Wilkin County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 Wilkin County Courthouse in Breckenridge | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
| Coordinates:46°22′N96°28′W / 46.36°N 96.47°W /46.36; -96.47 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | March 8, 1858 (created as Toombs) 1863 (renamed) March 6, 1868 (renamed) |
| Named after | Alexander Wilkin |
| Seat | Breckenridge |
| Largest city | Breckenridge |
| Area | |
• Total | 751 sq mi (1,950 km2) |
| • Land | 751 sq mi (1,950 km2) |
| • Water | 0.69 sq mi (1.8 km2) 0.03% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,506 |
• Estimate (2024) | 6,268 |
| • Density | 8.7/sq mi (3.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 7th |
| Website | www |
Wilkin County is acounty in theU.S. state ofMinnesota. As of the2020 census, the population of Wilkin County was 6,506.[1] Itscounty seat isBreckenridge.[2] The county is named for ColonelAlexander Wilkin, a lawyer who served as Minnesota's U.S. marshal and was later killed in theCivil War.
Wilkin County is part of theWahpeton,ND—MNMicropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in theFargo-Wahpeton, ND-MNCombined Statistical Area.
In 1849, the newly organizedMinnesota Territory legislature authorized the creation of nine large counties across the territory. One of those,Pembina (later renamed as Kittson), contained areas that were partitioned off on March 8, 1858, to createToombs County, named afterRobert Toombs (1810–85) of Georgia. Toombs had been a member of the US House of Representatives (1845–1853), and US Senate (1853–1861). He became the Confederate secretary of state in 1861; this disloyalty to the Union displeased county residents, who petitioned for a name change. Accordingly, in 1863, the county was renamedAndy Johnson County forAndrew Johnson, who was serving as the military governor of Tennessee at the time. However, Johnson's actions and positions as US President (1865–1869) also displeased county residents, so on March 6, 1868, the county name was again changed, toWilkin County. It was named for Colonel Alexander Wilkin, a Minnesota attorney and secretary to the Minnesota Territory governor.
The futureBreckenridge, Minnesota was settled beginning in the 1850s, and a town was platted there in the spring of 1857. Thus, when Toombs County was authorized in 1858, Breckenridge was listed as the county seat. It continued as the county seat through the subsequent county name changes.[3]
Wilkin County lies on the west side of Minnesota. Its west border abuts the east border of the state ofNorth Dakota (across a river). TheBois de Sioux River flows northward along the county's west border. TheRabbit River flows westward through the lower part of the county and discharges into the Bois de Sioux on the county's lower west border. TheOtter Tail River flows west-northwestward through the central part of the county and merges with the Bois de Sioux atBreckenridge to form theRed River, which continues to flow along the county's west line northward toward theHudson Bay in Canada.
Wilkin County terrain consists of low rolling hills, completely devoted to agriculture.[5] The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point on the upper east border at 1,250 ft (380 m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 751 square miles (1,950 km2), of which 751 square miles (1,950 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[7]
Source:[5]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 40 | — | |
| 1870 | 295 | 637.5% | |
| 1880 | 1,906 | 546.1% | |
| 1890 | 4,346 | 128.0% | |
| 1900 | 8,080 | 85.9% | |
| 1910 | 9,063 | 12.2% | |
| 1920 | 10,187 | 12.4% | |
| 1930 | 9,791 | −3.9% | |
| 1940 | 10,475 | 7.0% | |
| 1950 | 10,567 | 0.9% | |
| 1960 | 10,650 | 0.8% | |
| 1970 | 9,389 | −11.8% | |
| 1980 | 8,454 | −10.0% | |
| 1990 | 7,516 | −11.1% | |
| 2000 | 7,138 | −5.0% | |
| 2010 | 6,576 | −7.9% | |
| 2020 | 6,506 | −1.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 6,268 | [8] | −3.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 6,506. The median age was 42.4 years. 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.9 males age 18 and over.[13][14]
The racial makeup of the county was 92.1%White, 0.6%Black or African American, 1.5%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Asian, <0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 4.6% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.2% of the population.[14]
52.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 48.0% lived in rural areas.[15]
There were 2,735 households in the county, of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.0% were married-couple households, 22.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]
There were 2,972 housing units, of which 8.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 76.6% were owner-occupied and 23.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%.[13]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 7,138 people, 2,752 households, and 1,926 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 9.50 per square mile (3.67/km2). There were 3,105 housing units at an average density of 4.13 per square mile (1.59/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.77%White, 0.15%Black orAfrican American, 0.42%Native American, 0.15%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.49% fromother races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 41.8% were ofGerman and 29.2%Norwegian ancestry.
