Location, Geography & Demographics
Wright County lies in East Central Minnesota, bordered on the north by the Mississippi River and the east by the Crow River. Due to its proximity to the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, this county is one of the fastest growing in the state.
Farmland, rivers and lakes characterize the landscape of Wright County. The county was established in 1855, and named, after much debate, for New York politician Silas Wright, a former U.S. senator. Monticello became the county seat. Pioneers from all over Europe, with a majority coming from Germany and Sweden, settled in what was then the Big Woods – large stands of oaks, elms and basswood – to make their living from the land.
Buffalo was established as the county seat in 1868 and is the county’s second largest city with a 2013 population of 15,812. There are 17 cities and 18 townships that exist in the county, which have a total estimated 2013 population of 128,459.
Resources
Government
The Board of Commissioners, with 5 elected members, is the policy-making governing body. The Board appoints a County Coordinator to implement board policies and oversee the functioning of county operations. The county organization includes 15 departments which provide a variety of services to county residents.
Economics & Land Use
Wright County covers 716 square miles. About 66% of its land is classified as agriculture. The median 2014 residential home sale was $184,300. The total Wright County Estimated Market Value of all taxable real estate in 2014 was $11,994,762,600. The market value for new construction in the county in 2014 was $125,888,000. The county government operates on a budget of $106,092,470 (2015 Budget). $53,035,596 of the budget is from Wright County property taxes. Residents of Wright County enjoy a mix of agricultural, residential, and recreational land uses while its labor force continues to grow for future economic development.
Parks & Recreation
The People of Wright County value their natural surroundings, demonstrated by over 3,000 acres devoted to our park system. The county has a long history of setting aside scenic areas for the use of all residents, thanks to the foresight of Parks Board members and county commissioners. The parks system includes 29 units including regional and county, park reserves, forests, wayside rests and lake accesses. An excellent system of parks located along the North Fork of the Crow River these parks offer access to one of the region’s most scenic and accessible state canoe routes.
Five parks feature swimming beaches for summer fun. Two wooded campgrounds with lake access provide campers with a spot to pitch a tent or park a camper. The parks also offer 31.5 miles of trails, 17 miles of ski trails, six fishing piers, a twelve hole disc golf course, seven playgrounds and seven picnic shelters. The Ney Nature Center, in Ney Park near Maple Lake, provides area school children and other groups with a facility for environmental education that’s close to nature.
Historical Society
A visit to the Wright County Historical Society (763-682-7323) gives visitors a sense of history of Wright County with exhibits on early settlers and pioneer life. Use the library to study your family’s genealogy. See the famous 32-piece one-man-band that was featured in the 1932 World’s Fair at Chicago and the 1926 Model T once owned and used by Hubert H. Humphrey when he lived in Waverly. Other historic sites around the County include an 1885 one-room school and 1880 log cabin located on the Wright County fairgrounds in Howard Lake, the Fairhaven Mill Historic Wayside and the 1908 Chatham Town Hall.
Fast Facts
| Facts at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Area | 716 sq. mi. |
| North / South distance | 31 miles |
| East / West distance | 36 miles |
| Average elevation of the county above sea level | 1,000 ft. |
| Number of lakes | 298 |
| Number of parks | 29 |
| Number of cities | 17 |
| Number of townships | 18 |
| 2000 Median family income | $60,940 |
| 2010 Median family income | $70,930 |
| 1860 Population (first census) | 3,729 |
| 2000 Population | 89,986 |
| 2010 Population (last census) | 124,700 |
Demographics
| City | Population (2013 State census) |
Population (2010 Federal census) |
Year Incorporated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albertville | 7,211 | 7,044 | 1903 |
| Annandale | 3,320 | 3,228 | 1888 |
| Buffalo | 15,812 | 15,453 | 1887 |
| Clearwater | 1,775 | 1,735 | 1855 |
| Cokato | 2,742 | 2,694 | 1878 |
| Dayton | 54 | 54 | 1972 |
| Delano | 5,638 | 5,464 | 1876 |
| Hanover | 2,410 | 2,329 | 1891 |
| Howard Lake | 2,002 | 1,962 | 1879 |
| Maple Lake | 2,109 | 2,059 | 1890 |
| Monticello | 12,993 | 12,759 | 1856 |
| Montrose | 3,040 | 2,847 | 1881 |
| Otsego | 14,457 | 13,571 | 1991 |
| Rockford | 3,948 | 3,890 | 1881 |
| South Haven | 190 | 187 | 1902 |
| St. Michael | 16,801 | 16,399 | 1890 |
| Waverly | 1,385 | 1,357 | 1881 |
