Lake of the Woods County is a county in Minnesota, United States, in the far northern corner of the state, bordering Ontario and Manitoba. It had a population of 3,763 at the 2020 census and covers 1,775 square miles (4,600 km2) — 1,298 square miles (3,360 km2) of land and 477 square miles (1,240 km2) of water — centred near 48°46′N 94°54′W.
Baudette is the county seat, and its postal code is 56623. The county has 2 incorporated cities, several unincorporated communities, and one exclave-like territory, the Northwest Angle, reachable from the rest of Minnesota only by crossing Canada or Lake of the Woods. Lake of the Woods County observes Central time and carries FIPS code 27077.
Towns & Villages in Lake of the Woods County
The county is home to two incorporated cities and a scatter of small unincorporated communities strung along Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. Baudette anchors the county as its seat and only town of any size; Williams sits a few miles west on U.S. Route 11. The Northwest Angle, the northernmost point in the Lower 48 states, is unincorporated and accessible from the rest of Minnesota only through Canada.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baudette | City · seat | 966 | 56623 |
| Williams | City | 157 | 56686 |
| Angle Inlet | Unincorp. | 85 | 56711 |
| Oak Island | Unincorp. | — | 56741 |
| Wheeler’s Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Graceton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clementson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Penasse | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Faunce | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hackett | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Arnesen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Birch Beach | Unincorp. | — | — |
The city of Roosevelt, on the county’s western edge, straddles the Lake of the Woods–Roseau county line and is counted mostly in neighboring Roseau County, so it is not listed as a Lake of the Woods place here. Pitt and Long Point, named in older place lists for the county, could not be verified against current sources and are omitted.
ZIP Codes
- 56623 — Baudette (also serves the county seat and surrounding rural area)
- 56686 — Williams
- 56711 — Angle Inlet (PO Box ZIP covering the Northwest Angle)
- 56741 — Oak Island (PO Box ZIP)
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Clementson, Graceton, Penasse and Wheeler’s Point are served by the Baudette post office and share its ZIP code.
Geography
Lake of the Woods County sits at the northern tip of Minnesota, where the state narrows to a point on the international border. The county takes its name from Lake of the Woods, whose U.S. waters it holds jointly with Ontario and Manitoba; the Rainy River forms part of the northern boundary before draining into the lake. Roughly a quarter of the county’s total area is water. The Northwest Angle, cut off from the Minnesota mainland by the lake and the Canadian border, is the northernmost point in the contiguous United States and is reached by a road that passes through Manitoba. The county has no active civil township governments — all of its land outside Baudette and Williams is unorganized territory administered directly by the county.
Lake of the Woods County borders Koochiching County to the southeast, Beltrami County to the south, and Roseau County to the west. To the north and east it borders Kenora District and Rainy River District in Ontario, Canada, and to the west the Rural Municipality of Piney in Manitoba.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 3,763 residents, making Lake of the Woods the second-least populous county in Minnesota. Baudette, with 966 people, and Williams, with 157, are its two largest communities; most of the remaining population lives in unincorporated rural areas and along the lakeshore. Median household income in the county runs below the Minnesota median of $85,086, reflecting its small, resource-dependent economy. Population density is roughly 2.9 people per square mile of land, among the lowest of any Minnesota county.
Economy & Local Life
Fishing and tourism drive the local economy — Baudette markets itself as the “Walleye Capital of the World,” and Lake of the Woods draws anglers and boaters from across the Upper Midwest for walleye and sturgeon. Forestry, county and school district government, and small-scale agriculture round out employment. Lake of the Woods County Hospital and the county government offices in Baudette are among the area’s larger employers. Ice fishing on the lake, including at wheelhouse resorts that operate through the winter, is a major seasonal draw.
History
Lake of the Woods County was created by a vote of area residents on November 28, 1922, and formally organized on January 1, 1923, carved out of Beltrami County to give the remote northern settlements their own local government. The county and lake take their name from the many wooded islands scattered across the lake’s surface, first mapped by French explorers in the late 17th century. A major wildfire swept the region in 1910, destroying several early settlements before the county was formed. The Northwest Angle’s unusual position north of the 49th parallel dates to a surveying error in the 1783 Treaty of Paris that fixed the U.S.-Canada boundary.
Getting There
U.S. Route 11 and Minnesota State Highway 172 are the county’s main roads, linking Baudette to Williams and on to International Falls.
- International Falls, Minnesota — 40 miles east
- Roseau, Minnesota — 45 miles west
- Warroad, Minnesota — 40 miles southwest
- Winnipeg, Manitoba — 130 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is Falls International Airport in International Falls; Baudette also has a small municipal airport for general aviation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lake of the Woods County?
It is in the far northern corner of Minnesota, bordering Ontario and Manitoba, Canada.
What is the population of Lake of the Woods County?
3,763 as of the 2020 census, the second-lowest of any Minnesota county.
How big is Lake of the Woods County?
1,775 square miles (4,600 km2) total, including 477 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Lake of the Woods County?
Baudette is the county seat.
How many towns are in Lake of the Woods County?
Two incorporated cities, Baudette and Williams, plus about a dozen smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Lake of the Woods County?
56623 (Baudette), 56686 (Williams), 56711 (Angle Inlet) and 56741 (Oak Island).
What is the Northwest Angle?
It is a detached part of the county north of the 49th parallel, the northernmost point in the contiguous United States, reachable only by crossing Canada or Lake of the Woods.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.