Itasca County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

U.S. county in Minnesota

Itasca County

U.S. county

Itasca County Courthouse

Itasca County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State| File:Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota
Founded| October 27, 1849[1]
Named for| Lake Itasca
Seat| Grand Rapids
Largest city| Grand Rapids
Area

• Total| 2,928 sq mi (7,580 km2)
• Land| 2,668 sq mi (6,910 km2)
• Water| 260 sq mi (700 km2)  8.9%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 45,014
• Estimate

(2021)

| 45,070 Increase
• Density| 16.9/sq mi (6.5/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 8th
Website| www.co.itasca.mn.us

Itasca County (pronounced eye-ta-ska) is located in the State of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,014.[2] Its county seat is Grand Rapids.[3] The county is named after Lake Itasca, which is in turn a shortened version of the Latin words veritas caput, meaning 'truth' and 'head', a reference to the source of the Mississippi River. Portions of the Bois Forte and Leech Lake Indian reservations are in the county.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 Protected areas[5]
* 3 Demographics
* 3.1 2000 census
* 3.2 2020 Census
* 4 Communities
* 4.1 Cities
* 4.2 Census-designated places
* 4.3 Unincorporated communities
* 4.4 Townships
* 4.5 Unorganized territories
* 5 Politics
* 6 See also
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## History[edit | edit source]

The boundary of Itasca County was first formed in 1849, upon the creation of the Minnesota Territory. It was originally a much larger county, which covered many of today's northeastern Minnesota counties. The original Itasca County stretched over Cook, Lake, Saint Louis, Koochiching, eastern Lake of the Woods, eastern Beltrami, Itasca, northern Aitkin, and northern Carlton counties, today in Minnesota.

Itasca County was originally named for Lake Itasca (no longer in the county's present borders), which was determined to be the true source of the Mississippi River. After many disputes over finding the source of the Mississippi River, Henry Schoolcraft set out to find its true source in 1832. Once he came upon its true source, he decided to name this 'Lake Itasca.' The Mississippi River flows from its small beginnings at Lake Itasca, where it can be crossed on foot.[4] It flows past Bemidji, through Itasca County, and continues to the Gulf of Mexico.

## Geography[edit | edit source]

The terrain of Itasca County is hilly, heavily wooded, and studded with lakes and ponds.[5] It generally slopes to the east, with its highest areas on its upper west border, at 1,437' (438m) ASL.[6] The county has a total area of 2,928 square miles (7,580 km2), of which 2,668 square miles (6,910 km2) is land and 260 square miles (670 km2) (8.9%) is water.[7] It is the third-largest county in Minnesota by land area.

The landscape in Itasca County varies greatly. The low plains, rolling hills, and wetlands occur where there was glacial activity in the past. This area is known greatly for being forested, and has been for centuries. The different forests are made up of trees such as pines, spruces, hardwoods, cedar, and tamarack. The many large forests in the area make forestry and logging major sectors in the economy.

In Itasca County there are many different bodies of water from big lakes, to small creeks, to major rivers. Over 1400 lakes are located within the county. These bodies of water help support many different wildlife species such as different birds and small mammals. Major bodies of water in the county include Lake Winnibigoshish, Pokegama Lake, Deer Lake, the Mississippi River, Bowstring Lake, and the Blandin Paper Mill Reservoir.

### Major highways[edit | edit source]

* File:US 2.svg U.S. Highway 2
* File:US 71.svg U.S. Highway 71
* File:US 169 (MN).svg U.S. Highway 169
* File:MN-1.svg Minnesota State Highway 1
* File:MN-6.svg Minnesota State Highway 6
* File:MN-38.svg Minnesota State Highway 38
* File:MN-46.svg Minnesota State Highway 46
* File:MN-65.svg Minnesota State Highway 65
* File:MN-286.svg Minnesota State Highway 286

### Adjacent counties[edit | edit source]

* Koochiching County \- north
* Saint Louis County \- east
* Aitkin County \- south
* Cass County \- southwest
* Beltrami County \- west

### Protected areas[5][edit | edit source]

* Big Fork State Forest
* Botany Bog Scientific and Natural Area
* Chippewa National Forest (part)
* George Washington State Forest (part)
* Golden Anniversary State Forest
* Marcell Experimental Forest
* Scenic State Park

