Wright County, Minnesota

Not to be confused with Wright, Minnesota.

Wright County
County
Howard Lake City Hall
Howard Lake City Hall
Map of Minnesota highlighting Wright County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°11′N 93°58′W / 45.18°N 93.97°W / 45.18; -93.97
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1855[1]
Named forSilas Wright
SeatBuffalo
Largest cityOtsego
Area
 • Total
714 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Land661 sq mi (1,710 km2)
 • Water53 sq mi (140 km2)  7.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
141,337
 • Estimate 
(2023)
151,150 Increase
 • Density213.8/sq mi (82.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.co.wright.mn.us

Wright County is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 141,337.[2] Its county seat is Buffalo.[3] The county was founded in 1855. Wright County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. In terms of population, Wright County is the tenth-largest county in Minnesota and the fastest growing.

History

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The county was established in 1855, and was named for New York politician Silas Wright.[4] The first county seat was Monticello; in 1868 the county seat was changed to Buffalo. Most of the area's first settlers were of German and Swedish origin. The county's population in 1860 was 3,729; in 1875, it was 13,775.[5]

The 1998 thriller A Simple Plan was set in Wright County, though it does not mention a specific town.

Geography

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Soils of Wright County[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 714 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 661 square miles (1,710 km2) is land and 53 square miles (140 km2) (7.4%) is water.[7] The terrain is undulating and contains numerous small lakes. The county is bounded on the northeast by the Mississippi River.[5] Wright is one of 17 Minnesota savanna region counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils, and one of only two Minnesota counties where savanna soils make up more than 75% of the county area (the other is Hennepin County).

Soils of Lake Maria State Park

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18603,729—
18709,457153.6%
188018,10491.4%
189024,16433.5%
190029,15720.7%
191028,082−3.7%
192028,6852.1%
193027,119−5.5%
194027,5501.6%
195027,7160.6%
196029,9358.0%
197038,93330.1%
198058,68150.7%
199068,71017.1%
200089,98631.0%
2010124,70038.6%
2020141,33713.3%
2023 (est.)151,150[8]6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[2]

2020 census

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Wright County, Minnesota - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 116,786 126,031 93.65% 89.17%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,286 2,605 1.03% 1.84%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 397 331 0.32% 0.23%
Asian alone (NH) 1,459 1,877 1.17% 1.34%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 42 35 0.03% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 77 508 0.06% 0.35%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,601 5,253 1.28% 3.72%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3,052 4,697 2.45% 3.32%
Total 124,700 141,337 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2010

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The ethnic makeup of the county, according to the 2010 United States census, was the following:

2000

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 89,986 people, 31,465 households, and 23,913 families in the county. The population density was 136 inhabitants per square mile (53/km2). There were 34,355 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.85% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.3% were of German, 11.9% Norwegian, 7.4% Swedish and 6.6% Irish ancestry.

There were 31465 households, out of which 42.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.50% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 18.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.26.

The county population contained 31.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% over age 64. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,945, and the median income for a family was $60,940. Males had a median income of $40,630 versus $28,201 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,844. About 3.60% of families and 4.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.50% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Cities

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Townships

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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Ghost town

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Largest cities in Wright County

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2020 Rank City 2010 Census 2020 Census Percent Increase
1 Otsego 13,571 19,966 +47.12%
2 St. Michael 16,399 18,235 +11.20%
3 Buffalo 15,453 18,168 +17.57%
4 Monticello 12,759 14,455 +13.29%
5 Albertville 7,044 7,896 +12.10%
6 Delano 5,464 6,484 +18.67%
7 Rockford 4,316 4,515 +4.61%
8 Annandale 3,228 3,517 +8.95%
9 Hanover 2,938 3,507 +19.37%
10 Montrose 2,847 3,317 +16.51%
11 Cokato 2,694 2,747 +1.97%

