Community Information in the City of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Detroit Lakes is located in the gently rolling hills of west-central Minnesota's lake country. With 412 lakes within 25 miles, the area offers a quality of life which cannot be duplicated. Along with our ideal setting, we have a top rated school system, excellent parks and recreation facilities, and economic development organizations to meet all your needs.

The Industrial Development Corporation and the Detroit Lakes Development Authority can assist new business with site selection, financing, and other incentives.

Community History

Centuries before the first European settlers came to this area, the Anishinaabe (also called Chippewa or Ojibwa) lived and hunted in this area. To learn more about the First People, visit the Anishinaabe Cultural Center and Gallery.

An early Becker County settlement called Tylertown was the fore-runner of the City of Detroit Lakes. From the 1830's to the 1860's one of the three branches of the Red River ox cart trails passed through the area and Detroit Lake was a favorite resting place for ox cart drivers hauling furs from Winnipeg to St. Paul. The railroads have had a major influence on Detroit Lakes, with the Northern Pacific arriving in 1871 and the Soo Line in 1930.

Detroit Lakes is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 10, U.S. Highway 59, and State Highway 34 in the southwest part of Becker County.

Business and Industry

The City of Detroit Lakes is the county seat and a service center for Becker County and the surrounding region. The county courthouse and law enforcement center are located in the City. District headquarters for the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the State Patrol are also located here. A variety of health care services, retail stores, and service businesses are available to area residents.

Detroit Lakes has 13 hotels/motels with a total of 321 units. Numerous resorts in the area provide many additional units.

The City's downtown offers a 135,000 square foot shopping center. The downtown is compact and features a wide variety of goods and services. Businesses include department stores, specialty shops, insurance and financial services, four banks, two major grocery stores, restaurants and theaters. Detroit Lakes is also home to many manufacturers and industrial businesses.

Detroit Lakes welcomes new business and industry and offers municipal water, sewer and electrical utilities along with a variety of financial incentives.

Communications

Newspapers: The Becker County Record, weekly; The Detroit Lakes Tribune, weekly; The Lake Area Press, weekly.
Radio Stations: KDLM-AM 1340; KBOT-FM 104.3; KRCQ-FM 102.3; KFGX-FM 95.1.
Telephone: Qwest
Cable Television: ACS
Post Office: Detroit Lakes has a first class post office and is served by United Parcel Service.

Financial Institutions

Detroit Lakes is served by the following full service financial institutions: Bremer Bank, First Security Bank, Wells Fargo, American National Bank, State Bank & Trust and Midwest Bank.

Housing

Detroit Lakes provides a wide variety of housing alternatives to its residents, including lakeshore lots, residential city lots, rural development, hobby farms, apartments, condominiums, and townhouses. Over 60% of the community's 3,226 housing units are owner occupied. This high degree of home ownership speaks for the stability of Detroit Lakes and the pride of its residents.

Follow the links below to learn more about the City of Detroit Lakes community.