# Otter Tail County, Minnesota *County in the U.S. state of Minnesota* Otter Tail County is one of the counties of [[Minnesota]]. Its county seat, Fergus Falls, is also its largest city.[^1] The 2020 census counted 60,081 residents, and the population was estimated at 61,041 in 2025. The county makes up the Fergus Falls micropolitan statistical area.[^1] The lead of the cached Wikipedia article puts the county's lake count at 1,048, the most of any U.S. county.[^1] Its Geography section, citing the county's website, gives the figure as over 1,000 lakes.[^2] The outgoing territorial legislature created the county on March 18, 1858, from areas taken from Cass and Pembina counties. It named the county for Otter Tail Lake and the Otter Tail River.[^3] No organization or county seat was provided in 1858. The legislature completed the county's organization on September 12, 1868.[^3] ## History Native Americans hunted and fished in the area and kept permanent dwelling sites there. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries the Ojibwe (Chippewa) pushed the Dakota (Sioux) from their home area, and the two peoples were in continual conflict.[^3] Burial mounds and artifacts survive. Remains found near Pelican Rapids, nicknamed Minnesota Girl and dated to about 11,000 BC, are described as among the oldest Native American remains.[^3] French and British fur traders were the first Europeans to reach the county. They made attempts to establish trading posts on the Leaf Lakes and on Otter Tail Lake.[^3] Most of the county's towns grew up along railroad lines in the late 19th century, when lumber and agriculture were its leading industries. Forests of pine and hardwood, transport links and markets made Fergus Falls a lumber center.[^3] The federal government created the Wisconsin Territory effective July 3, 1836. That territory lasted until its eastern portion became the state of Wisconsin in 1848.[^3] The [[Minnesota Territory]] followed, effective March 3, 1849, and its newly organized legislature created nine counties in October 1849. In 1851 part of one of them, Dakota County, was split off to form Cass County. Pembina was another of the 1849 counties. Those two counties supplied the land for Otter Tail County in 1858.[^3] ## Geography The Otter Tail River runs south and west across the central and western parts of the county. It continues into Wilkin County, where it forms the Red River. West of Fergus Falls it receives the Pelican River, which flows south.[^2] The Leaf River originates within the county and runs east to meet the Crow Wing River in neighboring Wadena County. The Redeye River crosses the county's northeast southeastward, toward its junction with the Leaf in Wadena County.[^2] The terrain is made up of rolling hills, wooded through the center and dotted with lakes and ponds. Drainages and gullies cut through it, and the land falls toward the west and south. Usable land is given over to agriculture.[^2] Two summits are listed as the highest ground. Inspiration Peak stands at 1,727 ft (526 m). Pekan Peak, an unofficial name for a summit northeast of Urbank in Section 32 of Folden Township, stands at 1,800 ft (550 m).[^2] [[United States Census Bureau]] figures put the county's total area at 2,224.328 square miles (5,760.98 km²). Of that, 1,971.635 square miles is land and 252.693 square miles (11.36%) is water. By area it ranks seventh among Minnesota counties.[^4] Savanna soils in the county outweigh both forest and prairie soils. It is one of 17 counties in Minnesota's savanna region with that profile.[^2] ## Transportation Interstate 94 serves the county, along with U.S. Highways 10, 52 and 59. Minnesota Highways 29, 34, 78, 106, 108 and 210 also cross it.[^5] Listed airports include municipal fields at Battle Lake, Fergus Falls (FFM), Henning (05Y), Pelican Rapids (47Y) and Perham (16D). The list also includes Aerovilla Airport, 2 miles northwest of Perham, and Wadena Municipal Airport (ADC), 3.4 miles west of Wadena.[^5] The adjacent counties are: - Becker County to the north - Wadena County to the northeast - Todd County to the southeast - Douglas County to the south - Grant County to the southwest - Wilkin County to the west - Clay County to the northwest[^5] Protected areas include Glendalough State Park, Maplewood State Park and Inspiration Peak State Wayside Park. The Otter Tail Prairie Scientific and Natural Area and more than a dozen state wildlife management areas are also listed.[^5] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 60,081 residents, with a median age of 46.2 years. Of the residents, 21.7% were under 18 and 24.9% were 65 or older, and there were 101.6 males for every 100 females.[^6] The 2024 estimate gave 60,884 people in 25,181 households, and 36,922 housing units at 18.73 per square mile. The article's lead gives a later 2025 estimate of 61,041.[^6][^1] The 2023 American Community Survey estimated: - 25,181 households, averaging 2.34 persons - a median household income of $70,912 - about 10.6% of residents living at or below the poverty line - an employment rate of 61.2% - 27.4% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher, and 94.0% holding a high school diploma[^6] The median home value was $270,005 in the fourth quarter of 2024.