Wright County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 Wright County Government Center, Buffalo, MN (2024) | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
| Coordinates:45°11′N93°58′W / 45.18°N 93.97°W /45.18; -93.97 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | February 20, 1855[1] |
| Named after | Silas Wright |
| Seat | Buffalo |
| Largest city | Otsego |
| Area | |
• Total | 714 sq mi (1,850 km2) |
| • Land | 661 sq mi (1,710 km2) |
| • Water | 53 sq mi (140 km2) 7.4% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 141,337 |
• Estimate (2024) | 154,593 |
| • Density | 233.9/sq mi (90.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Wright County is acounty in the East Central part of theU.S. state ofMinnesota. The population was 141,337 at the2020 census, then growing to an estimated 154,593 in 2024.[2] Itscounty seat isBuffalo.[3] The county was founded in 1855. Wright County is part of theMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WIMetropolitan Statistical Area. In terms of population, Wright County is the tenth-largest county in Minnesota and the fastest growing.
The county was established in 1855, and was named for New York politicianSilas Wright.[4] The first county seat wasMonticello; in 1868 the county seat was changed toBuffalo. 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 thrillerA Simple Plan was set in Wright County, though it does not mention a specific town.
According to theUnited 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 containsnumerous small lakes. The county is bounded on the northeast by theMississippi 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 the adjacentHennepin County).
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 3,729 | — | |
| 1870 | 9,457 | 153.6% | |
| 1880 | 18,104 | 91.4% | |
| 1890 | 24,164 | 33.5% | |
| 1900 | 29,157 | 20.7% | |
| 1910 | 28,082 | −3.7% | |
| 1920 | 28,685 | 2.1% | |
| 1930 | 27,119 | −5.5% | |
| 1940 | 27,550 | 1.6% | |
| 1950 | 27,716 | 0.6% | |
| 1960 | 29,935 | 8.0% | |
| 1970 | 38,933 | 30.1% | |
| 1980 | 58,681 | 50.7% | |
| 1990 | 68,710 | 17.1% | |
| 2000 | 89,986 | 31.0% | |
| 2010 | 124,700 | 38.6% | |
| 2020 | 141,337 | 13.3% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 154,593 | [8] | 9.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[2] | |||
As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 141,337. The median age was 37.4 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.5 males age 18 and over.[12][13]
The racial makeup of the county was 89.9% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population.[13]
60.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 39.2% lived in rural areas.[14]
There were 50,509 households in the county, of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 59.7% were married-couple households, 14.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 18.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[12]
There were 54,467 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.4% were owner-occupied and 16.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%.[12]
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[15] | Pop 2020[16] | % 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 orAlaska 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.
The ethnic makeup of the county, according to the2010 United States census, was the following:
As of thecensus 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 orAfrican American, 0.28%Native American, 0.44%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.36% fromother races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 42.3% were ofGerman, 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $21,844. About 3.60% of families and 4.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.50% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.
