Map of Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

Yellow Medicine County is a county in the State of Minnesota. Its eastern border is formed by the Minnesota River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,528. Its county seat is Granite Falls.

The Upper Sioux Indian Reservation, related to the historical Yellow Medicine Agency that was located here, is entirely within the county. It was established under the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851, by which the Dakota ceded much territory in the region to the United States.

Yellow Medicine County overview:
Name:	Yellow Medicine County
FIPS code:	27-173
State:	Minnesota
Founded:	March 6, 1871
Named for:	Yellow Medicine River
Seat:	Granite Falls
Largest city:	Granite Falls
Total Area:	763 sq mi (1,980 km²)
Land Area:	759 sq mi (1,970 km²)
Total Population:	9,528
Population Density:	12.6/sq mi (4.9/km²)
Time zone:	UTC−6 (Central)
Summer Time Zone (DST):	UTC−5 (CDT)
Website:	www.co.ym.mn.gov

Yellow Medicine County location map. Where is Yellow Medicine County?

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

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

History

The county was established by the Minnesota legislature on March 6, 1871, with Granite Falls as the county seat. Its name comes from Yellow Medicine River, which runs through the eastern part of the county to the Minnesota. The river’s name derives from a plant whose yellow root the native Dakota people used for medicinal purposes.

It was proposed in 1878 to create a new county, taken from the western portions of Yellow Medicine, Lincoln, and Lac qui Parle counties. The state legislature approved the petition (subject to local voter approval), and Governor Pillsbury signed the act on February 27, 1879. However, the 1879 ballot proposal failed to garner a combined majority of voters in the three counties, and the proposed Canby County did not come into being.

Yellow Medicine County Road Map

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

Yellow Medicine CountyMap — Yellow Medicine Countypolitical map.

Geography

Yellow Medicine County lies on the west side of Minnesota. Its west border abuts the east border of the state of South Dakota. The Minnesota River flows east-southeasterly along the county’s northeast side on its way to discharge into the Mississippi River. The Yellow Medicine River flows northeastward through the eastern part of the county, discharging into the Minnesota near the midpoint of the county’s eastern border. The Stony Run Creek flows eastward through the upper east part of the county; the Florida Creek flows northeastward through the west end of the county, and the Lac qui Parle River also flows northeastward through the west central part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, carved by drainages. The area is devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east and slightly to the north; its highest point is on the west border, near its SW corner, at 1,732′ (528m) ASL. The county has a total area of 763 square miles (1,980 km), of which 759 square miles (1,970 km) is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km) (0.5%) is water.

Lakes

Burton Lake
Culver Lake (part)
Curtis Lake
Highbank Lake
Kvistid Lake
Lake Louie
Lone Tree Lake
Miedd Lake
Miller Lake
Mud Lake
Spellman Lake
Timm Lake
Tyson Lake
Wood Lake

Rivers and drainages

Florida Creek
Lac qui Parle River
Minnesota River
Spring Creek
Stony Run Creek
Yellow Medicine River

Major highways

U.S. Highway 59
U.S. Highway 75
U.S. Highway 212
Minnesota State Highway 23
Minnesota State Highway 67
Minnesota State Highway 68
Minnesota State Highway 274

Adjacent counties

Lac qui Parle County – north
Chippewa County – northeast
Renville County – east
Redwood County – southeast
Lyon County – south
Lincoln County – southwest
Deuel County, South Dakota – west

Protected areas

Bigrock State Wildlife Management Area
Christopherson State Wildlife Management Area
Clawson State Wildlife Management Area
Flinks State Wildlife Management Area
Miller-Richter State Wildlife Management Area
Mound Springs Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Omro State Wildlife Management Area
Oshkosh State Wildlife Management Area
Penthole State Wildlife Management Area
Posen State Wildlife Management Area
Saint Leo State Wildlife Management Area
Sioux Nation State Wildlife Management Area
Stokke State Wildlife Management Area
Stony Run State Wildlife Management Area
Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area (part)
Upper Sioux Agency State Park