Red Lake County, Minnesota

Red Lake County was formed on December 24, 1896,{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Place Names |url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620201420/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=March 19, 2014 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society}} 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.{{Cite book |last=Upham |first=Warren |url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog |title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |year=1920 |page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n464 445]}}

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

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.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Red+Lake+County,+MN/@47.8902475,-96.2136364,58815m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x52c7a735b96c96eb:0x8187ae9d6a176807!8m2!3d47.8770338!4d-96.1345641 Red Lake County MN Google Maps (accessed April 7, 2019)] The county terrain slopes to the west, with its highest elevation on its southeastern corner, at {{convert|1,201|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Red Lake County MN" Google Maps (accessed April 7, 2019)] The county has a total area of {{convert|432|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|432|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.09|sqmi}} (0.02%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060200/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

Despite its name, Red Lake County contains only one named lake: Moran Lake, near Huot.{{Cite web |title=LakeFinder – Lake Search – Minnesota DNR – MN Department of Natural Resources |url=http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/search.html?name=&county=63 |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=www.dnr.state.mn.us}}

Red Lake County is the only landlocked county in the United States (excluding those on international borders) to border exactly two other counties.{{Cite web |date=November 15, 2007 |title=Fewest County Borders – Part III: Red Lake Co., MN – Twelve Mile Circle |url=http://www.howderfamily.com/blog/fewest-county-borders-red-lake/ |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=www.howderfamily.com}}

{{Stack|File:Red Lake Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf}}

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• 20px U.S. Highway 2
• 20px U.S. Highway 59
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 32
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 92
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 222

{{div col end}}

• Pennington County – north
• Polk County – south

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

{{US Census population

|1900= 12195

|1910= 6564

|1920= 7263

|1930= 6887

|1940= 7413

|1950= 6806

|1960= 5830

|1970= 5388

|1980= 5471

|1990= 4525

|2000= 4299

|2010= 4089

|2020= 3935

|estyear=2023

|estimate=3911

|estref={{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 18, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=US Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790–1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900–1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1990–2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010–2020

}}

File:RedLakeCountyMn2022PopPyr.png for Red Lake County, from ACS 5-year estimates]]

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 {{convert|9.95|/mi2|/km2|abbr=on}}. There were 1,883 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4.36|/mi2|/km2|abbr=on}}. 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.

{{div col}}

• Brooks
• Oklee
• Plummer
• Red Lake Falls (county seat)

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Dorothy
• Garnes
• Huot
• Perault
• Terrebonne
• Wylie

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Browns Creek Township
• Emardville Township
• Equality Township
• Garnes Township
• Gervais Township
• Lake Pleasant Township
• Lambert Township
• Louisville Township
• Poplar River Township
• Red Lake Falls Township
• River Township
• Terrebonne Township
• Wylie Township

{{div col end}}

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.

{{PresHead|place=Red Lake County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=October 10, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,425|642|49|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,454|691|51|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,141|540|200|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|978|928|69|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|983|1,120|88|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,164|963|50|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,090|830|170|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|695|1,053|358|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|691|1,020|490|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|918|1,229|28|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|1,184|1,294|15|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,223|1,318|166|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|737|1,748|115|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1972|Democratic|1,052|1,409|80|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|718|1,467|133|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|573|1,861|16|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|679|1,865|5|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|782|1,555|8|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,034|1,431|26|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|592|1,771|105|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|757|1,642|15|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|876|2,023|16|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|487|2,057|109|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|351|1,893|97|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|712|1,507|37|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|643|213|971|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,308|558|231|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|463|694|71|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|259|374|296|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,428|856|410|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,430|399|274|Minnesota}}

{{PresFoot|1900|Democratic|823|1,165|117|Minnesota}}

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".{{Cite news |last=Ingraham |first=Christopher |date=August 17, 2015 |title=Every county in America, ranked by scenery and climate |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/08/17/every-county-in-america-ranked-by-natural-beauty/ |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=The Washington Post}} After vigorous objections from local and state inhabitants and legislators,{{Cite news |last=Ingraham |first=Christopher |date=August 19, 2015 |title=Thick coats, thin skins: Why Minnesotans were outraged by a recent Washington Post report |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/08/19/thick-coats-thin-skins-why-minnesotans-were-outraged-by-a-recent-washington-post-report/ |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=The Washington Post}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Rachael |date=September 11, 2019 |title=A Throwaway Line Led 'Washington Post' Reporter To Call Rural Midwest His New Home |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/09/11/759513032/a-throwaway-line-led-washington-post-reporter-to-call-rural-midwest-his-new-home |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=NPR}}{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Sharyon |date=September 13, 2019 |title=Washington Post reporter dissed Minnesota county, then moved there. Now he won't leave |url=http://strib.mn/2LO4Qym |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=The Star Tribune}}{{Cite news |last=Avirgan |first=Jody |date=March 25, 2016 |title=He Called It America's Worst Place To Live. Now He's Moving There. |url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/he-called-it-americas-worst-place-to-live-now-hes-moving-there/ |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=FiveThrityEight}}{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Sharyon |date=April 25, 2017 |title=Washington Post reporter who insulted Red Lake Falls, Minn., now making his home there |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-washington-post-reporter-red-lake-falls-20170425-story.html |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=The Chicago Tribune}}{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2017 |title=Reporter who called Minnesota county the worst place in America learning to call it home |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/christopher-ingraham-red-lake-falls-1.4126122 |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=CBC News}}{{Cite news |date=March 31, 2017 |title=Red Lake County |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/video/after-naming-worst-place-to-live-in-america-reporter-makes-a-correction-of-sorts/ |access-date=January 3, 2020 |work=CBS News}}

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Red Lake County, Minnesota

{{reflist|2}}

• Anne Healy and Sherry Kankel, A History of Red Lake County, Red Lake County, Minnesota. Red Lake Falls MN: Ray Miller, 2003.
• Christopher Ingraham, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/09/03/i-called-this-place-americas-worst-place-to-live-then-i-went-there/ "I Called This Place 'America’s Worst Place to Live.' Then I Went There,"] Washington Post, September 3, 2015.
• Oklee Golden Jubilee Historical Committee, The Oklee Community Story. n.c.: Oklee Golden Jubilee Historical Committee, 1960.
• Red Lake County Historical Society, A History of Red Lake County, Red Lake County, Minnesota. n.c.: Red Lake County Historical Society, 1976.
• Jeff M Sauve and Anne Healy, Courthouse Centennial, 1910–2010. n.c.: Red Lake County Historical Society, June 2010.

• [https://www.co.red-lake.mn.us/ Red Lake County official website]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Red Lake County, Minnesota

|North = Pennington County

|East = Polk County

|South = Polk County

|West = Polk County

}}

{{Red Lake County, Minnesota}}

{{Minnesota}}

{{coord|47.88|-96.10|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Minnesota counties

Category:1896 establishments in Minnesota

Category:Populated places established in 1896

Category:Minnesota placenames of Native American origin