U.S. Routes 10 and 59, and Minnesota State Highway 34 serve as the primary arterial routes through the city. Detroit Lakes is located 45 miles east of the Fargo-Moorhead ND-MN statistical metropolitan area. The nearest major metropolitan area with a population over 300,000 is Minneapolis-St.Paul, which is approximately 205 miles southeast of Detroit Lakes.
Detroit Lakes is a regional summer and winter recreation destination, attracting large amounts of tourists and seasonal residents each year. Its economy is fueled by seasonal population increases, with tourism being the area's chief industry along with agriculture.
The United States Census Bureau's population estimate in 2007 was 8,030. As of the official census of 2000, there were 7,348 people, 3,319 households, and 1,845 families permanently residing in the city. The population density was 980.4 people per square mile (378.3/km²). There were 3,782 housing units at an average density of 504.6/sq mi (194.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.98% White, 4.50% Native American, 0.53% Asian American, 0.42% African American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 3,319 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 84.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,264, and the median income for a family was $42,267. Males had a median income of $28,939 versus $21,439 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,509. About 9.9% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
The Detroit Lakes Passenger Amtrak Station is a historic brick/stone masonry structure built in 1907 in the Mission Revival architectural style. Architect John Skooglun was commissioned for the project by Northern Pacific Railway. The building was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1988. It is located near the intersection of Highway 10 and Washington Avenue in downtown Detroit Lakes. The building underwent major restoration in 2008, which including the reconstruction of the historic cobblestone plaza and a new paved parking lot. The station is served by the Empire Builder passenger train en route from Seattle to Chicago.
With a 4,500-foot (1,400 m) runway, the Detroit Lakes Airport accommodates small planes and helicopters. Located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Detroit Lakes on Highway 10, the airport features a sod strip and float plane docking area on Long Lake in addition to the 4,500-foot (1,400 m) paved runway. W.O. Enterprises, Inc. manages the airport. The nearest public commercial airport is Hector International Airport, 45 miles west of Detroit Lakes in Fargo, North Dakota. The airport services commercial passenger flights to and from Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Orlando, and Las Vegas.
DL Taxi Services offer mileage-based taxicab service to residents and tourists year round. Becker County Transit is a city shuttle bus service that also serves to connect Detroit Lakes with the surrounding communities and rural areas. Clay County Rural Transit provides daily shuttle service from Detroit Lakes to the Fargo-Moorhead metro, utilized heavily by business and college commuters. Jefferson Lines motorcoaches stop in Detroit Lakes as well, in its busing service connecting 11 U.S. states and parts of Canada.