Sherburne County is a county in Central Minnesota. At the 2020 census, the population was 97,183. The county seat is Elk River.
Sherburne County is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The Wisconsin Territory was established by the federal government effective July 3, 1836, and existed until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as Wisconsin) in 1848. Therefore, the federal government set up the Minnesota Territory effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. One of those original counties, Benton, had its southern section partitioned off on February 25, 1856, to form a new county. It was named Sherburne, to recognize Moses Sherburne (1808-1868), a prominent area attorney, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Minnesota Territory (1853-1857), who retired to the county and spent his final year of life there (in Orono).
The area now delineated by Big Lake Township was first settled in 1848; the small village was named Humboldt. When the county creation was announced in 1856, Humboldt was named the county seat. The area now covered by Elk River was also first settled in 1848. Two villages grew up, fairly close together: Orono (platted 1855); and Elk River Village (platted 1865). Their growth was such that by 1867 a county vote moved the county seat from Humboldt to Elk River (designated as "The Lower Town" in the vote, to distinguish it from nearby Orono. The two villages merged under the name 'Elk River' in 1881). Also in 1867, the village of Humboldt changed its name to Big Lake.
The boundaries of Sherburne County have remained as created since 1856.
Geography
The Mississippi River flows southeast along the county's south border. The Rum River flows southeast through the county's upper east portion. The Elk River rises in nearby Benton County, and flows south-southeast through the western and southern part of Sherburne County, discharging into the Mississippi at Elk River. The Saint Francis River also rises in Benton and flows southward through the central part of Sherburne County, discharging into the Elk just north of Big Lake.
The terrain of Sherburne County consists of low rolling hills, partially wooded, heavily sprinkled with lakes, ponds and depressions. The soil of Sherburne County contains considerable sand and gravel due to glacial activity in past epochs, and thus is less suitable for agriculture than much of Minnesota. The county terrain slopes to the south and east. The county's highest point lies east-southeast of Saint Cloud, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (4.0%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 10
U.S. Highway 169
Minnesota State Highway 24
Minnesota State Highway 25
Minnesota State Highway 101
Minnesota State Highway 301
Airports
Leaders Clear Lake Airport (8Y6) - east of Clear Lake
Princeton Municipal Airport (PNM) - at SW edge of Princeton (on border between Mille Lacs and Sherburne counties) St. Cloud Regional Airport (STC) - east of Saint Cloud
Adjacent counties
Mille Lacs County - north
Isanti County - northeast
Anoka County - east
Hennepin County - southeast
Wright County - southwest
Stearns County - west
Benton County - northwest
Protected areas
Bridgeview Park Reserve
Clear Lake Scientific and Natural Area
Fremont Wildlife Management Area
Grams Regional Park
Harry W. Cater Homestead Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Island View Regional Park
Oak Savanna Park
Rice Lake Savanna Scientific and Natural Area
Sand Dunes State Forest
Sand Prairie Wildlife Management Area
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Uncas Dunes Scientific and Natural Area
William H. Houlton Conservation Area
Demographics
2020 census
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
