Roseau County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

U.S. county in Minnesota

Roseau County

U.S. county

Postcard. Roseau County Courthouse.

Postcard. Roseau County Courthouse.

Map of Minnesota highlighting Roseau County

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Minnesota
Founded| December 31, 1894
Named for| Roseau River
Seat| Roseau
Largest city| Roseau
Area

• Total| 1,678 sq mi (4,350 km2)
• Land| 1,672 sq mi (4,330 km2)
• Water| 6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  0.4%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 15,331
• Estimate

(2021)

| 15,258
• Density| 9.2/sq mi (3.6/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 7th
Website| www.co.roseau.mn.us

Roseau County (/roʊˈzoʊ/[citation needed]) (pronounced row - so) is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota, along the Canada–US border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,331.[1] Its county seat is Roseau.[2] Roseau County borders the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Part of the Red Lake Indian Reservation is in Roseau County.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 3 Transportation
* 3.1 Airports
* 3.2 Major highways
* 3.3 Adjacent counties and rural municipalities
* 3.4 Protected areas[8]
* 4 Demographics
* 4.1 2000 census
* 4.2 2020 Census
* 5 Government and politics
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Unincorporated communities
* 6.3 Ghost towns
* 6.4 Townships
* 6.5 Unorganized territories
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

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Roseau County was once the home of many Ojibwe, Sioux, and Mandan tribes. Archeologists have found artifacts within the county belonging to these tribes that date back 7,200 years.[3] More recent history includes fur trappers and European-based explorers. By 1822, a fur-trading post was established in the area. In 1885, the future Roseau City hosted four settlers; by 1895 there were 600, and the area was incorporated as Roseau City.[4]

By the mid-1880s the early settlers of eastern Kittson County were feeling the disadvantage of their location, far from the county seat, and petitioned the government for a separate county. On December 31, 1894,[5] Governor Knute Nelson proclaimed the eastern portion of Kittson a new county, to be named Roseau.[6] On February 11, 1896, the next governor, David Marston Clough, added part of Beltrami County to Roseau County. Roseau City was named the county seat.[4]

## Geography

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File:Roseau Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdfSoils of Roseau County[7]

Roseau County is in far northern Minnesota. Its northern boundary abuts Canada. The Roseau River drains the upper part of the county, flowing west into Kittson County on its way to the Hudson Bay. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture, and dotted with lakes and drainages. There is considerable wooded area, especially in the southeast portion.[8] The county has an area of 1,678 square miles (4,350 km2), of which 1,672 square miles (4,330 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (0.4%) is water.[9] Roseau is one of 17 Minnesota savanna counties with more savanna soils than prairie or forest soils.

## Transportation

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### Airports

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* Warroad International Memorial Airport (KRRT) - two miles northeast of Warroad
* Piney Pinecreek Border Airport \- extends into Canada; serves as a limited airport of entry between the two nations.

### Major highways

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* Minnesota State Highway 11
* Minnesota State Highway 32
* File:MN-89.svg Minnesota State Highway 89
* File:MN-308.svg Minnesota State Highway 308
* File:MN-310.svg Minnesota State Highway 310
* File:MN-313.svg Minnesota State Highway 313

### Adjacent counties and rural municipalities

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* Rural Municipality of Stuartburn, Manitoba \- northwest
* Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba \- north
* Buffalo Point First Nation, Manitoba \- northeast
* Lake of the Woods County \- east
* Beltrami County \- southeast
* Marshall County \- south
* Kittson County \- west

### Protected areas[8]

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* Beltrami Island State Forest
* Hayes Lake State Park
* Lost River State Forest
* Luxemburg Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
* Roseau River State Wildlife Management Area
* Sprague Creek Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
* Two Rivers Aspen Park Scientific and Natural Area

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1900| 6,994| | —
1910| 11,338| | 62.1%
1920| 13,305| | 17.3%
1930| 12,621| | −5.1%
1940| 15,103| | 19.7%
1950| 14,505| | −4.0%
1960| 12,154| | −16.2%
1970| 11,569| | −4.8%
1980| 12,574| | 8.7%
1990| 15,026| | 19.5%
2000| 16,338| | 8.7%
2010| 15,629| | −4.3%
2020| 15,331| | −1.9%
2021 (est.)| 15,258| [10]| −0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[1]

File:USA Roseau County, Minnesota age pyramid.svgAge pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

### 2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 16,338 people, 6,190 households, and 4,438 families in the county. The population density was 9.77/sqmi (3.77/km2). There were 7,101 housing units at an average density of 4.25/sqmi (1.64/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.92% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 1.42% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.0% were of Norwegian, 18.8% German and 10.7% Swedish ancestry.

There were 6,190 households, out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.

