| Official Name: | Howard Lake |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Motto: | "Home Of The Good Neighbor"[1] |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Minnesota |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Wright |
| Established Date: | 1855 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 4.94 |
| Area Land Km2: | 4.80 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.14 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 1.91 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 1.85 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.06 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 2071 |
| Population Density Km2: | 431.70 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1118.25 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation M: | 309 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1014 |
| Coordinates: | 45.0667°N -98°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 55349, 55575 |
| Area Code: | 320 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 27-30284[3] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0645261[4] |
| Website: | www.howard-lake.mn.us |
Howard Lake is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. It is the host of the annual Wright county fair. The population was 2,071 at the 2020 census.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.05sqmi; 1.77sqmi is land and 0.28sqmi is water.[6]
The town of Howard Lake sits on the south shore of Howard Lake. Other area lakes include Mallard Pass Lake, Lake Ann, Dutch Lake, and Smith Lake.
U.S. Highway 12 serves as a main route in Howard Lake. Running parallel with Route 12 is a freight rail line.
The area was first settled by the Dakota, then, in 1855, by Morgan V. Cochran, who later sold his land to Charles Goodsell in 1863. Howard Lake developed as a railroad station.[1]
Howard Lake was platted in 1869, and named after nearby Howard Lake.[7] A post office was established under the name Howard in 1870; the post office was renamed Howard Lake in 1892 and remains in operation.[8] One property in Howard Lake, the 1904 Howard Lake City Hall, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 1,962 people, 786 households, and 518 families living in the city. The population density was 1108.5PD/sqmi. There were 865 housing units at an average density of 488.7/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 0.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.7% of the population.
There were 786 households, of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.
The median age in the city was 36.5 years. 27.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.5% were from 25 to 44; 22.2% were from 45 to 64; and 14.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,853 people, 735 households, and 490 families living in the city. The population density was 1405.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 759 housing units at an average density of 575.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 98.27% White, 0.27% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population. 52.1% were of German, 8.9% Norwegian, 7.3% Swedish and 5.8% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 735 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,015, and the median income for a family was $49,327. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $25,040 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,900. About 5.8% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
| + 2012 Precinct Results Spreadsheet[11] | + 2008 Precinct Results Spreadsheet[12] | + 2004 Precinct Results Spreadsheet[13] | + 2000 Precinct Results Spreadsheet[14] | + 1996 Precinct Results[15] | + 1992 Precinct Results[16] | + 1988 Precinct Results[17] | + 1984 Precinct Results[18] | + 1980 Precinct Results[19] | + 1976 Precinct Results[20] | + 1968 Precinct Results[21] | + 1964 Precinct Results[22] | + 1960 Precinct Results[23] |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 65.9% 802 | 30.8% 375 | 3.3% 40 | |||||||||
| 2016 | 64.8% 614 | 26.1% 247 | 9.1% 86 | |||||||||
| 2012 | 58.8% 570 | 37.5% 364 | 3.7% 36 | |||||||||
| 2008 | 56.7% 554 | 39.9% 390 | 3.4% 33 | |||||||||
| 2004 | 60.2% 621 | 37.5% 387 | 2.3% 23 | |||||||||
| 2000 | 54.0% 442 | 35.9% 294 | 10.1% 83 | |||||||||
| 1996 | 39.7% 288 | 45.7% 332 | 43.6% 106 | |||||||||
| 1992 | 34.9% 225 | 38.6% 249 | 26.5% 171 | |||||||||
| 1988 | 55.6% 321 | 44.4% 256 | 0.0% 0 | |||||||||
| 1984 | 58.8% 357 | 41.2% 250 | 0.0% 0 | |||||||||
| 1980 | 48.9% 292 | 42.2% 252 | 8.9% 53 | |||||||||
| 1976 | 50.2% 311 | 49.0% 304 | 0.8% 5 | |||||||||
| 1968 | 41.2% 220 | 55.4% 296 | 3.4% 18 | |||||||||
| 1964 | 40.5% 202 | 59.3% 296 | 0.2% 1 | |||||||||
| 1960 | 74.4% 390 | 25.4% 133 | 0.2% 1 |
The Dura Supreme Cabinetry headquarters is in Howard Lake.
The principal employers in the city are:
Dura Supreme has been known to make other things like plastic shelves