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1977

Minnesota · year

Minnesota in 1977

Deaths 837Fatal crashes 730Per 100,000 —US deaths 47,878

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 1977.

In 1977, 837 people died in 730 fatal crashes in Minnesota.

The death toll was about level between 1976 (802) and 1977 (837).

Minnesota accounted for 1.7% of the 47,878 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

35.9% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

36% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1976 and the nation

MeasureMinnesota 1977Minnesota 1976United States 1977
Deaths83780247,878
Fatal crashes73071242,211
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver36%28%34%

Counties in 1977

Every county with a fatal crash in 1977, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 82 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Hennepin County931078.4509
St. Louis County596632.9183
Ramsey County47539.8225
Dakota County30337.3185
Stearns County222716.5122
Itasca County202452.858
Washington County20238.1105
Crow Wing County192130.671
Kandiyohi County71942.559
Anoka County18184.8200
Rice County161826.152
Clay County141725.445
Wright County141711.091
Polk County131755.932
Olmsted County15169.697
Todd County141453.926
Mower County111126.924
Carver County10119.861
Pine County91136.365
Otter Tail County71118.164
Becker County101028.253
Fillmore County101046.527
Sherburne County9109.7108
Douglas County9922.548
Freeborn County9929.732
Goodhue County9918.853
Houston County9949.024
Scott County995.779
Steele County8924.028
Marshall County69102.614
Morrison County8823.260
Pope County8869.612
Renville County7855.430
Chisago County6813.565
Blue Earth County679.953
Pipestone County6776.910
Lake County5765.419
Pennington County5751.320
Benton County6614.346
Chippewa County6648.819
Le Sueur County6620.439
Faribault County5643.232
Mille Lacs County5621.841
Beltrami County4612.853
Cass County4619.167
Sibley County4639.522
Redwood County5532.825
Swift County5551.720
Cottonwood County4544.124
Hubbard County4522.724
Koochiching County4543.117
Waseca County4526.812
McLeod County4410.940
Wabasha County4418.533
Winona County448.042
Murray County3449.711
Nicollet County3411.621
Wadena County3427.722
Lake of the Woods County1–24105.36
Brown County3311.719
Carlton County338.244
Jackson County3330.417
Martin County3315.319
Meeker County3312.825
Nobles County3313.724
Aitkin County1–21–2—38
Cook County1–21–2—4
Dodge County1–21–2—25
Lyon County1–21–2—25
Mahnomen County1–21–2—12
Norman County1–21–2—12
Rock County1–21–2—12
Wilkin County1–21–2—9
Yellow Medicine County1–21–2—16
Big Stone County1–21–2—6
Clearwater County1–21–2—15
Grant County1–21–2—10
Isanti County1–21–2—63
Kanabec County1–21–2—35
Kittson County1–21–2—3
Roseau County1–21–2—12
Stevens County1–21–2—10

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

12am6.2%
1am9.6%
2am3.9%
3am2.9%
4am1.5%
5am0.7%
6am2%
7am2.1%
8am2.5%
9am2.1%
10am2%
11am2.5%
12pm2.1%
1pm2.2%
2pm3.8%
3pm6.7%
4pm4.9%
5pm6.6%
6pm6.9%
7pm6.6%
8pm4.6%
9pm5.1%
10pm6.5%
11pm5.9%

Weekday

Sunday14%
Monday11%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday11%
Thursday12%
Friday18%
Saturday22%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Minnesota in 1977?

837 people in 730 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1977 file.

Which county in Minnesota had the most crash deaths in 1977?

Hennepin County with 107 deaths in 93 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1977 compare with 1976 in Minnesota?

837 deaths against 802 in 1976 (+4%). Nationally the 1977 total was 47,878.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1977 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.