Map of Murray County, Minnesota

Murray County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 8,179 at the 2020 census. Its county seat is Slayton.

Murray County overview:
Name:	Murray County
FIPS code:	27-101
State:	Minnesota
Founded:	1857
Named for:	William Pitt Murray
Seat:	Slayton
Largest city:	Slayton
Total Area:	720 sq mi (1,900 km²)
Land Area:	705 sq mi (1,830 km²)
Total Population:	8,179
Population Density:	11.6/sq mi (4.5/km²)
Time zone:	UTC−6 (Central)
Summer Time Zone (DST):	UTC−5 (CDT)
Website:	www.murray-countymn.com

Murray County location map. Where is Murray County?

Murray County location on the U.S. Map. Where is Murray County. — Location of Murray County in the the United States.

Murray County location on the Minnesota map. Where is Murray County. — Location of Murray County in Minnesota.

History

In 1853 the Minnesota Territory legislature created Blue Earth County from unorganized Dakota Territory lands. In 1855 the legislature partitioned a portion of western Blue Earth to create Brown County. Then on May 23, 1857, a portion of Brown was partitioned off to create Murray County, although it was not organized at that time. On June 17, 1872, the county government was effected, with Currie, which had been founded that same year, as county seat. The county was named for William Pitt Murray (1825-1910), a prominent civic and political figure in Minnesota during its nascent era.

Also in 1872 the township of Center was platted (so named for its central position in the county). This settlement grew rapidly, and its residents soon began agitating to have the county seat moved there. In 1882 the town was renamed as Slayton, and a county vote changed the county seat to Slayton effective June 1, 1889.

In the history of record keeping, Minnesota has been struck by two F-5 tornadoes, and both occurred in Murray County: the Chandler-Lake Wilson Tornado (June 16, 1992) and the Tracy Tornado (June 13, 1968) that began in Murray County before crossing north into Lyon County.

Murray County Road Map

Murray CountyStreet Map. — Street map of Murray County, Minnesota. Source: OpenStreetMap (OSM)

Murray CountyMap — Murray Countypolitical map.

Geography

The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds, with all available area devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south and east. However, its highest elevation occurs on Buffalo Ridge, a promontory extending about two miles along the crest of the Coteau des Prairies in central Chanarambie Township. The bluff rises a few hundred feet above the adjacent valleys. The county has a total area of 720 square miles (1,900 km), of which 705 square miles (1,830 km) is land and 15 square miles (39 km) (2.1%) is water.

The Mississippi-Missouri watershed divide runs through the western part of the county, near Chandler, along Buffalo Ridge. The county’s highest point is on that ridge, at 1,920′ ASL.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 59
Minnesota State Highway 30
Minnesota State Highway 62
Minnesota State Highway 91
Minnesota State Highway 267

Airports

Slayton Municipal Airport (DVP) – southwest of Slayton, Minnesota

Adjacent counties

Lyon County – north
Redwood County – northeast
Cottonwood County – east
Nobles County – south
Rock County – southwest
Pipestone County – west

Protected areas

Badger Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Bergman State Wildlife Management Area
Big Slough State Wildlife Management Area
Buffalo Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Chandler State Wildlife Management Area
County Line State Wildlife Management Area
Current Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Great Oasis State Wildlife Management Area
Haberman State Wildlife Management Area
Hjermstad Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Irruption State Wildlife Management Area
Klinker State Wildlife Management Area
Lake Shetek State Park
Lange State Wildlife Management Area
Leeds State Wildlife Management Area
Lowville State Wildlife Management Area
Mason State Wildlife Management Area
McCord-Laible State Wildlife Management Area
Nelson State Wildlife Management Area
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
Peters State Wildlife Management Area
Phelan State Wildlife Management Area
Reinhold State Wildlife Management Area
Rupp State Wildlife Management Area
Ruthton State Wildlife Management Area
Schoeberl State Wildlife Management Area
Shetek State Wildlife Management Area
Sweetman State Wildlife Management Area
Tutt State Wildlife Management Area
Van Eck State Wildlife Management Area

Lakes

Bear Lake (drained)
Bloody Lake
Buffalo Lake
Corabelle Lake
Current Lake
Fox Lake
Fulda First Lake
Iron Lake
Julia Lake (part)
Lake Louisa
Lake Maria
Lake Sarah
Lake Shetek
Lake Wilson
Lime Lake (formerly known as Lizzard Lake and Lake St. Rose)
Long Lake (part)
North Badger Lake
Round Lake
Smith Lake
South Badger Lake
Summit Lake
Talcot Lake (part)