, with heavier use among working‑age adults, parents, and younger residents.

User statistics (penetration and active use)

  • Overall adult social media use (benchmark): About 7 in 10 U.S. adults (≈69%) report using social media, providing the most widely cited baseline for local interpretation where county-specific measurements are limited. Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
  • Smartphone access (key enabler): Roughly 9 in 10 U.S. adults use a smartphone, supporting near‑continuous access to social platforms. Source: Pew Research Center mobile fact sheet.
  • County-level specificity: Publicly available, methodologically consistent county-level “% active on social platforms” estimates are uncommon; most reliable statistics are reported at national/state levels (Pew, U.S. Census internet access tables, and major industry datasets).

Age group trends

National survey results are typically used to describe age patterns in counties such as Mower due to limited county-specific polling.

  • Highest use: Ages 18–29 show the highest social media adoption across platforms.
  • Middle-high use: Ages 30–49 remain heavy users, particularly for platforms tied to family networks, local groups, and short-form video.
  • Lower use: Ages 65+ have lower overall social media use than younger adults but continue to grow, with stronger concentration on established platforms. Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet (by age).

Gender breakdown

  • Women vs. men (overall): Gender differences vary by platform more than by overall “any social media” use.
  • Platform-skew patterns (national): Usage tends to skew more female on Pinterest and more male on platforms such as Reddit, while Facebook and Instagram are closer to balanced in many survey waves. Source: Pew Research Center platform-by-demographics tables.

Most-used platforms (with percentages where available)

The following are widely cited U.S. adult usage shares (not county-specific) that commonly describe platform prevalence in counties with similar urban–rural mixes:

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

  • Video-first consumption: High YouTube reach and growth in short‑form video contribute to video as a primary discovery and entertainment format, with TikTok and Instagram Reels reinforcing this pattern. Source: Pew Research Center platform usage data.
  • Local community information via Facebook: In many U.S. communities, Facebook remains a common hub for local announcements, events, buy/sell activity, and community groups, reflecting its broad adoption among adults and older age bands. Source: Pew Research Center Facebook usage and demographics.
  • Age-linked platform specialization: Younger adults disproportionately drive usage on TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, while Facebook over-indexes among older adults relative to newer platforms. Source: Pew Research Center age-by-platform breakdowns.
  • Messaging and private sharing: A substantial share of social activity occurs through direct messages and private groups, aligning with broader national shifts toward smaller-audience sharing rather than exclusively public posting. Source: Pew Research Center internet and technology research.

Family & Associates Records

Mower County maintains vital records such as birth and death certificates through the Mower County Recorder as the county’s local registrar for the Minnesota Department of Health. Marriage records are also commonly filed and indexed through the Recorder. Adoption records are not maintained as open public files at the county level; adoption-related information is generally handled through state processes and the courts.

Public index access is available for some record types. Property ownership and related instruments (often used for associational research) can be searched via the county’s Property/Tax and Parcel Information resources, and court-related public records (including many civil, family, and probate case registers) are accessible through the Minnesota Judicial Branch Access Case Records portal. Recorded land documents and official records are accessible through the Recorder’s office in person and, where available, through county-provided search tools referenced on the Recorder’s page.

Access to certified copies of birth and death records is restricted under Minnesota vital records rules; requestors are typically limited to eligible parties and may need valid identification. Many court records are public by default, but certain family matters (including adoption and some juvenile/child protection records) are confidential or access-limited under state court rules.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

Marriage records

  • Marriage license application and license: Issued by the county; includes the parties’ identifying and eligibility information recorded at the time of application and issuance.
  • Marriage certificate/record of marriage: Filed after the ceremony when the officiant returns the completed license to the county; forms the county’s official marriage record.
  • Certified and non-certified copies: Certified copies are commonly used for legal purposes; non-certified copies are informational.

