Roseau County, Minnesota
County in Minnesota, United States

County in Minnesota
Roseau County, Minnesota
County
Postcard of the Roseau County Courthouse
Postcard of the Roseau County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Roseau County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Coordinates: 48°46′N 95°48′W / 48.77°N 95.8°W / 48.77; -95.8
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedDecember 31, 1894
Named afterRoseau River
SeatRoseau
Largest cityRoseau
Area
 • Total
1,678 sq mi (4,350 km2)
 • Land1,672 sq mi (4,330 km2)
 • Water6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
15,331
 • Estimate 
(2024)
15,265 Decrease
 • Density9.2/sq mi (3.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.co.roseau.mn.us

Roseau County (/roʊˈzoʊ/) is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota, along the Canada–U.S. border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,331.[1] Its county seat is Roseau.[2] Roseau County borders the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Part of the Red Lake Indian Reservation is in Roseau County.

History

Roseau County was once the home of many Ojibwe, Sioux, and Mandan tribes. Archeologists have found artifacts within the county belonging to these tribes that date back 7,200 years.[3] More recent history includes fur trappers and European-based explorers. By 1822, a fur-trading post was established in the area. In 1885, the future Roseau City hosted four settlers; by 1895 there were 600, and the area was incorporated as Roseau.[4]

By the mid-1880s the early settlers of eastern Kittson County were feeling the disadvantage of their location, far from the county seat, and petitioned the government for a separate county. On December 31, 1894,[5] Governor Knute Nelson proclaimed the eastern portion of Kittson a new county, to be named Roseau.[6] On February 11, 1896, the next governor, David Marston Clough, added part of Beltrami County to Roseau County. Roseau was named the county seat.[4]

Geography

Soils of Roseau County[7]

Roseau County is in far northern Minnesota. Its northern boundary abuts Canada. The Roseau River drains the upper part of the county, flowing west into Kittson County on its way to the Hudson Bay. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture, and dotted with lakes and drainages. There is considerable wooded area, especially in the southeast portion.[8] The county has an area of 1,678 square miles (4,350 km2), of which 1,672 square miles (4,330 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (0.4%) is water.[9] Roseau is one of 17 Minnesota savanna counties with more savanna soils than prairie or forest soils.

Transportation

Airports

Major highways

Adjacent counties and rural municipalities

Protected areas

[10]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19006,994—
191011,33862.1%
192013,30517.3%
193012,621−5.1%
194015,10319.7%
195014,505−4.0%
196012,154−16.2%
197011,569−4.8%
198012,5748.7%
199015,02619.5%
200016,3388.7%
201015,629−4.3%
202015,331−1.9%
2024 (est.)15,265[11]−0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 15,331. The median age was 42.6 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 107.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.4 males age 18 and over.[16][17]

The racial makeup of the county was 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% from some other race, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.6% of the population.[17]

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[18]

There were 6,340 households in the county, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.9% were married-couple households, 21.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16]

There were 7,137 housing units, of which 11.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.5% were owner-occupied and 20.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.0%.[16]

2000 census

2022 U.S. census population pyramid for Roseau County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,338 people, 6,190 households, and 4,438 families in the county. The population density was 9.77 per square mile (3.77/km2). There were 7,101 housing units at an average density of 4.25 per square mile (1.64/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.92% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 1.42% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.0% were of Norwegian, 18.8% German and 10.7% Swedish ancestry.

There were 6,190 households, out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.11.

The county population contained 29.80% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 20.80% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 105.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,852, and the median income for a family was $46,185. Males had a median income of $29,747 versus $23,630 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,053. About 4.60% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.50% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

In presidential elections, Roseau is Minnesota's most reliably Republican-voting county. John McCain's and George W. Bush's best performances in Minnesota were in Roseau County. Bush won it twice, with over 65% of the vote. It was also one of the few Minnesota counties that George H. W. Bush won in 1992 and Bob Dole won in 1996.

