# Wilkin County, Minnesota

Wilkin County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population of Wilkin County was 6,506. Its county seat is Breckenridge. The county is named for Colonel Alexander Wilkin, a lawyer who served as Minnesota's U.S. marshal and was later killed in the Civil War.
Wilkin County is part of the Wahpeton, ND—MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN Combined Statistical Area.

## History

In 1849, the newly organized Minnesota 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 create Toombs County, named after Robert 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 renamed Andy Johnson County for Andrew 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, to Wilkin County. It was named for Colonel Alexander Wilkin, a Minnesota attorney and secretary to the Minnesota Territory governor.
The future Breckenridge, 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.

## Geography

Wilkin County lies on the west side of Minnesota. Its west border abuts the east border of the state of North Dakota (across a river). The Bois de Sioux River flows northward along the county's west border. The Rabbit River flows westward through the lower part of the county and discharges into the Bois de Sioux on the county's lower west border. The Otter Tail River flows west-northwestward through the central part of the county and merges with the Bois de Sioux at Breckenridge to form the Red River, which continues to flow along the county's west line northward toward the Hudson Bay in Canada.
Wilkin County terrain consists of low rolling hills, completely devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the west and north, with its highest point on the upper east border at 1,250 ft (380 m) ASL. The county has a total area of 751 square miles (1,950 km$^2$), of which 751 square miles (1,950 km$^2$) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km$^2$) (0.03%) is water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 94
* U.S. Highway 52
* U.S. Highway 75
* Minnesota State Highway 9
* Minnesota State Highway 55
* Minnesota State Highway 108
* Minnesota State Highway 210

### Adjacent counties

* Clay County - north
* Otter Tail County - east
* Grant County - southeast
* Traverse County - south
* Richland County, North Dakota - west

### Protected areas

* Akron State Wildlife Management Area
* Atherton State Wildlife Management Area
* Richard M. and Mathilde Rice Elliot Scientific and Natural Area
* Rothsay State Wildlife Management Area
* Sunnyside Township State Game Refuge
* Western Prairie Scientific and Natural Area

### Lakes

* Breckenridge Lake - formed by a dam on the Otter Tail River in Breckenridge Township

## Demographics
### 2020 Census

Wilkin County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 5,918 | 91% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 41 | 0.63% |
| Native American (NH) | 87 | 1.34% |
| Asian (NH) | 8 | 0.12% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 240 | 3.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 211 | 3.24% |

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,138 people, 2,752 households, and 1,926 families in the county. The population density was 9.50 per square mile (3.67/km$^2$). There were 3,105 housing units at an average density of 4.13 per square mile (1.59/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.77% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.8% were of German 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $16,873. About 6.2% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Breckenridge (county seat)
* Campbell
* Doran
* Foxhome
* Kent
* Nashua
* Rothsay (part)
* Wolverton

### Unincorporated communities

* Brushvale
* Childs
* Everdell
* Lawndale
* McCauleyville
* Tenney

### Townships

* Akron
* Andrea
* Atherton
* Bradford
* Brandrup
* Breckenridge
* Campbell
* Champion
* Connelly
* Deerhorn
* Foxhome
* Manston
* McCauleyville
* Meadows
* Mitchell
* Nilsen
* Nordick
* Prairie View
* Roberts
* Sunnyside
* Tanberg
* Wolverton

## Politics

Wilkin County voters have traditionally voted Republican. In no national election since 1976 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2024).
United States presidential election results for Wilkin County, Minnesota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,290 | 68.30% | 986 | 29.41% | 77 | 2.30% |
| 2020 | 2,328 | 67.87% | 1,026 | 29.91% | 76 | 2.22% |
| 2016 | 2,129 | 64.48% | 893 | 27.04% | 280 | 8.48% |
| 2012 | 1,884 | 58.47% | 1,258 | 39.04% | 80 | 2.48% |
| 2008 | 1,786 | 52.31% | 1,550 | 45.40% | 78 | 2.28% |
| 2004 | 2,303 | 65.30% | 1,169 | 33.14% | 55 | 1.56% |
| 2000 | 2,032 | 61.48% | 1,046 | 31.65% | 227 | 6.87% |
| 1996 | 1,508 | 46.83% | 1,319 | 40.96% | 393 | 12.20% |
| 1992 | 1,626 | 46.32% | 1,122 | 31.97% | 762 | 21.71% |
| 1988 | 1,933 | 56.08% | 1,486 | 43.11% | 28 | 0.81% |
| 1984 | 2,367 | 62.36% | 1,410 | 37.14% | 19 | 0.50% |
| 1980 | 2,224 | 54.15% | 1,496 | 36.43% | 387 | 9.42% |
| 1976 | 1,882 | 45.79% | 2,103 | 51.17% | 125 | 3.04% |
| 1972 | 2,292 | 56.00% | 1,739 | 42.49% | 62 | 1.51% |
| 1968 | 2,037 | 48.91% | 1,946 | 46.72% | 182 | 4.37% |
| 1964 | 1,636 | 37.26% | 2,751 | 62.65% | 4 | 0.09% |
| 1960 | 2,340 | 50.14% | 2,319 | 49.69% | 8 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 2,335 | 55.36% | 1,881 | 44.59% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1952 | 2,979 | 65.39% | 1,564 | 34.33% | 13 | 0.29% |
| 1948 | 1,700 | 41.87% | 2,291 | 56.43% | 69 | 1.70% |
| 1944 | 1,945 | 51.51% | 1,819 | 48.17% | 12 | 0.32% |
| 1940 | 2,067 | 48.65% | 2,176 | 51.21% | 6 | 0.14% |
| 1936 | 1,278 | 32.45% | 2,428 | 61.66% | 232 | 5.89% |
| 1932 | 1,126 | 30.75% | 2,488 | 67.94% | 48 | 1.31% |
| 1928 | 1,874 | 53.90% | 1,578 | 45.38% | 25 | 0.72% |
| 1924 | 1,342 | 47.17% | 245 | 8.61% | 1,258 | 44.22% |
| 1920 | 2,106 | 75.19% | 561 | 20.03% | 134 | 4.78% |
| 1916 | 690 | 44.20% | 808 | 51.76% | 63 | 4.04% |
| 1912 | 209 | 14.47% | 586 | 40.58% | 649 | 44.94% |
| 1908 | 779 | 53.03% | 614 | 41.80% | 76 | 5.17% |
| 1904 | 1,103 | 77.30% | 246 | 17.24% | 78 | 5.47% |
| 1900 | 812 | 52.05% | 663 | 42.50% | 85 | 5.45% |
| 1896 | 631 | 41.30% | 855 | 55.96% | 42 | 2.75% |
| 1892 | 434 | 42.67% | 363 | 35.69% | 220 | 21.63% |
County Board of Commissioners :
| 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 |
State Legislature (2021–2023) :
| Position | Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| | Senate | Torrey Westrom | Republican | District 12 |
| | House of Representatives | Jeff Backer | Republican | District 12A |
U.S Congress (2021–2023) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach | Republican | 7th |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar | Democrat | N/A |
| Senate | Tina Smith | Democrat | N/A |