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Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota
US-Canada border monument no. 919
US-Canada border monument no. 919
Map of Minnesota highlighting Lake of the Woods County
Location in the state of Minnesota
Map of the U.S
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded November 28, 1922 (created by vote)
January 1, 1923 (organized),
Named for Lake of the Woods (lake)
Seat Baudette
Largest city Baudette
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

1,775 sq mi (4,597 km²)
1,298 sq mi (3,362 km²)
477 sq mi (1,235 km²), 27%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

3,763
2.9/sq mi (1/km²)
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Lake of the Woods County is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,763,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Baudette.[2]

The county contains the Northwest Angle, the northernmost point of the Lower 48 States, and the U.S. portion of Lake of the Woods, shared with Canada. The county also includes the exclave of Elm Point. Since Alaska has no counties, Lake of the Woods is the northernmost county in the United States. It is also the only county in the United States with four words in its name, although there is a parish in Louisiana called St. John the Baptist Parish, and the United States Census Bureau treats parishes as county equivalents for census purposes.

History[]

Lake of the Woods County was named for the lake that covers a large portion of it. Jacques de Noyon, a Frenchman who came from Trois Rivières, Quebec, explored the area in 1688 and was the first European to see the lake. He named it Lac aux Îles, "Lake of the Islands".

In 1885 the region got its first settler, Wilhelm Zippel, a German immigrant and fisherman. He settled on the lake's south shore in a place now called Zippel Bay. Shortly after, Alonzo Wheeler settled on the lake's southwest side at a place now called Wheeler's Point.

A wildfire, known as the Baudette fire of 1910, broke out in October of that year, burning 300,000 acres (1,200 km2) and destroying the towns of Spooner, Baudette, Graceton, Pitt, Williams, and Cedar Spur.[3][4]

Lake of the Woods County's government was organized on January 1, 1923, with Baudette as the county seat. It is Minnesota's newest county; county voters approved separating the northern townships of Beltrami County into a separate unit on November 28, 1922.[5][6]

Geography[]

Lake of the Woods County lies on Minnesota's border with Canada across the Rainy River, which flows northwest along the border to discharge into Lake of the Woods; its northwest border abuts Manitoba. The northern part of the county (the Northwest Angle) is separated from the rest of the county by the lake and thus has no land contact with the rest of the United States, making the Northwest Angle an exclave. Land access to that part of the county is through Manitoba. Access by water or ice routes is possible. The Rapid River flows northeast through the southeastern part of the county to its discharge point into the Rainy River, near the county's northeast corner.

Lake of the Woods County's terrain consists of low rolling hills, partly wooded, devoted to agriculture.[7] The terrain slopes to the east and north.[8] Its highest point is a small protuberance one mile (1.6 km) west of Norris Camp,[7] at 1,316' (401m) ASL.[9] The county has an area of 1,775 square miles (4,600 km2), of which 1,298 square miles (3,360 km2) is land and 477 square miles (1,240 km2) (27%) is water.[10]

Major highways[]

  • MN-11 Minnesota State Highway 11
  • MN-72 Minnesota State Highway 72
  • MN-172 Minnesota State Highway 172

Adjacent counties and districts[]

  • Kenora District, Ontario - northeast
  • Rainy River District, Ontario - northeast
  • Koochiching County - southeast
  • Beltrami County - south
  • Roseau County - west
  • Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba - west
  • Buffalo Point, Manitoba - west

Protected areas[7][]

  • Beltrami Island State Forest (part)
  • Garden Island State Recreation Area
  • Mulligan Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
  • Norris Camp Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
  • Pine Island State Forest (part)
  • Red Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area (part)
  • Winter Road Lakes Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
  • Zippel Bay State Park

Lakes[7][]

  • Browns Lake
  • Lake of the Woods
  • Lost Lake
  • Winter Road Lake

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1930 4,194
1940 5,975 42.5%
1950 4,955 −17.1%
1960 4,304 −13.1%
1970 3,987 −7.4%
1980 3,764 −5.6%
1990 4,076 8.3%
2000 4,522 10.9%
2010 4,045 −10.5%
Est. 2021 3,823 [11] −15.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1]
USA Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota age pyramid

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

2020 census[]

Lake of the Woods County Racial Composition[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 3,497 93%
Black or African American (NH) 12 0.3%
Native American (NH) 19 0.5%
Asian (NH) 17 0.4%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 0%
Other/Mixed (NH) 162 4.3%
Hispanic or Latino 56 1.5%

As of the 2020 census,[17] there were 3,763 people and 1,522 households in the county. The racial makeup of the county was 93.3% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 4.3% were two or more races. Hispanic or Latinos were 1.5% of the population. The most common ancestries were German (26.3%), Norwegian (18.2%), and Swedish (10.2%). 99.0% of residents were born in the United States, and 98.8% spoken only English at home.

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 census, there were 4,522 people, 1,903 households, and 1,267 families in the county. The population density was 3.48/sqmi (1.35/km2). There were 3,238 housing units at an average density of 2.49/sqmi (0.96/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.21% White/Caucasian, 0.29% Black/African American, 1.13% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 0.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.2% were of Norwegian, 22.3% German, 8.9% Swedish, 5.8% American and 5.0% English ancestry.

