Reporter Who Bashed Red Lake County Is Now Moving There

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A reporter for the Washington Post has had a serious change of heart about a Minnesota county he once called the ugliest in the nation.

Christopher Ingraham wrote a story that ranked all of the nation's counties based on natural beauty by using the USDA's natural amenities index, which include weather, access to bodies of water and overall sun exposure. Out of the thousands of counties in the country, Minnesota's Red Lake County came in at dead last on that list.

The story ignited a firestorm of angry tweets from Minnesotans, which provoked a response editorial from Ingraham in which he said, more or less, that Minnesotans need to get thicker skin.

Of course, residents of Red Lake County would not back down, and offered to change Ingraham's mind with a free visit and tour of the area, which he gladly accepted. After spending several days in the once-scorned county, he changed his tone and wrote a follow-up story for the Post.

Well it seems Ingraham had an even bigger change of heart than many realized, as he announced via social media Saturday that he would be moving his family to Red Lake County. Some readers pointed out the announcement's proximity to April Fool's Day, but Ingraham confirmed several times on Facebook and Twitter that, yes, he was serious.

"I kind of fell in love with Red Lake County when I visited last year, and we've always wanted to raise the boys in the country," he said on Facebook.

Ingraham said he'll continue to work remotely for the Post in Minnesota.