# Roseau County, Minnesota *County in northwestern Minnesota, United States* Roseau County lies in northwestern [[Minnesota]] on the international border with Canada, and its seat is the city of Roseau.[^1] The 2020 census counted 15,331 residents.[^2] To the north the county meets the Canadian province of Manitoba, and part of the Red Lake Indian Reservation falls within its boundaries.[^3] The county was created from Kittson County. Settlers in eastern Kittson, far from that county's seat, petitioned for a county of their own. On December 31, 1894, Minnesota [[governor]] [[Knute Nelson]] proclaimed the eastern part of Kittson the new county of Roseau.[^4] On February 11, 1896, his successor, Governor [[David Marston Clough]], enlarged it with a portion of Beltrami County.[^5] ## History Ojibwe, Sioux and Mandan peoples once lived in the area. Archeologists have recovered artifacts of these peoples in the county dated as far back as 7,200 years.[^6] Fur trappers and explorers of European origin came later, and a fur-trading post was operating in the area by 1822.[^7] The settlement that became Roseau had four settlers in 1885 and 600 by 1895, and it was incorporated as Roseau.[^7] By the mid-1880s, settlers in eastern Kittson County regarded their distance from the Kittson county seat as a disadvantage, and they asked the government for a separate county; the 1894 proclamation followed.[^4] Roseau was designated the seat of the new county, which Governor Clough's 1896 action enlarged with part of Beltrami County.[^5] Roseau County was a dry county, where sales of beverages above 3.2% alcohol were barred, until county option ended in May 1965.[^8] ## Geography The county occupies the far north of Minnesota, with Canada along its northern edge.[^9] The Roseau River drains the upper part of the county and runs west into Kittson County, bound ultimately for Hudson Bay. The land is low and rolling, largely given to farming, with lakes, drainages and substantial woodland, especially in the southeast.[^9] Of its 1,678 square miles, 1,672 are land and 6.5 (0.4%) are water.[^10] It is one of 17 Minnesota savanna counties, in which savanna soils exceed prairie and forest soils.[^10] ## Transportation Three airports serve the county. Warroad International Memorial Airport (KRRT) is two miles northwest of Warroad. Piney Pinecreek Border Airport straddles the border with Canada and acts as a limited airport of entry between the two countries. Roseau Municipal Airport is 2 miles east of Roseau.[^11] The county is crossed by Minnesota State Highways 11, 32, 89, 308, 310 and 313.[^12] In Manitoba it borders the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn to the northwest, the Rural Municipality of Piney to the north and Buffalo Point First Nation to the northeast. In Minnesota it borders Lake of the Woods County to the east, Beltrami County to the southeast, Marshall County to the south and Kittson County to the west.[^12] Protected lands in the county include Beltrami Island State Forest, Hayes Lake State Park, Lost River State Forest and the Roseau River State Wildlife Management Area. They also include three scientific and natural areas: Luxemburg Peatland, Sprague Creek Peatland and Two Rivers Aspen Park.[^13] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 15,331 residents with a median age of 42.6 years. Of these residents, 23.9% were under 18 and 18.7% were 65 or older. The census recorded 107.0 males for every 100 females.[^14] By race, the census reported 89.8% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 1.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% some other race and 4.6% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 1.6% of the total.[^14] The 2020 census counted 6,340 households, 28.2% of them with children under 18 and 51.9% headed by married couples.[^15] Of 7,137 housing units, 11.2% were vacant. Among occupied units, 79.5% were owner-occupied and 20.5% renter-occupied.[^15] The 2000 census had counted 16,338 people, 6,190 households and 4,438 families, with 7,101 housing units and a population density of 9.77 per square mile.[^16] ## Government and politics In presidential voting, Roseau has been the Minnesota county most consistently carried by Republicans. John McCain and George W. Bush each recorded their strongest Minnesota result there.[^17] Bush carried the county in both of his elections with more than 65% of the vote. It was also among the few Minnesota counties to vote for George H. W. Bush in 1992 and for Bob Dole in 1996.[^17] Republican candidates have carried the county less consistently in races for U.S. Senate and governor. The [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]] has carried two senatorial elections in the county since 1992.[^18] Independent candidates have fared worse there than in the state as a whole. In the 1998 gubernatorial election, Norm Coleman's strongest Minnesota result came in Roseau County, where he took nearly 50% of the vote.[^18] ## Communities The county's cities are Badger, Greenbush, Roosevelt (part), Roseau (the county seat), Strathcona and Warroad. Its unincorporated communities are Fox, Mandus, Pelan (part), Pencer, Pinecreek, Ross, Salol, Skime, Swift and Wannaska. Haug and Winner are ghost towns.[^19] The source lists 33 townships and three unorganized territories: North Roseau, Northwest Roseau and Southeast Roseau.[^20] ## In the Minnesota record ### Where - Northwestern Minnesota, on the Canada–U.S. border, with Roseau as county seat.[^1] - Part of the Red Lake Indian Reservation lies within the county.[^3] ### When - December 31, 1894: Governor Knute Nelson proclaimed the county from the eastern portion of Kittson County.[^4] - February 11, 1896: Governor David Marston Clough added part of Beltrami County.[^5] - May 1965: the county ceased to be dry when county option was eliminated.[^8] ### How much - Total area 1,678 square miles, of which 6.5 square miles is water.[^10] ### How many - Population 15,331 (2020 census) and 16,338 (2000 census).[^2][^16] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — location in northwestern Minnesota on the Canada–U.S. border; county seat at Roseau. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — population of 15,331 as of the 2020 census. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — border with Manitoba; Red Lake Indian Reservation partially in the county. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — eastern Kittson County settlers' petition; December 31, 1894 proclamation by Governor Knute Nelson. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — February 11, 1896 addition of part of Beltrami County by Governor David Marston Clough; Roseau named county seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Ojibwe, Sioux and Mandan presence; artifacts dating back 7,200 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — fur trappers and explorers; trading post by 1822; four settlers in 1885, 600 by 1895, incorporation as Roseau. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — dry county, 3.2% alcohol limit, until county option was eliminated in May 1965. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — northern location, Roseau River drainage, terrain and woodland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — area of 1,678 square miles (1,672 land, 6.5 water); one of 17 savanna counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^11]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — airports in the county. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^12]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — major highways; adjacent counties and rural municipalities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^13]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^14]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 census age, sex ratio and racial and ethnic composition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^15]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 census households and housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^16]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2000 census population, households, families, housing units and density. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^17]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^18]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — senatorial and gubernatorial voting history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^19]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, unincorporated communities and ghost towns. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota [^20]: Wikipedia contributors, *Roseau County, Minnesota* (rev. 1378227893, retrieved 2026-10-25) — townships and unorganized territories. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roseau_County,_Minnesota