There were 2,752 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% weremarried couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.09.
The county population contained 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,093, and the median income for a family was $46,220. Males had a median income of $31,273 versus $20,925 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $16,873. About 6.2% of families and 8.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Wilkin County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1976 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024), and both Democratic victories since 1948 have featured a Minnesota native as the vice presidential nominee.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 434 | 42.67% | 363 | 35.69% | 220 | 21.63% |
| 1896 | 631 | 41.30% | 855 | 55.96% | 42 | 2.75% |
| 1900 | 812 | 52.05% | 663 | 42.50% | 85 | 5.45% |
| 1904 | 1,103 | 77.30% | 246 | 17.24% | 78 | 5.47% |
| 1908 | 779 | 53.03% | 614 | 41.80% | 76 | 5.17% |
| 1912 | 209 | 14.47% | 586 | 40.58% | 649 | 44.94% |
| 1916 | 690 | 44.20% | 808 | 51.76% | 63 | 4.04% |
| 1920 | 2,106 | 75.19% | 561 | 20.03% | 134 | 4.78% |
| 1924 | 1,342 | 47.17% | 245 | 8.61% | 1,258 | 44.22% |
| 1928 | 1,874 | 53.90% | 1,578 | 45.38% | 25 | 0.72% |
| 1932 | 1,126 | 30.75% | 2,488 | 67.94% | 48 | 1.31% |
| 1936 | 1,278 | 32.45% | 2,428 | 61.66% | 232 | 5.89% |
| 1940 | 2,067 | 48.65% | 2,176 | 51.21% | 6 | 0.14% |
| 1944 | 1,945 | 51.51% | 1,819 | 48.17% | 12 | 0.32% |
| 1948 | 1,700 | 41.87% | 2,291 | 56.43% | 69 | 1.70% |
| 1952 | 2,979 | 65.39% | 1,564 | 34.33% | 13 | 0.29% |
| 1956 | 2,335 | 55.36% | 1,881 | 44.59% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1960 | 2,340 | 50.14% | 2,319 | 49.69% | 8 | 0.17% |
| 1964 | 1,636 | 37.26% | 2,751 | 62.65% | 4 | 0.09% |
| 1968 | 2,037 | 48.91% | 1,946 | 46.72% | 182 | 4.37% |
| 1972 | 2,292 | 56.00% | 1,739 | 42.49% | 62 | 1.51% |
| 1976 | 1,882 | 45.79% | 2,103 | 51.17% | 125 | 3.04% |
| 1980 | 2,224 | 54.15% | 1,496 | 36.43% | 387 | 9.42% |
| 1984 | 2,367 | 62.36% | 1,410 | 37.14% | 19 | 0.50% |
| 1988 | 1,933 | 56.08% | 1,486 | 43.11% | 28 | 0.81% |
| 1992 | 1,626 | 46.32% | 1,122 | 31.97% | 762 | 21.71% |
| 1996 | 1,508 | 46.83% | 1,319 | 40.96% | 393 | 12.20% |
| 2000 | 2,032 | 61.48% | 1,046 | 31.65% | 227 | 6.87% |
| 2004 | 2,303 | 65.30% | 1,169 | 33.14% | 55 | 1.56% |
| 2008 | 1,786 | 52.31% | 1,550 | 45.40% | 78 | 2.28% |
| 2012 | 1,884 | 58.47% | 1,258 | 39.04% | 80 | 2.48% |
| 2016 | 2,129 | 64.48% | 893 | 27.04% | 280 | 8.48% |
| 2020 | 2,328 | 67.87% | 1,026 | 29.91% | 76 | 2.22% |
| 2024 | 2,290 | 68.30% | 986 | 29.41% | 77 | 2.30% |
| Position | Name | District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner and Vice Chair | Eric Klindt | District 1 | |
| Commissioner | Jonathan Green | District 2 | |
| Commissioner and Chairperson | Lyle Hovland | District 3 | |
| Commissioner | Rick Busko | District 4 | |
| Commissioner | Dennis Larson | District 5 | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Torrey Westrom[19] | Republican | District 12 | |
| House of Representatives | Jeff Backer[20] | Republican | District 12A | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach | Republican | 7th | |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[21] | Democrat | N/A | |
| Senate | Tina Smith[22] | Democrat | N/A | |
Places adjacent to Wilkin County, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofWilkin County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
