Wright County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

Not to be confused with Wright, Minnesota.

U.S. county in Minnesota

Wright County

U.S. county

Howard Lake City Hall

Howard Lake City Hall

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State| File:Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota
Founded| February 20, 1855[1]
Named for| 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

(2021)

| 144,845 Increase
• Density| 213.8/sq mi (82.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 6th
Website| www.co.wright.mn.us

Wright County is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 141,337.[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. In terms of population, Wright County is the tenth-largest county in Minnesota and the second-fastest growing.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2020 census
* 3.2 2010
* 3.3 2000
* 4 Government and politics
* 5 Communities
* 5.1 Cities
* 5.2 Townships
* 5.3 Census-designated place
* 5.4 Other unincorporated communities
* 5.5 Ghost town
* 6 Largest Cities in Wright County
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

File:Wright Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf

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).

File:Lake Maria State Park New Wiki Version.JPG

Soils of Lake Maria State Park

### Major highways[edit | edit source]

* File:I-94.svg Interstate 94
* File:US 12.svg U.S. Highway 12
* File:US 52.svg U.S. Highway 52 (runs hidden with I-94)
* File:MN-24.svg Minnesota State Highway 24
* File:MN-25.svg Minnesota State Highway 25
* File:MN-55.svg Minnesota State Highway 55
* File:MN-101.svg Minnesota State Highway 101
* File:MN-241.svg Minnesota State Highway 241

### Adjacent counties[edit | edit source]

* Sherburne County \- northeast
* Hennepin County \- east
* Carver County \- southeast
* McLeod County \- southwest
* Meeker County \- west
* Stearns County \- northwest
* Anoka County \- northeast

## Demographics[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
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%
2021 (est.)| 144,845| [8]| 2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[13]

File:USA Wright County, Minnesota age pyramid.svg

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

### 2020 census[edit | edit source]

Wright County, Minnesota - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)  Race / Ethnicity  | Pop 2010[14] | Pop 2020[15] | % 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 or Alaska 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.

### 2010[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

United States presidential election results for Wright County, Minnesota[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 51,973  | 63.05% | 28,430  | 34.49%  | 2,023  | 2.45%
2016 | 43,274  | 62.16% | 20,334  | 29.21%  | 6,010  | 8.63%
2012 | 40,466  | 59.67% | 25,741  | 37.96%  | 1,609  | 2.37%
2008 | 37,779  | 57.61% | 26,343  | 40.17%  | 1,456  | 2.22%
2004 | 36,176  | 60.77% | 22,618  | 37.99%  | 740  | 1.24%
2000 | 23,861  | 55.02% | 16,762  | 38.65%  | 2,743  | 6.33%
1996 | 13,224  | 37.92%  | 15,542  | 44.57% | 6,108  | 17.51%
1992 | 11,650  | 33.13%  | 12,465  | 35.45% | 11,045  | 31.41%
1988 | 14,987  | 50.73% | 14,177  | 47.99%  | 379  | 1.28%
1984 | 15,399  | 54.82% | 12,486  | 44.45%  | 205  | 0.73%
1980 | 12,293  | 45.54%  | 12,383  | 45.88% | 2,315  | 8.58%
1976 | 9,314  | 39.69%  | 13,379  | 57.02% | 771  | 3.29%
1972 | 9,996  | 51.56% | 8,695  | 44.85%  | 695  | 3.59%
1968 | 6,321  | 40.13%  | 8,793  | 55.82% | 639  | 4.06%
1964 | 5,476  | 38.60%  | 8,687  | 61.24% | 22  | 0.16%
1960 | 7,180  | 52.57% | 6,452  | 47.24%  | 26  | 0.19%
1956 | 7,257  | 59.42% | 4,944  | 40.48%  | 12  | 0.10%
1952 | 8,089  | 64.59% | 4,373  | 34.92%  | 62  | 0.50%
1948 | 5,589  | 49.47% | 5,523  | 48.89%  | 185  | 1.64%
1944 | 6,961  | 64.99% | 3,678  | 34.34%  | 72  | 0.67%
1940 | 8,297  | 67.04% | 3,993  | 32.26%  | 87  | 0.70%
1936 | 4,087  | 36.01%  | 5,363  | 47.25% | 1,901  | 16.75%
1932 | 3,406  | 31.45%  | 7,205  | 66.53% | 219  | 2.02%
1928 | 6,011  | 56.57% | 4,483  | 42.19%  | 132  | 1.24%
1924 | 4,349  | 47.52% | 567  | 6.20%  | 4,235  | 46.28%
1920 | 7,013  | 79.51% | 1,299  | 14.73%  | 508  | 5.76%
1916 | 2,683  | 52.24% | 2,262  | 44.04%  | 191  | 3.72%
1912 | 837  | 19.42%  | 1,333  | 30.94%  | 2,139  | 49.64%
1908 | 2,820  | 63.48% | 1,396  | 31.43%  | 226  | 5.09%
1904 | 3,183  | 75.04% | 860  | 20.27%  | 199  | 4.69%
1900 | 3,153  | 60.72% | 1,888  | 36.36%  | 152  | 2.93%
1896 | 3,312  | 59.37% | 2,172  | 38.93%  | 95  | 1.70%
1892 | 2,271  | 48.56% | 1,829  | 39.11%  | 577  | 12.34%
1888 | 2,877  | 53.73% | 2,133  | 39.83%  | 345  | 6.44%
1884 | 2,383  | 57.49% | 1,609  | 38.82%  | 153  | 3.69%
1880 | 2,110  | 61.57% | 1,317  | 38.43%  | 0  | 0.00%
1876 | 1,482  | 53.21% | 1,280  | 45.96%  | 23  | 0.83%
1872 | 1,135  | 54.99% | 929  | 45.01%  | 0  | 0.00%
1868 | 985  | 61.26% | 623  | 38.74%  | 0  | 0.00%
1864 | 528  | 59.73% | 356  | 40.27%  | 0  | 0.00%
1860 | 572  | 74.87% | 188  | 24.61%  | 4  | 0.52%

