Douglas County, Minnesota

Not to be confused with Douglas Township, Minnesota or Douglas, Minnesota.

Douglas County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,006.^[2] Its county seat is Alexandria.^[3]

Douglas County
County
Douglas County Courthouse in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°56′N 95°27′W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	March 8, 1858 (created) 1866 (organized)[1]
Named after	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  (2024)	39,933
• Density	61.2/sq mi (23.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.douglascountymn.gov

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.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9] Douglas is one of 17 Minnesota counties where savanna soils predominate.

Soils of Douglas County^[10]

Major highways

• Interstate 94
• U.S. Highway 52
• Minnesota State Highway 27
• Minnesota State Highway 29
• Minnesota State Highway 55
• Minnesota State Highway 79
• Minnesota State Highway 114

Airports

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

Adjacent counties

• Otter Tail County - north
• Todd County - east
• Stearns County - southeast
• Pope County - south
• Stevens County - southwest
• Grant County - west

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

^[6]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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%
2024 (est.)	39,933	[11]	2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2]

2020 Census

Douglas County Racial Composition^[16]

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%

2000 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Douglas County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 32,821 people, 13,276 households, and 9,027 families in the county. The population density was 51.5 per square mile (19.9/km²). There were 16,694 housing units at an average density of 26.2 per square mile (10.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.49% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.5% were of German, 24.6% Norwegian and 8.1% Swedish ancestry.

There were 13,276 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93.

The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,703, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $30,968 versus $21,240 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,850. About 5.60% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.30% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Alexandria (county seat)
• Brandon
• Carlos
• Evansville
• Forada
• Garfield
• Kensington
• Millerville
• Miltona
• Nelson
• Osakis (part)

Unincorporated communities

• Belle River
• Holmes City
• Leaf Valley
• Rose City

^[6]

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

Government and politics

Douglas County traditionally votes Republican. In only one presidential election since 1964 has it selected the Democratic candidate. In recent years the Republican tilt in the county has increased, with Donald Trump receiving 67% of the county's vote in 2024, the best performance for a Republican presidential candidate since Theodore Roosevelt in 1904.^[17]

United States presidential election results for Douglas County, Minnesota^[18]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	16,726	66.62%	7,938	31.62%	442	1.76%
2020	15,799	65.38%	7,868	32.56%	498	2.06%
2016	13,966	64.11%	6,227	28.58%	1,592	7.31%
2012	11,884	56.72%	8,653	41.30%	416	1.99%
2008	11,241	53.74%	9,256	44.25%	421	2.01%
2004	11,793	58.07%	8,219	40.47%	297	1.46%
2000	9,811	57.02%	6,352	36.92%	1,042	6.06%
1996	6,747	43.63%	6,450	41.71%	2,267	14.66%
1992	6,356	40.08%	5,252	33.12%	4,251	26.80%
1988	7,898	57.02%	5,803	41.89%	151	1.09%
1984	9,005	61.92%	5,444	37.43%	94	0.65%
1980	7,778	53.85%	5,530	38.28%	1,137	7.87%
1976	5,910	44.39%	7,097	53.30%	307	2.31%
1972	6,678	52.97%	5,501	43.64%	427	3.39%
1968	5,464	50.41%	4,826	44.52%	549	5.07%
1964	4,122	40.51%	6,040	59.36%	13	0.13%
1960	5,594	53.25%	4,871	46.36%	41	0.39%
1956	5,114	54.87%	4,194	45.00%	12	0.13%
1952	6,037	61.30%	3,768	38.26%	43	0.44%
1948	3,744	41.73%	5,022	55.97%	207	2.31%
1944	4,140	52.62%	3,681	46.79%	46	0.58%
1940	4,652	50.53%	4,507	48.95%	48	0.52%
1936	2,681	36.41%	4,186	56.84%	497	6.75%
1932	2,325	30.37%	5,101	66.63%	230	3.00%
1928	4,262	59.27%	2,829	39.34%	100	1.39%
1924	2,424	39.15%	315	5.09%	3,453	55.77%
1920	4,428	66.13%	733	10.95%	1,535	22.92%
1916	1,709	50.26%	1,398	41.12%	293	8.62%
1912	435	14.94%	793	27.23%	1,684	57.83%
1908	1,894	60.92%	979	31.49%	236	7.59%
1904	2,171	79.41%	410	15.00%	153	5.60%
1900	1,917	59.87%	1,194	37.29%	91	2.84%
1896	1,966	57.84%	1,350	39.72%	83	2.44%
1892	1,315	50.89%	533	20.63%	736	28.48%

County Board of Commissioners^[19]

Position		Name	District
	Commissioner	Keith Englund	District 1
	Commissioner	Tim Kalina	District 2
	Commissioner	Jerry Rapp	District 3
	Commissioner	Charlie Meyer	District 4
	Commissioner	Shane Schmidt	District 5

State Legislature (2018-2020)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	Senate	Bill Ingebrigtsen[20]	Republican	District 8
	Senate	Torrey Westrom[21]	Republican	District 12
	House of Representatives	Mary Franson[22]	Republican	District 8B
	House of Representatives	Jeff Backer[23]	Republican	District 12A
	House of Representatives	Paul Anderson[24]	Republican	District 12B

U.S Congress (2021-2023)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	House of Representatives	Michelle Fischbach	Republican	7th
	Senate	Amy Klobuchar[25]	DFL	N/A
	Senate	Tina Smith[26]	DFL	N/A

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Minnesota