Douglas County, Minnesota
Douglas County comprises the Alexandria, Minnesota, Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Douglas County is the home of Minnesota's only wine-grape appellation, the 10,880 acres (44.0 km) Alexandria Lakes AVA.
History
The territorial legislature created Douglas County on March 8, 1858, shortly before Minnesota attained statehood. It was named for political figure Stephen A. Douglas, who was serving as a US Senator from Illinois at the time of the county's creation. The county organization was completed in 1866.
Geography
Spruce Creek flows southeast through northeastern Douglas county. The county consists of rolling hills, heavily dotted with lakes and ponds, especially in its north-to-south central portion. The hilly terrain generally slopes to the south and west; its highest point is near the northeast corner, at 1,483 ft (452 m) ASL. The county has an area of 720 square miles (1,900 km), of which 637 square miles (1,650 km) is land and 83 square miles (210 km) (11%) is water. It contains more than 250 lakes.
The county includes two of Minnesota's biomes: prairie grassland in the west and southeast, savannas (also prairie ecosystems) in the middle, and temperate deciduous forest in the south-central, north, and east. Douglas is one of 17 Minnesota counties where savanna soils predominate.
Major highways
Airports
- Alexandria Municipal Airport ("Chandler Field"), city-owned public-use airport
Adjacent counties
- Otter Tail County - north
- Todd County - east
- Stearns County - southeast
- Pope County - south
- Stevens County - southwest
- Grant County - west
Protected areas
- Anderson State Wildlife Management Area
- Balgaard State Wildlife Management Area
- Chermak State Wildlife Management Area
- Herberger Lake State Wildlife Management Area
- Kensington State Wildlife Management Area
- La Grand State Wildlife Management Area
- Lake Carlos State Park
- Osakis State Wildlife Management Area North Unit (part)
- Red Rock Wildlife Management Area
- Roger M. Holmes State Wildlife Management Area
- Schnepf State Wildlife Management Area
- Thornberg State Wildlife Management Area
- Urness State Wildlife Management Area
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 4,239 | — | |
1880 | 9,130 | 115.4% | |
1890 | 14,606 | 60.0% | |
1900 | 17,964 | 23.0% | |
1910 | 17,669 | −1.6% | |
1920 | 19,039 | 7.8% | |
1930 | 18,813 | −1.2% | |
1940 | 20,369 | 8.3% | |
1950 | 21,304 | 4.6% | |
1960 | 21,313 | 0.0% | |
1970 | 22,892 | 7.4% | |
1980 | 27,839 | 21.6% | |
1990 | 28,839 | 3.6% | |
2000 | 32,821 | 13.8% | |
2010 | 36,009 | 9.7% | |
2020 | 39,006 | 8.3% | |
2023 (est.) | 39,953 | 2.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
2020 Census
Race | Num. | Perc. |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 36,629 | 94% |
Black or African American (NH) | 223 | 0.6% |
Native American (NH) | 104 | 0.3% |
Asian (NH) | 227 | 0.6% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 11 | 0.03% |
Other/Mixed (NH) | 997 | 2.6% |
Hispanic or Latino | 815 | 2.1% |
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,821 people, 13,276 households, and 9,027 families in the county. The population density was 51.5 per square mile (19.9/km). There were 16,694 housing units at an average density of 26.2 per square mile (10.1/km). The racial makeup of the county was 98.49% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.5% were of German, 24.6% Norwegian and 8.1% Swedish ancestry.
There were 13,276 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93.
