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Sherburne County Multi -Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2020 Section 3 - Sherburne County Profile This section offers a general overview of Sherburne County to provide a basic understanding of the characteristics of the community, such as the physical environment, population, and the location and distribution of services. 3.3. General County Description Sherburne County is located in the east -central part of the southern half of Minnesota. It is triangular in shape, with Benton and Mille Lacs Counties on the north, Isanti and Anoka Counties on the east, and Wright and Stearns Counties on the south and west. The Mississippi River flows along its southwestern border. The county has a total land area of 288,64o acres or 453. square miles, all but 3.8 square miles are land. Sherburne County land consists of agricultural, industrial, and recreation -based uses. The county's population at the 2010 census was 88,499. The seven cities in Sherburne County are Becker, Big Lake, Clear Lake, Elk River, Princeton, St. Cloud and Zimmerman. The io townships are Baldwin Township, Becker Township, Big Lake Township, Blue Hill Township, Clear Lake Township, Haven Township, Livonia Township, Orrock Township, Palmer Township and Santiago Township. Sherburne County's economy is dominated by the trade, transportation and utilities sector and the education and health services sector. The percent of the county's population living below the poverty level is 6.4%, compared to a 3.0.5%average forthe state of Minnesota. 3.2 Environmental Characteristics The topography of Sherburne County is flat to gently rolling, and soils are sandy and well -drained. The county lies within a subhumid continental climate, which has favored growth of both grassland and forest vegetation. Soils within the county are generally frozen for between four and five months each year. These soils formed beneath prairie grasses, forbs and forest. The largest grassland area that existed in the county was along the outwash plain along the Mississippi River, but that area has now been partially invaded by oaks (United States Department of Agriculture). Within the county lies the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge and the Sand Dunes State Forest. The wildlife refuge contains wetlands, river habitats, grasslands, oak savanna and forest, and the refuge has been designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Every October thousands of sandhill cranes can be seen on the marshes. The Sand Dunes State Forest contains oak savanna and prairie, along with 2,70o acres of pine plantation. Page 116