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Douglas County
County
Douglas County Courthouse in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Location within the U.S. state of 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
Founded	March 8, 1858 (created) 1866 (organized)
Named for	Stephen A. Douglas
Seat	Alexandria
Largest city	Alexandria
Area
• Total	720 sq mi (1,900 km)
• Land	637 sq mi (1,650 km)
• Water	83 sq mi (210 km)  11%
Population
• Total	39,006
• Estimate	39,953
• Density	61.2/sq mi (23.6/km)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.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. Its county seat is Alexandria.

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

• Interstate 94
• U.S. Highway 52
• Minnesota State Highway 27
• Minnesota State Highway 29
• Minnesota State Highway 55
• Minnesota State Highway 79
• Minnesota State Highway 114

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

2020 Census

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

• Belle River
• Holmes City
• Leaf Valley
• Rose City

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.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Minnesota

References

1. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
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. . 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. ^ "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, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
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.

External links

• Douglas County website Archived November 9, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
• Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission website
• Douglas County MN Area Manufacturing & Healthcare Opportunities

v t e Places adjacent to Douglas County, Minnesota
Otter Tail County Grant County Douglas County, Minnesota Todd County Stevens County Pope County Stearns County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Douglas County, Minnesota, United States
County seat: Alexandria
Cities	Alexandria Brandon Carlos Evansville Forada Garfield Kensington Millerville Miltona Nelson Osakis‡
Townships	Alexandria Belle River Brandon Carlos Evansville Holmes City Hudson Ida La Grand Lake Mary Leaf Valley Lund Millerville Miltona Moe Orange Osakis Solem Spruce Hill Urness
Unincorporated communities	Holmes City Melby Spruce Center
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Minnesota portal United States portal

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

• Minnesota counties
• Douglas County, Minnesota
• 1866 establishments in Minnesota
• Populated places established in 1866