Government and politics

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United States presidential election results for Wright County, Minnesota[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 57,211 63.54% 30,883 34.30% 1,947 2.16%
2020 51,973 63.05% 28,430 34.49% 2,023 2.45%
2016 43,274 62.16% 20,334 29.21% 6,010 8.63%
2012 40,466 59.67% 25,741 37.96% 1,609 2.37%
2008 37,779 57.61% 26,343 40.17% 1,456 2.22%
2004 36,176 60.77% 22,618 37.99% 740 1.24%
2000 23,861 55.02% 16,762 38.65% 2,743 6.33%
1996 13,224 37.92% 15,542 44.57% 6,108 17.51%
1992 11,650 33.13% 12,465 35.45% 11,045 31.41%
1988 14,987 50.73% 14,177 47.99% 379 1.28%
1984 15,399 54.82% 12,486 44.45% 205 0.73%
1980 12,293 45.54% 12,383 45.88% 2,315 8.58%
1976 9,314 39.69% 13,379 57.02% 771 3.29%
1972 9,996 51.56% 8,695 44.85% 695 3.59%
1968 6,321 40.13% 8,793 55.82% 639 4.06%
1964 5,476 38.60% 8,687 61.24% 22 0.16%
1960 7,180 52.57% 6,452 47.24% 26 0.19%
1956 7,257 59.42% 4,944 40.48% 12 0.10%
1952 8,089 64.59% 4,373 34.92% 62 0.50%
1948 5,589 49.47% 5,523 48.89% 185 1.64%
1944 6,961 64.99% 3,678 34.34% 72 0.67%
1940 8,297 67.04% 3,993 32.26% 87 0.70%
1936 4,087 36.01% 5,363 47.25% 1,901 16.75%
1932 3,406 31.45% 7,205 66.53% 219 2.02%
1928 6,011 56.57% 4,483 42.19% 132 1.24%
1924 4,349 47.52% 567 6.20% 4,235 46.28%
1920 7,013 79.51% 1,299 14.73% 508 5.76%
1916 2,683 52.24% 2,262 44.04% 191 3.72%
1912 837 19.42% 1,333 30.94% 2,139 49.64%
1908 2,820 63.48% 1,396 31.43% 226 5.09%
1904 3,183 75.04% 860 20.27% 199 4.69%
1900 3,153 60.72% 1,888 36.36% 152 2.93%
1896 3,312 59.37% 2,172 38.93% 95 1.70%
1892 2,271 48.56% 1,829 39.11% 577 12.34%
1888 2,877 53.73% 2,133 39.83% 345 6.44%
1884 2,383 57.49% 1,609 38.82% 153 3.69%
1880 2,110 61.57% 1,317 38.43% 0 0.00%
1876 1,482 53.21% 1,280 45.96% 23 0.83%
1872 1,135 54.99% 929 45.01% 0 0.00%
1868 985 61.26% 623 38.74% 0 0.00%
1864 528 59.73% 356 40.27% 0 0.00%
1860 572 74.87% 188 24.61% 4 0.52%
County Board of Commissioners[16]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner Tina Diedrick District 1 2026
Commissioner Darek Vetsch District 2 2024
Commissioner Jeanne Holland District 3 2026
Commissioner Nadine Schoen District 4 2024
Commissioner Michael Kaczmarek District 5 2024
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Andrew Mathews[17] Republican District 15
Senate Scott Newman[18] Republican District 18
Senate Bruce Anderson[19] Republican District 29
Senate Mary Kiffmeyer[20] Republican District 30
House of Representatives Shane Mekeland[21] Republican District 15B
House of Representatives Dean Erdahl[22] Republican District 18A
House of Representatives Joe McDonald[23] Republican District 29A
House of Representatives Marion O'Neill[24] Republican District 29B
House of Representatives Eric Lucero[25] Republican District 30B
U.S. Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Tom Emmer[26] Republican 6th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[27] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[28] Democrat N/A

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 586.
  5. ^ a b Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Wright. I. A central county of Minnesota" . The American Cyclopædia.
  6. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 49–52. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  13. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wright County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
  14. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wright County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  16. ^ "Board of Commissioners | Wright County, MN - Official Website". www.co.wright.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  18. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  19. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  20. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  21. ^ "Rep. Shane Mekeland (15B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  22. ^ "Rep. Dean Urdahl (18A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  23. ^ "Rep. Joe McDonald (29A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  24. ^ "Rep. Marion O'Neill (29B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  25. ^ "Rep. Eric Lucero (30B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  26. ^ "Congressman Tom Emmer". Congressman Tom Emmer. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  27. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  28. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
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45°11′N 93°58′W / 45.18°N 93.97°W / 45.18; -93.97

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