Minnesota Counties
Go to Section:- Overview
- Data Quality
- Data Organization
- Coordinate System
- Attributes
- Distribution - Get Data
- Metadata Reference
Section 1: Overview
Originator:Minnesota Geospatial Information Office (MnGeo)
Title:
Minnesota Counties
Abstract:
There are 87 counties in Minnesota and two county datasets have existed on the commons for many years. One was developed and maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR), “County Boundaries, Minnesota”, and another by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), “County Boundaries in Minnesota”. For counties encompassing the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, the Metropolitan Council also maintains the “Counties and Cities & Townships 2020, Twin Cities Metropolitan Area” dataset. Thus, the Minnesota State Agency GIS Collaborative’s Authoritative Data Workgroup identified the need to develop a single, authoritative, Minnesota County Dataset.
This dataset represents the standard Minnesota state county boundaries and is intended as a general reference layer. It was developed by the Minnesota Geospatial Informational Office (MnGeo) using existing county boundary datasets from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Metropolitan Council, and International Boundary Commission (United States and Canada). Various county survey records were used to verify and resolve topologic conflicts.
Purpose:
This data was created to provide a standard county boundary layer to represent the state. It is intended for general reference only.
Time Period of Content Date:
05/21/2025
Currentness Reference:
Data is published intermittently as needed.
Progress:
Complete
Maintenance and Update Frequency:
As needed
Spatial Extent of Data:
Statewide
Bounding Coordinates:
-97.508970
-89.028990
49.652543
43.192405
Place Keywords:
Minnesota
Theme Keywords:
Minnesota, boundaries, county
Theme Keyword Thesaurus:
ISO 19115 Topic Category
Access Constraints:
None
Use Constraints:
This dataset is best suited for general reference only. It is not suitable for precise land measurements or ground surveys.
Contact Person Information:
Kory Thurnau,
Survey Coordinator
Minnesota Geospatial Information Office (MnGeo)
600 N Robert Street, Suite 2800
St. Paul,
MN
55146
Phone: 651-201-2499
Email: gisinfo.mngeo@state.mn.us
Section 2: Data Quality
Attribute Accuracy:
Attributes have been verified and tested under wide use for decades.
Logical Consistency:
Topology Rules for: Gaps, Overlaps, Covered By State
Completeness:
Complete
Horizontal Positional Accuracy:
All of the data sources reviewed and the final dataset were within the National Map Accuracy Standards for 1:24,000-scale maps which is +/- 40 feet (12 meters). The dataset is not intended for legal land survey use, and is best suited for general reference.
Vertical Positional Accuracy:
Not applicable
Lineage:
The Minnesota State Agency GIS Collaborative’s Authoritative Data Workgroup identified the need to develop a single, authoritative, Minnesota County Dataset. Through meetings attended by various state agency GIS representatives, principally the MnDNR, MnDOT, and MnGeo, a common attribute schema was discussed, developed, and agreed upon. A decision was made to utilize geometry from the Metropolitan Council’s dataset for the Twin Cities Metro Area and to utilize the MnDOT’s for the rest of the state. The DOT’s dataset was originally developed by the MnDNR, then adjusted by DOT staff to match county boundaries more accurately using high resolution imagery, USGS boundary interpretations, and interpretations from local sources.
The Metropolitan Council’s dataset was developed with input and data provided by metro counties and cities.
The International Boundary Commission’s (United States and Canada) dataset is a digital representation of the international boundary between the United States and Canada per the Treaty of 1908. It has been generated from a combination of recent surveys and datum conversions. This dataset, produced by the Minnesotal Geospatial Information Office, is a result of these collaborative decisions.
Below is a brief of this dataset’s development:
-The Metropolitan Council’s county data was reviewed and adopted to represent counties within the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
-The MnDOT county geometry was reviewed and merged to edge match with the Metropolitan Council’s geometry.
-Survey records were utilized to remedy overlapping or conflicting boundaries between the existing datasets.
-All islands in Lake Superior, from the existing MnDNR boundary dataset, were incorporated into this dataset.
-All counties bordering Canada were edge matched to the International Boundary Commission’s (United States & Canada) “Digital Boundary”.
Section 3: Spatial Data Organization (not used in this metadata)
Section 4: Coordinate System
Horizontal Coordinate Scheme:
Universal Transverse Mercator
UTM Zone Number:
15
Horizontal Datum:
NAD83
Horizontal Units:
meters
Vertical Datum:
not applicable
Vertical Units:
Depth Datum:
not applicable
Depth Units:
Section 5: Attributes
Overview:
See table for details
Detailed Citation:
Table Detail:
bdry_counties_minnesota - Feature Class Attributes| Field Name | Valid Values | Definition | Definition Source |
|---|
| CO_NAME | - | County name | https://mn.gov/mnit/government/policies/geo/mn-county-identification-codes.jsp |
| ST_FIPS | enumerated | | |
| 27 | Minnesota state FIPS code | Minnesota state FIPS code https://transition.fcc.gov/oet/info/maps/census/fips/fips.txt |
| CO_FIPS | enumerated | | |
| 001-173 | Minnesota county FIPS code | https://mn.gov/mnit/government/policies/geo/mn-county-identification-codes.jsp |
| CO_CODE | enumerated | | |
| 27001-27173 | Full state and county code identifier | https://transition.fcc.gov/oet/info/maps/census/fips/fips.txt |
| CO_GNIS | enumerated | | |
| 659447-663198 | County GNIS code | https://www.usgs.gov/tools/geographic-names-information-system-gnis |
Section 6: Distribution
Publisher:
Minnesota Geospatial Information Office (MnGeo)
Publication Date:
05/21/2025
Contact Person Information:
MnGeo,
GIS Data Specialist
Minnesota Geospatial Information Office (MnGeo)
600 N Robert Street, Suite 2800
St. Paul,
MN
55146
Phone: 651-201-2499
Email: gisinfo.mngeo@state.mn.us
Distributor's Data Set Identifier:
bdry_counties_minnesota
Ordering Instructions:
This data set is distributed via the Minnesota Geospatial Commons and is accessible via the online linkage below. Online Linkage: I AGREE
to the notice in "Distribution Liability" above. Clicking to agree will either begin the download process, link to a service, or provide more instructions. See "Ordering Instructions" above for details.
Section 7: Metadata Reference
Metadata Date:
05/21/2025
Contact Person Information:
MnGeo,
GIS Data Specialist
Minnesota Geospatial Information Office (MnGeo)
600 N Robert Street, Suite 2800
St. Paul,
MN
55146
Phone: 651-201-2499
Email: gisinfo.mngeo@state.mn.us
Metadata Standard Name:
Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines
Metadata Standard Version:
1.2
