Becker County, Minnesota

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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

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.

File:Becker Co Pie Chart 2-20-18 Wiki Version.pdf
Soils of Becker County[7]
File:Callaway WMA 2016 Wiki Version.jpg
Soils of Callaway WMA area
File:Countryroad.jpg
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

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 Script error: No such module "convert". northeast of Wolf Lake, the site of the USFS Wolf Lake lookout tower, at Script error: No such module "convert". ASL.[10] The next highest point is near its northwest corner, at Script error: No such module "convert". ASL.[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". is land and Script error: No such module "convert". (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

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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█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Detroit Lakes have ranged from a low of Script error: No such module "convert". in January to a high of Script error: No such module "convert". in July; a record low of Script error: No such module "convert". was recorded in February 1936 and a record high of Script error: No such module "convert". was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Script error: No such module "convert". in February to Script error: No such module "convert". in June.[13]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly%±
1860386—
1870308Script error: No such module "String".%
18805,218Script error: No such module "String".%
18909,401Script error: No such module "String".%
190014,375Script error: No such module "String".%
191018,840Script error: No such module "String".%
192022,851Script error: No such module "String".%
193022,503Script error: No such module "String".%
194026,562Script error: No such module "String".%
195024,836Script error: No such module "String".%
196023,959Script error: No such module "String".%
197024,372Script error: No such module "String".%
198029,336Script error: No such module "String".%
199027,881Script error: No such module "String".%
200030,000Script error: No such module "String".%
201032,504Script error: No such module "String".%
202035,183Script error: No such module "String".%
2024 (est.)35,444[14]Script error: No such module "String".%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18] 2010–2020[2]

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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%).

Racial and ethnic composition

Becker County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition
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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

File:BeckerCountyMn2022PopPyr.png
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

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 35,183. The median age was 43.3 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.1 males age 18 and over.[26][27]

The racial makeup of the county was 84.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 7.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.[27]

29.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.9% lived in rural areas.[28]

There were 14,371 households in the county, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.5% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[26]

There were 19,620 housing units, of which 26.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.7% were owner-occupied and 22.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%.[26]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 32,504 people, 13,224 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 18,784 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. 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

As of the 2000 census, there were 30,000 people, 11,844 households, and 8,184 families in the county. The population density was Script error: No such module "convert".. There were 16,612 housing units at an average density of Script error: No such module "convert".. 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

Cities

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Townships

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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[9]

Lakes

  • 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[29]
  • Lake Eunice
  • Loon Lake
  • Sauers Lake

Government and politics

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. He again broke this record in 2020 and 2024, receiving 66% of the vote in 2024.[30]

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County Board of Commissioners[31]
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
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Minnesota State Senate Steve Green[32] Republican District 2
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Minnesota State Senate Rob Kupec[33] Democrat District 4
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Minnesota State Senate Paul Utke[34] Republican District 5
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Minnesota House of Representatives Matt Bliss[35] Republican District 2B
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Minnesota House of Representatives Jim Joy[36] Republican District 4B
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Minnesota House of Representatives Krista Knudsen[37] Republican District 5A
U.S Congress (2022–2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Republican 7th
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Senate Amy Klobuchar[38] Democrat N/A
style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Senate Tina Smith[39] Democrat N/A

In popular culture

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.[40]

Images

See also

References

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  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. Template:ISBN.
  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. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links

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