Becker County, Minnesota


Becker County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 35,183, and was estimated to be 35,444 in 2024, Its county seat is Detroit Lakes.
Part of the White Earth Indian Reservation extends into the county.

History

The county was created on March 18, 1858 and organized on March 6, 1871. 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.
Image:Countryroad.jpg|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 northeast of Wolf Lake, the site of the USFS Wolf Lake lookout tower, at ASL. The next highest point is near its northwest corner, at ASL.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the 15th largest county in Minnesota by total area.
Becker County has diverse topography. It is home to several hundred lakes, many acres of fertile farmland, and forested areas. Much of the land consists of hills and deciduous trees.

Major highways

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 third quarter of 2024, the median home value in Becker County was $286,500.
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 14,404 estimated households in Becker County with an average of 2.41 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $71,117. Approximately 11.8% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Becker County has an estimated 61.0% employment rate, with 27.5% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.3% holding a high school diploma.
The top five reported ancestries were English, Spanish, Indo-European, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Other.

Racial and ethnic composition

Becker County, Minnesota – racial and ethnic composition
Race / ethnicity Pop. 1980Pop. 1990Pop. 2000Pop. 2010
White alone 27,420
25,786
26,699
28,539
29,645
Black or African American alone 10
20
54
128
200
Native American or Alaska Native alone 1,720
1,853
2,229
2,372
2,417
Asian alone 45
100
108
124
156
Pacific Islander alone ——4
7
9
Other race alone 14
2
18
17
100
Mixed race or multiracial ——658
919
2,081
Hispanic or Latino 127
120
230
398
575
Total29,336
27,881
30,000
32,504
35,183

2023 estimate

As of the 2023 estimate, there were 35,283 people and 14,404 households residing in the county. There were 20,168 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 87.7% White , 0.8% African American, 7.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, _% from some other races and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.1% of the population.
In the 2023 estimate, Becker County is the 40th wealthiest county in Minnesota. $60,360 for per capita income.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 35,183. The median age was 43.3 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.1 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 84.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 7.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.
29.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.9% lived in rural areas.
There were 14,371 households in the county, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.5% were married-couple households, 19.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 19,620 housing units, of which 26.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.7% were owner-occupied and 22.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 32,504 people, 13,224 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 18,784 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 81.63% White, 0.39% African American, 6.98% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from some other races and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.22% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 30,000 people, 11,844 households, and 8,184 families in the county. The population density was. There were 16,612 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 89.35% White, 0.19% African American, 7.52% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from some other races and 2.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.77% of the population.
In terms of ancestry, 32.2% were of German, 26.0% Norwegian and 5.2% Swedish.
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.