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Douglas County, Minnesota facts for kids

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Douglas County
U.S. county
Douglas County Courthouse in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Douglas County Courthouse in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Map of Minnesota highlighting Douglas County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
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 km2)
 • Land 637 sq mi (1,650 km2)
 • Water 83 sq mi (210 km2)  11%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 39,006
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 39,953 Increase
 • Density 61.2/sq mi (23.6/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 7th

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 km2) 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 km2), of which 637 square miles (1,650 km2) is land and 83 square miles (210 km2) (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

  • I-94.svg Interstate 94
  • US 52.svg U.S. Highway 52
  • MN-27.svg Minnesota State Highway 27
  • MN-29.svg Minnesota State Highway 29
  • MN-55.svg Minnesota State Highway 55
  • MN-79.svg Minnesota State Highway 79
  • MN-114.svg Minnesota State Highway 114

Airports

  • Alexandria Municipal Airport ("Chandler Field"), city-owned public-use airport

Adjacent counties

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

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870 4,239 —
1880 9,130 115.4%
1890 14,606 60.0%
1900 17,964 23.0%
1910 17,669 −1.6%
1920 19,039 7.8%
1930 18,813 −1.2%
1940 20,369 8.3%
1950 21,304 4.6%
1960 21,313 0.0%
1970 22,892 7.4%
1980 27,839 21.6%
1990 28,839 3.6%
2000 32,821 13.8%
2010 36,009 9.7%
2020 39,006 8.3%
2023 (est.) 39,953 11.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 Census

Douglas County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 36,629 94%
Black or African American (NH) 223 0.6%
Native American (NH) 104 0.3%
Asian (NH) 227 0.6%
Pacific Islander (NH) 11 0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH) 997 2.6%
Hispanic or Latino 815 2.1%

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Douglas (Minnesota) para niños

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