Wright County, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wright County
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![]() Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
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![]() Minnesota's location within the U.S. |
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | February 20, 1855 |
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)
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• Total | 141,337 |
• Estimate
(2021)
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144,845 ![]() |
• Density | 213.8/sq mi (82.5/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 6th |
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. Its county seat is Buffalo. 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
History
The county was established in 1855, and was named after New York politician Silas Wright. The first county seat was Monticello; in 1868 the county seat was changed to Buffalo. The majority of people to first settle this area were German and Swedish. The county's population in 1860 was 3,729 people; in 1875, it was 13,775.
The 1998 thriller A Simple Plan was set in Wright County, though it does not mention a specific town.
Geography
According to the U.S. 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. The terrain is undulating and contains numerous small lakes. The county is bounded on the northeast by the Mississippi River. 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).
Major highways
Interstate 94
U.S. Highway 12
U.S. Highway 52 (runs hidden with I-94)
Minnesota State Highway 24
Minnesota State Highway 25
Minnesota State Highway 55
Minnesota State Highway 101
Minnesota State Highway 241
Adjacent counties
- Sherburne County (northeast)
- Hennepin County (east)
- Carver County (southeast)
- McLeod County (southwest)
- Meeker County (west)
- Stearns County (northwest)
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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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 | 16.2% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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.
Communities
Cities
- Albertville
- Annandale
- Buffalo (county seat)
- Clearwater
- Cokato
- Dayton
- Delano
- Hanover
- Howard Lake
- Maple Lake
- Monticello
- Montrose
- Otsego
- Rockford
- South Haven
- St. Michael
- Waverly
Townships
- Albion
- Buffalo
- Chatham
- Clearwater
- Cokato
- Corinna
- Franklin
- French Lake
- Maple Lake
- Marysville
- Middleville
- Monticello
- Rockford
- Silver Creek
- Southside
- Stockholm
- Victor
- Woodland
Census-designated place
Other unincorporated communities
- Albion Center
- Albright
- Enfield
- French Lake
- Hasty
- Highland
- Knapp
- Oster
- Rassat
- Rice Lake
- Smith Lake
- Stockholm
- West Albion
Ghost town
Largest Cities in Wright County
2015 Rank | City | 2015 Estimate | ||
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1 | St. Michael | 17,196 | NA | |
2 | Buffalo | 16,026 | NA | |
3 | Otsego | 15,551 | NA | |
4 | Monticello | 13,299 | NA | |
5 | Albertville | 7,345 | NA | |
6 | Delano | 5,875 | NA | |
7 | Rockford | 4,358 | NA | |
8 | Annandale | 3,304 | NA | |
9 | Hanover | 3,289 | NA | |
10 | Montrose | 3,079 | NA |