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Becker County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 46°56′15″N 95°44′30″W / 46.937629°N 95.741757°W / 46.937629; -95.741757
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Not to be confused with Becker, Minnesota.

Becker County
County
1913 Prairie School Carnegie library designed by Claude and Starck in Detroit Lakes.
1913 Prairie School Carnegie library designed by Claude and Starck in Detroit Lakes.
Map of Minnesota highlighting Becker County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°56′15″N 95°44′30″W / 46.937629°N 95.741757°W / 46.937629; -95.741757
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMarch 18, 1858 (created)
March 6, 1871 (organized)
Named afterGeorge Loomis Becker
SeatDetroit Lakes
Largest cityDetroit Lakes
Area
 • Total
1,445.150 sq mi (3,742.92 km2)
 • Land1,315.037 sq mi (3,405.93 km2)
 • Water130.113 sq mi (336.99 km2)  9.00%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
35,183
 • Estimate 
(2024)
35,444 Increase
 • Density26.962/sq mi (10.410/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code218
Congressional districts7th, 8th
Websiteco.becker.mn.us

Becker County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,183,[1] and was estimated to be 35,444 in 2024,[2] Its county seat is Detroit Lakes.[3]

Part of the White Earth Indian Reservation extends into the county.

History

[edit]

The county was created on March 18, 1858 and organized on March 6, 1871.[4] It was named for George Loomis Becker,[5] one of three men elected to Congress when Minnesota became a state. Since Minnesota could only send two, Becker elected to stay behind, and he was promised to have a county named after him.

Colonel George Johnston founded the city of Detroit Lakes in 1871. It grew quickly with the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Johnston led settlers from New England to settle in this region.[6] An 1877 election decided that Detroit Lakes, then known as Detroit, would become the county seat. Detroit won the election by a 90% majority. Frazee, Lake Park, and Audubon were also in the running.

Soils of Becker County[7]
Soils of Callaway WMA area
A country road in Becker County in summer

In 1884, Detroit Lakes had many businesses, including two hotels, a bank, a newspaper, and an opera house. The first courthouse was built that year. In 1885, the first county fire department was constructed. In 1903, the Soo Line Railroad built a line through the county.

Detroit Lakes hosts a park dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic. The city rededicated the park on April 15, 2015, marking the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War and the death of President Lincoln. Colonel Tom Mortenson and his wife, Pam, sponsored the rededication, representing the Women's Relief Corps, which spearheaded community support for the effort that included new signage for the park and a time capsule to be opened on the 200th anniversary.[8]

Geography

[edit]

The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, tree-covered and dotted with lakes and ponds.[9] The terrain slopes to the west and north. Its highest point is a hill 2.1 miles (3.4 km) northeast of Wolf Lake, the site of the USFS Wolf Lake lookout tower, at 1,861 ft (567 m) ASL.[10] The next highest point is near its northwest corner, at 1,631 ft (497 m) ASL.[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,445.150 square miles (3,742.92 km2), of which 1,315.037 square miles (3,405.93 km2) is land and 130.113 square miles (336.99 km2) (9.00%) is water.[12] It is the 15th largest county in Minnesota by total area.

Becker County has diverse topography. It is home to several hundred lakes, many acres of fertile farmland, and forested areas. Much of the land consists of hills and deciduous trees.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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  • Atlanta State Wildlife Management Area
  • Becker State Wildlife Management Area
  • Callaway State Wildlife Management Area
  • Frank State Wildlife Management Area
  • Greenwater Lake Scientific and Natural Area
  • Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge
  • Hasca State Park (part)
  • Lunde State Wildlife Management Area
  • Melbye State Wildlife Management Area
  • Ogema Springs State Wildlife Management Area
  • Pednor State Wildlife Management Area
  • Riparia State Wildlife Management Area
  • Smoky Hills State Forest
  • Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge
  • Teiken-Dalve State Wildlife Management Area
  • Two Inlets State Forest
  • White Earth State Wildlife Management Area

[9]

Climate and weather

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Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[13]
Metric conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Detroit Lakes have ranged from a low of −2 °F (−19 °C) in January to a high of 82 °F (28 °C) in July; a record low of −46 °F (−43 °C) was recorded in February 1936 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.53 inches (13 mm) in February to 4.44 inches (113 mm) in June.[13]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860386—
1870308−20.2%
18805,2181,594.2%
18909,40180.2%
190014,37552.9%
191018,84031.1%
192022,85121.3%
193022,503−1.5%
194026,56218.0%
195024,836−6.5%
196023,959−3.5%
197024,3721.7%
198029,33620.4%
199027,881−5.0%
200030,0007.6%
201032,5048.3%
202035,1838.2%
2024 (est.)35,444[14]0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18] 2010–2020[2]

As of the third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Becker County was $286,500.[19]

As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 14,404 estimated households in Becker County with an average of 2.41 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $71,117. Approximately 11.8% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Becker County has an estimated 61.0% employment rate, with 27.5% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.3% holding a high school diploma.[2]

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (96.9%), Spanish (1.0%), Indo-European (0.6%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.5%), and Other (1.0%).

The median age in the county was 43.2 years.

