Dorset, Minnesota

Dorset
Unincorporated community
Motto:  "The Restaurant Capital of the World"
Dorset Show map of Minnesota Dorset Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 46°57′23″N 94°57′09″W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Hubbard
Township	Henrietta
Government
• Type	Unincorporated Community
• Mayor (Unofficial)	Jade Kruger
Elevation	1,476 ft (450 m)
Population
• Estimate  (2011[1])	24
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	56470
Area code	218
GNIS feature ID	642900[2]

Dorset is an unincorporated community in Henrietta Township, Hubbard County, Minnesota, United States.

The tiny community (population 22) is located 6 mi (9.7 km) east-northeast of Park Rapids and six miles west of Nevis. Hubbard County State-Aid Highways 7 and 18; and State Highway 226 are three of the main routes in the community. State Highway 34 is nearby. Dorset is located along the Heartland State Trail.

History

A post office called Dorset was established in 1898, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1964.^[3] The community was named by railroad officials.^[4]

The former mayor of Dorset, James Tufts, reacts to losing a re-election bid

On the morning of September 4, 2014, a fire caused by a severe lightning storm destroyed two popular establishments, the Dorset House and Compañeros Mexican Restaurant. Both restaurants were rebuilt and reopened in May 2016.

Mayor of Dorset

The position of mayor of Dorset is a symbolic one, the town being run by a group of five local business owners.^[5] The town holds a yearly election at the "Taste of Dorset" festival, residents paying one dollar to add a name of their choice to a hat, with a random slip being drawn to select a mayor.^[5]

In August 2012, then three-year-old Robert "Bobby" Tufts became mayor for a one-year term, when his name was drawn.^[5][6][7] On August 4, 2013, Tufts was elected for a second term.^[8] Tufts lost a re-election campaign in 2014 to 16-year-old Eric Mueller.^[9] Tufts's three-year-old brother, James, was also elected in August 2015.^[10] Four-year-old Gwendolyn Davis of Utah won the mayorship in 2016.^[11]

The mayor of Dorset for 2021 to 2022 was Jade Kruger of Moorhead.^[12]

The mayor in 2022 to 2023 was ten-year-old Evan Johnson of Minnetonka, Minnesota.^[13]

The office of the Mayor of Dorset is currently held by "Bear" Mohlin of Bemidji for the 2023 to 2024 term.^[14]

Dorset in popular culture

Ross Farrally, an author from the United Kingdom, published a psychological thriller/horror novel, "The Lonely Place", which is based on a fictionalised version of the town.^[15]

References

1. "Finding Minnesota: Restaurant Capital Of The World". CBS News. July 31, 2011. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022.
2. "Dorset, Minnesota". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
3. "Hubbard County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
4. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 243.
5. Stump, Scott (May 16, 2013). "Pint-size politician: Mayor of Minnesota town is 4 years old". Today Show. NBC.
6. "4-Year-Old Mayor Robert Tufts 'Runs' Tiny Town Of Dorset, Minnesota". Huffington Post. May 14, 2013.
7. "In tiny tourist town Dorset, Minn., mayor is 4-year-old boy who likes ice-cream and fishing". Fox News. July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
8. "4-year-old mayor is re-elected in northern Minn". Yahoo News. August 5, 2013. Archived from the original on August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
9. "5-year-old mayor loses re-election in Minnesota to 16-year-old". Fox News. August 4, 2014. Archived from the original on February 10, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
10. "3-year-old James Tufts elected mayor of Minnesota town". ABC7. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
11. Uren, Adam (August 10, 2016). "Election bombshell: Minnesota's youngest mayor ousted by Utah 4-year-old". BringMeTheNews. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
12. Fish, Robin (August 3, 2021). "Dorset shares a long awaited Taste". ParkRapidsEnterprise. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
13. "The town of Dorset picks their mayor out of a hat every year". minnesotasnewcountry. September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
14. Geisen, Shannon (August 7, 2023). "Golden retriever is 'elected' Dorset mayor". Park Rapids Enterprise. Forum Communications Company. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
15. "British author bases setting of horror thriller on Dorset". Park Rapids Enterprise. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.

External links

• Dorset, Minnesota – Official Website