Just east of Clay County on U.S. Highway 10 is Becker County (pop. 32,504), a popular area for summer visitors because of its many lakes.
9% of the county is water.
Detroit Lakes (pop. 8,569), the county seat, has 400 lakes within a 25-mile radius, plus 14 golf courses in the area. Lake Detroit is on the south side of town.
There’s a one-mile city beach.
Amtrak’s Empire Builder train stops in Detroit Lakes in the middle of the night, going east to Chicago and west to Seattle and Portland.
The former Northern Pacific station (1908)
The Carnegie Library in Detroit Lakes was constructed in the Prairie School style.
Built in 1913.
The Go-Putt-N-Bump Amusement Park, just south of Detroit Lakes, has go karts, miniature golf, and bumper boats.
Open May 26 to Sept. 3
The Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, northeast of Detroit Lakes, was established in 1938 as a breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.
Trumpeter swan at Tamarac
The town of Frazee (pop. 1,350), southeast of Detroit Lakes, has a giant fiberglass turkey called Big Tom, celebrating the local poultry industry.
The World’s Largest Turkey
NEXT: HUBBARD COUNTY
Lakes for everyone!
Winona LaDuke (born 1959) (Anishinaabe) is an activist, environmentalist, economist, and writer. In 1996 and 2000, she ran for vice president as the nominee of the United States Green Party, on a ticket headed by Ralph Nader. She lives on the White Earth reservation in Becker County.