Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Minnesota
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.
#30. Cass County
- 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%)
#29. Stearns County
- 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%)
#28. Aitkin County
- 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%)
#27. Wadena County
- 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%)
#26. Crow Wing County
- 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%)
#25. Clearwater County
- 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%)
#24. Wright County
- 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%)
#23. Sherburne County
- 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%)
#22. Red Lake County
- 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%)
#21. Chisago County
- 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%)
#20. Itasca County
- 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%)
#19. Benton County
- 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%)
#18. Mahnomen County
- 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%)
#17. Yellow Medicine County
- 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%)
#16. Brown County
- 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%)
#15. Douglas County
- 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%)
#14. Carlton County
- 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%)
#13. Kanabec County
- 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%)
#12. Sibley County
- 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%)
#11. Isanti County
- 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%)
#10. Le Sueur County
- 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%)
#9. Grant County
- 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%)
#8. McLeod County
- 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%)
#7. Mille Lacs County
- 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%)
#6. Pope County
- 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%)
#5. Renville County
- 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%)
#4. Swift County
- 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%)
#3. Redwood County
- 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%)
#2. Meeker County
- 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%)
#1. Morrison County
- 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%)