Christopher Ingraham’s Journey: From Insulting Red Lake County to Calling It Home

Discover how journalist Christopher Ingraham's 2015 article ranking Red Lake County as the least desirable place transformed his life. Learn how a visit to Minnesota led him to fall in love with the community and move there with his family.

From Least Desirable to Most Loved: Christopher Ingraham’s Journey to Red Lake County

In 2015, Christopher Ingraham, a data journalist for The Washington Post, published an article that would unintentionally alter the course of his life. Using the USDA’s "Natural Amenities Scale," which ranks counties in the United States based on factors such as climate, topography, and proximity to water, Ingraham crowned Red Lake County in Minnesota as the least desirable place to live. To many, it was just another data-driven ranking, but to the residents of Red Lake County, it felt like a profound insult.

The tiny county, tucked away in northwest Minnesota, is home to rolling farmland, small towns, and a close-knit community proud of its way of life. When Ingraham’s ranking went public, local residents voiced their indignation. The community took to social media and local news outlets to defend their home, challenging Ingraham’s portrayal and inviting him to visit and experience the area firsthand.

At first, Ingraham wasn’t sure what to make of the reaction. He hadn’t intended to offend anyone—it was simply an article exploring statistical rankings. However, as the responses piled up, curiosity got the better of him. What was it about this place that inspired such passionate defense?

A Visit That Changed Everything

Ingraham eventually accepted an invitation to visit Red Lake County. Flying into the region, he prepared himself for what the data had described as a bland, unremarkable corner of America. But as his car meandered through the countryside, a surprising realization began to take hold: the numbers didn’t tell the full story.

The landscape was quiet and peaceful, a far cry from the bustling city life Ingraham was used to. He was struck by the hospitality of the locals, who greeted him warmly despite the unflattering portrayal he had given their county. Residents took him on tours of their farms, invited him to local events, and shared stories that painted a picture of a life rooted in community, simplicity, and resilience.

What surprised Ingraham the most was the sense of contentment among the people. While Red Lake County lacked dramatic mountains or pristine beaches, it offered something that couldn’t be quantified—genuine human connection. For the first time, Ingraham began to see the appeal of life in a place where neighbors looked out for one another and where life’s pace allowed for a deeper appreciation of the everyday.

Falling for Red Lake County

Ingraham’s visit proved transformative. He wrote a follow-up article for The Washington Post apologizing for his initial assessment and praising the charm and warmth of Red Lake County. But that wasn’t the end of the story—it was only the beginning.

A year later, in 2016, Ingraham made a decision that surprised even himself. He, his wife Briana, and their twin sons packed up their lives in Maryland and relocated to Red Lake Falls, the county seat of Red Lake County. What had begun as a professional visit had blossomed into a love affair with the area.

Ingraham embraced his new life wholeheartedly. He immersed himself in the rhythms of rural Minnesota, from attending town festivals to enjoying the tranquility of snow-covered winters. In his writing, he frequently chronicled the joys and challenges of rural living, sharing his journey with readers across the nation.

A Happy Ending in the Heartland

Today, Christopher Ingraham is a proud resident of Red Lake County. His story has become a testament to the idea that beauty isn’t always found in grand vistas—it’s often in the small things, the sense of belonging, and the people who make a place feel like home. Red Lake County, once branded the least desirable place to live, has become a beacon of unexpected discovery.

Ingraham’s move also sparked broader discussions about the limitations of data-driven rankings. As he discovered firsthand, numbers can tell one story, but they can’t capture the intangible qualities that define a place. Red Lake County’s residents knew this all along, and now Ingraham is among them, celebrating their home with the same pride they always had.

Christopher Ingraham’s journey reminds us all that sometimes, the least likely places can turn out to be the ones that matter most.