Minnesota County Map

Minnesota County Maps

Minnesota has 87 counties. The geography here is pretty varied. You’ve got prairies in the south and the North Woods full of lakes and forests. Don’t forget those bluffs along the Mississippi River and all of its lakes. They don’t call it the “Land of 10,000 lakes for nothing”.

Minnesota Counties

Hennepin County is where most Minnesotans call home. It’s the most populous county, and that’s mainly because of Minneapolis. Now, if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, head up to Traverse County in the western part of the state. It’s the least populous county in Minnesota because it’s mostly farmland.

In terms of area, St. Louis County is the giant. It covers a huge chunk of the Arrowhead region in northeastern Minnesota. There’s a ton of wilderness up there, including part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The smallest county is Ramsey County, which is basically just St. Paul and a few suburbs. It might be small, but it has the state capital.

Minnesota’s counties have some quirky stories behind them. Take Koochiching County – try saying that five times fast. Its name comes from an Ojibwe word meaning “somewhere by a lake with many bays.” Or how about Lac qui Parle County? That’s French for “the lake that speaks,” named after a nearby lake known for its echoes. 

Minnesota started setting up counties pretty early on. Ramsey, Benton, and Washington counties were all established in 1849, when Minnesota was still just a territory. Below, you’ll find a table packed with details about how counties measure up on Minnesota.