According to Countryaah, Becker County, Minnesota is located in the northwest corner of the state and is bordered by five counties – Hubbard, Clearwater, Mahnomen, Otter Tail, and Wadena. Becker County covers an area of 1,521 square miles and is home to a population of over 32,000. The county seat is Detroit Lakes and other cities within the county include Wolf Lake Township, Lake Park Township, Frazee Township, White Earth Township, Audubon Township, Ogema Township and Rollag Township.
The landscape of Becker County consists mainly of rolling hills and plains with some areas of forests in the northern parts. The county is known for its abundance of lakes including Big Cormorant Lake which covers 3199 acres making it one of the largest lakes in Minnesota. Other popular lakes in Becker County include Little Cormorant Lake, West Battle Lake and Sallie Lake.
Becker County also has several state parks such as Itasca State Park which offers camping opportunities as well as hiking trails and educational programs for visitors to enjoy. In addition to Itasca State Park there are also several wildlife management areas such as Sallie’s Woods Wildlife Management Area which provides habitat for many species including white-tailed deer and wild turkey.
Becker County offers a variety of recreational activities including fishing on many lakes throughout the county as well as hunting on public lands. In addition to outdoor recreation there are also several museums such as the Becker County Historical Society Museum which showcases artifacts from the area’s history. With its abundance of natural beauty and recreational activities Becker County offers something for everyone.
Demographics of Becker County, Minnesota
Becker County, Minnesota is a county located in the northwest corner of the state with a population of over 32,000. According to the 2010 census, 91.4% of the population is White, 5.3% Native American, 0.6% African American, 0.8% Asian, and 1.9% from two or more races. The median household income in Becker County is $46,874 and approximately 15.2% of its residents are living below the poverty line.
The largest age group in Becker County is 25-44 years old which makes up 29.3%. This is followed by 45-64 years old (25%), under 18 (24%), 18-24 years old (14%), and 65+ (7%). The gender ratio in Becker County is almost even with 50.9% male and 49.1% female according to the 2010 census data.
The largest city in Becker County is Detroit Lakes which makes up 17% of the county’s population followed by Frazee Township (13%), Wolf Lake Township (12%), Lake Park Township (11%), Audubon Township (10%) and White Earth Township (7%). Other townships within Becker County include Ogema Township and Rollag Township which make up 6%, 4%, and 2%, respectively of the total population according to the 2010 census data.
In terms of education attainment levels in Becker County it was found that 87% of residents over 25 have earned a high school diploma or higher while 16.5 % have earned at least a bachelor’s degree or higher according to 2019 census estimates data. In terms of employment status it was found that 56 % are employed full time while 10 % are employed part time according to 2019 census estimates data.
Overall, Becker County has a diverse demographic profile with an even gender ratio as well as a wide range of age groups represented within its population making it an ideal location for those looking to relocate or visit.
Places of Interest in Becker County, Minnesota
Becker County, Minnesota offers a variety of places of interest for visitors and locals alike. From outdoor activities to cultural attractions, there is something for everyone in Becker County.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, Becker County offers numerous parks and trails to explore. The most popular park is Lake Sallie Park located along the shores of Lake Sallie with over 200 acres of wooded terrain and trails. Visitors can take advantage of the picnic shelters, playgrounds, boat launches, fishing docks, and camping sites. In addition to Lake Sallie Park, there are several other parks in Becker County such as Detroit Lakes City Park which features a beach area with swimming access as well as picnic areas and playgrounds; Buffalo River State Park which offers canoeing and kayaking opportunities; and several county parks including Audubon Township Park which has a disc golf course.
In addition to its many outdoor activities, Becker County is also home to several cultural attractions such as Becker County Museum located in Detroit Lakes which features exhibits about local history including Native American artifacts; Historic Holmes Theatre located in Detroit Lakes which hosts music performances throughout the year; White Earth Tribal & Community College located in Mahnomen which offers educational opportunities for both Native Americans and non-Native Americans alike; and Emerald Greens Golf Course located between Frazee Township and Ogema Township offering 18 holes of golfing fun.
Becker County also offers a variety of shopping options from small boutiques to large department stores including Detroit Lakes Shopping Center located on Highway 10 featuring stores such as Target, Kohl’s, JCPenney’s, Walmart Supercenter, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Dick’s Sporting Goods among others; plus smaller shops like The Bead Lady offering unique jewelry pieces made from semi-precious stones; Offbeat Boutique offering vintage clothing items from all eras; Painted Turtle Arts Studio & Gallery offering art classes and supplies; plus many more.
No matter what your interests may be there is something for everyone in Becker County. From outdoor activities to cultural attractions to shopping opportunities – it’s easy to see why it’s an ideal destination for visitors or those looking to relocate.
Notable People of Becker County, Minnesota
Becker County, Minnesota is home to a wide range of notable people. From athletes to politicians, the area has seen many successful figures in various fields.
One of the most famous people from Becker County is former professional baseball player Paul Molitor. Born in Saint Paul, Molitor played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays during his career. He was an All-Star seven times, won three Silver Slugger Awards, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. He is also a member of the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.
Another notable person from Becker County is former U.S Senator Rod Grams. Grams served as a Republican senator from Minnesota from 1995-2001 and was an outspoken conservative on issues such as abortion and government spending. He also served as a U.S Representative for Minnesota’s 6th congressional district from 1991-1995 and was the first Republican to represent that district since 1867.
Another noteworthy individual from Becker County is astronaut John Blaha who flew on four space shuttle missions during his career with NASA. Blaha also served as commander of both STS-29 and STS-33 missions in 1989 and 1989 respectively, making him one of only two astronauts to ever command two different shuttle flights at once time. He also holds the record for most spacewalks by an American astronaut at eight total spacewalks during his career with NASA
Finally, another famous person from Becker County is professional golfer Tom Lehman who won five PGA Tour events during his career including The Open Championship in 1996 which made him only the second Minnesotan to win a major golf tournament after Patty Berg who won three major tournaments between 1937 and 1945. Lehman also earned numerous accolades including being named PGA Player of The Year in 1996 and inducted into World Golf Hall Of Fame in 2012 among other honors throughout his career as an athlete.