Wright County, Minnesota

Wright County is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 141,337 at the 2020 census, then growing to an estimated 157,557 in 2025. Its county seat is Buffalo. The county was founded in 1855. Wright County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. In terms of population, Wright County is the tenth-largest county in Minnesota and the fastest growing.

History

The county was established in 1855, and was named for New York politician Silas Wright. The first county seat was Monticello; in 1868 the county seat was changed to Buffalo. Most of the area's first settlers were of German and Swedish origin. The county's population in 1860 was 3,729; in 1875, it was 13,775.

The 1998 thriller A Simple Plan was set in Wright County, though it does not mention a specific town.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 714 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 661 square miles (1,710 km2) is land and 53 square miles (140 km2) (7.4%) is water. The terrain is undulating and contains numerous small lakes. The county is bounded on the northeast by the Mississippi River. Wright is one of 17 Minnesota savanna region counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils, and one of only two Minnesota counties where savanna soils make up more than 75% of the county area (the other is the adjacent Hennepin County).

Major highways

• Interstate 94
• U.S. Highway 12
• U.S. Highway 52 (runs hidden with I-94)
• Minnesota State Highway 24
• Minnesota State Highway 25
• Minnesota State Highway 55
• Minnesota State Highway 101
• Minnesota State Highway 241

Adjacent counties

• Sherburne County - northeast
• Hennepin County - east
• Carver County - southeast
• McLeod County - southwest
• Meeker County - west
• Stearns County - northwest

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, the county had a population of 141,337. The median age was 37.4 years. 28.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 89.9% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.6% from some other race, and 5.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.3% of the population.

60.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 39.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 50,509 households in the county, of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 59.7% were married-couple households, 14.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 18.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 54,467 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.4% were owner-occupied and 16.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%.

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2010 census

The ethnic makeup of the county, according to the 2010 United States census, was the following:

• 95.04% White
• 1.06% Black
• 0.34% Native American
• 1.19% Asian
• 0.04% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 1.53% Two or more races
• 0.81% Other races
• 2.45% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 89,986 people, 31,465 households, and 23,913 families in the county. The population density was 136 inhabitants per square mile (53/km2). There were 34,355 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.85% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.3% were of German, 11.9% Norwegian, 7.4% Swedish and 6.6% Irish ancestry.

There were 31465 households, out of which 42.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.50% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 18.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.26.

The county population contained 31.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% over age 64. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,945, and the median income for a family was $60,940. Males had a median income of $40,630 versus $28,201 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,844. About 3.60% of families and 4.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.50% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Albertville
• Annandale
• Buffalo (county seat)
• Clearwater
• Cokato
• Dayton (Mostly in Hennepin County)
• Delano
• Hanover (Small portion in Hennepin County)
• Howard Lake
• Maple Lake
• Monticello
• Montrose
• Otsego
• Rockford (Partly in Hennepin County)
• South Haven
• St. Michael
• Waverly

Townships

• Albion
• Buffalo
• Chatham
• Clearwater
• Cokato
• Corinna
• Franklin
• French Lake
• Maple Lake
• Marysville
• Middleville
• Monticello
• Rockford
• Silver Creek
• Southside
• Stockholm
• Victor
• Woodland

Census-designated place

• Silver Creek

Other unincorporated communities

• Albion Center
• Albright
• Enfield
• French Lake
• Hasty
• Highland
• Knapp
• Oster
• Rassat
• Rice Lake
• Smith Lake
• Stockholm
• West Albion

Ghost town

• Dickinson

Largest cities in Wright County

Government and politics

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wright County, Minnesota

External links

45°11′N 93°58′W/45.18°N 93.97°W/ 45.18; -93.97