Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Downtown Detroit Lakes along Washington Avenue
Nickname: 
"DL"
Location of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
Coordinates: 46°49′02″N 95°50′43″W / 46.81722°N 95.84528°W / 46.81722; -95.84528
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyBecker
Founded1871
Incorporated (village)1880
Incorporated (city)1900
Government
 • MayorMatt Brenk
 • Alderman (Councilmembers)Shaun Carlson
Ron Zeman
Mike Stearns
Wendy Spry
Aaron Dallmann
Matt Boeke
 • At-largeCraig Caulfield
Jaimie Deraney
Jackie Buboltz
Area
 • City
17.460 sq mi (45.221 km2)
 • Land11.841 sq mi (30.668 km2)
 • Water5.619 sq mi (14.554 km2)
Elevation
1,371 ft (418 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City
9,869
 • Estimate 
(2023)
9,981
 • Density849.0/sq mi (327.79/km2)
 • Urban
10,234
 • Metro
35,283
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
56501, 56502
Area code218
FIPS code27-15832
GNIS feature ID0642777
Sales tax7.375%
Websitecityofdetroitlakes.com

Detroit Lakes is a city in and the county seat of Becker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 9,869 at the 2020 census. Its unofficial population during the summer is higher, estimated by citizens to peak at 13,000, due to seasonal residents and tourists.

U.S. Highways 10 and 59 and Minnesota State Highway 34 are the primary routes through the city. Detroit Lakes is 45 miles east of the Fargo–Moorhead ND-MN statistical metropolitan area. The nearest major metropolitan area with a population over 1 million is Minneapolis–Saint Paul, which is about 205 miles southeast of Detroit Lakes.

Detroit Lakes is a regional summer and winter recreation destination, attracting large numbers of tourists and seasonal residents each year. Tourism is the area's chief industry.