The Town Files

Big Stone County, Minnesota

5,127 people. The median home is worth $169,100 (typical Minnesota town: $301,800) and the median household earns $70,400.

Towns in Big Stone County

Towns in Big Stone County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Ortonville2,021$166,300$56,13346.9
Graceville529$121,400$66,11148.2

People and housing

Big Stone CountyTypical Minnesota town
Median home value$169,100$301,800
Median rent$745$991
Median household income$70,400$87,375
Median age47.042.7
Bachelor's degree or higher25.7%26.2%
Below the poverty line12.9%6.9%

Jobs and pay

1,694 jobs in 2024, average pay $53,377 a year.

Largest industries in Big Stone CountyConstruction185 jobs · $104,178Retail156 jobs · $30,078Wholesale trade82 jobs · $72,760Other services55 jobs · $23,987Agriculture, forestry & fishi…50 jobs · $58,914Transportation & warehousing30 jobs · $61,889
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Big Stone County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 455 storm events in Big Stone County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Big Stone County by type since 1996Hail90Flood18Drought17Tornado11Blizzard55High Wind24Heavy Snow35Winter Storm29Excessive Heat10Cold/Wind Chill5
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Big Stone County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
July 19, 2023FloodDR-4722: Severe Storms And Flooding
August 9, 2022Severe StormDR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 8, 2022Severe StormDR-4658: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
April 7, 2020BiologicalDR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3453: Covid-19
June 12, 2019FloodDR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).