Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

"Detroit Lakes" redirects here. For the Amtrak Station, see Detroit Lakes (Amtrak station). For Detroit Lake, see Detroit Lake (Minnesota).
Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
City
Downtown Detroit Lakes along Washington Avenue
Downtown Detroit Lakes along Washington Avenue
Official seal of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Seal
Nickname: 
"DL"
Location of Detroit Lakes within Becker County in the state of Minnesota
Location of Detroit Lakes
within Becker County
in the state of Minnesota
Coordinates: 46°49′02″N 95°50′43″W / 46.81722°N 95.84528°W / 46.81722; -95.84528
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyBecker
Founded1871
Incorporated (village)1880
Incorporated (city)1900
Government
 • MayorMatt Brenk
 • Council MembersShaun Carlson
Ron Zeman
Mike Stearns
Wendy Spry
Aaron Dallmann
Matt Boeke
Dan Josephson
Jaimie Deraney
Jackie Buboltz
Area
[1]
 • City17.460 sq mi (45.221 km2)
 • Land11.841 sq mi (30.668 km2)
 • Water5.619 sq mi (14.554 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,371 ft (418 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • City9,869
 • Estimate 
(2023)[4]
9,981
 • Density848.99/sq mi (327.79/km2)
 • Urban
10,234
 • Metro
35,283
Time zoneUTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
56501, 56502
Area code218
FIPS code27-15832
GNIS feature ID0642777[2]
Sales tax7.375%[5]
Websitecityofdetroitlakes.com

Detroit Lakes is a city and the county seat of Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 9,869 at the 2020 census.[3] Its unofficial population during summer months is much higher, estimated by citizens to peak at 13,000 midsummers, 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.

  1. ^ "2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
  3. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusEst2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Detroit Lakes (MN) sales tax rate". Retrieved April 28, 2024.