This is a 1.5 percent rise in Washington County’s population, from 268,191 in 2020 to 272,256 in 2021.
Washington County had the fifth largest population in Minnesota in 2021.
The US Census Bureau found more than 73 percent of counties in the US saw a natural decrease in population in 2021. This is up from a 55.5 percent increase in 2020.
The Midwest suffered the most sustained population decreases, with many counties along the US East Coast and through the Rocky Mountains seeing increases.
The US population continues to grow, though at a slower rate than before.
Minnesota Counties By Population Change from 2020 to 2021
| County | 2020 Estimated Population | 2021 Estimated Population | % Change in Population From Year to Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright County | 141,759 | 144,845 | 2.2% |
| Mille Lacs County | 26,410 | 26,867 | 1.7% |
| Cass County | 30,125 | 30,639 | 1.7% |
| Lake of the Woods County | 3,760 | 3,823 | 1.7% |
| Sherburne County | 97,479 | 99,074 | 1.6% |
| Hubbard County | 21,380 | 21,715 | 1.6% |
| Crow Wing County | 66,236 | 67,270 | 1.6% |
| Pine County | 28,854 | 29,302 | 1.6% |
| Washington County | 268,191 | 272,256 | 1.5% |
| Chisago County | 56,670 | 57,469 | 1.4% |
| Scott County | 151,265 | 153,268 | 1.3% |
| Isanti County | 41,383 | 41,906 | 1.3% |
| Carver County | 107,286 | 108,626 | 1.2% |
| Aitkin County | 15,693 | 15,887 | 1.2% |
| Grant County | 6,080 | 6,153 | 1.2% |
| Lake County | 10,885 | 10,986 | 0.9% |
| Goodhue County | 47,536 | 47,968 | 0.9% |
| Pope County | 11,309 | 11,403 | 0.8% |
| Sibley County | 14,802 | 14,917 | 0.8% |
| Le Sueur County | 28,627 | 28,841 | 0.7% |
| Anoka County | 364,299 | 367,018 | 0.7% |
| Mahnomen County | 5,374 | 5,414 | 0.7% |
| Kanabec County | 16,040 | 16,159 | 0.7% |
| Carlton County | 36,156 | 36,409 | 0.7% |
| Cottonwood County | 11,489 | 11,569 | 0.7% |
| Stevens County | 9,646 | 9,700 | 0.6% |
| Wadena County | 14,107 | 14,177 | 0.5% |
| Cook County | 5,592 | 5,617 | 0.4% |
| Wabasha County | 21,417 | 21,509 | 0.4% |
| Douglas County | 39,079 | 39,238 | 0.4% |
| Dakota County | 440,317 | 442,038 | 0.4% |
| Stearns County | 158,349 | 158,947 | 0.4% |
| Dodge County | 20,861 | 20,935 | 0.4% |
| Rice County | 67,030 | 67,262 | 0.3% |
| Clay County | 65,351 | 65,574 | 0.3% |
| Beltrami County | 46,230 | 46,380 | 0.3% |
| Benton County | 41,338 | 41,459 | 0.3% |
| Olmsted County | 162,991 | 163,436 | 0.3% |
| Mower County | 40,049 | 40,158 | 0.3% |
| Waseca County | 18,954 | 19,000 | 0.2% |
| Lyon County | 25,174 | 25,231 | 0.2% |
| Jackson County | 9,969 | 9,990 | 0.2% |
| Becker County | 35,147 | 35,219 | 0.2% |
| Itasca County | 44,984 | 45,070 | 0.2% |
| Kandiyohi County | 43,685 | 43,767 | 0.2% |
| Blue Earth County | 69,173 | 69,280 | 0.2% |
| Faribault County | 13,888 | 13,909 | 0.2% |
| Fillmore County | 21,246 | 21,271 | 0.1% |
| McLeod County | 36,701 | 36,735 | 0.1% |
| Winona County | 49,606 | 49,630 | 0% |
| Otter Tail County | 60,024 | 60,046 | 0% |
| Morrison County | 33,980 | 33,992 | 0% |
| Steele County | 37,352 | 37,349 | 0% |
| Big Stone County | 5,147 | 5,145 | 0% |
| Clearwater County | 8,580 | 8,576 | 0% |
| Todd County | 25,250 | 25,237 | -0.1% |
| Red Lake County | 3,936 | 3,933 | -0.1% |
| Norman County | 6,422 | 6,416 | -0.1% |
| Redwood County | 15,391 | 15,366 | -0.2% |
| Houston County | 18,818 | 18,778 | -0.2% |
| Meeker County | 23,428 | 23,376 | -0.2% |
| Roseau County | 15,294 | 15,258 | -0.2% |
| Lac qui Parle County | 6,701 | 6,684 | -0.3% |
| Brown County | 25,885 | 25,819 | -0.3% |
| Rock County | 9,705 | 9,680 | -0.3% |
| Martin County | 19,970 | 19,915 | -0.3% |
| Murray County | 8,168 | 8,144 | -0.3% |
| St. Louis County | 199,962 | 199,182 | -0.4% |
| Swift County | 9,791 | 9,749 | -0.4% |
| Freeborn County | 30,883 | 30,749 | -0.4% |
| Nicollet County | 34,490 | 34,332 | -0.5% |
| Renville County | 14,684 | 14,608 | -0.5% |
| Marshall County | 9,035 | 8,988 | -0.5% |
| Koochiching County | 12,031 | 11,941 | -0.7% |
| Watonwan County | 11,221 | 11,135 | -0.8% |
| Kittson County | 4,180 | 4,146 | -0.8% |
| Yellow Medicine County | 9,492 | 9,411 | -0.9% |
| Nobles County | 22,183 | 21,991 | -0.9% |
| Polk County | 31,051 | 30,757 | -0.9% |
| Pipestone County | 9,405 | 9,313 | -1% |
| Hennepin County | 1,281,267 | 1,267,416 | -1.1% |
| Lincoln County | 5,628 | 5,567 | -1.1% |
| Pennington County | 13,939 | 13,780 | -1.1% |
| Wilkin County | 6,481 | 6,395 | -1.3% |
| Ramsey County | 551,480 | 543,257 | -1.5% |
| Traverse County | 3,346 | 3,286 | -1.8% |
| Chippewa County | 12,593 | 12,357 | -1.9% |
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY
City of Mahtomedi• City of Dellwood• City of Lakeland• Grey Cloud Island• City of Newport• City of Cottage Grove• City of Afton• Birchwood Village• City of Oakdale• City of Lake St. Croix Beach• City of Landfall• City of Stillwater• Denmark• City of Oak Park Heights• City of St. Paul Park• City of St. Marys Point• City of Bayport• City of Pine Springs• City of Woodbury• City of Marine on St. Croix• City of Lakeland Shores• City of Hugo• City of Forest Lake• City of Lake Elmo• Stillwater Township• City of Willernie• City of Grant
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