# Wilkin County, Minnesota *County in western Minnesota, United States* Wilkin County lies along the western edge of [[Minnesota]], across a river from North Dakota.[^1][^3] The 2020 census counted 6,506 residents, and the seat of government is [[Breckenridge, Minnesota|Breckenridge]].[^1] The county takes its name from Colonel [[Alexander Wilkin]], an attorney who was Minnesota's U.S. marshal and who died in the Civil War.[^1] For statistical purposes the county belongs to the Wahpeton, ND–MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn falls within the larger Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN Combined Statistical Area.[^1] The county was created as Toombs County in 1858. It was renamed Andy Johnson County in 1863 and took its present name on March 6, 1868. Breckenridge was the county seat under all three names.[^2] ## History The legislature of the newly organized [[Minnesota Territory]] authorized nine large counties in 1849. Pembina County, later renamed Kittson, was one of them. On March 8, 1858, part of Pembina was split off to form Toombs County, which honored Robert Toombs (1810–85) of Georgia.[^2] Toombs had sat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1845 to 1853 and in the U.S. Senate from 1853 to 1861. In 1861 he became secretary of state of the Confederacy, and county residents then petitioned to change the name. The source describes his move as disloyalty to the Union that displeased them.[^2] The 1863 renaming honored Andrew Johnson, who was then military governor of Tennessee.[^2] The source records that residents also came to object to Johnson's actions and positions as U.S. President (1865–1869). On March 6, 1868, the county was renamed a second time, for Alexander Wilkin, a Minnesota attorney who had served as secretary to the territorial governor.[^2] Settlement at the site of Breckenridge began in the 1850s, and a town was platted there in the spring of 1857.[^2] Breckenridge was named county seat when Toombs County was authorized in 1858. It kept that status through both later changes of name.[^2] ## Geography The county's western boundary is also the boundary with North Dakota, and a river runs along it.[^3] The [[Bois de Sioux River]] runs north along that line. The [[Rabbit River (Bois de Sioux)|Rabbit River]] crosses the southern part of the county westward and empties into the Bois de Sioux on the lower west border.[^3] The [[Otter Tail River]] runs west-northwest through the middle of the county. At Breckenridge it joins the Bois de Sioux to form the Red River, which continues north along the western line toward Hudson Bay in Canada.[^3] The land is gently rolling, falls toward the west and north, and is given over entirely to agriculture. The highest point is on the upper east border, at 1,250 ft (380 m) above sea level.[^3] The county covers 751 square miles (1,950 km²). Of that area, 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²), or 0.03%, is water.[^3] Major routes through the county are [[Interstate 94]], U.S. Highways 52 and 75, and [[Minnesota State Highway 9]], [[Minnesota State Highway 55]], [[Minnesota State Highway 108]] and [[Minnesota State Highway 210]].[^3] Neighboring counties are Clay County to the north, Otter Tail County to the east and Grant County to the southeast. Traverse County lies to the south, and Richland County, North Dakota, lies to the west.[^3] Protected lands in the county include:[^3] - the Akron, Atherton and Rothsay State Wildlife Management Areas; - the Richard M. and Mathilde Rice Elliot Scientific and Natural Area; - the Western Prairie Scientific and Natural Area; - the Sunnyside Township State Game Refuge. Breckenridge Lake was created by a dam on the Otter Tail River in Breckenridge Township.[^3] ## Demographics The 2020 census counted 6,506 people in the county.[^4] The median age was 42.4 years. Residents under 18 made up 23.5% of the population, and those 65 and older made up 19.8%. There were 108.3 males for every 100 females overall, and 104.9 for every 100 among adults.[^4] By race, the census recorded:[^4] - 92.1% White; - 0.6% Black or African American; - 1.5% American Indian and Alaska Native; - 0.1% Asian; - under 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander; - 1.0% some other race; - 4.6% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 3.2% of the population. Urban areas held 52.0% of residents and rural areas 48.0%.[^4] The 2020 count found 2,735 households, of which 27.4% included children under 18.[^4] Married couples headed 49.0% of households. Men with no spouse or partner present headed 22.4%, and women with no spouse or partner present headed 21.9%. One-person households made up about 31.6% of the total, and 15.1% were a person 65 or older living alone.[^4] The census counted 2,972 housing units, of which 8.0% were vacant. Owners occupied 76.6% of the occupied units and renters 23.4%. The vacancy rate was 1.5% for owner housing and 8.1% for rentals.[^4] The 2000 census had recorded 7,138 people, 2,752 households and 1,926 families, at a density of 9.50 people per square mile. It also counted 3,105 housing units, or 4.13 per square mile.[^4] ## Communities The county has eight cities: Breckenridge (the county seat), Campbell, Doran, Foxhome, Kent, Nashua, Wolverton, and part of Rothsay.[^5] Its unincorporated communities are Brushvale, Childs, Everdell, Lawndale, McCauleyville and Tenney.[^5] There are 22 townships:[^5] Akron, Andrea, Atherton, Bradford, Brandrup, Breckenridge, Campbell, Champion, Connelly, Deerhorn, Foxhome, Manston, McCauleyville, Meadows, Mitchell, Nilsen, Nordick, Prairie View, Roberts, Sunnyside, Tanberg and Wolverton. ## Politics The county's voters have historically favored Republican candidates.[^6] As of 2024, Wilkin County had not chosen the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidate in any national election since 1976. The two Democratic wins in the county since 1948 both came on tickets whose vice presidential nominee was a Minnesota native.[^6] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Colonel Alexander Wilkin was a Minnesota attorney, secretary to the territorial governor and U.S. marshal, and he was killed in the Civil War. The county bears his name.[^1][^2] - Two men gave the county its earlier names: Robert Toombs, later Confederate secretary of state, and Andrew Johnson, honored in 1863 while military governor of Tennessee.[^2] ### When - March 8, 1858: Toombs County was formed from part of Pembina County (later Kittson).[^2] - 1863: the county was renamed Andy Johnson County.[^2] - March 6, 1868: the county was renamed Wilkin County.[^2] ### Where - Breckenridge was platted in spring 1857. It was listed as county seat in 1858 and kept the seat through each renaming.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Wilkin County, Minnesota*, lead section (revision 1375311813, retrieved 25 October 2026) — 2020 population, county seat, namesake, and statistical-area membership. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkin_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Wilkin County, Minnesota*, History section (revision 1375311813, retrieved 25 October 2026) — 1858 creation as Toombs County, the 1863 and 1868 renamings, and Breckenridge's platting and seat status. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkin_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Wilkin County, Minnesota*, Geography section (revision 1375311813, retrieved 25 October 2026) — borders, rivers, terrain, area, highways, adjacent counties, protected areas and lake. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkin_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Wilkin County, Minnesota*, Demographics section (revision 1375311813, retrieved 25 October 2026) — 2020 and 2000 census figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkin_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Wilkin County, Minnesota*, Communities section (revision 1375311813, retrieved 25 October 2026) — cities, unincorporated communities and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkin_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Wilkin County, Minnesota*, Politics section (revision 1375311813, retrieved 25 October 2026) — voting pattern as of 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilkin_County,_Minnesota