The county population contained 29.80% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 105.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,852, and the median income for a family was $46,185. Males had a median income of $29,747 versus $23,630 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,053. About 4.60% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.50% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

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Roseau County Racial Composition[15] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 13,700  | 89.4%
Black or African American (NH)  | 85  | 0.6%
Native American (NH)  | 229  | 1.5%
Asian (NH)  | 398  | 2.6%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 10  | 0.07%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 671  | 4.4%
Hispanic or Latino | 238  | 1.6%

## Government and politics

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In presidential elections, Roseau is Minnesota's most reliably Republican-voting county. John McCain's and George W. Bush's best performances in Minnesota were in Roseau County. Bush won it twice, with over 65% of the vote. It was also one of the few Minnesota counties that George H. W. Bush won in 1992 and Bob Dole won in 1996.

Roseau County is less reliably Republican in senatorial and gubernatorial elections. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has won two senatorial elections here since 1992. Independents do not perform as well in Roseau County as in the rest of Minnesota. In the 1998 gubernatorial election, Norm Coleman's best performance in Minnesota was in Roseau County, where he won with almost 50% of the vote.

Presidential and State election results 1972-2020

Election results from statewide races[16]

Year  | Office  | GOP | DEM | Others
2020  | President | 72.02% | 25.98%  | 2%
Senator | 66.11% | 27.93%  | 6%
2018  | Governor | 67.29% | 29.73%  | 3%
Senator | 58.25% | 38.88%  | 3%
Senator | 64.08% | 32.40%  | 3%
2016  | President | 69.8% | 23.8%  | 6.3%
2014  | Governor | 58.4% | 35.8%  | 5.8%
Senator | 56.3% | 38.5%  | 5.2%
2012  | President | 60.0% | 37.7%  | 2.3%
Senator | 39.5%  | 55.8% | 4.7%
2010  | Governor | 49.5% | 39.6%  | 10.8%
2008  | President | 57.6% | 40.2%  | 2.2%
Senator | 57.5% | 31.7%  | 10.8%
2006  | Governor | 56.2% | 38.8%  | 5.0%
Senator | 46.7%  | 49.4% | 3.9%
2004  | President | 67.7% | 30.9%  | 1.4%
2002  | Governor | 49.7% | 42.5%  | 7.8%
Senator | 55.7% | 40.8%  | 3.5%
2000  | President | 65.5% | 29.7%  | 4.8%
Senator | 43.3%  | 48.8% | 7.9%
1998  | Governor | 49.8% | 31.2%  | 19.0%
1996  | President | 43.2% | 39.9%  | 16.9%
Senator | 54.6% | 40.9%  | 4.5%
1994  | Governor | 59.8% | 37.6%  | 2.6%
Senator | 59.1% | 36.6%  | 4.3%
1992  | President | 38.3% | 32.2%  | 29.5%
1988  | President | 56.5% | 42.5%  | 1.0%
1984  | President | 59.3% | 39.9%  | 0.8%
1980  | President | 53.2% | 41.4%  | 5.4%
1976  | President | 41.4%  | 55.9% | 2.7%

Presidential election results 1896-2020

Presidential Election Results[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties

|
|
|

2020 | 72.0% 6,065 | 26.0% 2,188 | 2.0% 168
2016 | 69.9% 5,451 | 23.8% 1,856 | 6.4% 497
2012 | 60.0% 4,409 | 37.7% 2,772 | 2.3% 171
2008 | 57.6% 4,438 | 40.2% 3,097 | 2.1% 165
2004 | 67.7% 5,355 | 30.9% 2,442 | 1.4% 114
2000 | 65.5% 4,695 | 29.7% 2,128 | 4.8% 343
1996 | 43.3% 2,988 | 39.9% 2,759 | 16.8% 1,162
1992 | 38.3% 2,785 | 32.3% 2,346 | 29.4% 2,138
1988 | 56.5% 3,500 | 42.5% 2,630 | 1.0% 62
1984 | 59.3% 3,445 | 39.9% 2,319 | 0.8% 47
1980 | 53.2% 3,358 | 41.4% 2,616 | 5.4% 343
1976 | 41.4% 2,382 | 55.9% 3,215 | 2.7% 155
1972 | 53.2% 2,844 | 44.8% 2,396 | 2.0% 104
1968 | 40.7% 2,048 | 52.6% 2,649 | 6.7% 338
1964 | 31.2% 1,651 | 68.7% 3,636 | 0.1% 6
1960 | 41.5% 2,274 | 58.3% 3,198 | 0.2% 10
1956 | 38.2% 1,901 | 61.6% 3,062 | 0.2% 10
1952 | 45.3% 2,596 | 53.5% 3,062 | 1.2% 69
1948 | 26.4% 1,458 | 66.5% 3,674 | 7.2% 396
1944 | 28.8% 1,513 | 70.4% 3,697 | 0.8% 40
1940 | 28.3% 1,730 | 70.1% 4,289 | 1.7% 104
1936 | 25.2% 1,326 | 71.4% 3,761 | 3.4% 179
1932 | 25.5% 1,078 | 66.4% 2,805 | 8.1% 341
1928 | 63.2% 2,618 | 32.4% 1,342 | 4.5% 185
1924 | 39.0% 1,300 | 4.4% 148 | 56.6% 1,886
1920 | 64.1% 2,387 | 13.4% 500 | 22.4% 835
1916 | 38.7% 821 | 39.3% 834 | 22.0% 466
1912 | 14.5% 278 | 15.6% 299 | 69.9% 1,341
1908 | 50.9% 900 | 25.1% 444 | 24.0% 424
1904 | 73.4% 1,042 | 12.8% 182 | 13.8% 196
1900 | 53.0% 632 | 45.1% 537 | 1.9% 23
1896 | 34.7% 287 | 63.7% 527 | 1.7% 14

