Wright County, Minnesota

Wright County is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 124,700.[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. Wright County is the tenth-largest county in Minnesota and the second-fastest growing.

Not to be confused with Wright, Minnesota.
Wright County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°11′N 93°58′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedFebruary 20, 1855[1]
Named forSilas Wright
SeatBuffalo
Largest citySt. Michael
Area
 • Total714 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Land661 sq mi (1,710 km2)
 • Water53 sq mi (140 km2)  7.4%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total124,700
 • Estimate 
(2019)
138,377
 • Density206/sq mi (80/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.co.wright.mn.us

History

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
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

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
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%
Est. 2019138,377[8]11.0%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2019[2]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

2010

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

  • 95.04% White
  • 1.06% Black
  • 0.34% Native American
  • 1.19% Asian
  • 0.04% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
  • 1.53% Two or more races
  • 0.81% Other races
  • 2.45% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the 2000 census, there were 89,986 people, 31,465 households, and 23,913 families in the county. The population density was 136 people 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.

Government and Politics
Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 62.2% 43,274 29.2% 20,334 8.6% 6,010
2012 59.7% 40,466 38.0% 25,741 2.4% 1,609
2008 57.6% 37,779 40.2% 26,343 2.2% 1,456
2004 60.8% 36,176 38.0% 22,618 1.2% 740
2000 55.0% 23,861 38.7% 16,762 6.3% 2,743
1996 37.9% 13,224 44.6% 15,542 17.5% 6,108
1992 33.1% 11,650 35.5% 12,465 31.4% 11,045
1988 50.7% 14,987 48.0% 14,177 1.3% 379
1984 54.8% 15,399 44.5% 12,486 0.7% 205
1980 45.5% 12,293 45.9% 12,383 8.6% 2,315
1976 39.7% 9,314 57.0% 13,379 3.3% 771
1972 51.6% 9,996 44.9% 8,695 3.6% 695
1968 40.1% 6,321 55.8% 8,793 4.1% 639
1964 38.6% 5,476 61.2% 8,687 0.2% 22
1960 52.6% 7,180 47.2% 6,452 0.2% 26
1956 59.4% 7,257 40.5% 4,944 0.1% 12
1952 64.6% 8,089 34.9% 4,373 0.5% 62
1948 49.5% 5,589 48.9% 5,523 1.6% 185
1944 65.0% 6,961 34.3% 3,678 0.7% 72
1940 67.0% 8,297 32.3% 3,993 0.7% 87
1936 36.0% 4,087 47.3% 5,363 16.8% 1,901
1932 31.5% 3,406 66.5% 7,205 2.0% 219
1928 56.6% 6,011 42.2% 4,483 1.2% 132
1924 47.5% 4,349 6.2% 567 46.3% 4,235
1920 79.5% 7,013 14.7% 1,299 5.8% 508
1916 52.2% 2,683 44.0% 2,262 3.7% 191
1912 19.4% 837 30.9% 1,333 49.6% 2,139
1908 63.5% 2,820 31.4% 1,396 5.1% 226
1904 75.0% 3,183 20.3% 860 4.7% 199
1900 60.7% 3,153 36.4% 1,888 2.9% 152
1896 59.4% 3,312 38.9% 2,172 1.7% 95
1892 48.6% 2,271 39.1% 1,829 12.3% 577
County Board of Commissioners[14]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner Christine Husom District 1 2022
Commissioner Darek Vetsch District 2 2020
Commissioner Mark Daleiden District 3 2022
Commissioner Michael Potter District 4 2020
Commissioner Charles Borrell District 5 2020
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Andrew Mathews [15] Republican District 15
  Senate Scott Newman[16] Republican District 18
  Senate Bruce Anderson[17] Republican District 29
  Senate Mary Kiffmeyer[18] Republican District 30
  House of Representatives Shane Mekeland[19] Republican District 15B
  House of Representatives Dean Erdahl[20] Republican District 18A
  House of Representatives Joe McDonald[21] Republican District 29A
  House of Representatives Marion O'Neill[22] Republican District 29B
  House of Representatives Eric Lucero[23] Republican District 30B
U.S. Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Tom Emmer[24] Republican 6th
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[25] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[26] Democrat N/A

Communities

Cities

Townships

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Largest Cities in Wright County
2019 Rank City 2010 Census 2019 Estimate[27] Percent Increase
1 St. Michael 16,399 18,204 +11.01%
2 Otsego 13,571 18,113 +33.47%
3 Buffalo 15,453 16,442 +6.40%
4 Monticello 12,759 13,824 +8.35%
5 Albertville 7,044 7,539 +7.03%
6 Delano 5,464 6,302 +15.34%
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%
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See also

References
  1. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  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.  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". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.}
  9. "US Decennial Census". US 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". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  13. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  14. "Board of Commissioners | Wright County, MN - Official Website". www.co.wright.mn.us. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  15. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  16. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  17. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  18. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  19. "Rep. Shane Mekeland (15B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  20. "Rep. Dean Urdahl (18A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  21. "Rep. Joe McDonald (29A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  22. "Rep. Marion O'Neill (29B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  23. "Rep. Eric Lucero (30B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
  24. "Congressman Tom Emmer". Congressman Tom Emmer. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  25. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  26. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  27. "City and Town Population Totals: 2010-2019". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2019.

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