Divorce records

  • Divorce case file (dissolution of marriage): Court-maintained file containing pleadings and orders generated during the case.
  • Divorce decree / Judgment and Decree: The final court order ending the marriage and setting terms such as property division, custody, parenting time, child support, and spousal maintenance (as applicable).
  • Divorce certificates (state vital record): Minnesota maintains a statewide divorce record separate from the full court file; this is typically a summary-style vital record rather than the complete decree.

Annulment records

  • Annulment case file: Court-maintained file for actions declaring a marriage void or voidable under Minnesota law.
  • Order/Judgment of annulment: Final court order addressing marital status and related issues where applicable.
  • State vital record: Minnesota also maintains a statewide record for annulments similar to divorce vital records.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Mower County marriage records (county vital records)

  • Filed/maintained by: Mower County (the local registrar/county vital records office) for marriages licensed in Mower County.
  • Access: Requests are commonly handled through the county vital records office for certified/non-certified copies of marriage records.

Minnesota marriage records (state vital records)

Mower County divorce and annulment records (court records)

  • Filed/maintained by: Minnesota District Court in the county where the case is filed; Mower County is within Minnesota’s Third Judicial District.
  • Access (case information): Basic case information and registers of actions are typically available through Minnesota Judicial Branch’s online case search for public cases.
    Reference: Minnesota Judicial Branch – Access case records
  • Access (documents and certified copies): Copies of decrees/judgments and other documents are obtained through the District Court’s court administration, subject to any sealing or restricted-access rules.

Minnesota divorce and annulment vital records (state vital records)

  • Filed/maintained by: Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Vital Records.
  • Access: Certified copies of divorce or annulment certificates are available through the state vital records system; these are not the same as the full court decree/judgment.
    Reference: Minnesota Department of Health – Divorce records

Typical information included in these records

Marriage license and marriage record

Commonly includes:

  • Full names of both parties (including prior/maiden names where reported)
  • Dates of birth or ages
  • Places of residence at time of application
  • Date of license issuance and date of marriage
  • Place of marriage (city/county/state) and officiant information
  • Prior marital status and number of prior marriages (as reported on the application)
  • Names of parents (often included on the application in Minnesota records)

Divorce decree / Judgment and Decree (court order)

Commonly includes:

  • Parties’ names and case caption, court file number, and county
  • Date the judgment is entered
  • Legal findings and dissolution terms, often addressing:
    • Legal and physical custody and parenting time (when minor children are involved)
    • Child support and medical support provisions
    • Spousal maintenance (alimony), when ordered
    • Division of marital property and debts
    • Name change provisions (when granted)

Divorce/annulment certificate (state vital record)

Typically a summary record that commonly includes:

  • Names of the parties
  • Date and county where the decree/judgment was granted
  • Court file number or similar identifiers (format varies)
  • Limited additional statistical/vital record fields rather than full terms of the court order

Annulment judgment/order

Commonly includes:

  • Parties’ names, court file number, county, and entry date
  • Determination that the marriage is void or voidable (as applicable)
  • Any associated orders (property, custody/support-related orders when relevant under Minnesota law)

Privacy or legal restrictions

Vital records (marriage; state divorce/annulment certificates)

  • Access is governed by Minnesota vital records laws and agency rules, with certified copies generally issued only to eligible requesters under state law or with demonstrated legal need as required by the issuing authority.
  • Non-certified/informational copies may be available in some contexts, but access and format are controlled by the issuing office.

Court records (divorce/annulment case files and decrees)

  • Presumption of public access applies to many Minnesota court records, but access is limited by:
    • Court orders sealing records in specific cases
    • Rules restricting certain categories of information (for example, protected identifiers, some financial source documents, and confidential records involving minors, abuse/harassment, or other protected proceedings)
  • Redaction requirements commonly apply to sensitive identifiers (such as Social Security numbers and certain financial account identifiers) in filed documents, consistent with Minnesota court rules and policies.

