Douglas County
County
Douglas County Courthouse in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Douglas County Courthouse in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Map of Minnesota highlighting Douglas County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°56′N 95°27′W / 45.94°N 95.45°W / 45.94; -95.45
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMarch 8, 1858 (created)
1866 (organized)[1]
Named forStephen A. Douglas
SeatAlexandria
Largest cityAlexandria
Area
 • Total720 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Land637 sq mi (1,650 km2)
 • Water83 sq mi (210 km2)  11%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total39,006
 • Estimate 
(2022)
39,668 Increase
 • Density61.2/sq mi (23.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.douglas.mn.us

Douglas County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,006.[2] Its county seat is Alexandria.[3]

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 km2) Alexandria Lakes AVA.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] The county has an area of 720 square miles (1,900 km2), of which 637 square miles (1,650 km2) is land and 83 square miles (210 km2) (11%) is water.[8] 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.[9] Douglas is one of 17 Minnesota counties where savanna soils predominate.

Soils of Douglas County[10]

Major highways

Airports

Adjacent counties

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

[6]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18704,239—
18809,130115.4%
189014,60660.0%
190017,96423.0%
191017,669−1.6%
192019,0397.8%
193018,813−1.2%
194020,3698.3%
195021,3044.6%
196021,3130.0%
197022,8927.4%
198027,83921.6%
199028,8393.6%
200032,82113.8%
201036,0099.7%
202039,0068.3%
2022 (est.)39,668[11]1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]

2020 Census

Douglas County Racial Composition[16]
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

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

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/km2). There were 16,694 housing units at an average density of 26.2 per square mile (10.1/km2). 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

Unincorporated communities

[6]

Townships

Government and politics

Douglas County traditionally votes Republican. In only one presidential election since 1964 has it selected the Democratic candidate.

United States presidential election results for Douglas County, Minnesota[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
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%
County Board of Commissioners[18]
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
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Bill Ingebrigtsen[19] Republican District 8
Senate Torrey Westrom[20] Republican District 12
House of Representatives Mary Franson[21] Republican District 8B
House of Representatives Jeff Backer[22] Republican District 12A
House of Representatives Paul Anderson[23] Republican District 12B
U.S Congress (2021-2023)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Republican 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[24] DFL N/A
Senate Tina Smith[25] DFL N/A

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ (PDF). 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)
  5. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 108.
  6. 1 2 3 "Douglas County · Minnesota". Douglas County · Minnesota. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Find an Altitude/Douglas County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 7, 2019)
  8. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Minnesota's Biomes" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  10. ↑ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 53-56. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  11. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Douglas County, Minnesota".
  17. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  18. ↑ "Douglas County | Board of Commissioners". www.douglascountymn.gov. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  19. ↑ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  20. ↑ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Rep. Mary Franson (08B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Rep. Jeff Backer (12A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Rep. Paul Anderson (12B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  24. ↑ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

45°56′N 95°27′W / 45.94°N 95.45°W / 45.94; -95.45

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