The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,703, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $30,968 versus $21,240 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,850. About 5.60% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.30% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
- Alexandria (county seat)
- Brandon
- Carlos
- Evansville
- Forada
- Garfield
- Kensington
- Millerville
- Miltona
- Nelson
- Osakis (part)
Unincorporated communities
Townships
- Alexandria Township
- Belle River Township
- Brandon Township
- Carlos Township
- Evansville Township
- Holmes City Township
- Hudson Township
- Ida Township
- La Grand Township
- Lake Mary Township
- Leaf Valley Township
- Lund Township
- Millerville Township
- Miltona Township
- Moe Township
- Orange Township
- Osakis Township
- Solem Township
- Spruce Hill Township
- Urness Township
Government and politics
Douglas County traditionally votes Republican. In only one presidential election since 1964 has it selected the Democratic candidate.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 16,726 | 66.62% | 7,938 | 31.62% | 442 | 1.76% |
2020 | 15,799 | 65.38% | 7,868 | 32.56% | 498 | 2.06% |
2016 | 13,966 | 64.11% | 6,227 | 28.58% | 1,592 | 7.31% |
2012 | 11,884 | 56.72% | 8,653 | 41.30% | 416 | 1.99% |
2008 | 11,241 | 53.74% | 9,256 | 44.25% | 421 | 2.01% |
2004 | 11,793 | 58.07% | 8,219 | 40.47% | 297 | 1.46% |
2000 | 9,811 | 57.02% | 6,352 | 36.92% | 1,042 | 6.06% |
1996 | 6,747 | 43.63% | 6,450 | 41.71% | 2,267 | 14.66% |
1992 | 6,356 | 40.08% | 5,252 | 33.12% | 4,251 | 26.80% |
1988 | 7,898 | 57.02% | 5,803 | 41.89% | 151 | 1.09% |
1984 | 9,005 | 61.92% | 5,444 | 37.43% | 94 | 0.65% |
1980 | 7,778 | 53.85% | 5,530 | 38.28% | 1,137 | 7.87% |
1976 | 5,910 | 44.39% | 7,097 | 53.30% | 307 | 2.31% |
1972 | 6,678 | 52.97% | 5,501 | 43.64% | 427 | 3.39% |
1968 | 5,464 | 50.41% | 4,826 | 44.52% | 549 | 5.07% |
1964 | 4,122 | 40.51% | 6,040 | 59.36% | 13 | 0.13% |
1960 | 5,594 | 53.25% | 4,871 | 46.36% | 41 | 0.39% |
1956 | 5,114 | 54.87% | 4,194 | 45.00% | 12 | 0.13% |
1952 | 6,037 | 61.30% | 3,768 | 38.26% | 43 | 0.44% |
1948 | 3,744 | 41.73% | 5,022 | 55.97% | 207 | 2.31% |
1944 | 4,140 | 52.62% | 3,681 | 46.79% | 46 | 0.58% |
1940 | 4,652 | 50.53% | 4,507 | 48.95% | 48 | 0.52% |
1936 | 2,681 | 36.41% | 4,186 | 56.84% | 497 | 6.75% |
1932 | 2,325 | 30.37% | 5,101 | 66.63% | 230 | 3.00% |
1928 | 4,262 | 59.27% | 2,829 | 39.34% | 100 | 1.39% |
1924 | 2,424 | 39.15% | 315 | 5.09% | 3,453 | 55.77% |
1920 | 4,428 | 66.13% | 733 | 10.95% | 1,535 | 22.92% |
1916 | 1,709 | 50.26% | 1,398 | 41.12% | 293 | 8.62% |
1912 | 435 | 14.94% | 793 | 27.23% | 1,684 | 57.83% |
1908 | 1,894 | 60.92% | 979 | 31.49% | 236 | 7.59% |
1904 | 2,171 | 79.41% | 410 | 15.00% | 153 | 5.60% |
1900 | 1,917 | 59.87% | 1,194 | 37.29% | 91 | 2.84% |
1896 | 1,966 | 57.84% | 1,350 | 39.72% | 83 | 2.44% |
1892 | 1,315 | 50.89% | 533 | 20.63% | 736 | 28.48% |
Position | Name | District | |
---|---|---|---|
Commissioner | Keith Englund | District 1 | |
Commissioner | Tim Kalina | District 2 | |
Commissioner | Jerry Rapp | District 3 | |
Commissioner | Charlie Meyer | District 4 | |
Commissioner | Shane Schmidt | District 5 |
Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Senate | Bill Ingebrigtsen | Republican | District 8 | |
Senate | Torrey Westrom | Republican | District 12 | |
House of Representatives | Mary Franson | Republican | District 8B | |
House of Representatives | Jeff Backer | Republican | District 12A | |
House of Representatives | Paul Anderson | Republican | District 12B |
Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach | Republican | 7th | |
Senate | Amy Klobuchar | DFL | N/A | |
Senate | Tina Smith | DFL | N/A |
See also
References
- ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ . April 22, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060422035826/http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13040.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 22, 2006.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 108.
- ^ "Douglas County · Minnesota". Douglas County · Minnesota. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ "Find an Altitude/Douglas County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 7, 2019)
- ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ "Minnesota's Biomes" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
- ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 53-56. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
- ^ "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 October 15, 2014.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Douglas County, Minnesota".
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
- ^ "Douglas County | Board of Commissioners". www.douglascountymn.gov. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "Rep. Mary Franson (08B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ "Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "Rep. Paul Anderson (12B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.