Not to be confused with Wright, Minnesota.
Wright County, Minnesota
CountyWright County
StateMinnesota
Founded dateFebruary 20
Founded year1855[1]
Seat wlBuffalo
Largest city wlOtsego
Area total714 sq mi
Area land661 sq mi
Area water53 sq mi
Area percentage7.4%
Population as of2020
Population total141337
Pop est as of2025
Population est157559
Density238.4 sq mi
Time zoneCentral
Webhttps://www.wrightcountymn.gov/
Named forSilas Wright
District6th
Ex imageVacant Wright County Government Center, Buffalo, MN-01.jpg
Ex image capWright County Government Center, Buffalo, MN (2024)

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.[2] Its county seat is Buffalo.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] The terrain is undulating and contains numerous small lakes. The county is bounded on the northeast by the Mississippi River.[5] 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

Adjacent counties

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.[7][8]

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.[8]

60.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 39.2% lived in rural areas.[9]

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.[7]

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%.[7]

Racial and ethnic composition

Wright County, Minnesota – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980[10]Pop 1990[11]Pop 2000[12]Pop 2010[13]Pop 2020[14]% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)58,15967,83187,489116,786style='background: #ffffe6; |126,03199.11%98.72%97.23%93.65%style='background: #ffffe6; |89.17%
Black or African American alone (NH)28742321,286style='background: #ffffe6; |2,6050.05%0.11%0.26%1.03%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.84%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)123231228397style='background: #ffffe6; |3310.21%0.34%0.25%0.32%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
Asian alone (NH)1622723851,459style='background: #ffffe6; |1,8770.28%0.40%0.43%1.17%style='background: #ffffe6; |1.33%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [15]x [16]1042style='background: #ffffe6; |35xx0.01%0.03%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%
Other race alone (NH)39183077style='background: #ffffe6; |5080.07%0.03%0.03%0.06%style='background: #ffffe6; |0.36%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [17]x [18]6181,601style='background: #ffffe6; |5,253xx0.69%1.28%style='background: #ffffe6; |3.72%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)1702849943,052style='background: #ffffe6; |4,6970.29%0.41%1.10%2.45%style='background: #ffffe6; |3.32%
Total58,68168,71089,986124,700style='background: #ffffe6; |141,337 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2010 census

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

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 inhabitants 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

Townships

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Ghost town

Largest cities in Wright County

2020 RankCity2010 Census2020 CensusPercent Increase
Otsego
St. Michael
Buffalo
Monticello
Albertville
Delano
Rockford
Annandale
Hanover
Montrose
Cokato

Government and politics

County Board of Commissioners[19]
PositionNameDistrictNext Election
CommissionerTina DiedrickDistrict 12026
CommissionerDarek VetschDistrict 22024
CommissionerJeanne HollandDistrict 32026
CommissionerNadine SchoenDistrict 42024
CommissionerMichael KaczmarekDistrict 52024
State Legislature (2018-2020)
PositionNameAffiliationDistrict
SenateAndrew Mathews[20]RepublicanDistrict 15
SenateScott Newman[21]RepublicanDistrict 18
SenateBruce Anderson[22]RepublicanDistrict 29
SenateMary Kiffmeyer[23]RepublicanDistrict 30
House of RepresentativesShane Mekeland[24]RepublicanDistrict 15B
House of RepresentativesDean Erdahl[25]RepublicanDistrict 18A
House of RepresentativesJoe McDonald[26]RepublicanDistrict 29A
House of RepresentativesMarion O'Neill[27]RepublicanDistrict 29B
House of RepresentativesEric Lucero[28]RepublicanDistrict 30B
U.S. Congress (2018-2020)
PositionNameAffiliationDistrict
House of RepresentativesTom Emmer[29]Republican6th
SenateAmy Klobuchar[30]DemocratN/A
SenateTina Smith[31]DemocratN/A

See also

References

  1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  2. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 586
  5. ^
  6. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  7. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  8. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  9. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  10. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Minnesota - Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980". United States Census Bureau. p. 13-24. Archived October 7, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. – via Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Minnesota: Table 4-6 - Race and Hispanic Origin". United States Census Bureau. p. 17-79. Archived April 24, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. – via Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wright County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau
  13. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wright County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau
  14. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wright County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau
  15. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  16. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  17. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  18. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  19. ^ "Board of Commissioners | Wright County, MN - Official Website". www.co.wright.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  21. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  22. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  23. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  24. ^ "Rep. Shane Mekeland (15B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  25. ^ "Rep. Dean Urdahl (18A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  26. ^ "Rep. Joe McDonald (29A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  27. ^ "Rep. Marion O'Neill (29B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  28. ^ "Rep. Eric Lucero (30B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  29. ^ "Congressman Tom Emmer". Congressman Tom Emmer. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  30. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  31. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.