## Demographics[edit | edit source]

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1850| 97| | —
1860| 51| | −47.4%
1870| 96| | 88.2%
1880| 124| | 29.2%
1890| 743| | 499.2%
1900| 4,573| | 515.5%
1910| 17,208| | 276.3%
1920| 23,876| | 38.7%
1930| 27,224| | 14.0%
1940| 32,996| | 21.2%
1950| 33,321| | 1.0%
1960| 38,006| | 14.1%
1970| 35,530| | −6.5%
1980| 43,069| | 21.2%
1990| 40,863| | −5.1%
2000| 43,992| | 7.7%
2010| 45,058| | 2.4%
2020| 45,014| | −0.1%
2021 (est.)| 45,070| [8]| 0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2020[2]

File:USA Itasca County, Minnesota age pyramid.svg

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

### 2000 census[edit | edit source]

As of the 2000 census, there were 43,992 people, 17,789 households, and 12,381 families in the county. The population density was 16.5/sqmi (6.37/km2). There were 24,528 housing units at an average density of 9.19/sqmi (3.55/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.64% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 3.40% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.6% were of German, 13.8% Norwegian, 7.7% Finnish, 7.2% Swedish, 6.2% Irish, 5.0% United States or American and 5.0% English ancestry.

There were 17,789 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.91.

The county population contained 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,234, and the median income for a family was $44,025. Males had a median income of $37,066 versus $22,327 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,717. About 7.70% of families and 10.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census[edit | edit source]

Itasca County Racial Composition[13] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 40,166  | 89.23%
Black or African American (NH)  | 174  | 0.4%
Native American (NH)  | 1,497  | 3.33%
Asian (NH)  | 145  | 0.32%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 2  | 0.004%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 2,412  | 5.4%
Hispanic or Latino | 618  | 1.4%

## Communities[edit | edit source]

### Cities[edit | edit source]

* Bigfork
* Bovey
* Calumet
* Cohasset
* Coleraine
* Deer River
* Effie
* Grand Rapids (county seat)
* Keewatin
* La Prairie
* Marble
* Nashwauk
* Squaw Lake
* Taconite
* Warba
* Zemple

### Census-designated places[edit | edit source]

* Ball Club
* Inger

### Unincorporated communities[edit | edit source]

* Alvwood
* Bass Lake
* Bear River
* Bergville
* Blackberry
* Bowstring
* Dora Lake
* Dunbar
* Goodland
* Grattan
* Gunn
* Houpt
* Jessie Lake
* Mack
* Marcell
* Martin
* Max
* Orth
* Pengilly
* Pomroy
* Rosy
* Spring Lake
* Suomi
* Swan River
* Talmoon
* Togo
* Wawina
* Wirt

### Townships[edit | edit source]

* Alvwood Township
* Arbo Township
* Ardenhurst Township
* Balsam Township
* Bearville Township
* Bigfork Township
* Blackberry Township
* Bowstring Township
* Carpenter Township
* Deer River Township
* Feeley Township
* Good Hope Township
* Goodland Township
* Grand Rapids Township
* Grattan Township
* Greenway Township
* Harris Township
* Iron Range Township
* Kinghurst Township
* Lake Jessie Township
* Lawrence Township
* Lone Pine Township
* Marcell Township
* Max Township
* Moose Park Township
* Morse Township
* Nashwauk Township
* Nore Township
* Oteneagen Township
* Pomroy Township
* Sago Township
* Sand Lake Township
* Spang Township
* Splithand Township
* Stokes Township
* Third River Township
* Trout Lake Township
* Wabana Township
* Wawina Township
* Wildwood Township
* Wirt Township

### Unorganized territories[edit | edit source]

* Bowstring Lake
* Deer Lake
* Effie
* Liberty
* Little Sand Lake
* Northeast Itasca

## Politics[edit | edit source]

Itasca County voters tended to vote strongly Democratic for about 80 years following the Great Depression, selecting the Democratic nominee in every election from 1932 through 2012, along with fellow Iron Range counties St. Louis County, Carlton County, and Lake County. However, in 2016, the county swung hard towards Donald Trump, voting Republican for the first time since 1928 and doing so by giving him a healthy majority of 54.1%.[14] In 2020, it voted for Trump once again, giving him an increased vote share of 57.4%, making it the first time the county had voted Republican two elections in a row since 1924 and 1928.

