It was named for Lucius Frederick Hubbard, a prominent Territory editor, Civil War participant, and businessman who was governor of Minnesota from 1882 to 1887.

The new county's courthouse was destroyed by fire around 1890, but the public records were salvaged.

The county's terrain is hilly, largely wooded, and dotted with lakes and ponds.

Its highest point is near the lower middle of its western border, at 1,549 ft (472 m) ASL.

There may be such a high point on the border but the accepted high point for this county is the Thorpe Lookout at 1844 feet which is why the forest service maintains a tower there the US Geodetic Survey agrees.47.0962°N, -94.8539° W[9] Source:[6] As of the census of 2000, there were 18,376 people, 7,435 households, and 5,345 families in the county.

Source:[6] Hubbard County voters have leaned toward the Republican Party for several decades.