[^6] ## Politics The county has backed the Republican nominee in every U.S. presidential election since 1936.[^7] Since statehood in 1858 only two Democrats have carried it: William Jennings Bryan in 1896 and Franklin D. Roosevelt in his first winning election.[^7] A communist faction was active in the county during the Great Depression. By mid-1932 more than 900 people took part in one of the state's communist organizations, at a historic low point for farmers.[^7] Members were concentrated around New York Mills and in Newton, Leaf Lake, Blowers, Deer Creek and Paddock townships. There they held meetings, recruited, ran candidates on local and state tickets, distributed propaganda and operated a summer camp on East Leaf Lake.[^7] The movement weakened once Roosevelt's New Deal programs reached the county. The 1939–1940 Winter War between Finland and the U.S.S.R. turned many Finnish immigrants, a large share of local members, against communism.[^7] ## Communities The article's community list names 22 cities, among them Fergus Falls (county seat), Perham, Pelican Rapids, Battle Lake, Henning, New York Mills and Parkers Prairie. Rothsay and Wadena lie partly in the county.[^8] The list also names 11 unincorporated communities, among them Heinola, Dunvilla and Wall Lake, and 62 townships.[^8] ## Education Twenty-two school districts are listed as serving parts of the county. They include the Fergus Falls, Perham-Dent, Pelican Rapids, Battle Lake, Henning, New York Mills, Underwood and Wadena-Deer Creek districts.[^9] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Native Americans, including the Dakota and the Ojibwe, used the area before European settlement. French and British fur traders were the first Europeans there.[^3] ### What - The county was created by act of the territorial legislature in 1858, and its organization was completed by the legislature in 1868.[^3] ### When - The Minnesota Territory took effect on March 3, 1849.[^3] - The county was created on March 18, 1858, and its organization was completed on September 12, 1868.[^3] ### Where - The county seat is Fergus Falls.[^1] - The county borders Becker, Wadena, Todd, Douglas, Grant, Wilkin and Clay counties.[^5] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Otter Tail County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375304689, retrieved 2026-10-25), lead section — county seat, 2020 census population, 2025 estimate, micropolitan area, 1,048 lakes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Tail_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Otter Tail County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375304689, retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography section — rivers, terrain, high points, savanna soils, county website's lake count. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Tail_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Otter Tail County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375304689, retrieved 2026-10-25), History section — Native American use, fur trade, territorial dates, county creation (March 18, 1858) and organization (September 12, 1868). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Tail_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Otter Tail County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375304689, retrieved 2026-10-25), Geography section — area figures attributed to the United States Census Bureau; rank by area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Tail_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Otter Tail County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375304689, retrieved 2026-10-25), Transportation section — highways, airports, adjacent counties, protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Tail_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Otter Tail County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375304689, retrieved 2026-10-25), Demographics section — 2020 census, 2024 estimate, 2023 American Community Survey, Q4 2024 home value. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Tail_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Otter Tail County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375304689, retrieved 2026-10-25), Politics section — presidential voting since 1936; Depression-era communist activity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Tail_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Otter Tail County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375304689, retrieved 2026-10-25), Communities section — lists of cities, unincorporated communities and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Tail_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Otter Tail County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375304689, retrieved 2026-10-25), Education section — list of school districts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter_Tail_County,_Minnesota