# Douglas County, Minnesota

Douglas County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,006. Its county seat is Alexandria.
Douglas County comprises the Alexandria, Minnesota, Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Douglas County is the home of Minnesota's only wine-grape appellation, the 10,880 acres (44.0 km$^2$) Alexandria Lakes AVA.

## History

The territorial legislature created Douglas County on March 8, 1858, shortly before Minnesota attained statehood. It was named for political figure Stephen A. Douglas, who was serving as a US Senator from Illinois at the time of the county's creation. The county organization was completed in 1866.

## Geography

Spruce Creek flows southeast through northeastern Douglas county. The county consists of rolling hills, heavily dotted with lakes and ponds, especially in its north-to-south central portion. The hilly terrain generally slopes to the south and west; its highest point is near the northeast corner, at 1,483 ft (452 m) ASL. The county has an area of 720 square miles (1,900 km$^2$), of which 637 square miles (1,650 km$^2$) is land and 83 square miles (210 km$^2$) (11%) is water. It contains more than 250 lakes.
The county includes two of Minnesota's biomes: prairie grassland in the west and southeast, savannas (also prairie ecosystems) in the middle, and temperate deciduous forest in the south-central, north, and east. Douglas is one of 17 Minnesota counties where savanna soils predominate.

### Major highways

* Interstate 94
* U.S. Highway 52
* Minnesota State Highway 27
* Minnesota State Highway 29
* Minnesota State Highway 55
* Minnesota State Highway 79
* Minnesota State Highway 114

### Airports

* Alexandria Municipal Airport ("Chandler Field"), city-owned public-use airport

### Adjacent counties

* Otter Tail County - north
* Todd County - east
* Stearns County - southeast
* Pope County - south
* Stevens County - southwest
* Grant County - west

### Protected areas

* Anderson State Wildlife Management Area
* Balgaard State Wildlife Management Area
* Chermak State Wildlife Management Area
* Herberger Lake State Wildlife Management Area
* Kensington State Wildlife Management Area
* La Grand State Wildlife Management Area
* Lake Carlos State Park
* Osakis State Wildlife Management Area North Unit (part)
* Red Rock Wildlife Management Area
* Roger M. Holmes State Wildlife Management Area
* Schnepf State Wildlife Management Area
* Thornberg State Wildlife Management Area
* Urness State Wildlife Management Area

## Demographics
### 2020 Census

Douglas County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 36,629 | 94% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 223 | 0.6% |
| Native American (NH) | 104 | 0.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 227 | 0.6% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 11 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 997 | 2.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 815 | 2.1% |

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 32,821 people, 13,276 households, and 9,027 families in the county. The population density was 51.5 per square mile (19.9/km$^2$). There were 16,694 housing units at an average density of 26.2 per square mile (10.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.49% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.5% were of German, 24.6% Norwegian and 8.1% Swedish ancestry.
There were 13,276 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93.
The county population contained 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,703, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $30,968 versus $21,240 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,850. About 5.60% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.30% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Alexandria (county seat)
* Brandon
* Carlos
* Evansville
* Forada
* Garfield
* Kensington
* Millerville
* Miltona
* Nelson
* Osakis (part)

### Unincorporated communities

* Belle River
* Holmes City
* Leaf Valley
* Rose City

### Townships

* Alexandria Township
* Belle River Township
* Brandon Township
* Carlos Township
* Evansville Township
* Holmes City Township
* Hudson Township
* Ida Township
* La Grand Township
* Lake Mary Township
* Leaf Valley Township
* Lund Township
* Millerville Township
* Miltona Township
* Moe Township
* Orange Township
* Osakis Township
* Solem Township
* Spruce Hill Township
* Urness Township

