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Detroit Lakes, MN

Frequently asked questions

Detroit Lakes, MN 

Detroit Lakes is a city and the county seat of Becker County, Minnesota. The population was 9,869 at the 2020 census. Its unofficial population during summer months is much higher, estimated by citizens to peak at 13,000 midsummer, due to seasonal residents and tourists.

U.S. Highways 10 and 59, and Minnesota State Highway 34 serve as the primary routes through the city. Detroit Lakes is located 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 approximately 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. Its economy is fueled by seasonal population increases, with tourism being the area's chief industry.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.374 square miles (45.00 km2), of which 11.755 square miles (30.45 km2) is land and 5.619 square miles (14.55 km2) is water. See also Detroit Lake (Minnesota).

The city of Detroit Lakes was founded by Colonel George Johnston in 1871. The city's current name has been extant since 1927, to avoid confusion with Detroit, Michigan. Beforehand, it was simply called Detroit. The name was given by a French missionary. Détroit is French and translates to strait or narrows, referring to the sand bar separating Big Detroit Lake from Little Detroit Lake. The sand bar was dredged and partially submerged to make the Pelican River watershed navigable by steamboat in the late 19th century.

Detroit Lakes focuses on health and wellness. The Essentia Health St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes and Liberty Health stand as cornerstones in providing comprehensive healthcare services to the community. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Anytime Fitness, Crossfit and Snap Fitness. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Detroit Lakes, such as the Dunton Locks Loop and Detroit Mountain Loop. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top sites in Detroit Lakes, MN are Detroit Mountain Recreation Area, American Legion Campground, and Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox Statues.

Population: 9,981 (2023). ZIP codes: 56501, 56502. Area code: 218. Elevation: 1,368 ft (417 m). Area: 17.374 sq mi (44.998 km2).

FAQs

Why do they call it Detroit Lakes, MN?

The city of Detroit Lakes, originally called Detroit, began north of the railroad tracks and gradually extended south to Detroit Lake. The name Detroit came about when a French Catholic Priest camped on the shore of the lake with a view of the sun setting across the water. The water was low and revealed a sandbar, creating a narrow strait that glistened in the light of the setting sun. The priest exclaimed, “What a beautiful strait.”

Is Detroit Lakes, MN a good place to live?

Living in Detroit Lakes offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many families, young professionals, and retirees live in Detroit Lakes and residents tend to be conservative. The public schools in Detroit Lakes are above average.

What are the demographics of Detroit Lakes, MN?

Detroit Lakes, MN is home to a population of 9.97k people, of which 99.5% are citizens. As of 2022, 1.01% of Detroit Lakes, MN residents were born outside of the country (101 people). In 2022, there were 26.3 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (9.28k people) in Detroit Lakes, MN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 353 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 171 American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Sources

Wikipedia 

City of Detroit Lakes

Essentia Health St. Mary's-Detroit Lakes 

Liberty Health 

Anytime Fitness

Crossfit 

Snap Fitness

Dunton Locks Loop 

Detroit Mountain Loop

Detroit Mountain Recreation Area

American Legion Campground

Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox Statues

History

Niche

DataUSA

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