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1985

Minnesota · year

Minnesota in 1985

Deaths 608Fatal crashes 536Per 100,000 —US deaths 43,825

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 1985.

In 1985, 608 people died in 536 fatal crashes in Minnesota.

The death toll was about level between 1984 (582) and 1985 (608).

Minnesota accounted for 1.4% of the 43,825 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

41% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

32% of the crashes happened between noon to 6pm; Saturday was the most common day.

Compared with 1984 and the nation

MeasureMinnesota 1985Minnesota 1984United States 1985
Deaths60858243,825
Fatal crashes53651739,196
Deaths per 100,000 residents———
Crashes with a drinking driver41%52%40%

Counties in 1985

Every county with a fatal crash in 1985, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 80 counties listed.

CountyFatal crashesDeathsPer 100,000Deaths 2015–2024
Hennepin County64695.4509
Ramsey County37407.4225
St. Louis County343718.4183
Dakota County27286.2185
Stearns County222414.6122
Washington County19217.4105
Olmsted County172012.097
Wright County152012.991
Anoka County17184.8200
Cass County101238.267
Crow Wing County91217.571
Itasca County91226.458
Becker County71233.953
Sherburne County91110.7108
Nicollet County81029.021
Aitkin County7955.138
McLeod County6821.840
Kittson County48200.43
Mower County7717.124
Scott County774.579
Chippewa County6756.919
Freeborn County6723.132
Todd County6727.026
Otter Tail County5711.564
Norman County47111.412
Cottonwood County3761.724
Goodhue County6612.553
Wabasha County6627.833
Chisago County5610.265
Kandiyohi County5613.459
Morrison County5617.460
Brown County5519.419
Fillmore County5523.327
Hubbard County5522.724
Lyon County5519.525
Mille Lacs County5518.141
Steele County5513.428
Martin County4525.619
Meeker County4521.325
Renville County4534.630
Benton County449.646
Blue Earth County445.753
Carver County443.661
Clearwater County4446.315
Grant County4465.510
Isanti County449.263
Pine County4413.265
Polk County4413.232
Winona County448.042
Beltrami County348.653
Faribault County3428.832
Big Stone County3359.26
Dodge County3314.125
Jackson County3330.417
Lac qui Parle County3345.28
Le Sueur County3310.239
Murray County3337.311
Nobles County3313.724
Rice County334.352
Roseau County3319.712
Sibley County3319.722
Yellow Medicine County3332.016
Lake County1–2328.019
Pope County1–2326.112
Houston County1–21–2—24
Koochiching County1–21–2—17
Redwood County1–21–2—25
Rock County1–21–2—12
Swift County1–21–2—20
Waseca County1–21–2—12
Watonwan County1–21–2—11
Carlton County1–21–2—44
Clay County1–21–2—45
Cook County1–21–2—4
Douglas County1–21–2—48
Lake of the Woods County1–21–2—6
Mahnomen County1–21–2—12
Marshall County1–21–2—14
Pipestone County1–21–2—10
Wadena County1–21–2—22

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

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

Weekday

Sunday17%
Monday12%
Tuesday13%
Wednesday12%
Thursday15%
Friday14%
Saturday18%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in Minnesota in 1985?

608 people in 536 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 1985 file.

Which county in Minnesota had the most crash deaths in 1985?

Hennepin County with 69 deaths in 64 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 1985 compare with 1984 in Minnesota?

608 deaths against 582 in 1984 (+4%). Nationally the 1985 total was 43,825.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 1985 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.