County Board of Commissioners[17] 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[18] | Republican | District 15
| Senate  | Scott Newman[19] | Republican | District 18
| Senate  | Bruce Anderson[20] | Republican | District 29
| Senate  | Mary Kiffmeyer[21] | Republican | District 30
| House of Representatives  | Shane Mekeland[22] | Republican | District 15B
| House of Representatives  | Dean Erdahl[23] | Republican | District 18A
| House of Representatives  | Joe McDonald[24] | Republican | District 29A
| House of Representatives  | Marion O'Neill[25] | Republican | District 29B
| House of Representatives  | Eric Lucero[26] | Republican | District 30B
U.S. Congress (2018-2020)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

|
|
|

| House of Representatives | Tom Emmer[27] | Republican | 6th
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[28] | Democrat | N/A
| Senate | Tina Smith[29] | Democrat | N/A

## Communities[edit | edit source]

### Cities[edit | edit source]

* Albertville
* Annandale
* Buffalo (county seat)
* Clearwater
* Cokato
* Dayton
* Delano
* Hanover (Small portion in Hennepin County)
* Howard Lake
* Maple Lake
* Monticello
* Montrose
* Otsego
* Rockford (Partly in Hennepin County)
* South Haven
* St. Michael
* Waverly

### Townships[edit | edit source]

* Albion
* Buffalo
* Chatham
* Clearwater
* Cokato
* Corinna
* Franklin
* French Lake
* Maple Lake
* Marysville
* Middleville
* Monticello
* Rockford
* Silver Creek
* Southside
* Stockholm
* Victor
* Woodland

### Census-designated place[edit | edit source]

* Silver Creek

### Other unincorporated communities[edit | edit source]

* Albion Center
* Albright
* Enfield
* French Lake
* Hasty
* Highland
* Knapp
* Oster
* Rassat
* Rice Lake
* Smith Lake
* Stockholm
* West Albion

### Ghost town[edit | edit source]

* Dickinson

## Largest Cities in Wright County[edit | edit source]

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%

## See also[edit | edit source]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Wright County, Minnesota

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
2. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Wright County, Minnesota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved March 30, 2022.
9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States 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". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
13. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
14. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wright County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
15. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wright County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
16. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
17. ^ "Board of Commissioners | Wright County, MN - Official Website". www.co.wright.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
18. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
19. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
20. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
21. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
22. ^ "Rep. Shane Mekeland (15B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
23. ^ "Rep. Dean Urdahl (18A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
24. ^ "Rep. Joe McDonald (29A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
25. ^ "Rep. Marion O'Neill (29B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
26. ^ "Rep. Eric Lucero (30B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
27. ^ "Congressman Tom Emmer". Congressman Tom Emmer. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
28. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
29. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

## External links[edit | edit source]

* Wright County government’s website
* Wright County community website

Places adjacent to Wright County, Minnesota

| Stearns County |
| Sherburne County

|
|

| North |
Meeker County |

Wright County, MinnesotaEast

| Hennepin County
| South |
McLeod County |
| Carver County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Wright County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Buffalo

Cities|

* Albertville
* Annandale
* Buffalo
* Clearwater‡
* Cokato
* Dayton‡
* Delano
* Hanover‡
* Howard Lake
* Maple Lake
* Monticello
* Montrose
* Otsego
* Rockford‡
* St. Michael
* South Haven
* Waverly

Map of Minnesota highlighting Wright County

Townships|

* Albion
* Buffalo
* Chatham
* Clearwater
* Cokato
* Corinna
* Franklin
* French Lake
* Maple Lake
* Marysville
* Middleville
* Monticello
* Rockford
* Silver Creek
* Southside
* Stockholm
* Victor
* Woodland

CDP|

* Silver Creek

Unincorporated
communities|

* Albion Center
* Albright
* Enfield
* French Lake
* Hasty
* Highland
* Knapp
* Oster
* Rassat
* Rice Lake
* Smith Lake
* Stockholm
* West Albion

Ghost town|

* Dickinson

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Minnesota

Saint Paul (capital)

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Largest cities
pop. over 25,000|

* Andover
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* Chaska
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* Roseville
* St. Cloud
* St. Louis Park
* Saint Paul
* Savage
* Shakopee
* Shoreview
* Winona
* White Bear Lake
* Woodbury

Counties|

* Aitkin
* Anoka
* Becker
* Beltrami
* Benton
* Big Stone
* Blue Earth
* Brown
* Carlton
* Carver
* Cass
* Chippewa
* Chisago
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* Hubbard
* Isanti
* Itasca
* Jackson
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* Kandiyohi
* Kittson
* Koochiching
* Lac qui Parle
* Lake
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* Le Sueur
* Lincoln
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* Mahnomen
* Marshall
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* Meeker
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* Polk
* Pope
* Ramsey
* Red Lake
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* Renville
* Rice
* Rock
* Roseau
* Saint Louis
* Scott
* Sherburne
* Sibley
* Stearns
* Steele
* Stevens
* Swift
* Todd
* Traverse
* Wabasha
* Wadena
* Waseca
* Washington
* Watonwan
* Wilkin
* Winona
* Wright
* Yellow Medicine

Attractions|

| Festivals|

* State Fair

|

Other|

* Mall of America

Coordinates: 45°11′N 93°58′W﻿ / ﻿45.18°N 93.97°W﻿ / 45.18; -93.97
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