# Red Lake County, Minnesota *County in northwestern Minnesota, United States* Red Lake County lies in northwestern [[Minnesota]], with its county seat at Red Lake Falls.[^1] The 2020 census counted 3,935 residents, which made it the third-least populous of the state's counties.[^1] The county was formed from parts of Polk County on December 24, 1896, and takes its name from the Red Lake River.[^2] It backed the Democratic presidential nominee in every election from 1928 until 1996 and has generally voted Republican since 2000.[^3] In 2015 it drew national attention when a [[Washington Post]] reporter's ranking of U.S. counties by scenery and climate called it the worst place to live in America.[^4] ## History Red Lake County was created on December 24, 1896, out of sections of Polk County. Its name comes from the Red Lake River.[^2] Red Lake Falls, the designated county seat, had been incorporated as a village in 1881.[^2] Two sites in the county are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the courthouse and Clearwater Evangelical Lutheran Church.[^2] ## Geography The Red Lake River enters the county from Pennington County, running south, and meets the Clearwater River near Red Lake Falls.[^5] The merged stream keeps the Red Lake River name and continues southwest to Huot. There the Black River, which drains the county's northwest, adds its flow, and the river runs on southwest into Polk County.[^5] Low rolling hills cut by drainages and gullies make up the terrain, and the land is given over to agriculture.[^5] The land slopes toward the west. Its high point, at 1,201 ft (366 m) above sea level, is in the southeastern corner.[^5] The county covers 432 square miles (1,120 km²) in total, of which 0.09 square miles (0.23 km²), or 0.02%, is water.[^5] It has only two neighbouring counties: Pennington County to the north and Polk County to the south. Leaving aside counties on international borders, it is the sole landlocked county in the United States with exactly two neighbours.[^5] U.S. Highways 2 and 59 cross the county, as do Minnesota State Highways 32, 92 and 222.[^5] Its protected areas are Moran State Wildlife Management Area and Old Crossing & Treaty County Wayside Park.[^5] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 3,935 residents with a median age of 42.2 years.[^6] Of these, 24.1% were under 18 and 21.1% were 65 or older. There were 107.9 males per 100 females overall, and 108.0 per 100 among adults.[^6] By race, residents were 92.7% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 1.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% some other race and 3.8% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 2.6% of the total.[^6] The census classed under 0.1% of residents as urban and 100.0% as rural.[^6] The 2020 count found 1,653 households. Children under 18 lived in 29.0% of them, and 50.7% were married-couple households.[^6] Male householders without a spouse or partner headed 22.9% of households, and female householders without one headed 19.4%. Single individuals made up 31.2% of households, and 13.8% had a person aged 65 or older living alone.[^6] Of 1,876 housing units, 11.9% stood vacant. Owners occupied 80.4% of occupied units and renters 19.6%. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate 15.0%.[^6] The 2000 census had counted 4,299 people in 1,727 households and 1,131 families, a density of 9.95 per square mile (3.84/km²).[^6] That census found 1,883 housing units, or 4.36 per square mile (1.68/km²). Residents were then 97.44% White, 0.19% Black or African American and 1.84% Native American.[^6] ## Communities The county has four cities: Brooks, Oklee, Plummer and Red Lake Falls, the county seat.[^7] Its unincorporated communities are Dorothy, Garnes, Huot, Perault, Terrebonne and Wylie.[^7] The thirteen townships listed are Browns Creek, Emardville, Equality, Garnes, Gervais, Lake Pleasant, Lambert, Louisville, Poplar River, Red Lake Falls, River, Terrebonne and Wylie.[^7] ## Government and politics From 1928 until 1996 the county supported the Democratic presidential nominee in every election.[^3] It has generally supported Republicans since 2000. The exception was 2008, when it voted for Barack Obama.[^3] Donald Trump's 2020 result was the strongest for a Republican in the county since 1904, and his 2024 result surpassed it.[^3] ## Media attention In 2015 Christopher Ingraham, a reporter for the *Washington Post*, called Red Lake County "the absolute worst place to live in America".[^4] The ranking scored U.S. counties by "scenery and climate" using the USDA's Natural Amenity Scale.[^4] After vigorous objections from local and state residents and legislators, Ingraham visited the county and reversed his assessment.[^4] He later moved there with his family and wrote a book about the experience.[^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Red Lake County, Minnesota*, lead section (rev. 1381511255, retrieved 2026-10-25) — location, 2020 census population of 3,935, rank as third-least populous county, county seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lake_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Red Lake County, Minnesota*, History section (rev. 1381511255, retrieved 2026-10-25) — formation on December 24, 1896 from Polk County, naming for the Red Lake River, incorporation of Red Lake Falls as a village in 1881, two National Register sites. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lake_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Red Lake County, Minnesota*, Government and politics section (rev. 1381511255, retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting 1928–1996, since 2000, 2008, 2020 and 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lake_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Red Lake County, Minnesota*, Media attention section (rev. 1381511255, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2015 *Washington Post* ranking, quoted phrases, Ingraham's visit, reversal, move and book. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lake_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Red Lake County, Minnesota*, Geography section (rev. 1381511255, retrieved 2026-10-25) — river course, terrain, slope and elevation, area, adjacent counties, highways, protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lake_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Red Lake County, Minnesota*, Demographics section (rev. 1381511255, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 and 2000 census population, age, sex ratio, race, household and housing figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lake_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Red Lake County, Minnesota*, Communities section (rev. 1381511255, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated communities, townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Lake_County,_Minnesota