Identity and sensitive data protections

  • Both vital records offices and courts apply privacy controls and identity verification standards for certified copies.
  • Copies provided by government custodians may omit, mask, or restrict dissemination of protected data consistent with Minnesota statutes, court rules, and record custodian policies.

Education, Employment and Housing

Mower County is in southeastern Minnesota along the Iowa border, anchored by Austin (the county seat) and smaller communities such as Leroy, Lyle, Brownsdale, Grand Meadow, and Racine. The county is largely a mix of small-city and rural township living, with employment tied to manufacturing, health care, education, and agriculture. Recent population estimates place the county in the mid‑40,000s, with Austin accounting for the largest share of residents (official estimates are published by the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Mower County).

Education Indicators

Public schools (counts and names)

Public K–12 education is primarily delivered through multiple independent school districts serving Austin and surrounding small towns. A countywide “number of public schools” is not consistently reported as a single audited figure in one place (schools are tracked by district and by campus), so a reliable proxy is to reference district/campus directories and state school reports.

Key public districts serving Mower County include:

  • Austin Public Schools (ISD 492) (Austin area)
  • Leroy‑Ostrander Public Schools (ISD 264) (Leroy/Ostrander area)
  • Lyle Public Schools (ISD 497) (Lyle area)
  • Brownsdale Public Schools (ISD 254) (Brownsdale area)
  • Grand Meadow Public Schools (ISD 495) (Grand Meadow area)
  • Racine Public Schools (ISD 204) (Racine area)

School-by-school names and grade configurations are maintained in district sites and in Minnesota report cards; the most consistent statewide directory and performance source is the Minnesota Report Card (MDE) (search by district/school).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratios: Minnesota reports staffing and enrollment through district and school report cards rather than a single county aggregate. Ratios vary substantially by district size (Austin typically differs from smaller rural districts). The most comparable values are the district-level staffing/enrollment metrics in the Minnesota Report Card.
  • Graduation rates: Minnesota publishes 4‑year graduation rates at the district and high school level on the Minnesota Report Card. Mower County’s overall graduation profile is therefore best represented as a weighted mix of the county’s districts, rather than a single countywide rate.

Because the prompt requests the “most recent available data,” the definitive source for the latest graduation rate year and district-specific student–teacher information is the state report card (updated annually), which provides the current cohorts and accountability definitions used statewide.

Adult educational attainment

Countywide adult attainment is consistently available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and summarized on:

QuickFacts reports (for age 25+):

  • High school graduate or higher (%).
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (%).

These values are updated as ACS 5‑year estimates and represent the most stable county-level measure.

Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, Advanced Placement)

  • Career and technical education (CTE) / vocational programming: Minnesota districts report CTE participation and program offerings through local district catalogs and state reporting. In Mower County, CTE and work-based learning are typically offered in comprehensive high schools and via regional partnerships; the authoritative statewide framework is published by Minnesota Department of Education CTE.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) and college-credit options: AP availability is district/school-specific and is commonly paired with Minnesota options such as Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and concurrent enrollment; program documentation is maintained by districts and summarized in high school profiles and the Minnesota Report Card (where applicable).

A single consolidated list of “notable programs” across all districts is not maintained at the county level; the defensible proxy is district-level program guides and Minnesota Report Card summaries.

Safety measures and counseling resources

Minnesota districts implement required safety planning, emergency procedures, and student support services under statewide guidance. District-specific safety protocols and counseling resources are typically published in:

  • District student handbooks (building safety procedures, behavioral expectations, threat assessment practices)
  • District student services pages (school counselors, social workers, psychologists)

Statewide frameworks and requirements are documented through Minnesota Department of Education Safe and Supportive Schools and related MDE guidance. School-level staffing (including certain support roles) is also reflected in staffing reports and district disclosures; the most consistent public performance and demographic context remains the Minnesota Report Card.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent)

The most consistently published local unemployment rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS) and Minnesota’s labor market information system. For the most recent annual/period figures, use:

A single current value is not reproduced here because the most recent year/month changes with the publication cycle; the definitive “most recent” figure is the latest LAUS release for Mower County.

