Pennington County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,992. Its county seat is Thief River Falls.
| Name: | Pennington County |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 27-113 |
| State: | Minnesota |
| Founded: | November 23, 1910 |
| Named for: | Edmund Pennington |
| Seat: | Thief River Falls |
| Largest city: | Thief River Falls |
| Total Area: | 618 sq mi (1,600 km²) |
| Land Area: | 617 sq mi (1,600 km²) |
| Total Population: | 13,992 |
| Population Density: | 22.7/sq mi (8.8/km²) |
| Time zone: | UTC−6 (Central) |
| Summer Time Zone (DST): | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Website: | co.pennington.mn.us |
Pennington County location map. Where is Pennington County?
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. The federal government set up the Minnesota Territory in the remaining 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, Pembina, had its lower portion partitioned in 1858 by the newly organized Minnesota State legislature to create Polk County. On December 24, 1896, the legislature partitioned the northern portion of Polk to create Red Lake County. Then on November 23, 1910, the northern part of Red Lake was sectioned off to create Pennington County, the penultimate Minnesota county to be created (followed by Lake of the Woods in 1922). The county was named for Edmund Pennington (1848-1926), a longtime Minnesota railroad executive, who was serving as president of the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Railway when the county was formed. Thief River Falls, the area’s major settlement (platted in 1887), was specified as the county seat.
Pennington County Road Map
Geography
The Red Lake River flows westward into the county from Beltrami County through Pennington’s central portion. Near Thief River Falls it is joined by the Thief River, flowing southward into the county from Marshall County. The combined flow exits Pennington County toward the south, then swings west- and northwestward as it moves to its confluence with the Red River near Grand Forks, North Dakota. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, lightly wooded, with all available areas devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the west and south, with its highest point near the lower east border, at 1,186′ (361m) ASL. The county has a total area of 618 square miles (1,600 km), of which 617 square miles (1,600 km) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km) (0.3%) is water. Pennington is one of 17 Minnesota savanna region counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils.
Major highways
- U.S. Highway 59
- Minnesota State Highway 1
- Minnesota State Highway 32
- Minnesota State Highway 219
- Pennington County State-Aid Highway 3: Major connector between Pennington County and Grand Forks. Connects with Polk County State-Aid Highway 21.
- Pennington County State-Aid Highway 17: Connects Thief River Falls to the Airport
- Pennington County State-Aid Highway 10: Major route, also known as Pembina Trail
- Pennington County State-Aid Highway 16: US 59 Truck Bypass of Thief River Falls, connects US 59 / MN 1 on the west side of town to MN 32 on the south side of town
- Pennington County State-Aid Highways 27 & 28: Designated and designed for heavy truck traffic connecting US 2 to Roseau County and Marshall County
Airports
- Thief River Falls Regional Airport
Adjacent counties
- Marshall County – north
- Beltrami County – east
- Clearwater County – southeast
- Red Lake County – south
- Polk County – west
Protected areas
- Higinbotham State Wildlife Management Area
- Pembina State Wildlife Management Area
Pennington County Topographic Map
Pennington County Satellite Map
Pennington County Outline Map