| 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% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1860 | 572 | 74.87% | 188 | 24.61% | 4 | 0.52% |
| 1864 | 528 | 59.73% | 356 | 40.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1868 | 985 | 61.26% | 623 | 38.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1872 | 1,135 | 54.99% | 929 | 45.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1876 | 1,482 | 53.21% | 1,280 | 45.96% | 23 | 0.83% |
| 1880 | 2,110 | 61.57% | 1,317 | 38.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1884 | 2,383 | 57.49% | 1,609 | 38.82% | 153 | 3.69% |
| 1888 | 2,877 | 53.73% | 2,133 | 39.83% | 345 | 6.44% |
| 1892 | 2,271 | 48.56% | 1,829 | 39.11% | 577 | 12.34% |
| 1896 | 3,312 | 59.37% | 2,172 | 38.93% | 95 | 1.70% |
| 1900 | 3,153 | 60.72% | 1,888 | 36.36% | 152 | 2.93% |
| 1904 | 3,183 | 75.04% | 860 | 20.27% | 199 | 4.69% |
| 1908 | 2,820 | 63.48% | 1,396 | 31.43% | 226 | 5.09% |
| 1912 | 837 | 19.42% | 1,333 | 30.94% | 2,139 | 49.64% |
| 1916 | 2,683 | 52.24% | 2,262 | 44.04% | 191 | 3.72% |
| 1920 | 7,013 | 79.51% | 1,299 | 14.73% | 508 | 5.76% |
| 1924 | 4,349 | 47.52% | 567 | 6.20% | 4,235 | 46.28% |
| 1928 | 6,011 | 56.57% | 4,483 | 42.19% | 132 | 1.24% |
| 1932 | 3,406 | 31.45% | 7,205 | 66.53% | 219 | 2.02% |
| 1936 | 4,087 | 36.01% | 5,363 | 47.25% | 1,901 | 16.75% |
| 1940 | 8,297 | 67.04% | 3,993 | 32.26% | 87 | 0.70% |
| 1944 | 6,961 | 64.99% | 3,678 | 34.34% | 72 | 0.67% |
| 1948 | 5,589 | 49.47% | 5,523 | 48.89% | 185 | 1.64% |
| 1952 | 8,089 | 64.59% | 4,373 | 34.92% | 62 | 0.50% |
| 1956 | 7,257 | 59.42% | 4,944 | 40.48% | 12 | 0.10% |
| 1960 | 7,180 | 52.57% | 6,452 | 47.24% | 26 | 0.19% |
| 1964 | 5,476 | 38.60% | 8,687 | 61.24% | 22 | 0.16% |
| 1968 | 6,321 | 40.13% | 8,793 | 55.82% | 639 | 4.06% |
| 1972 | 9,996 | 51.56% | 8,695 | 44.85% | 695 | 3.59% |
| 1976 | 9,314 | 39.69% | 13,379 | 57.02% | 771 | 3.29% |
| 1980 | 12,293 | 45.54% | 12,383 | 45.88% | 2,315 | 8.58% |
| 1984 | 15,399 | 54.82% | 12,486 | 44.45% | 205 | 0.73% |
| 1988 | 14,987 | 50.73% | 14,177 | 47.99% | 379 | 1.28% |
| 1992 | 11,650 | 33.13% | 12,465 | 35.45% | 11,045 | 31.41% |
| 1996 | 13,224 | 37.92% | 15,542 | 44.57% | 6,108 | 17.51% |
| 2000 | 23,861 | 55.02% | 16,762 | 38.65% | 2,743 | 6.33% |
| 2004 | 36,176 | 60.77% | 22,618 | 37.99% | 740 | 1.24% |
| 2008 | 37,779 | 57.61% | 26,343 | 40.17% | 1,456 | 2.22% |
| 2012 | 40,466 | 59.67% | 25,741 | 37.96% | 1,609 | 2.37% |
| 2016 | 43,274 | 62.16% | 20,334 | 29.21% | 6,010 | 8.63% |
| 2020 | 51,973 | 63.05% | 28,430 | 34.49% | 2,023 | 2.45% |
| 2024 | 57,211 | 63.54% | 30,883 | 34.30% | 1,947 | 2.16% |
| 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 |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Andrew Mathews[19] | Republican | District 15 | |
| Senate | Scott Newman[20] | Republican | District 18 | |
| Senate | Bruce Anderson[21] | Republican | District 29 | |
| Senate | Mary Kiffmeyer[22] | Republican | District 30 | |
| House of Representatives | Shane Mekeland[23] | Republican | District 15B | |
| House of Representatives | Dean Erdahl[24] | Republican | District 18A | |
| House of Representatives | Joe McDonald[25] | Republican | District 29A | |
| House of Representatives | Marion O'Neill[26] | Republican | District 29B | |
| House of Representatives | Eric Lucero[27] | Republican | District 30B | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | Tom Emmer[28] | Republican | 6th | |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[29] | Democrat | N/A | |
| Senate | Tina Smith[30] | Democrat | N/A | |
Places adjacent to Wright County, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofWright County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
