Detroit Lakes

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Detroit Lakes was founded in 1871 by Colonel George Johnston. It was called Detroit until 1927, when it was renamed to avoid confusion with Detroit, Michigan. The name was given by a French missionary. "Détroit" means "strait" or "narrows", and refers to the sandbar separating Big Detroit lake from Little Detroit lake. In the late 19th century, the sandbar was dredged and partially submerged to make the Pelican River watershed navigable by steamboat. Detroit Lakes was a resting place on the Red River Oxcart Trails. Its Ojibwe name is Gaiajawangag, meaning a lake with a crossing in a sandy place. The city grew quickly with the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1877, an election decided that Detroit Lakes, then still known as Detroit, would be the county seat. By 1884, Detroit Lakes had many businesses, including the Hotel Minnesota, the Lakes Hotel, a bank, a newspaper, and an opera house. The first county courthouse was also built in Detroit Lakes that year. Some of the city's historic buildings still stand, such as the 1908 railroad station and the Holmes Theater. The Becker County Museum, now an addition to the Holmes Theater, has information and exhibits on the history of the city and the surrounding area.

In Their Own Story

The city grew quickly with the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1877, an election decided that Detroit Lakes, then still known as Detroit, would be the county seat. By 1884, Detroit Lakes had many businesses, including the Hotel Minnesota, the Lakes Hotel, a bank, a newspaper, and an opera house. The first county courthouse was also built in Detroit Lakes that year. Some of the city's historic buildings still stand, such as the 1908 railroad station and the Holmes Theater. The Becker County Museum, now an addition to the Holmes Theater, has information and exhibits on the history of the city and the surrounding area. The city's geography is defined by its significant water coverage, with over five square miles of water comprising nearly one-third of its total 17.46-square-mile footprint. This unique landscape underpins the local economy, where tourism stands as the chief industry. As a premier destination for both summer and winter recreation, the area attracts vast numbers of seasonal residents and visitors annually. Consequently, while the official 2020 census recorded a population of 9,869, locals estimate the summer population swells to approximately 13,000 due to this influx of tourists seeking outdoor activities on the lakes.

Reader's Guide

Detroit Lakes is a city in and the county seat of Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 9,869 at the 2020 census. Its unofficial population during the summer is higher, estimated by citizens to peak at 13,000, due to seasonal residents and tourists. U.S. Highways 10 and 59 and Minnesota State Highway 34 are the primary routes through the city. Detroit Lakes is 45 miles east of the Fargo–Moorhead ND-MN statistical metropolitan area. The nearest major metropolitan area with a population over 1 million is Minneapolis–Saint Paul, which is about 205 miles southeast of Detroit Lakes. Detroit Lakes is a regional summer and winter recreation destination, attracting large numbers of tourists and seasonal residents each year. Tourism is the area's chief industry. The city was founded in 1871 by Colonel George Johnston. It was called Detroit until 1927, when it was renamed to avoid confusion with Detroit, Michigan. The name was given by a French missionary. "Détroit" means "strait" or "narrows", and refers to the sandbar separating Big Detroit lake from Little Detroit lake. In the late 19th century, the sandbar was dredged and partially submerged to make the Pelican River watershed navigable by steamboat. Detroit Lakes was a resting place on the Red River Oxcart Trails. Its Ojibwe name is Gaiajawangag, meaning a lake with a crossing in a sandy place. The city grew quickly with the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1877, an election decided that Detroit Lakes, then still known as Detroit, would be the county seat. By 1884, Detroit Lakes had many businesses, including the Hotel Minnesota, the Lakes Hotel, a bank, a newspaper, and an opera house. The first county courthouse was also built in Detroit Lakes that year. Some of the city's historic buildings still stand, such as the 1908 railroad station and the Holmes Theater. The Becker County Museum, now an addition to the Holmes Theater, has information and exhibits on the history of the city and the surrounding area.

Did You Know?

• Detroit Lakes was originally named Detroit until 1927, when it was renamed to avoid confusion with Detroit, Michigan.
• The city's Ojibwe name is Gaiajawangag, meaning a lake with a crossing in a sandy place.
• The sandbar separating Big Detroit lake from Little Detroit lake was dredged and partially submerged in the late 19th century to make the Pelican River watershed navigable by steamboat.
• The Detroit Lakes Public Library, built in 1913 with a $10,000 grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The city's unofficial summer population is estimated by citizens to peak at 13,000, compared to the official 2020 census population of 9,869.

