Editing Red Lake County, Minnesota

{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Red Lake County
 | state                = Minnesota
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = December 24
 | founded year         = 1896
 | seat wl              = Red Lake Falls
 | largest city wl      = Red Lake Falls
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 432
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 432
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 0.09
 | area percentage      = 0.02
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 3935
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 3911 {{decrease}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 9.1
 | time zone            = Central
 | web                  = https://www.co.red-lake.mn.us/
 | named for            = [[Red Lake River]]
 | ex image             = Red Lake County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = The [[Red Lake County Courthouse]] in Red Lake Falls in 2007
 | district             = 7th
}}

'''Red Lake County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the Northwestern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 3,935,<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/redlakecountyminnesota/PST045222 |access-date=April 19, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> making it the third-least populous county in Minnesota. Its [[county seat]] is [[Red Lake Falls, Minnesota|Red Lake Falls]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==History==
Red Lake County was formed on December 24, 1896,<ref>{{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}}</ref> from sections of [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk County]]. It was named for the [[Red Lake River]]. Its designated county seat was [[Red Lake Falls, Minnesota|Red Lake Falls]], which had been incorporated (as a village) in 1881.<ref>{{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]}}</ref>

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, Minnesota|Pennington County]]. It is joined near [[Red Lake Falls, Minnesota|Red Lake Falls]] by the [[Clearwater River (Red Lake River tributary)|Clearwater River]]; the combined flow (still known as the Red Lake River) flows southwestward to [[Huot, Minnesota|Huot]], where it is augmented by the [[Black River (Red Lake River tributary)|Black River]], which drains the northwestern part of the county. The Red Lake River then flows southwestward into [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk County]]. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, etched by drainages and gullies. The area is devoted to agriculture.<ref name="RLCM">[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)]</ref> The county terrain slopes to the west, with its highest elevation on its southeastern corner, at {{convert|1,201|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm "Find an Altitude/Red Lake County MN"  Google Maps (accessed April 7, 2019)]</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Despite its name, Red Lake County contains only one named lake: Moran Lake, near Huot.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Red Lake County is the only landlocked county in the United States (excluding those on international borders) to border exactly two other counties.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
{{Stack|[[File:Red Lake Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf|thumb|right|Soils of Red Lake County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota:Self. pp. 57–60. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}.</ref>]]}}

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:US 2.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 2 in Minnesota|U.S. Highway 2]]
* [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 59#Minnesota|U.S. Highway 59]]
* [[Image:MN-32.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 32]]
* [[Image:MN-92.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 92]]
* [[Image:MN-222.svg|20px]] [[Minnesota State Highway 222]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Pennington County, Minnesota|Pennington County]] – north
* [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk County]] – south

===Protected areas<ref name=RLCM/>===
* Moran State Wildlife Management Area
* Old Crossing & Treaty County Wayside Park

==Demographics==
{{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=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{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}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{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}}</ref><br>1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=October 24, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{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}}</ref><br>1990–2000<ref>{{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}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2020 Census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Red Lake County Racial Composition<ref>{{Cite web |title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Red Lake County, Minnesota |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Red%20Lake%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (NH)
|3,625
|92.12%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (NH)
|15
|0.4%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] (NH)
|57
|1.5%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]] (NH)
|5
|0.13%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|3
|0.07%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]] (NH)
|127
|3.23%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|103
|2.62%
|}

===2000 census===
[[File:RedLakeCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census [[population pyramid]] for Red Lake County, from [[American Community Survey|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% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.19% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.84% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.07% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.35% from two or more races. 0.30% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 31.9% were of [[norwegian people|Norwegian]], 25.0% [[German people|German]], 16.7% [[French people|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 [[Marriage|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===
{{div col}}
* [[Brooks, Minnesota|Brooks]]
* [[Oklee, Minnesota|Oklee]]
* [[Plummer, Minnesota|Plummer]]
* [[Red Lake Falls, Minnesota|Red Lake Falls]] (county seat)
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Dorothy, Minnesota|Dorothy]]
* Garnes<ref name=RLCM/>
* [[Huot, Minnesota|Huot]]
* [[Perault, Minnesota|Perault]]
* [[Terrebonne, Minnesota|Terrebonne]]
* Wylie
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Browns Creek Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Browns Creek Township]]
* [[Emardville Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Emardville Township]]
* [[Equality Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Equality Township]]
* [[Garnes Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Garnes Township]]
* [[Gervais Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Gervais Township]]
* [[Lake Pleasant Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Lake Pleasant Township]]
* [[Lambert Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Lambert Township]]
* [[Louisville Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Louisville Township]]
* [[Poplar River Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Poplar River Township]]
* [[Red Lake Falls Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Red Lake Falls Township]]
* [[River Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|River Township]]
* [[Terrebonne Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Terrebonne Township]]
* [[Wylie Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota|Wylie Township]]
{{div col end}}

==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. In 2020, [[Donald Trump]] showed the best performance by a Republican since 1904, and he broke this record again in 2024.<ref>https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Red Lake County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{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}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{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}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+County Board of Commissioners<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board of Commissioners {{!}} Polk County, MN |url=https://www.co.polk.mn.us/459/Board-of-Commissioners |access-date=June 25, 2020 |website=www.co.polk.mn.us}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |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
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+State Legislature (2023–2025)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|Senate
|[[Mark Johnson (Minnesota politician)|Mark Johnson]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=MN State Senate |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?member_id=1217 |access-date=June 25, 2020 |website=www.senate.mn |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 1
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|House of Representatives
|[[Deb Kiel]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Debra Kiel (01B) – Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15353 |access-date=June 25, 2020 |website=www.house.leg.state.mn.us}}</ref>
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|District 1B
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+U.S Congress (2023–2025)
! colspan="2" |Position
!Name
!Affiliation
!District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
|[[Michelle Fischbach]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|[[Minnesota's 7th congressional district|7th]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Amy Klobuchar]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar |url=https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=www.klobuchar.senate.gov}}</ref>
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|N/A
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
|[[United States Senate|Senate]]
|[[Tina Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.smith.senate.gov/ |access-date=June 24, 2020 |website=Senator Tina Smith |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|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".<ref>{{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}}</ref> After vigorous objections from local and state inhabitants and legislators,<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Minnesota#Red Lake County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Red Lake County, Minnesota]]

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* 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.

==External links==
* [https://www.co.red-lake.mn.us/ Red Lake County official website]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Red Lake County, Minnesota
|North  = [[Pennington County, Minnesota|Pennington County]]
|East   = [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk County]]
|South  = [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk County]]
|West   = [[Polk County, Minnesota|Polk County]]
}}

{{Red Lake County, Minnesota}}
{{Minnesota}}

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

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Red Lake County, Minnesota| ]]
[[Category:Minnesota counties]]
[[Category:1896 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1896]]
[[Category:Minnesota placenames of Native American origin]]