Rapid Growth in Olmsted County
The 2020 Census data reveals that Olmsted is the fourth fastest growing county in Minnesota. Olmsted grew at a rate of 12.9% from the 2010 Census. The fastest growing county is Carver at 17.4% followed by Scott at 16.2% and Wright at 13.3%.

Minnesota’s population also grew. The growth was largely in the metropolitan areas while the rural population (outstate except for Rochester) got smaller.

Redistricting
The process used by the County to redistrict will follow all state statutes and will employ a review of the maps by an independent source.
Here is population growth from the 2010 census to the 2020 census:
• Olmsted County Population: 144,500 to 163,000
• City of Rochester 106,700 to 122,700
• Rural Population 37,800 to 40,300
• Avg. Pop./Commissioner Dist. 20,600 to 23,300

One of the State Statutes regarding county redistricting prescribes: Each county shall be divided into as many districts numbered consecutively as it has members of the county board. Commissioner districts shall be bounded by town, municipal, ward, or precinct lines. Each district shall be composed of contiguous territory as regular and compact in form as practicable, depending upon the geography of the county involved and shall be as nearly equal in population as possible.”

Redistricting statutes require Communities of Interest to be preserved. (A Community of Interest is defined as a group of people with common sets of interests or concerns that might be affected by decisions made by elected bodies. Courts have defined this as racial, ethnic, and economic groups.)

Olmsted County Corn Tower
The Olmsted County Corn Tower has been repainted. The history of Graham Park and the repainting of the Corn Tower will be celebrated at an event on September 25 at the Farmers Market. More information will be coming later.

Covid-19 Informational Meeting
On Thursday, September 2, Olmsted County, Mayo Clinic, and Olmsted Medical Center will release an informational video meeting on Covid-19. Olmsted County’s Public Health Director along with representatives from Olmsted Medical and Mayo Clinic will discuss data, vaccine concerns, myths, recommended precautions and answer questions submitted by community members. Accurate and factual information will be provided.

If you have questions about COVID-19 that you would like addressed, please send them to PACSupport@co.olmsted.mn.us by 11:59 P.M. on Sunday, August 29. To view the questions and answers, go to: Olmsted County’s Public Health You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/OCPHS1