There were 1,903 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.40% were married couples living together, 5.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

The county population contained 24.70% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 25.10% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,861, and the median income for a family was $38,936. Males had a median income of $30,469 versus $24,813 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,976. About 6.70% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[]

Cities[]

  • Baudette (county seat)
  • Roosevelt (partly in Roseau County)
  • Williams

Census-designated place[]

  • Angle Inlet

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Arnesen[7]
  • Birch Beach
  • Carp[7]
  • Clementson
  • Faunce[7]
  • Graceton
  • Hackett
  • Long Point[7]
  • Lude
  • Oak Island
  • Penasse
  • Pitt
  • Sandy Shores
  • Wheeler's Point

Townships[]

Although all the townships are named, as of 2001, there are no township governments. All the townships are officially part of unorganized territory.

  • Angle Township
  • Baudette Township
  • Beaver Dam Township
  • Boone Township
  • Chilgren Township
  • Cloverdale Township
  • Eugene Township
  • Forest Area Township
  • Gudrid Township
  • Hiwood Township
  • Kiel Township
  • Lakewood Township
  • McDougald Township
  • Meadowland Township
  • Myhre Township
  • Norris Township
  • Noyes Township
  • Park Township
  • Pioneer Township
  • Potamo Township
  • Prosper Township
  • Rapid River Township
  • Rulien Township
  • Spooner Township
  • Swiftwater Township
  • Township 157-30
  • Township 158-30
  • Victory Township
  • Wabanica Township
  • Walhalla Township
  • Wheeler Township
  • Zippel Township

Government and politics[]

Lake of the Woods County usually votes Republican. As of 2016 the county has selected the Republican candidate in 78% of presidential elections since 1980. The last time the county voted for a Democratic presidential candidate was 1996, when Bill Clinton won it (as well as Minnesota as a whole).

United States presidential election results for Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 1,704 70.76% 671 27.87% 33 1.37%
2016 1,540 68.69% 553 24.67% 149 6.65%
2012 1,306 58.46% 859 38.45% 69 3.09%
2008 1,278 55.25% 971 41.98% 64 2.77%
2004 1,428 59.50% 921 38.38% 51 2.13%
2000 1,216 55.60% 848 38.77% 123 5.62%
1996 814 40.48% 888 44.16% 309 15.37%
1992 762 34.67% 794 36.12% 642 29.21%
1988 984 54.24% 798 43.99% 32 1.76%
1984 1,094 56.39% 824 42.47% 22 1.13%
1980 1,052 52.60% 763 38.15% 185 9.25%
1976 757 38.52% 1,105 56.23% 103 5.24%
1972 877 55.44% 672 42.48% 33 2.09%
1968 607 38.96% 875 56.16% 76 4.88%
1964 489 27.71% 1,266 71.73% 10 0.57%
1960 835 43.86% 1,053 55.30% 16 0.84%
1956 723 40.69% 1,048 58.98% 6 0.34%
1952 898 44.30% 1,117 55.11% 12 0.59%
1948 583 29.08% 1,302 64.94% 120 5.99%
1944 642 35.45% 1,168 64.49% 1 0.06%
1940 850 33.62% 1,638 64.79% 40 1.58%
1936 385 18.76% 1,566 76.32% 101 4.92%
1932 369 23.55% 972 62.03% 226 14.42%
1928 781 51.79% 671 44.50% 56 3.71%
1924 703 42.71% 92 5.59% 851 51.70%



County Board of Commissioners[19]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner James "Buck" Nordlof District 1 2022
Commissioner Cody Hasbargen District 2 2020
Commissioner Joe Grund District 3 2022
Commissioner and Chairperson Jon Waibel District 4 2020
Commissioner Edward Arnesen District 5 2020
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  Senate Paul Utke[20] Republican District 2
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " | House of Representatives Matt Grossell[21] Republican District 2A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach[22] Republican 7th
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Senate Amy Klobuchar[23] Democrat N/A
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Senate Tina Smith[24] Democrat N/A

See also[]

Commons-logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota

References[]

  1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota" (in en). United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/lakeofthewoodscountyminnesota/PST045221. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "Cedar Spur". Minnesota HomeTownLocator (accessed May 1, 2019)
  4. ^ "The Fire of 1910". Lake of the Woods County Historical Society. http://www.lakeofthewoodshistoricalsociety.com/history7.html. 
  5. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm?SendingPage=Region.cfm&county=39. 
  6. ^ "History of Lake of the Woods County". Lake of the Woods County Historical Society. http://www.lakeofthewoodshistoricalsociety.com/history.html. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Lake of the Woods County MN Google Maps (accessed May 1, 2019)
  8. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Lake of the Woods County MN" Google Maps (accessed May 1, 2019)". https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm. 
  9. ^ Lake of the Woods County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 1, 2019)
  10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt. 
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html. 
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html. 
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt. 
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  16. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Lake%20of%20the%20Woods%20County,%20Minnesota&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  17. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/profile/Lake_of_the_Woods_County,_Minnesota?g=0500000US27077. 
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  19. ^ "County Board of Commissioners Page". http://www.co.lake-of-the-woods.mn.us/Commissioners.aspx. 
  20. ^ "MN State Senate" (in en). https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.php?member_id=1218. 
  21. ^ "Rep. Matt Grossell (02A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15461. 
  22. ^ "Congressman Collin Peterson" (in en). https://collinpeterson.house.gov/. 
  23. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/. 
  24. ^ "Home" (in en). https://www.smith.senate.gov/. 

External links[]

Template:Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota

Coordinates: 48°46′N 94°54′W / 48.77, -94.90

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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