Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Minnesota

McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Minnesota

In certain corners of the U.S., the only way you’ll ever be considered a local is if you were born there. Elsewhere, particularly in major metropolitan centers, the constant influx of new businesses, college students, and families can transform neighborhoods every few years and certainly decade over decade.

Americans change their addresses at higher rates than most other countries, but that “move, move, move” mentality may be shifting. In 2016, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that only 11.2% of respondents had moved within the last year. Additionally, 72% of Americans reported living in or close to the city they grew up in. To learn more about where people are staying put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Minnesota using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state as of 2019.

Keep reading to discover which counties in your state have the most born-and-bred residents.

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Cass County

- Population: 29,268
- Born in Minnesota: 22,915 (78.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,914 (20.2% of population)
--- Midwest (13.9%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.0%), West (3.4%)
- Born in another country: 341 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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McGhiever // Wikicommons

#29. Stearns County

- Population: 158,452
- Born in Minnesota: 124,673 (78.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 22,384 (14.1% of population)
--- Midwest (8.8%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.0%), West (2.4%)
- Born in another country: 10,739 (6.8% of population)
--- Africa (3.8%), Asia (1.6%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (1.1%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Elkman // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Aitkin County

- Population: 15,834
- Born in Minnesota: 12,509 (79.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,065 (19.4% of population)
--- Midwest (11.3%), Northeast (1.5%), South (2.1%), West (4.3%)
- Born in another country: 194 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Wadena County

- Population: 13,654
- Born in Minnesota: 10,806 (79.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,592 (19.0% of population)
--- Midwest (10.9%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.5%), West (4.7%)
- Born in another country: 204 (1.5% of population)
--- Africa (0.6%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Crow Wing County

- Population: 64,217
- Born in Minnesota: 50,946 (79.3% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 12,123 (18.9% of population)
--- Midwest (11.9%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.4%), West (3.7%)
- Born in another country: 862 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Clearwater County

- Population: 8,821
- Born in Minnesota: 7,003 (79.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,685 (19.1% of population)
--- Midwest (11.9%), Northeast (0.7%), South (2.5%), West (3.9%)
- Born in another country: 87 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Wright County

- Population: 134,438
- Born in Minnesota: 106,774 (79.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 23,111 (17.2% of population)
--- Midwest (10.2%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.7%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 3,770 (2.8% of population)
--- Africa (0.3%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.6%), Latin America (1.1%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Sherburne County

- Population: 94,463
- Born in Minnesota: 75,141 (79.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 15,632 (16.5% of population)
--- Midwest (10.1%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.3%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 3,216 (3.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.8%), Asia (0.8%), Europe (0.7%), Latin America (0.9%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Red Lake County

- Population: 4,015
- Born in Minnesota: 3,202 (79.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 759 (18.9% of population)
--- Midwest (12.4%), Northeast (0.7%), South (2.6%), West (3.2%)
- Born in another country: 44 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Chisago County

- Population: 55,315
- Born in Minnesota: 44,144 (79.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 9,944 (18.0% of population)
--- Midwest (12.5%), Northeast (0.9%), South (1.5%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 1,045 (1.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.5%), North America (0.4%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Itasca County

- Population: 45,141
- Born in Minnesota: 36,088 (79.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 8,393 (18.6% of population)
--- Midwest (11.8%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.0%), West (3.6%)
- Born in another country: 488 (1.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Benton County

- Population: 40,129
- Born in Minnesota: 32,246 (80.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,024 (15.0% of population)
--- Midwest (8.5%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.9%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 1,580 (3.9% of population)
--- Africa (1.8%), Asia (0.9%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.8%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Andrew Filer (afiler) // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Mahnomen County

- Population: 5,501
- Born in Minnesota: 4,435 (80.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,023 (18.6% of population)
--- Midwest (12.8%), Northeast (0.7%), South (2.2%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 40 (0.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Yellow Medicine County

- Population: 9,814
- Born in Minnesota: 7,930 (80.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,644 (16.8% of population)
--- Midwest (12.1%), Northeast (0.9%), South (1.8%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 210 (2.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Brown County

