# Mahnomen County, Minnesota *County in northwestern Minnesota, entirely within the White Earth Indian Reservation* Mahnomen County is one of the counties of the U.S. state of [[Minnesota]], with its seat at the city of Mahnomen. The 2020 census counted 5,411 residents.[^1] All of its territory lies inside the White Earth Indian Reservation, so it is the only Minnesota county situated entirely within a reservation.[^1] Together with Becker County and the eastern part of Polk County, it forms one of the largest cattle-raising districts in northwestern Minnesota.[^1] The county dates from December 27, 1906, when it was formed out of the eastern half of Norman County.[^2] Its voters favored Democratic candidates for several decades. Since 2016 they have backed the Republican candidate in each presidential election, and in 2022 they backed Republicans for every statewide office.[^7] ## History On December 27, 1906, the eastern half of Norman County was separated to form the new county. Mahnomen, formerly a railway station town, was designated its seat.[^2] The county took its name from that town, whose name is one spelling of the Ojibwe word for "wild rice".[^2] An earlier county with a similar name, Manomin County, existed in Minnesota from 1857 to 1858 and was then merged into Anoka County.[^2] ## Geography Flowing in from Clearwater County, the Wild Rice River runs westward across the middle of the county. The White Earth River begins at White Earth Lake, on the southern boundary, and runs northwest until it joins the Wild Rice near Mahnomen.[^3] Most of the terrain is low rolling hills cut by drainage channels. The east is largely wooded and scattered with lakes and ponds, and land without woods is farmed where possible.[^3] The land falls toward the west and north from a high point of 1,825 feet (556 m) above sea level, located near the middle of the eastern boundary.[^3] Of the county's 583 square miles (1,510 km²), 558 square miles are land and 25 square miles (4.3%) are water.[^3] It is among 17 counties in Minnesota's savanna region where savanna soils outnumber both prairie and forest soils.[^3] Neighboring counties are Polk to the north, Clearwater to the east, Becker to the south and Norman to the west. U.S. Highway 59 and Minnesota State Highways 113 and 200 are the main roads. Mahnomen County Airport (3N8) lies south of the city of Mahnomen.[^3] The county contains eleven state wildlife management areas: Beaulife, Bejou, Budde Meadow, Dittmer, Foot, Hasselton (in part), Loncrace, Mahgre, Rush Lake, Wambach and Warren Lake. It also contains the Santee Prairie Scientific and Natural Area.[^3] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 census recorded 5,411 residents, with a median age of 38.7 years. Residents under 18 made up 28.7% of the population, and those aged 65 or older made up 19.8%.[^4] There were 100.0 males for every 100 females, and 98.7 males for every 100 females aged 18 or older.[^4] By race, 42.9% of residents were American Indian and Alaska Native and 42.6% were White. A further 13.5% reported two or more races, 0.7% some other race, 0.1% Black or African American and 0.1% Asian. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents were under 0.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 2.8% of the population.[^4] The census classed 100.0% of residents as rural and under 0.1% as urban.[^4] The county had 2,014 households, and 32.8% of them included children under 18. Married couples headed 39.0% of households. Male householders with no spouse or partner present headed 20.2%, and female householders with no spouse or partner present headed 28.2%.[^4] Single individuals made up 28.5% of households, and 16.0% had a person aged 65 or older living alone.[^4] Of 2,550 housing units, 21.0% stood vacant. Owners occupied 68.2% of occupied units and renters occupied 31.8%. Vacancy rates were 0.8% for homeowner units and 3.6% for rental units.[^4] ### 2000 census The 2000 census counted 5,190 people in 1,969 households and 1,366 families, a density of 9.3 people per square mile.[^5] There were 2,700 housing units, an average of 4.84 per square mile. White residents numbered 3,262, or 62.85% of the population.[^5] ## Communities Bejou, Mahnomen (the county seat) and Waubun are the county's incorporated cities. Its census-designated places are Beaulieu, Midway, Naytahwaush, Pine Bend, Riverland, Roy Lake, The Ranch, Twin Lakes and West Roy Lake. Mahkonce is an unincorporated community.[^6] The sixteen townships are Beaulieu, Bejou, Chief, Clover, Gregory, Heier, Island Lake, La Garde, Lake Grove, Little Elbow, Marsh Creek, Oakland, Pembina, Popple Grove, Rosedale and Twin Lakes.[^6] ## Government and politics For several decades the county's voters leaned Democratic. As of 2020, the county had chosen the Democratic presidential nominee in six of the ten preceding elections.[^7] From 2016 onward it has shifted toward the Republican Party and voted for Donald Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024. His share of the vote rose in each of the last two elections and reached 53% in 2024.[^7] In the 2022 midterm elections, Republican candidates carried the county by double-digit margins for every statewide office. The Wikipedia article describes this result as potentially signifying a realignment.[^7] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Mahnomen County, Minnesota* (revision 1375298844, retrieved 2026-10-25; CC BY-SA 4.0), lead section — 2020 population, county seat, location within the White Earth Indian Reservation, cattle-raising area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahnomen_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Mahnomen County, Minnesota* (revision 1375298844, retrieved 2026-10-25), History section — creation from Norman County on December 27, 1906; origin of the name; Manomin County, 1857–1858. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahnomen_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Mahnomen County, Minnesota* (revision 1375298844, retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography section — rivers, terrain, elevation, area, soils, adjacent counties, highways, airport, protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahnomen_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Mahnomen County, Minnesota* (revision 1375298844, retrieved 2026-10-25), Demographics section, 2020 census — population, age, sex ratio, racial composition, households, housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahnomen_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Mahnomen County, Minnesota* (revision 1375298844, retrieved 2026-10-25), Demographics section, 2000 census — population, households, families, density, housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahnomen_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Mahnomen County, Minnesota* (revision 1375298844, retrieved 2026-10-25), Communities section — cities, census-designated places, unincorporated community, townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahnomen_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Mahnomen County, Minnesota* (revision 1375298844, retrieved 2026-10-25), Government and politics section — presidential voting record and 2022 midterm results. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahnomen_County,_Minnesota