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1976

Minnesota · year

Minnesota in 1976

Deaths 802Fatal crashes 712Per 100,000 —US deaths 45,523

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 1976.

In 1976, 802 people died in 712 fatal crashes in Minnesota.

The death toll rose 6% from 754 in 1975 to 802 in 1976.

Minnesota accounted for 1.8% of the 45,523 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

27.7% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

33% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1975 and the nation

MeasureMinnesota 1976Minnesota 1975United States 1976
Deaths80275445,523
Fatal crashes71266539,747
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver28%26%20%

Counties in 1976

Every county with a fatal crash in 1976, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 86 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Hennepin County83876.8509
Ramsey County43519.4225
St. Louis County475024.9183
Dakota County22286.2185
Stearns County252615.9122
Anoka County22256.6200
Washington County22258.8105
Clay County121826.945
Winona County141734.042
Crow Wing County141623.371
Olmsted County14148.497
Goodhue County131327.153
Itasca County131328.658
Polk County121342.732
Rice County111318.852
Aitkin County91379.638
Blue Earth County91318.453
Otter Tail County121219.764
Becker County101028.253
Carver County10108.961
Wright County10106.591
Le Sueur County81033.939
Wabasha County81046.433
Houston County61054.524
Beltrami County8919.253
Renville County8962.330
Benton County7921.546
Mower County7922.024
Lyon County8831.325
McLeod County8821.840
Fillmore County7837.227
Marshall County7891.214
Morrison County7823.260
Freeborn County6826.432
Sherburne County776.8108
Swift County7772.420
Chisago County6711.865
Pine County6723.165
Hubbard County5731.724
Norman County47111.412
Faribault County6643.232
Koochiching County6651.817
Scott County663.879
Stevens County6661.110
Kanabec County5636.135
Mille Lacs County5621.841
Nobles County4627.324
Murray County3674.611
Carlton County5513.644
Cass County5515.967
Kandiyohi County5511.259
Lake County5546.719
Pope County5543.512
Waseca County5526.812
Brown County4519.419
Cottonwood County4544.124
Redwood County4532.825
Chippewa County4432.519
Clearwater County4446.315
Kittson County44100.23
Meeker County4417.025
Steele County4410.728
Wilkin County3463.89
Douglas County337.548
Isanti County336.963
Jackson County3330.417
Martin County3315.319
Nicollet County338.721
Rock County3331.512
Roseau County3319.712
Sibley County3319.722
Todd County3311.626
Watonwan County3326.811
Pipestone County1–2333.010
Big Stone County1–21–2—6
Dodge County1–21–2—25
Grant County1–21–2—10
Lac qui Parle County1–21–2—8
Red Lake County1–21–2—4
Lake of the Woods County1–21–2—6
Lincoln County1–21–2—5
Cook County1–21–2—4
Mahnomen County1–21–2—12
Pennington County1–21–2—20
Traverse County1–21–2—3
Yellow Medicine County1–21–2—16

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am7.5%
1am10.6%
2am5.8%
3am1.7%
4am1.3%
5am1.3%
6am1.7%
7am2.3%
8am3.1%
9am1.6%
10am2%
11am2.7%
12pm3.4%
1pm3%
2pm3.4%
3pm4.2%
4pm4.8%
5pm7%
6pm5.2%
7pm5.6%
8pm5.9%
9pm4.2%
10pm4.7%
11pm6.9%

Weekday

Sunday16%
Monday13%
Tuesday11%
Wednesday11%
Thursday13%
Friday16%
Saturday20%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Minnesota in 1976?

802 people in 712 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1976 file.

Which county in Minnesota had the most crash deaths in 1976?

Hennepin County with 87 deaths in 83 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1976 compare with 1975 in Minnesota?

802 deaths against 754 in 1975 (+6%). Nationally the 1976 total was 45,523.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1976 national file (accident table); US Census Bureau population estimates (no county estimates before 2000 are used, so no rate is shown for this year). Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.