- Population: 25,163
- Born in Minnesota: 20,344 (80.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,148 (16.5% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (0.7%), South (3.2%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 607 (2.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Douglas County

- Population: 37,513
- Born in Minnesota: 30,424 (81.1% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,483 (17.3% of population)
--- Midwest (12.2%), Northeast (0.9%), South (1.7%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 506 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (0.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Carlton County

- Population: 35,633
- Born in Minnesota: 29,025 (81.5% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,946 (16.7% of population)
--- Midwest (9.8%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.1%), West (3.5%)
- Born in another country: 464 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.1%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Kanabec County

- Population: 16,089
- Born in Minnesota: 13,128 (81.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,775 (17.2% of population)
--- Midwest (11.5%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.0%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 158 (1.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (0.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Elkman // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Sibley County

- Population: 14,892
- Born in Minnesota: 12,164 (81.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,950 (13.1% of population)
--- Midwest (7.5%), Northeast (0.9%), South (2.5%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 759 (5.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (4.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Isanti County

- Population: 39,430
- Born in Minnesota: 32,210 (81.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 6,166 (15.6% of population)
--- Midwest (9.2%), Northeast (1.0%), South (2.1%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 621 (1.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.7%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Le Sueur County

- Population: 28,242
- Born in Minnesota: 23,105 (81.8% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,325 (15.3% of population)
--- Midwest (8.6%), Northeast (0.8%), South (3.3%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 743 (2.6% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (2.0%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Gobonobo // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Grant County

- Population: 5,935
- Born in Minnesota: 4,861 (81.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,010 (17.0% of population)
--- Midwest (10.5%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.3%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 56 (0.9% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.0%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#8. McLeod County

- Population: 35,832
- Born in Minnesota: 29,515 (82.4% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 5,124 (14.3% of population)
--- Midwest (8.0%), Northeast (0.8%), South (2.6%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 1,071 (3.0% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (1.7%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Mille Lacs County

- Population: 25,865
- Born in Minnesota: 21,402 (82.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 4,002 (15.5% of population)
--- Midwest (8.9%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.3%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 346 (1.3% of population)
--- Africa (0.1%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.4%), Latin America (0.4%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Pope County

- Population: 11,048
- Born in Minnesota: 9,161 (82.9% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,747 (15.8% of population)
--- Midwest (10.1%), Northeast (1.0%), South (1.4%), West (3.3%)
- Born in another country: 129 (1.2% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.6%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Renville County

- Population: 14,652
- Born in Minnesota: 12,196 (83.2% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,978 (13.5% of population)
--- Midwest (6.9%), Northeast (0.2%), South (4.8%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 447 (3.1% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.4%), Europe (0.5%), Latin America (2.1%), North America (0.0%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Swift County

- Population: 9,359
- Born in Minnesota: 7,825 (83.6% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 1,270 (13.6% of population)
--- Midwest (7.1%), Northeast (0.8%), South (2.5%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 250 (2.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.3%), Asia (0.2%), Europe (0.1%), Latin America (1.5%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.4%)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Redwood County

- Population: 15,261
- Born in Minnesota: 12,823 (84.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 2,032 (13.3% of population)
--- Midwest (7.6%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.0%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 363 (2.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.2%), Asia (1.6%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (0.3%), North America (0.2%), Oceania (0.0%)

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Elkman // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Meeker County

- Population: 23,105
- Born in Minnesota: 19,571 (84.7% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,117 (13.5% of population)
--- Midwest (7.7%), Northeast (0.8%), South (1.9%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 396 (1.7% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.2%), Latin America (1.2%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Morrison County

- Population: 33,064
- Born in Minnesota: 28,779 (87.0% of population)
- Born in another U.S. state or territory: 3,737 (11.3% of population)
--- Midwest (6.1%), Northeast (1.0%), South (1.3%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 473 (1.4% of population)
--- Africa (0.0%), Asia (0.3%), Europe (0.3%), Latin America (0.8%), North America (0.1%), Oceania (0.0%)