County Board of Commissioners[17] Position  | Name  | District  | Next Election

|
|
|

| Commissioner  | John Horner  | District 1  | 2022
| Commissioner  | Jack Swanson  | District 2  | 2020
| Commissioner and Chairperson  | Roger Falk  | District 3  | 2020
| Commissioner  | Russell Walker  | District 4  | 2020
| Commissioner  | Daryl Wicklund  | District 5  | 2022
State Legislature (2018-2020)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

|
|
|

| Senate  | Mark Johnson[18] | Republican | District 1
| House of Representatives  | Dan Fabian[19] | Republican | District 1A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

|
|
|

| House of Representatives | Collin Peterson[20] | Democrat | 7th
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[21] | Democrat | N/A
| Senate | Tina Smith[22] | Democrat | N/A

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Badger
* Greenbush
* Roosevelt (part)
* Roseau (county seat)
* Strathcona
* Warroad

### Unincorporated communities

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* Fox
* Mandus
* Pelan (part)[4]
* Pencer
* Pinecreek
* Ross
* Salol
* Skime
* Swift
* Wannaska

### Ghost towns

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* Haug[4]
* Winner

### Townships

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* Barnett Township
* Barto Township
* Beaver Township
* Cedarbend Township
* Deer Township
* Dewey Township
* Dieter Township
* Enstrom Township
* Falun Township
* Golden Valley Township
* Grimstad Township
* Hereim Township
* Huss Township
* Jadis Township
* Lake Township
* Laona Township
* Lind Township
* Malung Township
* Mickinock Township
* Moose Township
* Moranville Township
* Nereson Township
* Palmville Township
* Pohlitz Township
* Polonia Township
* Poplar Grove Township
* Reine Township
* Ross Township
* Skagen Township
* Soler Township
* Spruce Township
* Stafford Township
* Stokes Township

### Unorganized territories

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* North Roseau
* Northwest Roseau
* Southeast Roseau

## See also

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

## References

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1. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Roseau County, Minnesota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Roseau History Archived September 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Roseau MN. Accessed May 17, 2008.
4. ^ a b c d Historical Overview (accessed April 3, 2019)
5. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
6. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 470.
7. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 57-60. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
8. ^ a b Roseau County MN Google Maps (accessed April 3, 2019)
9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved April 2, 2022.
11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
15. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Roseau County, Minnesota".
16. ^ a b Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
17. ^ "Board of Commissioners". www.co.roseau.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
18. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
19. ^ "Rep. Dan Fabian (01A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
20. ^ "Congressman Collin Peterson". Congressman Collin Peterson. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
21. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
22. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

## External links

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* Official Roseau County website

Places adjacent to Roseau County, Minnesota

| Rural Municipality of Stuartburn, Manitoba, Canada | Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba, Canada | Buffalo Point First Nation, Manitoba, Canada

|
|

|  |
Kittson County |

File:Pfeil links.svgRoseau County, Minnesota

| Lake of the Woods County
|  |
| Marshall County | Beltrami County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Roseau County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Roseau

Cities|

* Badger
* Greenbush
* Roosevelt‡
* Roseau
* Strathcona
* Warroad

File:Map of Minnesota highlighting Roseau County.svgMap of Minnesota highlighting Roseau County

Townships|

* Barnett
* Barto
* Beaver
* Cedarbend
* Deer
* Dewey
* Dieter
* Enstrom
* Falun
* Golden Valley
* Grimstad
* Hereim
* Huss
* Jadis
* Lake
* Laona
* Lind
* Malung
* Mickinock
* Moose
* Moranville
* Nereson
* Palmville
* Pohlitz
* Polonia
* Poplar Grove
* Reine
* Ross
* Skagen
* Soler
* Spruce
* Stafford
* Stokes

Unorganized
territories|

* North Roseau
* Northwest Roseau
* Southeast Roseau

Unincorporated
communities|

* Casperson
* Fox
* Haug
* Leo
* Longworth
* Malung
* Pencer
* Pinecreek
* Ross
* Salol
* Skime
* Swift
* Torfin
* Wannaska

Ghost town|

* Winner

Indian
reservation|

* Red Lake Indian Reservation‡

Footnotes|

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

* United States portal

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* t
* e

State of Minnesota

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Largest cities
pop. over 25,000|

* Andover
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Counties|

* Aitkin
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* Wright
* Yellow Medicine

Attractions|

| Festivals|

* State Fair

|

Other|

* Mall of America

Coordinates: 48°46′N 95°48′W﻿ / ﻿48.77°N 95.80°W﻿ / 48.77; -95.80
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