Red Lake County, Minnesota

Red Lake County
County
The Red Lake County Courthouse in Red Lake Falls in 2007
The Red Lake County Courthouse in Red Lake Falls in 2007
Map of Minnesota highlighting Red Lake County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°53′N 96°06′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
Founded December 24, 1896
Named for Red Lake River
Seat Red Lake Falls
Largest city Red Lake Falls
Area
 • Total 432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Land 432 sq mi (1,120 km2)
 • Water 0.09 sq mi (0.2 km2)  0.02%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 3,935
 • Estimate 
(2022)
 3,874 Decrease
 • Density 9.1/sq mi (3.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 7th
Website www.co.red-lake.mn.us

Red Lake County is a county in the Northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,935, making it the third-least populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Red Lake Falls.

History

Red Lake County was formed on December 24, 1896 from sections of Polk County. It was named for the Red Lake River. Its designated county seat was Red Lake Falls, which had been incorporated (as a village) in 1881.

The county has two sites on the National Register of Historic Places: the courthouse and Clearwater Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Geography

The Red Lake River flows southward into the county from Pennington County. It is joined near Red Lake Falls by the Clearwater River; the combined flow (still known as the Red Lake River) flows southwestward to Huot, where it is augmented by the Black River, which drains the northwestern part of the county. The Red Lake River then flows southwestward into Polk County. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched by drainages and gullies. The area is devoted to agriculture. The county terrain slopes to the west, with its highest elevation on its southeastern corner, at 1,201 ft (366 m) ASL. The county has a total area of 432 square miles (1,120 km2), of which 432 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) (0.02%) is water.

Despite its name, Red Lake County contains only one named lake: Moran Lake, near Huot.

Red Lake County is the only landlocked county in the United States (excluding those on international borders) to border exactly two other counties.

Soils of Red Lake County

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

  • Moran State Wildlife Management Area
  • Old Crossing & Treaty County Wayside Park

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. Note %±
1900 12,195 —
1910 6,564 −46.2%
1920 7,263 10.6%
1930 6,887 −5.2%
1940 7,413 7.6%
1950 6,806 −8.2%
1960 5,830 −14.3%
1970 5,388 −7.6%
1980 5,471 1.5%
1990 4,525 −17.3%
2000 4,299 −5.0%
2010 4,089 −4.9%
2020 3,935 −3.8%
2022 (est.) 3,874 −1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 Census

Red Lake County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 3,625 92.12%
Black or African American (NH) 15 0.4%
Native American (NH) 57 1.5%
Asian (NH) 5 0.13%
Pacific Islander (NH) 3 0.07%
Other/Mixed (NH) 127 3.23%
Hispanic or Latino 103 2.62%

2000 census

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,299 people, 1,727 households, and 1,131 families in the county. The population density was 9.95/sq mi (3.84/km2). There were 1,883 housing units at an average density of 4.36/sq mi (1.68/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.44% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 1.84% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. 0.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.9% were of Norwegian, 25.0% German, 16.7% French and 6.3% French Canadian ancestry.

There were 1,727 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 30.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.02.

The county population contained 25.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 24.70% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 19.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,052, and the median income for a family was $40,275. Males had a median income of $28,494 versus $20,363 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,372. About 8.40% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.50% of those under age 18 and 13.10% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Government and politics

Red Lake County was formerly solidly Democratic, voting for that party's presidential nominee in all elections from 1928 until 1996, although since 2000 it has generally voted Republican, with the exception of its support for Barack Obama in 2008.

United States presidential election results for Red Lake County, Minnesota
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,454 66.21% 691 31.47% 51 2.32%
2016 1,141 60.66% 540 28.71% 200 10.63%
2012 978 49.52% 928 46.99% 69 3.49%
2008 983 44.87% 1,120 51.12% 88 4.02%
2004 1,164 53.47% 963 44.24% 50 2.30%
2000 1,090 52.15% 830 39.71% 170 8.13%
1996 695 33.00% 1,053 50.00% 358 17.00%
1992 691 31.39% 1,020 46.34% 490 22.26%
1988 918 42.21% 1,229 56.51% 28 1.29%
1984 1,184 47.49% 1,294 51.91% 15 0.60%
1980 1,223 45.18% 1,318 48.69% 166 6.13%
1976 737 28.35% 1,748 67.23% 115 4.42%
1972 1,052 41.40% 1,409 55.45% 80 3.15%
1968 718 30.97% 1,467 63.29% 133 5.74%
1964 573 23.39% 1,861 75.96% 16 0.65%
1960 679 26.64% 1,865 73.17% 5 0.20%
1956 782 33.35% 1,555 66.31% 8 0.34%
1952 1,034 41.51% 1,431 57.45% 26 1.04%
1948 592 23.99% 1,771 71.76% 105 4.25%
1944 757 31.36% 1,642 68.02% 15 0.62%
1940 876 30.05% 2,023 69.40% 16 0.55%
1936 487 18.36% 2,057 77.53% 109 4.11%
1932 351 14.99% 1,893 80.86% 97 4.14%
1928 712 31.56% 1,507 66.80% 37 1.64%
1924 643 35.19% 213 11.66% 971 53.15%
1920 1,308 62.37% 558 26.61% 231 11.02%
1916 463 37.70% 694 56.51% 71 5.78%
1912 259 27.88% 374 40.26% 296 31.86%
1908 1,428 53.01% 856 31.77% 410 15.22%
1904 1,430 68.00% 399 18.97% 274 13.03%
1900 823 39.10% 1,165 55.34% 117 5.56%
County Board of Commissioners
Position Name District
Commissioner Anthony "Chuck" Flage District 1
Commissioner and Chairperson Ron Weiss District 2
Commissioner Delane "John" Dudycha District 3
Commissioner Allen Remick District 4
Commissioner Charles Simpson District 5
State Legislature (2023-2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Mark Johnson Republican District 1
House of Representatives Deb Kiel Republican District 1B
U.S Congress (2023-2025)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Republican 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith Democrat N/A

Media attention

The county received mention in the media when a Washington Post reporter, Christopher Ingraham, wrote a story calling Red Lake County "the absolute worst place to live in America" in a ranking of US counties by "scenery and climate". After vigorous objections from local and state inhabitants and legislators, Ingraham subsequently visited the county and not only reversed his position but later moved there with his family and wrote a book about his experience.

See also