Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Otter Tail County, MN

Welcome to Otter Tail County.

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Otter Tail County has a population of 60.1 thousand and a total area (land and water combined) of 2,224.3 square miles.

Total GDP for the county increased 29%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $3 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Otter Tail County voted for Republican candidates six out of six times and never voted for a Democratic candidate.

Otter Tail County comprises Fergus Falls, MN micropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Fergus Falls.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Becker County, Clay County, Douglas County, Grant County, Wadena County, and Wilkin County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
34.53%59.5%++
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
37.41%61.33%++
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
42.39%55.3%+
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
38.41%59.55%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
28.74%64.43%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
32.85%65.39%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%29%
Government
Enterprises
12%22%
Private Industries88%30%
Agriculture10%0%
Mining<1%134%
Utilities3%-11%
Construction6%25%
Manufacturing15%19%
– Durable6%19%
– Nondurable9%20%
Trade11%22%
– Wholesale4%5%
– Retail8%32%
Transportation3%0%
Information3%37%
Finance & Insurance4%38%
Real Estate15%27%
Professional &
Business Services
5%40%
Educational Services<1%56%
Healthcare &
Social Services
10%12%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
<1%53%
Accommodation &
Food Services
2%14%
Other Services23%24%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers1219
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
1220
📺 Electronics & Appliance34
🛒 Grocery Stores2439
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores1431
⚕️ Health & Personal Care1421
⛽ Gasoline Stations4041
👕 Clothing Stores912
👠 Shoe Stores
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry34
🏸 Sporting Goods815
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers
🏬 Department Stores1623
💐 Florists47
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops47
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies
🍺 Bars & Taverns1019
🍽️ Full-service restaurants5746
🍔 Limited-service restaurants3331
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers2538
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation2847
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%123%$551,600 N/A
Top 20%50%$303,700 More than $250,000
Next highest 20%22%$137,100 $172,000
Middle 20%15%$91,000 $111,000
Second lowest 20%9%$56,900 $72,800
Bottom 20%4%$22,400 $41,200
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries80%$121,200
Self-Employment11%$33,900
Investment Income125%$21,400
Social Security27%$25,400
Supplemental Security3%$11,600
Public Assistance3%Below $10,000
Retirement23%$31,800
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
1%3%4%8%
$25K
– $49K
1%4%6%10%
$50K
– $99K
1%8%11%11%
$100K
– $199K
<1%8%11%5%
$200K
& more
<1%2%3%1%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$60,300 $50,600
African-American$32,400 $25,200
Hispanic$43,000 $30,900
Asian$63,000 $50,400
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$33,000 $26,600
Highschool & GED$44,800 $35,300
Some College to
Associate’s
$53,800 $44,400
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$75,300 $64,500
Graduate Degree$113,200 $77,400
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$87,500 $68,400
STEM2$98,800 $81,500
Gray-Collar3$57,100 $68,900
Pink-Collar4$32,700 $18,600
Sales5$47,200 $21,700
Blue-Collar6$37,300 $27,300
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves+$
Drought++$
Earthquake+
Hail+$
Heat Waves++$
Hurricane
Ice Storm+$
Landslide++$
Lightning+$
Riverine Flooding+
Strong Wind++$
Tornado+$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+$
Winter Weather+$
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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ZIP Codes in Otter Tail County