Roseau County is less reliably Republican in senatorial and gubernatorial elections. The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party has won two senatorial elections here since 1992. Independents do not perform as well in Roseau County as in the rest of Minnesota. In the 1998 gubernatorial election, Norm Coleman's best performance in Minnesota was in Roseau County, where he won with almost 50% of the vote.

United States presidential election results for Roseau County, Minnesota[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
№  % №  % №  %
1896 287 34.66% 527 63.65% 14 1.69%
1900 632 53.02% 537 45.05% 23 1.93%
1904 1,042 73.38% 182 12.82% 196 13.80%
1908 900 50.90% 444 25.11% 424 23.98%
1912 278 14.49% 299 15.59% 1,341 69.92%
1916 821 38.71% 834 39.32% 466 21.97%
1920 2,387 64.13% 500 13.43% 835 22.43%
1924 1,300 38.99% 148 4.44% 1,886 56.57%
1928 2,618 63.16% 1,342 32.38% 185 4.46%
1932 1,078 25.52% 2,805 66.41% 341 8.07%
1936 1,326 25.18% 3,761 71.42% 179 3.40%
1940 1,730 28.25% 4,289 70.05% 104 1.70%
1944 1,513 28.82% 3,697 70.42% 40 0.76%
1948 1,458 26.37% 3,674 66.46% 396 7.16%
1952 2,596 45.33% 3,062 53.47% 69 1.20%
1956 1,901 38.23% 3,062 61.57% 10 0.20%
1960 2,274 41.48% 3,198 58.34% 10 0.18%
1964 1,651 31.19% 3,636 68.69% 6 0.11%
1968 2,048 40.68% 2,649 52.61% 338 6.71%
1972 2,844 53.22% 2,396 44.84% 104 1.95%
1976 2,382 41.41% 3,215 55.89% 155 2.69%
1980 3,358 53.16% 2,616 41.41% 343 5.43%
1984 3,445 59.28% 2,319 39.91% 47 0.81%
1988 3,500 56.52% 2,630 42.47% 62 1.00%
1992 2,785 38.31% 2,346 32.27% 2,138 29.41%
1996 2,988 43.25% 2,759 39.93% 1,162 16.82%
2000 4,695 65.52% 2,128 29.70% 343 4.79%
2004 5,355 67.69% 2,442 30.87% 114 1.44%
2008 4,438 57.64% 3,097 40.22% 165 2.14%
2012 4,409 59.97% 2,772 37.70% 171 2.33%
2016 5,451 69.85% 1,856 23.78% 497 6.37%
2020 6,065 72.02% 2,188 25.98% 168 2.00%
2024 6,279 73.88% 2,093 24.63% 127 1.49%
County Board of Commissioners[20]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner Glenda Phillipe District 1 2026
Commissioner Jack Swanson District 2 2024
Commissioner and Chairperson Levi Novacek District 3 2024
Commissioner Russell Walker District 4 2024
Commissioner Daryl Wicklund District 5 2026
State Legislature (2025–2027)
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Mark Johnson[21] Republican District 1
House of Representatives John Burkel[22] Republican District 1A
U.S Congress (2025–2027)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Michelle Fischbach Republican 7th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[23] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[24] Democrat N/A

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Townships

Unorganized territories

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Roseau History Archived September 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Roseau MN. Accessed May 17, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d Historical Overview (accessed April 3, 2019)
  5. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  6. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 470.
  7. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 57-60. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  8. ^ Roseau County MN Google Maps (accessed April 3, 2019)
  9. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  10. ^ "Roseau County MN Google Maps". Roseau County · Minnesota. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates Tables". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  17. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  18. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  20. ^ "Board of Commissioners". www.co.roseau.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  22. ^ "Rep. John Burkel (01A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  23. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  24. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  • Official Roseau County website

48°46′N 95°48′W / 48.77°N 95.80°W / 48.77; -95.80

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