Grant County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,074. Its county seat is Elbow Lake.

The county was created on March 6, 1868. It was named for Civil War General and US President Ulysses S. Grant. Its government was organized in 1874.

The Chippewa River flows generally southward through the eastern part of Grant County. The Mustinka River flows south and then west-southwest through the upper and central parts of western Grant County. The terrain consists of low rolling hills dotted with lakes, its usable areas devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on its upper eastern border, at 1,375 ft (419 m) ASL. The county has an area of 575 square miles (1,490 km), of which 548 square miles (1,420 km) is land and 27 square miles (70 km) (4.7%) is water.

Source:

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	340		—
1880	3,004		783.5%
1890	6,875		128.9%
1900	8,935		30.0%
1910	9,114		2.0%
1920	9,788		7.4%
1930	9,558		−2.3%
1940	9,828		2.8%
1950	9,542		−2.9%
1960	8,870		−7.0%
1970	7,462		−15.9%
1980	7,171		−3.9%
1990	6,246		−12.9%
2000	6,289		0.7%
2010	6,018		−4.3%
2020	6,074		0.9%
2023 (est.)	6,139		1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

Grant County Racial Composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	5,699	93.83%
Black or African American (NH)	13	0.2%
Native American (NH)	27	0.44%
Asian (NH)	14	0.23%
Pacific Islander (NH)	7	0.11%
Other/Mixed (NH)	179	2.94%
Hispanic or Latino	135	2.22%

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,289 people, 2,534 households, and 1,740 families in the county. The population density was 11.6 per square mile (4.5/km). There were 3,098 housing units at an average density of 5.74 per square mile (2.22/km). The racial makeup of the county was 98.28% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.2% were of Norwegian, 30.0% German and 7.4% Swedish ancestry.

There were 2,534 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.

The county population contained 23.90% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 23.10% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 22.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,775, and the median income for a family was $42,214. Males had a median income of $28,428 versus $20,240 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,131. About 6.00% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

Grant County is a swing district that has leaned Republican in recent elections. As of 2024, the county has selected the Republican presidential candidate in 67% of national elections from 1980 inclusive.

United States presidential election results for Grant County, Minnesota

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	2,266	63.96%	1,187	33.50%	90	2.54%
2020	2,269	62.10%	1,300	35.58%	85	2.33%
2016	2,063	59.40%	1,105	31.82%	305	8.78%
2012	1,748	50.13%	1,647	47.23%	92	2.64%
2008	1,646	45.66%	1,850	51.32%	109	3.02%
2004	1,893	49.57%	1,856	48.60%	70	1.83%
2000	1,804	49.78%	1,507	41.58%	313	8.64%
1996	1,284	36.05%	1,806	50.70%	472	13.25%
1992	1,201	32.76%	1,561	42.58%	904	24.66%
1988	1,693	46.04%	1,950	53.03%	34	0.92%
1984	2,111	52.84%	1,867	46.73%	17	0.43%
1980	2,054	48.08%	1,822	42.65%	396	9.27%
1976	1,635	37.69%	2,624	60.49%	79	1.82%
1972	1,899	46.84%	2,085	51.43%	70	1.73%
1968	1,929	47.11%	1,982	48.40%	184	4.49%
1964	1,734	39.72%	2,631	60.26%	1	0.02%
1960	2,239	48.93%	2,333	50.98%	4	0.09%
1956	2,064	49.41%	2,107	50.44%	6	0.14%
1952	2,665	59.51%	1,791	40.00%	22	0.49%
1948	1,789	40.77%	2,378	54.19%	221	5.04%
1944	1,898	48.93%	1,969	50.76%	12	0.31%
1940	2,443	51.28%	2,291	48.09%	30	0.63%
1936	1,566	38.43%	2,358	57.87%	151	3.71%
1932	1,148	29.17%	2,702	68.67%	85	2.16%
1928	2,057	54.33%	1,687	44.56%	42	1.11%
1924	1,674	49.21%	118	3.47%	1,610	47.33%
1920	2,427	75.80%	533	16.65%	242	7.56%
1916	878	49.19%	778	43.59%	129	7.23%
1912	146	9.36%	381	24.42%	1,033	66.22%
1908	1,099	70.04%	376	23.96%	94	5.99%
1904	1,209	87.67%	102	7.40%	68	4.93%
1900	1,062	65.76%	456	28.24%	97	6.01%
1896	1,002	56.29%	739	41.52%	39	2.19%
1892	776	55.35%	319	22.75%	307	21.90%

County Board of Commissioners

Position		Name	District
	Commissioner and Chairperson	Troy Johnson	District 1
	Commissioner	Dwight Walvatne	District 2
	Commissioner	Ken Johnson	District 3
	Commissioner	Bill LaValley	District 4
	Commissioner	Doyle Sperr	District 5

State Legislature (2021-2023)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	Senate	Torrey Westrom	Republican	District 12
	House of Representatives	Jeff Backer	Republican	District 12A

U.S Congress (2021-2023)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	House of Representatives	Michelle Fischbach	Republican	7th
	Senate	Amy Klobuchar	Democrat	N/A
	Senate	Tina Smith	Democrat	N/A

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Grant County, Minnesota

• Grant County Website

45°56′N 96°01′W / 45.93°N 96.01°W / 45.93; -96.01