Wadena County Demographics

A map of Wadena County's Population by Race

Wadena County, Minnesota has an estimated population of 14,256, a slight increase from the 14,065 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.1% White, 9.1% Multiracial, 2.4% Hispanic, 1.7% Black, 0.3% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Wadena County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Wadena has become considerably more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Minnesota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Wadena County, that probability was 13.8% in 2020 and 24.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Wadena County is ranked the 58th most populous county in Minnesota, out of 87 counties. Wadena County was ranked the 58th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Wadena County's White Population

12,277 residents of Wadena County, or 86.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Wadena County is considerably higher than in Minnesota overall, where 75.9% of the population is White. Wadena County ranks 15th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wadena County's White population has declined by an estimated 5.9%. White residents' share of Wadena County's population has decreased from 92.7% to 86.1%.

Wadena County is more White than neighboring Todd County (84.2% White), Cass County (80.8% White), and Becker County (84.9% White). Wadena County is less White than neighboring Hubbard County (89.7% White), and Otter Tail County (90.5% White).

Wadena County's Black Population

243 residents of Wadena County, or 1.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Wadena County is lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.9% of the population is Black. Wadena County ranks 39th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wadena County's Black population has grown by an estimated 105.9%. Black residents' share of Wadena County's population has increased from 0.8% to 1.7%.

Wadena County is more Black than neighboring Todd County (0.5% Black), Hubbard County (0.5% Black), Cass County (0.4% Black), Otter Tail County (1.1% Black), and Becker County (0.7% Black).

Wadena County's Asian Population

44 residents of Wadena County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Wadena County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 5.1% of the population is Asian. Wadena County ranks 67th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wadena County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 18.5%. Asian residents' share of Wadena County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Wadena County is less Asian than neighboring Hubbard County (0.4% Asian), Cass County (0.5% Asian), Otter Tail County (0.6% Asian), and Becker County (0.5% Asian).

Wadena County's Hispanic Population

345 residents of Wadena County, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Wadena County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.4% of the population is Hispanic. Wadena County ranks 68th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wadena County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 26.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Wadena County's population has increased from 1.9% to 2.4%.

Wadena County is more Hispanic than neighboring Cass County (1.8% Hispanic), and Becker County (2% Hispanic). Wadena County is less Hispanic than neighboring Todd County (9.8% Hispanic), Hubbard County (2.6% Hispanic), and Otter Tail County (4% Hispanic).

Wadena County's Native American/Other Population

45 residents of Wadena County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Wadena County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Wadena County ranks 53rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wadena County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 55.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Wadena County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Wadena County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Todd County (0.8% Native American/Other), Hubbard County (2.6% Native American/Other), Cass County (9.4% Native American/Other), Otter Tail County (0.6% Native American/Other), and Becker County (5.2% Native American/Other).

Wadena County's Multiracial Population

1,302 residents of Wadena County, or 9.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Wadena County is slightly higher than in Minnesota overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Wadena County ranks 38th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wadena County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 174.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Wadena County's population has increased from 3.4% to 9.1%.

Wadena County is more Multiracial than neighboring Todd County (4.5% Multiracial), Hubbard County (4.1% Multiracial), Cass County (7.2% Multiracial), Otter Tail County (3.3% Multiracial), and Becker County (6.7% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.