Becker County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) Pop. 1980[20] Pop. 1990[21] Pop. 2000[22] Pop. 2010[23] Pop. 2020[24]
White alone (NH) 27,420
(93.47%)		 25,786
(92.49%)		 26,699
(89.00%)		 28,539
(87.80%)		 29,645
(84.26%)
Black or African American alone (NH) 10
(0.03%)		 20
(0.07%)		 54
(0.18%)		 128
(0.39%)		 200
(0.57%)
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,720
(5.86%)		 1,853
(6.65%)		 2,229
(7.43%)		 2,372
(7.30%)		 2,417
(6.87%)
Asian alone (NH) 45
(0.15%)		 100
(0.36%)		 108
(0.36%)		 124
(0.38%)		 156
(0.44%)
Pacific Islander alone (NH) — — 4
(0.01%)		 7
(0.02%)		 9
(0.03%)
Other race alone (NH) 14
(0.05%)		 2
(0.01%)		 18
(0.06%)		 17
(0.05%)		 100
(0.28%)
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) — — 658
(2.19%)		 919
(2.83%)		 2,081
(5.91%)
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 127
(0.43%)		 120
(0.43%)		 230
(0.77%)		 398
(1.22%)		 575
(1.63%)
Total 29,336
(100.00%)		 27,881
(100.00%)		 30,000
(100.00%)		 32,504
(100.00%)		 35,183
(100.00%)

2023 estimate

[edit]
2022 US Census population pyramid for Becker County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the 2023 estimate, there were 35,283 people and 14,404 households residing in the county. There were 20,168 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 87.7% White (86.5% NH White), 0.8% African American, 7.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.1% of the population.[25]

In the 2023 estimate, Becker County is the 40th wealthiest county in Minnesota. $60,360 for per capita income.

2020 Census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 35,183 people, 14,371 households, and 9,435 families residing in the county.[26] The population density was 26.8 inhabitants per square mile (10.3/km2). There were 19,620 housing units at an average density of 14.9 per square mile (5.8/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.75% White, 0.58% African American, 7.01% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from some other races and 6.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.63% of the population.[27]

2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 census, there were 32,504 people, 13,224 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was 24.7 inhabitants per square mile (9.5/km2). There were 18,784 housing units at an average density of 14.3 per square mile (5.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 81.63% White, 0.39% African American, 6.98% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from some other races and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.22% of the population.

2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 census, there were 30,000 people, 11,844 households, and 8,184 families in the county. The population density was 22.8 inhabitants per square mile (8.8/km2). There were 16,612 housing units at an average density of 12.7 per square mile (4.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.35% White, 0.19% African American, 7.52% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from some other races and 2.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.77% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, 32.2% were of German, 26.0% Norwegian and 5.2% Swedish.

There were 11,844 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.

The county population contained 26.6% under age 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% 65 or older. The median age was 39. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,797, and the median income for a family was $41,807. Males had a median income of $29,641 versus $20,693 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,085. About 8.5% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under 18 and 11.8% of those 65 and over.

Communities

[edit]

Cities

[edit]

Townships

[edit]

Census-designated places

[edit]

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

[9]

Lakes

[edit]
  • Big Cormorant Lake (Minnesota)
  • Middle Cormorant Lake
  • Upper Cormorant Lake
  • Little Cormorant Lake
  • Nelson Lake
  • Erickson Lake
  • Lake Melissa
  • Detroit Lake
  • Lake Sallie
  • Lake Maud[28]
  • Lake Eunice
  • Loon Lake
  • Sauers Lake

Government and politics

[edit]

From its inaugural election in 1872 to 1928, Becker County voted Republican all but twice and never voted Democratic; the only two occasions it backed a non-Republican in that span were in 1912 when former Republican president turned Progressive candidate Theodore Roosevelt carried the county and in 1924 when Progressive Robert M. La Follette narrowly carried the county, edging out incumbent Republican president Calvin Coolidge by just 151 votes in the county. Following Black Tuesday and the onset of the Great Depression, Becker County proceeded to voted Democrat in nearly every election for the next half-century, only backing the Republican nominee in nationwide Republican landslides in 1952 and 1972 by Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon respectively in the elections from 1932 to 1976, though the Democrat margin of victories were typically modest outside of their nationwide landslides. Beginning in 1980, Becker County has backed the Republican nominee in every presidential election except for the reelection of Bill Clinton in 1996, and never by huge margins up to and including 2012. However, in 2016, Donald Trump attained the highest percentage of the vote and margin of victory for either party in the county since 1936 and the highest for a Republican since 1920.

