Becker County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 United States 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.
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.
thumb|upright=1.15|A country road in Becker County in summer
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' (567m) ASL. The next highest point is near its northwest corner, at 1,631' (497m) ASL. The county has an area of , of which is land and (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
20px U.S. Highway 10
20px U.S. Highway 59
20px Minnesota State Highway 34
20px Minnesota State Highway 87
20px 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
In recent years, average temperatures in Detroit Lakes have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July; a record low of was recorded in February 1936 and a record high of was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in June.
Demographics
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 30,000 people, 11,844 households, and 8,184 families in the county. The population density was 22.8/sqmi (8.81/km2). There were 16,612 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.35% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 7.52% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 2.32% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.2% were of German, 26.0% Norwegian and 5.2% Swedish ancestry.
There were 11,844 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.
The county population contained 26.6% under age 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% 65 or older. The median age was 39. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,797, and the median income for a family was $41,807. Males had a median income of $29,641 versus $20,693 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,085. About 8.5% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under 18 and 11.8% of those 65 and over.
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
Bucks Mill
Cormorant
Goldenrod
Midway
Oak Lake
Pine Point
Ponsford
Richwood
Rochert
Shoreham
Snellman
Two Inlets
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
Government and politics
Becker County voters have voted Republican in recent decades. As of 2020, the county has selected the Democratic nominee for president in only one election since 1980.
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.
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