Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 36,009. Its county seat is Alexandria. Douglas County was established in 1858. It is named for Stephen Douglas, of Illinois. The county was formed in 1858 and organized in 1866.
Douglas County comprises the Alexandria, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Douglas County is the home of Minnesota's only wine-grape appellation, the 10,880 acres (44.0Â km2) Alexandria Lakes AVA.[1]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 720 square miles (1,900Â km2), of which 637 square miles (1,650Â km2) is land and 83 square miles (210Â km2) (11%) is water. It contains more than 250 lakes.
The county includes two of Minnesota's biomes: prairie grassland in the west and southeast, savannas (also prairie ecosystems) in the middle, and temperate deciduous forest in the south-central, north, and east.
Douglas is one of 17 Minnesota counties where savanna soils dominate.
Adjacent counties
- Otter Tail County (north)
- Todd County (east)
- Stearns County (southeast)
- Pope County (south)
- Stevens County (southwest)
- Grant County (west)
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 32,821 people, 13,276 households, and 9,027 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 16,694 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.49% White, 0.18% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.5% were of German, 24.6% Norwegian and 8.1% Swedish ancestry.
There were 13,276 households out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 6.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.00% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,703, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $30,968 versus $21,240 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,850. About 5.60% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.30% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Major highways
Airports
Alexandria Municipal Airport, also known as Chandler Field, is a city-owned public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7Â km) southwest of the central business district of Alexandria, a city in Douglas County.
Communities
Cities
Townships
Unincorporated community
- Holmes City
Politics
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Douglas County, Minnesota
References
External links
- Douglas County government’s website
- Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission's website
- Douglas County, MN Area Manufacturing & Healthcare Opportunities