Major industries and sectors

Mower County’s employment base is typically led by:

  • Manufacturing (notably food processing and related manufacturing activity in the Austin area)
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Retail trade
  • Educational services
  • Construction
  • Agriculture and agribusiness (more prominent outside Austin)

County and regional industry employment distributions are available via:

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational composition for county residents is most directly measured via ACS and typically includes:

  • Production
  • Office and administrative support
  • Sales and related
  • Healthcare practitioners and support
  • Transportation and material moving
  • Education, training, and library
  • Construction and extraction
  • Management and business/financial

County occupational shares and labor force characteristics can be referenced through:

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

The standard county measure is the mean travel time to work (minutes) from ACS. This is available through:

Typical patterns in Mower County reflect:

  • Short-to-moderate commutes within Austin for city residents
  • Longer rural commutes from townships and smaller cities to Austin and to nearby employment centers in adjacent counties and across the Iowa border (depending on occupation and industry)

Local employment vs. out-of-county work

The most defensible county measure is ACS “place of work”/commuting flow data (residence-to-work), which can be summarized using:

In general, Austin functions as the primary in-county employment hub, while a notable share of residents commute to surrounding counties for specialized manufacturing, health care, education, construction, and services.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership vs. rental

County tenure (owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied) is most consistently published via ACS:

This provides:

  • Homeownership rate (%)
  • Renter share (%) (complement of owner share)

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units is reported in QuickFacts/ACS:
  • Trend context: County-level value changes over time are best derived from multi-year ACS series (to avoid single-year volatility). For market trend proxies (sale-price trends), regional MLS summaries are commonly used but are not standardized public datasets for a countywide reference; ACS remains the most consistent public measure.

Typical rent prices

ACS provides:

  • Median gross rent
  • Gross rent as a percentage of household income (in detailed tables)

Primary sources:

Types of housing stock

Mower County’s housing is generally characterized by:

  • Single-family detached homes dominating in Austin neighborhoods and small towns
  • Apartments and multi-unit rentals concentrated in Austin and near major corridors/services
  • Rural housing on larger lots and farmsteads throughout townships
  • A mix of older housing stock in established town centers and newer subdivisions at city edges (pattern varies by community)

The county’s unit-type distribution (single-unit vs. multi-unit vs. mobile home) is available in ACS housing structure tables via data.census.gov.

Neighborhood characteristics (schools/amenities)

  • Austin: More walkable access to schools, parks, retail, and health services in central neighborhoods; newer residential development tends to be on the periphery with stronger automobile dependence.
  • Small towns (e.g., Grand Meadow, Racine, Brownsdale, Leroy, Lyle): Compact residential cores near schools and community facilities; amenities are fewer than Austin and residents commonly travel to Austin or nearby counties for specialized services.
  • Rural areas: Greater separation from schools and retail; reliance on highway and county-road access.

These are structural characteristics of settlement patterns; precise proximity metrics are typically produced through GIS rather than standard county statistical releases.

Property tax overview (rates and typical cost)

Minnesota property taxes vary materially by:

  • Property classification (homestead vs. non-homestead)
  • Local levies (city, county, school district, special districts)
  • Taxable market value and exclusions

Countywide “average rate” is not a single uniform figure because effective tax rates differ by jurisdiction and property type. The definitive public references are:

A reasonable proxy measure for “typical homeowner cost” is the median owner costs (with/without a mortgage) in ACS, which bundles taxes, insurance, and utilities:

For an itemized local tax bill example, the most authoritative source is the jurisdiction-issued property tax statement and county property tax records (not standardized as a single county summary statistic in ACS/QuickFacts).

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Other Counties in Minnesota