Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Brown County, MN

Welcome to Brown County.

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Brown County has a population of 25.9 thousand and a total area (land and water combined) of 618.3 square miles.

Total GDP for the county increased 16%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $1.7 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Brown County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Brown County comprises New Ulm, MN micropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is New Ulm.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Blue Earth County, Cottonwood County, Nicollet County, Redwood County, Renville County, and Watonwan County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
36.23%57.43%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
37.44%60.93%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
42.65%54.74%+
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
40.42%56.99%+
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
27.31%63.2%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
32.48%65.27%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%16%
Government
Enterprises
9%15%
Private Industries91%16%
Agriculture12%26%
Mining<1%0%
Utilities<1%0%
Construction5%28%
Manufacturing21%-5%
– Durable11%-22%
– Nondurable10%24%
Trade<1%0%
– Wholesale<1%0%
– Retail6%23%
Transportation5%77%
Information5%41%
Finance & Insurance4%28%
Real Estate7%0%
Professional &
Business Services
7%64%
Educational Services1%-48%
Healthcare &
Social Services
9%13%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
<1%-10%
Accommodation &
Food Services
2%22%
Other Services22%31%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers635
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
422
📺 Electronics & Appliance318
🛒 Grocery Stores528
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores319
⚕️ Health & Personal Care632
⛽ Gasoline Stations1342
👕 Clothing Stores634
👠 Shoe Stores
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry
🏸 Sporting Goods
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers
🏬 Department Stores838
💐 Florists
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies
🍺 Bars & Taverns1159
🍽️ Full-service restaurants2254
🍔 Limited-service restaurants1845
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers312
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation314
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%120%$346,300 N/A
Top 20%47%$206,200 $206,600
Next highest 20%24%$104,800 $129,100
Middle 20%16%$71,000 $86,200
Second lowest 20%9%$41,700 $55,700
Bottom 20%4%$16,000 $29,200
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries80%$83,300
Self-Employment11%$36,700
Investment Income119%$23,300
Social Security26%$23,400
Supplemental Security4%$10,600
Public Assistance3%Below $10,000
Retirement18%$26,800
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%2%4%6%
$25K
– $49K
<1%5%6%10%
$50K
– $99K
2%11%12%11%
$100K
– $199K
<1%9%12%5%
$200K
& more
<1%1%2%<1%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$41,900 $29,200
African-American$23,400
Hispanic$35,000 $25,400
Asian$18,000 $24,900
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$40,000 $22,500
Highschool & GED$45,900 $29,300
Some College to
Associate’s
$49,800 $39,300
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$59,600 $48,300
Graduate Degree$86,600 $65,600
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$68,200 $50,300
STEM2$71,000 $60,600
Gray-Collar3$36,700 $34,400
Pink-Collar4Below $10,000$23,600
Sales5$45,100 $14,000
Blue-Collar6$34,100 $26,300
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves+++$
Drought+++$
Earthquake+
Hail+$
Heat Waves+$
Hurricane
Ice Storm+$
Landslide+$
Lightning+$
Riverine Flooding+$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+
Winter Weather++$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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ZIP Codes in Brown County


Hanska, MN 56041
Comfrey, MN 56019
Springfield, MN 56087
New Ulm, MN 56073
Sleepy Eye, MN 56085

ZIP codes are dynamically and randomly generated at no more than ten per click. Refresh to see more.

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