Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Ground Level Blog
Dave Peters

Immigration as a solution for an aging county

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

As the proportion of elderly people inexorably rises in Todd County -- one of out six are over 65 today; one out of four will be by 2035 -- something else has happened.

The county's population of Latinos also has risen, to nearly 5 percent of the total, more than 1,000 people. And half of them are under 20 years old.

Reporter Jennifer Vogel explores what can happen as a result in the third part of the MPR News series on Todd County and the future. You can find it on our Todd County page or in this week's editions of the Clarissa Independent News Herald, the Browerville Blade, the Staples World and the Long Prairie Leader.

There are at least five Long Prairie businesses operated by immigrants, and Latino enrollment is shoring up school employment. Young Latinos who express the hope they can stay in the area to be with family are training for in-demand health care jobs.

Few doubt the presence of some illegal immigrants. And as the immigration debate heats up again from Arizona to Washington, D.C., you don't have to look past Central Avenue in Long Prairie to join the same debate.

But if you just examine the numbers in Todd County, it looks like somebody threw residents a potential lifeline.