Becker County, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Becker County
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1913 Prairie School Carnegie library designed by Claude and Starck in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.
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Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
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 Minnesota's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | March 18, 1858 (created) 1871 (organized) |
| Named for | George Loomis Becker |
| Seat | Detroit Lakes |
| Largest city | Detroit Lakes |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,445 sq mi (3,740 km2) |
| • Land | 1,315 sq mi (3,410 km2) |
| • Water | 130 sq mi (300 km2) 9.0%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 35,183 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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35,283  |
| • Density | 25.9/sq mi (10.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
Becker County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,183. Its county seat is Detroit Lakes. Part of the White Earth Indian Reservation extends into the county. The county was created in 1858 and organized in 1871.
Contents
History
Becker County became a county on March 18, 1858. It was named for George Loomis Becker, 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. 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.
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.
Geography
The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, tree-covered and dotted with lakes and ponds. The terrain slopes to the west and north. Its highest point is a hill 2.1 miles (3.4 km) northeast of Wolf Lake, the site of the USFS Wolf Lake lookout tower, at 1,861 ft (567 m) ASL. The next highest point is near its northwest corner, at 1,631 ft (497 m) ASL. The county has an area of 1,445 square miles (3,740 km2), of which 1,315 square miles (3,410 km2) is land and 130 square miles (340 km2) (9.0%) is water.
Becker County has diverse topography. It is home to several hundred lakes, many acres of fertile farm land, and forested areas. Much of the land consists of hills and deciduous trees.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 10
U.S. Highway 59
Minnesota State Highway 34
Minnesota State Highway 87
Minnesota State Highway 113
Adjacent counties
- Mahnomen County - north
- Clearwater County - northeast
- Hubbard County - northeast
- Wadena County - southeast
- Otter Tail County - south
- Clay County - west
- Norman County - northwest
Protected areas
- 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
- Tamarac Wilderness
- Teiken-Dalve State Wildlife Management Area
- Two Inlets State Forest
- White Earth State Wildlife Management Area
Climate and weather
| Weather chart for Detroit Lakes, Minnesota | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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0.8
19
-2
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0.5
26
3
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1.1
37
17
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1.9
56
32
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3.5
69
45
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4.4
78
55
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3.8
82
60
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3
81
58
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3.6
71
47
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3.1
56
35
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1.2
38
21
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0.7
23
5
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| temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches source: The Weather Channel |
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Metric conversion
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In recent years, average temperatures in Detroit Lakes have ranged from a low of −2 °F (−19 °C) in January to a high of 82 °F (28 °C) in July; a record low of −46 °F (−43 °C) was recorded in February 1936 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.53 inches (13 mm) in February to 4.44 inches (113 mm) in June.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 386 | — | |
| 1870 | 308 | −20.2% | |
| 1880 | 5,218 | 1,594.2% | |
| 1890 | 9,401 | 80.2% | |
| 1900 | 14,375 | 52.9% | |
| 1910 | 18,840 | 31.1% | |
| 1920 | 22,851 | 21.3% | |
| 1930 | 22,503 | −1.5% | |
| 1940 | 26,562 | 18.0% | |
| 1950 | 24,836 | −6.5% | |
| 1960 | 23,959 | −3.5% | |
| 1970 | 24,372 | 1.7% | |
| 1980 | 29,336 | 20.4% | |
| 1990 | 27,881 | −5.0% | |
| 2000 | 30,000 | 7.6% | |
| 2010 | 32,504 | 8.3% | |
| 2020 | 35,183 | 8.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 35,283 | 8.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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2020 Census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (NH) | 29,645 | 84.3% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 200 | 0.6% |
| Native American (NH) | 2,417 | 6.9% |
| Asian (NH) | 156 | 0.44% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 9 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 2,181 | 6.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 575 | 1.6% |
Communities
Cities
- Audubon
- Callaway
- Detroit Lakes
- Frazee
- Lake Park
- Ogema
- Wolf Lake
Townships
- Atlanta Township
- Audubon Township
- Burlington Township
- Callaway Township
- Carsonville Township
- Cormorant Township
- Cuba Township
- Detroit Township
- Eagle View Township
- Erie Township
- Evergreen Township
- Forest Township
- Green Valley Township
- Hamden Township
- Height of Land Township
- Holmesville Township
- Lake Eunice Township
- Lake Park Township
- Lake View Township
- Maple Grove Township
- Osage Township
- Pine Point Township
- Riceville Township
- Richwood Township
- Round Lake Township
- Runeberg Township
- Savannah Township
- Shell Lake Township
- Silver Leaf Township
- Spring Creek Township
- Spruce Grove Township
- Sugar Bush Township
- Toad Lake Township
- Two Inlets Township
- Walworth Township
- White Earth Township
- Wolf Lake Township
Census-designated places
- Elbow Lake
- Osage
- Pine Point
- White Earth
Unincorporated communities
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
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.
Images for kids
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The County Public Works Center for Becker County in Detroit Lakes
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Highway Department building for Becker County
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Becker para niños
