Otter Tail County, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Otter Tail County
U.S. county
Otter Tail County Courthouse in Fergus Falls.
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	March 18, 1858 (created) September 12, 1868 (organized)
Named for	Otter Tail Lake and Otter Tail River
Seat	Fergus Falls
Largest city	Fergus Falls
Area
• Total	2,225 sq mi (5,760 km2)
• Land	1,972 sq mi (5,110 km2)
• Water	252 sq mi (650 km2)  11%
Population  (2020)
• Total	60,081
• Estimate  (2023)	60,626
• Density	30.5/sq mi (11.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	7th

Otter Tail County is a special place in Minnesota, a state in the United States. It's known for having more lakes than any other county in the whole country! Imagine, over 1,000 lakes are found here. In 2020, about 60,081 people lived in Otter Tail County. The main city, where the county government is located, is called Fergus Falls.

Exploring Otter Tail County's Past

Early Native American Life

Long ago, Native American tribes lived in the Otter Tail County area. They used the land for hunting and fishing. They also had permanent homes here. Two main tribes, the Dakota (also known as Sioux) and the Ojibwa (or Chippewa), sometimes had conflicts over land.

Scientists have found very old Native American remains near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. These remains, nicknamed "Minnesota Girl," are about 13,000 years old! This shows that people have lived in this area for a very long time. You can still find old burial mounds and artifacts from these early communities.

European Fur Traders and Settlers

The first Europeans to visit the county were French and British fur traders. They tried to set up trading posts near the Leaf Lakes and Otter Tail Lake. Later, in the late 1800s, most towns grew up along the new railroad lines.

Historic marker for Tordenskjold, which was made the county seat in 1870 by the Minnesota legislature, a decision rescinded the following year.

The main jobs back then were working with wood (lumber) and farming. The many pine and hardwood forests helped Fergus Falls become an important center for the lumber business.

How Otter Tail County Was Formed

The United States government first created the Wisconsin Territory in 1836. Then, in 1849, the Minnesota Territory was formed. The leaders of the Minnesota Territory created nine counties that same year.

Otter Tail County was officially created on March 18, 1858. It was made from parts of other counties called Cass and Pembina. The county got its name from Otter Tail Lake and the Otter Tail River.

At first, the county didn't have a main city or a full government. But on September 12, 1868, the state government finished organizing the county. They chose a place called Otter Tail City to be the county seat.

Moving the County Seat

Otter Tail City started as a stop for fur traders traveling between Saint Paul and the Red River valley. It was an important place, so the government put a land office there. That's why it was chosen as the first county seat.

However, people had already started settling in the area that would become Fergus Falls in 1857. This area grew quickly. In 1872, people voted to move the county seat to Fergus Falls.

The Northern Pacific Railroad had planned to build a train line through Otter Tail City. But problems came up, and the line was built through Fergus Falls instead. This helped Fergus Falls grow even more and led to the county seat moving there.

Early Telephone Service

Imagine a time without cell phones! In 1882, the Fergus Falls Telephone Exchange Company started. It was in a room at the First National Bank. The first telephone system was very basic.

At first, county leaders didn't think telephones were needed in the courthouse. But eventually, a phone was put in the auditor's office. A clerk had to find the right person when a call came in! Later, a bigger company bought the telephone business in 1883.

Geography and Natural Features

Otter Tail County is a beautiful area with rolling hills. Many parts are covered with thick forests. It's famous for its many lakes and ponds. The land also has rivers, streams, and valleys. A lot of the land is used for farming.

The Otter Tail River flows through the middle and western parts of the county. It eventually joins another river to form the Red River. The Pelican River also flows into the Otter Tail River.

Two of the highest points in the county are Inspiration Peak, which is about 1,727 feet (526 meters) high, and Pekan Peak, which is about 1,800 feet (549 meters) high.

Otter Tail County has a total area of about 2,225 square miles (5,760 square kilometers). About 252 square miles (650 square kilometers) of this area is water, which is about 11% of the county! This shows just how many lakes are here.

Soils of Otter Tail County

Soils of Bluff Creek WMA area

Getting Around Otter Tail County

Major Roads

Many important roads help people travel through Otter Tail County. These include:

Airports

There are also several small airports in the county for smaller planes:

Neighboring Counties

Otter Tail County shares its borders with these other counties:

Protected Natural Areas

Otter Tail County has many protected areas where nature is preserved. These include:

People of Otter Tail County

The population of Otter Tail County has changed over the years. Here's a quick look at how many people have lived here:

In 1870, about 2,000 people lived in the county. Many spoke Norwegian, Swedish, German, and English. By 1875, there was also a large Polish community.

Who Lives Here Now?

According to the 2020 census, Otter Tail County is home to a diverse group of people:

Communities in Otter Tail County

City Hall in Fergus Falls

A picnic/beach area in Glendalough State Park. July 2010

Cities to Visit

Here are some of the cities you can find in Otter Tail County:

Smaller Communities

There are also smaller, unincorporated communities in the county:

Townships in the County

Otter Tail County is divided into many smaller areas called townships:

Education in Otter Tail County

Students in Otter Tail County attend schools in various districts. Here are some of the school districts that serve the area:

Images for kids

• 

  The Otter Tail River at Phelps Mill. June 2004

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Otter Tail para niños