United States presidential election results for Becker County, Minnesota[29]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 12,961 65.66% 6,435 32.60% 343 1.74%
2020 12,438 64.11% 6,589 33.96% 374 1.93%
2016 10,880 63.18% 5,208 30.24% 1,134 6.58%
2012 9,204 56.18% 6,829 41.69% 349 2.13%
2008 8,851 52.17% 7,687 45.31% 427 2.52%
2004 9,795 58.30% 6,756 40.21% 250 1.49%
2000 8,152 56.88% 5,253 36.65% 928 6.47%
1996 5,461 40.83% 5,911 44.20% 2,002 14.97%
1992 5,430 39.63% 4,958 36.18% 3,314 24.19%
1988 6,738 53.26% 5,787 45.74% 126 1.00%
1984 7,553 57.65% 5,456 41.65% 92 0.70%
1980 6,848 52.14% 5,221 39.75% 1,065 8.11%
1976 5,611 44.65% 6,597 52.50% 358 2.85%
1972 6,033 55.43% 4,695 43.14% 156 1.43%
1968 4,728 46.37% 4,875 47.81% 593 5.82%
1964 3,751 36.70% 6,453 63.14% 16 0.16%
1960 5,090 48.99% 5,257 50.60% 42 0.40%
1956 4,608 49.81% 4,619 49.93% 24 0.26%
1952 5,815 55.84% 4,539 43.59% 60 0.58%
1948 3,495 35.93% 5,885 60.50% 347 3.57%
1944 3,803 43.46% 4,889 55.87% 58 0.66%
1940 4,292 39.68% 6,432 59.47% 92 0.85%
1936 2,683 28.34% 6,473 68.38% 310 3.27%
1932 2,299 28.00% 5,547 67.56% 364 4.43%
1928 4,273 55.47% 3,253 42.23% 177 2.30%
1924 2,936 45.51% 429 6.65% 3,087 47.85%
1920 4,811 75.78% 901 14.19% 637 10.03%
1916 1,761 50.44% 1,453 41.62% 277 7.93%
1912 509 16.76% 732 24.10% 1,796 59.14%
1908 2,058 64.39% 728 22.78% 410 12.83%
1904 1,872 79.49% 310 13.16% 173 7.35%
1900 1,790 64.62% 771 27.83% 209 7.55%
1896 1,479 58.81% 985 39.17% 51 2.03%
1892 853 55.43% 266 17.28% 420 27.29%
County Board of Commissioners[30]
Position Name District Term Ends
Commissioner Erica Jepson District 1 2026
Commissioner David Meyer District 2 2026
Commissioner John Okeson District 3 2024
Commissioner Richard Vareberg District 4 2024
Commissioner Barry Nelson District 5 2024
State Legislature (2023–2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
Minnesota State Senate Steve Green[31] Republican District 2
Minnesota State Senate Rob Kupec[32] Democrat District 4
Minnesota State Senate Paul Utke[33] Republican District 5
Minnesota House of Representatives Matt Bliss[34] Republican District 2B
Minnesota House of Representatives Jim Joy[35] Republican District 4B
Minnesota House of Representatives Krista Knudsen[36] Republican District 5A
U.S Congress (2022–2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Republican 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[37] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[38] Democrat N/A
[edit]

Becker County is the setting of the 2006 independent film Sweet Land, though it was filmed in Chippewa County.

A popular YouTube channel, CBOYSTV films, is headquartered in Becker County. CBoysTV is an American comedy and motorsports channel run by five men. The channel has amassed over a million subscribers.[39]

Images

[edit]
  • The County Public Works Center for Becker County in Detroit Lakes
    The County Public Works Center for Becker County in Detroit Lakes
  • Highway Department building for Becker County
    Highway Department building for Becker County

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Becker County, Minnesota". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  4. ^ "Minnesota: Individual County Chronologies". publications.newberry.org. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  5. ^ Citizen Kane, Charles Curry Aiken (2005). "The American counties: origins of county names, dates of creation, and population data, 1950-2000" p. 18. Scarecrow Press, 2005
  6. ^ A Pioneer History of Becker County, Minnesota: Including a Brief Account of Its Natural History ... and a History of the Early Settlement of the County; Also, Including ... Historical Information Collected by Mrs. Jessie C. West. And Numerous Articles Written by Various Early Pioneers Relating to the History of the Several Townships of Becker County by Alvin H. Wilcox, Mrs. Jessie Campbell West. Pioneer Press Company 1907
  7. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 53-56. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  8. ^ Detroit Lakes: Park to be Re-dedicated
  9. ^ a b c Becker County MN Google Maps (accessed March 4, 2019)
  10. ^ Wolf Lake Lookout, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 4, 2019)
  11. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Becker County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 4, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  12. ^ "2024 County Gazetteer Files – Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Detroit Lakes MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  14. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  15. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  17. ^ Forstall, Richard L. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  18. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  19. ^ "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  20. ^ "Becker County, Minnesota — Population by Race". CensusScope. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  21. ^ "1990 Census of Population: General Population Characteristics Minnesota" (PDF). www.census.gov. October 6, 2022. p. 21. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  22. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Becker County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  23. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Becker County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  24. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Becker County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  25. ^ "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  26. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  27. ^ "How many people live in Becker County, Minnesota". USA Today. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  28. ^ "Becker County · Minnesota".
  29. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  30. ^ "Becker County Board of Commissioners". www.co.becker.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  31. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  32. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  33. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  34. ^ "Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  35. ^ "Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Minnesota Legislature. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  36. ^ "Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
  37. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  38. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  39. ^ "With throttles wide open, small-town 'CBoys' achieve YouTube stardom". Star Tribune.
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