## Government and politics

Douglas County traditionally votes Republican. In only one presidential election since 1964 has it selected the Democratic candidate.
United States presidential election results for Douglas County, Minnesota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 16,726 | 66.62% | 7,938 | 31.62% | 442 | 1.76% |
| 2020 | 15,799 | 65.38% | 7,868 | 32.56% | 498 | 2.06% |
| 2016 | 13,966 | 64.11% | 6,227 | 28.58% | 1,592 | 7.31% |
| 2012 | 11,884 | 56.72% | 8,653 | 41.30% | 416 | 1.99% |
| 2008 | 11,241 | 53.74% | 9,256 | 44.25% | 421 | 2.01% |
| 2004 | 11,793 | 58.07% | 8,219 | 40.47% | 297 | 1.46% |
| 2000 | 9,811 | 57.02% | 6,352 | 36.92% | 1,042 | 6.06% |
| 1996 | 6,747 | 43.63% | 6,450 | 41.71% | 2,267 | 14.66% |
| 1992 | 6,356 | 40.08% | 5,252 | 33.12% | 4,251 | 26.80% |
| 1988 | 7,898 | 57.02% | 5,803 | 41.89% | 151 | 1.09% |
| 1984 | 9,005 | 61.92% | 5,444 | 37.43% | 94 | 0.65% |
| 1980 | 7,778 | 53.85% | 5,530 | 38.28% | 1,137 | 7.87% |
| 1976 | 5,910 | 44.39% | 7,097 | 53.30% | 307 | 2.31% |
| 1972 | 6,678 | 52.97% | 5,501 | 43.64% | 427 | 3.39% |
| 1968 | 5,464 | 50.41% | 4,826 | 44.52% | 549 | 5.07% |
| 1964 | 4,122 | 40.51% | 6,040 | 59.36% | 13 | 0.13% |
| 1960 | 5,594 | 53.25% | 4,871 | 46.36% | 41 | 0.39% |
| 1956 | 5,114 | 54.87% | 4,194 | 45.00% | 12 | 0.13% |
| 1952 | 6,037 | 61.30% | 3,768 | 38.26% | 43 | 0.44% |
| 1948 | 3,744 | 41.73% | 5,022 | 55.97% | 207 | 2.31% |
| 1944 | 4,140 | 52.62% | 3,681 | 46.79% | 46 | 0.58% |
| 1940 | 4,652 | 50.53% | 4,507 | 48.95% | 48 | 0.52% |
| 1936 | 2,681 | 36.41% | 4,186 | 56.84% | 497 | 6.75% |
| 1932 | 2,325 | 30.37% | 5,101 | 66.63% | 230 | 3.00% |
| 1928 | 4,262 | 59.27% | 2,829 | 39.34% | 100 | 1.39% |
| 1924 | 2,424 | 39.15% | 315 | 5.09% | 3,453 | 55.77% |
| 1920 | 4,428 | 66.13% | 733 | 10.95% | 1,535 | 22.92% |
| 1916 | 1,709 | 50.26% | 1,398 | 41.12% | 293 | 8.62% |
| 1912 | 435 | 14.94% | 793 | 27.23% | 1,684 | 57.83% |
| 1908 | 1,894 | 60.92% | 979 | 31.49% | 236 | 7.59% |
| 1904 | 2,171 | 79.41% | 410 | 15.00% | 153 | 5.60% |
| 1900 | 1,917 | 59.87% | 1,194 | 37.29% | 91 | 2.84% |
| 1896 | 1,966 | 57.84% | 1,350 | 39.72% | 83 | 2.44% |
| 1892 | 1,315 | 50.89% | 533 | 20.63% | 736 | 28.48% |
County Board of Commissioners :
| Position | Name | District |
| Commissioner | Keith Englund | District 1 |
| Commissioner | Tim Kalina | District 2 |
| Commissioner | Jerry Rapp | District 3 |
| Commissioner | Charlie Meyer | District 4 |
| Commissioner | Shane Schmidt | District 5 |
State Legislature (2018-2020) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| Senate | Bill Ingebrigtsen | Republican | District 8 |
| Senate | Torrey Westrom | Republican | District 12 |
| House of Representatives | Mary Franson | Republican | District 8B |
| House of Representatives | Jeff Backer | Republican | District 12A |
| House of Representatives | Paul Anderson | Republican | District 12B |
U.S Congress (2021-2023) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| House of Representatives | Michelle Fischbach | Republican | 7th |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar | DFL | N/A |
| Senate | Tina Smith | DFL | N/A |