Origins and Early Development

Detroit Lakes was founded in 1871 by Colonel George Johnston. It was called Detroit until 1927, when it was renamed to avoid confusion with Detroit, Michigan. The name was given by a French missionary. "Détroit" means "strait" or "narrows", and refers to the sandbar separating Big Detroit lake from Little Detroit lake. In the late 19th century, the sandbar was dredged and partially submerged to make the Pelican River watershed navigable by steamboat. Detroit Lakes was a resting place on the Red River Oxcart Trails. Its Ojibwe name is Gaiajawangag, meaning a lake with a crossing in a sandy place. The city grew quickly with the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1877, an election decided that Detroit Lakes, then still known as Detroit, would be the county seat. By 1884, Detroit Lakes had many businesses, including the Hotel Minnesota, the Lakes Hotel, a bank, a newspaper, and an opera house. The first county courthouse was also built in Detroit Lakes that year. Some of the city's historic buildings still stand, such as the 1908 railroad station and the Holmes Theater. The Becker County Museum, now an addition to the Holmes Theater, has information and exhibits on the history of the city and the surrounding area.

Geography and Economic Drivers

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 17.460 square miles (45.22 km2), of which 11.841 square miles (30.67 km2) is land and 5.619 square miles (14.55 km2) is water. U.S. Highways 10 and 59 and Minnesota State Highway 34 are the primary routes through the city. Detroit Lakes is 45 miles east of the Fargo–Moorhead ND-MN statistical metropolitan area. The nearest major metropolitan area with a population over 1 million is Minneapolis–Saint Paul, which is about 205 miles southeast of Detroit Lakes. Detroit Lakes is a regional summer and winter recreation destination, attracting large numbers of tourists and seasonal residents each year. Tourism is the area's chief industry. The population was 9,869 at the 2020 census. Its unofficial population during the summer is higher, estimated by citizens to peak at 13,000, due to seasonal residents and tourists.

Demographic Composition and Trends

As of the 2020 census, Detroit Lakes had a population of 9,869, with 4,462 households and 2,400 families residing in the city. The median age was 41.4 years. 6.5% of residents were under the age of 5, 22.1% were under the age of 18, and 24.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.5 males age 18 and over. 93.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 6.7% lived in rural areas. Of the city's households, 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.4% were married-couple households, 20.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 5,205 housing units, of which 14.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%. The population density was 887.7 inhabitants per square mile (342.7/km2), and there were 468.2 per square mile (180.8/km2) housing units. As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 4,485 estimated households in Detroit Lakes with an average of 2.15 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $62,123. Approximately 10.2% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Detroit Lakes has an estimated 60.1% employment rate, with 32.4% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.5% holding a high school diploma. The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were Scandinavian (98.1%), Spanish (0.9%), Indo-European (0.6%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.1%), and Other (0.3%). The median age in the city was 41.5 years.

Historical Evolution and Modern Identity

Detroit Lakes was founded in 1871 by Colonel George Johnston. It was called Detroit until 1927, when it was renamed to avoid confusion with Detroit, Michigan. The name was given by a French missionary. "Détroit" means "strait" or "narrows", and refers to the sandbar separating Big Detroit lake from Little Detroit lake. In the late 19th century, the sandbar was dredged and partially submerged to make the Pelican River watershed navigable by steamboat. Detroit Lakes was a resting place on the Red River Oxcart Trails. Its Ojibwe name is Gaiajawangag, meaning a lake with a crossing in a sandy place. The city grew quickly with the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1877, an election decided that Detroit Lakes, then still known as Detroit, would be the county seat. By 1884, Detroit Lakes had many businesses, including the Hotel Minnesota, the Lakes Hotel, a bank, a newspaper, and an opera house. The first county courthouse was also built in Detroit Lakes that year. Some of the city's historic buildings still stand, such as the 1908 railroad station and the Holmes Theater. The Becker County Museum, now an addition to the Holmes Theater, has information and exhibits on the history of the city and the surrounding area. Detroit Lakes can see severe weather such as Tornados. Detroit Lakes is a regional summer and winter recreation destination, attracting large numbers of tourists and seasonal residents each year. Tourism is the area's chief industry.