Central Minnesota is a manufacturing stronghold, with several global manufacturing firms operating there.
The region is especially well known for its expertise in food processing, printing, furniture manufacturing, appliances, machinery and heavy equipment manufacturing.
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9/8/2022 9:00:00 AM
Luke Greiner
Central Minnesota was home to just under 735,000 people in 2021, comprising almost 13% of the state's total population. The region welcomed a 7.4% increase in population over the past 11 years, primarily due to rapid gains in EDR 7W, which is home to the growing Greater St. Cloud area. Central Minnesota was the second fastest growing region of the state, accounting for 12.5% of the state's population growth from 2010 to 2021. In comparison, Minnesota saw a 7.6% gain statewide (Table 1).
| Table 1. Population Change 2010-2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Population | 2021 Estimates | 2010-2021 Change | ||
| Number | Percent | |||
| Central Minnesota | 684,001 | 734,514 | 50,513 | 7.4% |
| Region 6E | 117,920 | 118,486 | 566 | 0.5% |
| Kandiyohi Co. | 42,239 | 43,767 | 1,526 | 3.6% |
| McLeod Co. | 36,651 | 36,735 | 84 | 0.2% |
| Meeker Co. | 23,300 | 23,376 | 76 | -0.3% |
| Renville Co. | 15,730 | 14,608 | -1,122 | -7.1% |
| Region 7E | 163,789 | 171,703 | 7,914 | 4.8% |
| Chisago Co. | 53,887 | 57,469 | 3,582 | 6.6% |
| Isanti Co. | 37,816 | 41,906 | 4,090 | 10.8% |
| Kanabec Co. | 16,239 | 16,159 | -80 | -0.5% |
| Mille Lacs Co. | 26,097 | 26,867 | 770 | 3.0% |
| Pine Co. | 29,750 | 29,302 | -448 | -1.5% |
| Region 7W | 402,292 | 444,325 | 42,033 | 10.4% |
| Benton Co. | 38,451 | 41,459 | 3,008 | 7.8% |
| Sherburne Co. | 88,499 | 99,074 | 10,575 | 11.9% |
| Stearns Co. | 150,642 | 158,947 | 8,305 | 5.5% |
| Wright Co. | 124,700 | 144,845 | 20,145 | 16.2% |
| Minnesota | 5,303,925 | 5,707,390 | 403,465 | 7.6% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates | ||||
Population growth and the corresponding growth of the labor force is at the epicenter of economic growth in the future. Ten of the 13 counties in the region gained population from 2010 to 2021, with the other three seeing decreases. Wright and Sherburne were the 3rd and 10th fastest growing counties in the state, respectively. In contrast, Renville was the 5th fastest declining county in the state and is now the smallest county in the region.
With a younger and fast-growing population, Central Minnesota experienced a natural increase – more births than deaths – of 1,933 people over the past year. In addition, the region gained residents from in-migration, with 6,609 more people moving into the region than moving out. The vast majority of in-migration (93%) was from domestic residents moving into the region from other areas of the state or other states and not from international migration like in the past. In a single year, domestic in-migration erased almost a decade of decline from residents and added an additional 3,643 domestic newcomers. The same year period saw international in-migration roughly halved (Table 2).
| Table 2. Estimates of the Components of Population Change, 2020-2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Change | Natural Increase | Vital Events | Net Migration | ||||
| Births | Deaths | Total | Inter-national | Domestic | |||
| Central MN | 8,574 | 1,933 | 10,415 | 8,482 | 6,609 | 460 | 6,149 |
| Minnesota | 896 | 12,512 | 79,493 | 66,981 | -11,734 | 4,213 | -15,947 |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program | |||||||
International in-migration was still positive and accounted for 460 new residents, but since 2020 this dynamic has changed dramatically. From 2010 to 2019, the region gained almost 9,000 international immigrants and lost 2,500 domestic residents.
We have little data on the demographics of these domestic newcomers so far. If they are mostly of retirement age, they might not provide a corresponding bump in the labor force. It seems unlikely that the most recent domestic influx will become a long-term trend, and it's difficult to know exactly where this pipeline of domestic residents came from or if they will stay in the region, but it's certainly a win for Central Minnesota for now.
Contact Luke Greiner at 320-308-5378.
