Dorset, Minnesota

Dorset is an unincorporated community in Henrietta Township, Hubbard County, Minnesota, United States. The population of Dorset, Minnesota is 22. It's a small, unincorporated community in Hubbard County, known as the "Restaurant Capital of the World" due to its high number of restaurants. Dorset is also home to it's traditional event "Taste of Dorset" which includes Live Music, Food & Beverages, Ice cream and desserts, and shops.

Dorset
Unincorporated community
Motto:  "The Restaurant Capital of the World"
Dorset Show map of Minnesota Dorset Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 46°57′23″N 94°57′09″W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Hubbard
Township	Henrietta
Government
• Type	Unincorporated Community
• Mayor (Unofficial)	Jade Kruger
Elevation	1,476 ft (450 m)
Population
• Estimate  (2011[1])	24
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56470
Area code	218
GNIS feature ID	642900[2]

The tiny community (population 22) is located 6 mi (9.7 km) east-northeast of Park Rapids and six miles west of Nevis. Hubbard County State-Aid Highways 7 and 18; and State Highway 226 are three of the main routes in the community. State Highway 34 is nearby. Dorset is located along the Heartland State Trail.

History

A post office called Dorset was established in 1898, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1964.^[3] The community was named by railroad officials.^[4]

The former mayor of Dorset, James Tufts, reacts to losing a re-election bid

On the morning of September 4, 2014, a fire caused by a severe lightning storm destroyed two popular establishments, the Dorset House and Compañeros Mexican Restaurant. Both restaurants were rebuilt and reopened in May 2016.

Mayor of Dorset

The position of mayor of Dorset is a symbolic one, the town being run by a group of five local business owners.^[5] The town holds a yearly election at the "Taste of Dorset" festival, residents paying one dollar to add a name of their choice to a hat, with a random slip being drawn to select a mayor.^[5]

In August 2012, then three-year-old Robert "Bobby" Tufts became mayor for a one-year term, when his name was drawn.^[5][6][7] On August 4, 2013, Tufts was elected for a second term.^[8] Tufts lost a re-election campaign in 2014 to 16-year-old Eric Mueller.^[9] Tufts's three-year-old brother, James, was also elected in August 2015.^[10] Four-year-old Gwendolyn Davis of Utah won the mayorship in 2016.^[11]

The mayor of Dorset for 2021 to 2022 was Jade Kruger of Moorhead.^[12]

The mayor in 2022 to 2023 was ten-year-old Evan Johnson of Minnetonka, Minnesota.^[13]

The office of the Mayor of Dorset is currently held by "Bear" Mohlin of Bemidji for the 2023 to 2024 term.^[14]

Dorset in popular culture

Ross Farrally, an author from the United Kingdom, published a psychological thriller/horror novel, "The Lonely Place", which is based on a fictionalised version of the town.^[15]