Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

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Detroit Lakes is a city in Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 7,348 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Becker County ⁶. The area is known for its many beautiful lakes (412 of them) and is referred to as the 412 lakes area; with 412 lakes within a 25 mile radius of the city. The city has been noted in the John Steinbeck book, Travels with Charley, as he and his dog Charley drove through the upper midwest.

DETROIT LAKES, MN
MAYOR	Larry Buboltz
POPULATION	7,348
PUBLIC EDCUATION	1 Post-Secondary, 2 Secondary, 2 Elementary
THE LAKES OF DETROIT LAKES	412 within 25 miles
HISTORIC CITY NAMES	Tylertown, Detroit

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 31.9 km² (12.3 mi²). 19.4 km² (7.5 mi²) of it is land and 12.5 km² (4.8 mi²) of it (39.25%) is water.

1 Recreation
2 Demographics
3 Education
4 Economics
5 See also
6 Notable Natives
7 Notable Residents
8 External links

[edit] Recreation

The city is best known as a resort destination; which includes a mile long city beach. Providing tourists with outdoor fun and relaxation are a variety of privately and publicly owned and operated businesses. In and around Detroit Lakes are 14 challenging golf courses, including Wildflower, Forest Hills, Maple Hills, and Iron Man. The Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center, a state-of-the-art facility, features a year-round theatre, aquatic center, field house, racquet ball courts, fitness center, indoor track, and a coffee shop within. The area also features Go-Putt-N-Bump amusement park, two river tubing companies, and a ranch offering horseback riding. Additionally, Itasca State Park is a mere 30 minute drive from Detroit Lakes. Large events throughout the year include one of the regions largest 4th of July Celebrations, The Northwest Water Carnival, and concert events held at the Soo Pass Ranch. Each July the town hosts the 10,000 Lakes Festival. A large festival with past acts including Widespread Panic, Phil Lesh, The String Cheese Incident, Trey Anastasio, The Black Crowes, The Allman Brothers, and numerous others. The three-day concert attracts around 25,000 people. Each August the town hosts WE Fest, one of the largest country music festivals. Campgrounds packed with tents surround a huge stage, and the three-day concert attracts around 50,000 music-lovers each summer. The 2007 lineup includes Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, The Wreckers and more. WE Fest has helped spur economic growth within the town. In June, the Becker County Fair offers a sizable midway, various agricultural exibts, a variety of food and drink vendors, a demolition derby, and various business, political, and non-profit organizational booths.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 7,348 people, 3,319 households, and 1,845 families residing in the city. The population density was 378.3/km² (980.4/mi²). There were 3,782 housing units at an average density of 194.7/km² (504.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.98% White, 0.42% African American, 4.50% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.

There were 3,319 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,264, and the median income for a family was $42,267. Males had a median income of $28,939 versus $21,439 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,509. About 9.9% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

[edit] Minnesota State Community & Technical College

Minnesota State Community and Technical College has four campus locations that offer you all the advantages, opportunities, and services of colleges twice the size. Each campus has its unique personality, proud history, and mix of program offerings. The Detroit Lakes campus, located on Highway 34 East, enrolls approximately 650 students in 25 different programs/majors, including accounting, architecture, nursing, sign graphic design, business management, and more.

[edit] Detroit Lakes Public Schools

The Detroit Lakes Public School system enrolls approximately 2500 students in grades K-12 residing in the city of Detroit Lakes and surrounding communities. Included in the district are four schools, including Detroit Lakes High School, Detroit Lakes Middle School, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Rossman Elementary School.

Detroit Lakes High School is "a vibrant, forward-looking learning community" that enrolls approximately 840 students in grades 9-12. It remains competitive in academics, athletics, and the arts. The school offers courses in 13 curricular areas, including 10 Advanced Placement courses recognized by the College Board for college credit. Its music and drama departments are respected throughout the state of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

[edit] Private Schools

Holy Rosary Catholic School, a Roman Catholic school offering instruction for preschool through eighth grade, enrolls 146 students. Class sizes vary, averaging approximately 20 in grades K-5, with smaller class sizes at the middle school and Pre-K levels. 11 classroom teachers are employed.

Faith Christian School enrolls 47 students and is a member of the ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International). It is a coed school offering instruction in Pre-K through sixth grade. 4 classroom teachers are employed.

[edit] Economics

[edit] Highway 10 Shopping District

In 2007, the Menards Corporation opened a large state-of-the-art facility on Highway 10 West in Detroit Lakes. The store is one of the largest Menards stores in the nation. Menards is currently America's third largest home center chain. The Detroit Lakes store joins a relatively new Wal-Mart Supercenter, Big Kmart, Sears, two strip malls, and a handfull of newly-opened dining options, including Taco John's, Subway, Hunan Springs Buffet, Caboose Coffee, Perkins, and KFC, in the rapidly growing Highway 10 West business district. Highway 10 East features Central Market Foods, Pamida, a strip mall, various restaurants, including Burger King, McDonalds, Burger Time, Subway, Quiznos Subs, Papa Murphy's Pizza, China Buffet, and Miguel's Mexican Foods. Nereson's Motors and Norseman Motors both offer new and used automobile sales and repair.

[edit] Highway 59 Shopping District

Highway 59, running perpendicular to Highway 10 through Detroit Lakes, features L&M Fleet Supply, two car lots (Detroit Lakes Ford-Chryler-Dodge and Nyhus Family Auto Sales), Go-Putt-N-Bump Amusement Park, Stenerson's Lumber, and a strip mall.

[edit] Downtown

Historic brick buildings, many constructed around the turn of the century and earlier, line Washington Avenue, running perpendicular to Little Detroit Lake and the mile-long city beach. Norby's Department Store is a multi-level clothing/gift store on the strip. JCPenny is nearby. Also on Washington is a bakery, a variety of hardware stores, a jewelry store, a pet shop, a music shop, two book stores, Lakes Sports Shop, J's Hallmark Shop, and more. Main Street Diner, the Matinee Bar and Grille, and Sunflower Hill Coffee Shop are among the dining options. Access to Washington Square Mall is also available on Washington Avenue.

[edit] Washington Square Mall

Approximately 40 retail stores are enclosed within the centrally-located downtown Washington Square Mall. It is a single-floor indoor winged mall. Upon its construction two decades ago literally directly behind the historic Washington Avenue strip, the mall was praised for its unique incorporation into the historic downtown district stores by allowing for indoor access to a a number of historic buildings. Casual dining, gift shops, medical offices, a Cinema 5 movie theater, a variety of hobby shops, and a handful of clothing stores, including Christopher and Banks, are within the small but convenient mall.

[edit] Industry

The Detroit Lakes Industrial Park includes BTD Manufacturing, Swheat Scoop Cat Litter Producers, TEAM Industries, and more. Snappy Park is a large industrial area occupied by the Snappy Air Distribution Parts Corporation, which includes factory buildings, corporate offices, and numerous well-kept baseball and softball fields used by area youth athletic clubs.