# Hubbard County, Minnesota *County in northwestern Minnesota, U.S.* Hubbard County lies in northwestern [[Minnesota]]. The 2020 census counted 21,344 residents, and the population was estimated at 22,369 in 2025. Park Rapids is the county seat, and a portion of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation falls within the county's borders.[^1] The county was formed in 1883 from part of Cass County and takes its name from [[Lucius Frederick Hubbard]], who was [[Governor of Minnesota]] from 1882 to 1887.[^2] Its land is hilly and mostly forested, with many lakes and ponds. Water makes up 7.35% of its total area of 999.500 square miles.[^3] ## History Hubbard County was established on February 26, 1883, from land taken out of Cass County. Its borders have not changed since then.[^2] Hubbard, the county's namesake, was a Territory editor, a Civil War participant and a businessman, and he was governor of Minnesota from 1882 to 1887.[^2] Around 1890 fire destroyed the courthouse of the newly formed county. The public records were saved.[^2] ## Geography Overall the land falls toward the east. In the north of the county it falls to the north, and in the south it falls to the south. The highest elevation, 1,549 ft (472 m) above sea level, lies near the lower middle of the western boundary.[^4] The [[United States Census Bureau]] gives a total area of 999.500 square miles (2,588.69 km²). Of this, 926.021 square miles (2,398.38 km²) is land and 73.479 square miles (190.31 km²) is water. By area, it ranks 24th among Minnesota's counties.[^3] The Forest Service maintains a tower at the Thorpe Lookout, at an elevation of 1,844 feet.[^4] ### Major highways The county is served by U.S. Highway 2 and U.S. Highway 71, and by Minnesota State Highways 34, 64, 87, 113, 200 and 226.[^5] ### Adjacent counties Beltrami County borders it to the north and Cass County to the east. Wadena County lies to the south, Becker County to the southwest, and Clearwater County to the northwest.[^5] ### Protected areas The Badoura Jack Pine Woodland Scientific and Natural Area lies within the county. Portions of Huntersville State Forest, Itasca State Park, the Mississippi Headwaters and Paul Bunyan State Forest also fall inside its boundaries.[^5] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 21,344 residents with a median age of 46.9 years. Residents under 18 made up 22.4% of the population, and those 65 or older made up 25.2%. There were 101.4 males for every 100 females.[^6] The 2023 estimate put the population at 22,132, living in 8,885 households, and counted 14,792 housing units. The estimate gives the racial makeup as follows: - White: 93.5% (non-Hispanic White: 91.6%) - Native American: 2.9% - Two or more races: 2.4% - African American: 0.6% - Asian: 0.5% - Pacific Islander: 0.1% Hispanic or Latino residents, who may be of any race, were 2.8% of the population.[^7] The 2023 American Community Survey estimated an average household size of 2.41 persons and a median household income of $70,622. It estimated that about 10.7% of residents lived at or below the poverty line. The survey also estimated an employment rate of 57.0%. It found that 94.6% of residents held a high school diploma and 30.5% held a bachelor's degree or higher.[^8] Per capita income in the 2023 estimate was $57,515, which ranked Hubbard 39th among Minnesota counties by wealth. The median home value was $274,700 as of the third quarter of 2024.[^9] The cited Wikipedia article gives a list of "top five reported ancestries." Its figures are English (97.0%), Spanish (1.1%), Indo-European (1.0%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.3%) and other (0.6%). Respondents could report up to two ancestries, so the figures add up to more than 100%.[^10] ## Communities ### Cities Akeley, Laporte, Nevis and Park Rapids are incorporated as cities.[^11] ### Census-designated places Hubbard and Lake George are census-designated places.[^11] ### Unincorporated communities The county's unincorporated communities are Badoura, Becida, Benedict, Chamberlain, Dorset, Emmaville, Kabekona and Nary.[^11] ### Townships The cited list names 28 townships: - Akeley - Arago - Badoura - Clay - Clover - Crow Wing Lake - Farden - Fern - Guthrie - Hart Lake - Helga - Hendrickson - Henrietta - Hubbard - Lake Alice - Lake Emma - Lake George - Lake Hattie - Lakeport - Mantrap - Nevis - Rockwood - Schoolcraft - Steamboat River - Straight River - Thorpe - Todd - White Oak[^11] ## Government and politics For several decades, the county's voters have tended to favor the Republican candidate in presidential races. Through 2020, the county had backed the Republican nominee in 78% of the presidential elections held since 1980.[^12] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — location, 2020 census population, 2025 estimate, county seat and Leech Lake Indian Reservation (lead section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — creation date, partition from Cass County, namesake, unchanged boundaries and courthouse fire (History section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — terrain, Census Bureau total, land and water area figures and area ranking (Geography section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — slope, highest point and Thorpe Lookout tower (Geography section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — major highways, adjacent counties and protected areas (Geography subsections). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 census population, median age, age distribution and sex ratio (Demographics section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2023 estimate of population, households, housing units and racial and ethnic composition (Demographics section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2023 American Community Survey household size, income, poverty, employment and education figures (Demographics section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — per capita income, wealth ranking and median home value (Demographics section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — reported ancestry figures (Demographics section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^11]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, census-designated places, unincorporated communities and townships (Communities section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota [^12]: Wikipedia, *Hubbard County, Minnesota* (revision 1376294079, retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting record since 1980 (Government and politics section). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_County,_Minnesota