Roseau County () is a county in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota, along the Canada–U.S. border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,331. Its county seat is Roseau. Roseau County borders the Canadian province of Manitoba.

The Red Lake Indian Reservation is partially in Roseau County.

History

Roseau County was once the home of many Ojibwe, Sioux, and Mandan tribes. Archeologists have found artifacts within the county belonging to these tribes that date back 7,200 years. More recent history includes fur trappers and European-based explorers. By 1822, a fur-trading post was established in the area. In 1885, the future Roseau City hosted four settlers; by 1895 there were 600, and the area was incorporated as Roseau. Governor Knute Nelson proclaimed the eastern portion of Kittson a new county, to be named Roseau. On February 11, 1896, the next governor, David Marston Clough, added part of Beltrami County to Roseau County. Roseau was named the county seat.

Geography

Roseau County is in far northern Minnesota. Its northern boundary abuts Canada. The Roseau River drains the upper part of the county, flowing west into Kittson County on its way to the Hudson Bay. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, devoted to agriculture, and dotted with lakes and drainages. There is considerable wooded area, especially in the southeast portion. The county has an area of , of which is land and (0.4%) is water. Roseau is one of 17 Minnesota savanna counties with more savanna soils than prairie or forest soils.

Transportation

Airports

  • Warroad International Memorial Airport (KRRT) - two miles northwest of Warroad
  • Piney Pinecreek Border Airport - extends into Canada; serves as a limited airport of entry between the two nations.
  • Roseau Municipal Airport - 2 miles east of Roseau

Major highways

  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 11
  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 32
  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 89
  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 308
  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 310
  • 20px Minnesota State Highway 313

Adjacent counties and rural municipalities

  • Rural Municipality of Stuartburn, Manitoba - northwest
  • Rural Municipality of Piney, Manitoba - north
  • Buffalo Point First Nation, Manitoba - northeast
  • Lake of the Woods County - east
  • Beltrami County - southeast
  • Marshall County - south
  • Kittson County - west

Protected areas

  • Beltrami Island State Forest
  • Hayes Lake State Park
  • Lost River State Forest
  • Luxemburg Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
  • Roseau River State Wildlife Management Area
  • Sprague Creek Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
  • Two Rivers Aspen Park Scientific and Natural Area

Demographics

<!-- PresRow should be -->

{| class="wikitable"

|+County Board of Commissioners

! colspan="2" |Position

!Name

!District

!Next Election

|-

|

|Commissioner

|Glenda Phillipe

|District 1

|2026

|-

|

|Commissioner

|Jack Swanson

|District 2

|2024

|-

|

|Commissioner and Chairperson

|Levi Novacek

|District 3

|2024

|-

|

|Commissioner

|Russell Walker

|District 4

|2024

|-

|

|Commissioner

|Daryl Wicklund

|District 5

|2026

|}

{| class="wikitable"

|+State Legislature (2025–2027)

! colspan="2" |Position

!Name

!Affiliation

!District

|-

| style="background-color:" |

|Senate

|Mark Johnson

|Republican

|District 1

|-

| style="background-color:" |

|House of Representatives

|John Burkel

|Republican

|District 1A

|}

{| class="wikitable"

|+U.S Congress (2025–2027)

! colspan="2" |Position

!Name

!Affiliation

!District

|-

| style="background-color:" |

|House of Representatives

|Michelle Fischbach

|Republican

|7th

|-

| style="background-color:" |

|Senate

|Amy Klobuchar

|Democrat

|N/A

|-

| style="background-color:" |

|Senate

|Tina Smith

|Democrat

|N/A

|}

Communities

Cities

  • Badger
  • Greenbush
  • Roosevelt (part)
  • Roseau (county seat)
  • Strathcona
  • Warroad

Unincorporated communities

  • Fox
  • Mandus
  • Pelan (part)