United States presidential election results for Itasca County, Minnesota[15] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 15,239  | 57.37% | 10,786  | 40.61%  | 536  | 2.02%
2016 | 12,920  | 54.10% | 9,015  | 37.75%  | 1,945  | 8.14%
2012 | 10,501  | 43.90%  | 12,852  | 53.73% | 566  | 2.37%
2008 | 10,309  | 42.26%  | 13,460  | 55.18% | 626  | 2.57%
2004 | 10,705  | 43.93%  | 13,290  | 54.54% | 372  | 1.53%
2000 | 9,545  | 43.96%  | 10,583  | 48.74% | 1,586  | 7.30%
1996 | 6,506  | 31.78%  | 10,706  | 52.29% | 3,261  | 15.93%
1992 | 5,952  | 28.56%  | 9,621  | 46.17% | 5,265  | 25.27%
1988 | 8,358  | 43.87%  | 10,517  | 55.20% | 178  | 0.93%
1984 | 9,306  | 44.42%  | 11,455  | 54.68% | 187  | 0.89%
1980 | 8,368  | 37.65%  | 12,134  | 54.59% | 1,726  | 7.76%
1976 | 6,646  | 32.77%  | 12,979  | 64.00% | 656  | 3.23%
1972 | 7,558  | 45.58%  | 8,683  | 52.36% | 342  | 2.06%
1968 | 4,898  | 30.22%  | 10,512  | 64.86% | 796  | 4.91%
1964 | 4,137  | 25.49%  | 12,054  | 74.27% | 40  | 0.25%
1960 | 6,615  | 38.00%  | 10,761  | 61.82% | 32  | 0.18%
1956 | 6,408  | 42.22%  | 8,737  | 57.56% | 33  | 0.22%
1952 | 6,573  | 41.65%  | 9,128  | 57.84% | 81  | 0.51%
1948 | 4,334  | 29.45%  | 9,653  | 65.60% | 729  | 4.95%
1944 | 4,227  | 32.28%  | 8,787  | 67.10% | 81  | 0.62%
1940 | 5,196  | 34.06%  | 9,899  | 64.89% | 159  | 1.04%
1936 | 3,594  | 28.04%  | 8,896  | 69.40% | 329  | 2.57%
1932 | 3,782  | 36.94%  | 5,616  | 54.86% | 839  | 8.20%
1928 | 5,103  | 58.95% | 3,122  | 36.07%  | 431  | 4.98%
1924 | 4,961  | 60.10% | 496  | 6.01%  | 2,798  | 33.89%
1920 | 3,973  | 58.31% | 1,930  | 28.33%  | 910  | 13.36%
1916 | 1,163  | 36.89%  | 1,504  | 47.70% | 486  | 15.41%
1912 | 446  | 16.59%  | 699  | 25.99%  | 1,544  | 57.42%
1908 | 1,883  | 63.15% | 684  | 22.94%  | 415  | 13.92%
1904 | 1,796  | 77.02% | 293  | 12.56%  | 243  | 10.42%
1900 | 770  | 63.32% | 413  | 33.96%  | 33  | 2.71%
1896 | 826  | 52.91% | 724  | 46.38%  | 11  | 0.70%
1892 | 520  | 40.66%  | 686  | 53.64% | 73  | 5.71%

## See also[edit | edit source]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Itasca County, Minnesota

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
2. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Itasca County, Minnesota". www.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ Walk Across the Mississippi River (accessed March 12, 2019)
5. ^ a b Itasca County MN Google Maps (accessed March 12, 2019)
6. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Itasca County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 12, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved March 30, 2022.
9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
13. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Itasca County, Minnesota".
14. ^ "Why one Minnesota county voted for Trump". MPR News. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
15. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018.

## External links[edit | edit source]

* Itasca County government’s website
* Minnesota Department of Transportation map of Itasca County (southeastern portion, northwestern portion, northeastern portion)

Places adjacent to Itasca County, Minnesota

|  | Koochiching County |

|
|

| North |
Beltrami County |

Itasca County, MinnesotaEast

| Saint Louis County
| South |
Cass County | Aitkin County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Itasca County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Grand Rapids

Cities|

* Bigfork
* Bovey
* Calumet
* Cohasset
* Coleraine
* Deer River
* Effie
* Grand Rapids
* Keewatin
* La Prairie
* Marble
* Nashwauk
* Squaw Lake
* Taconite
* Warba
* Zemple

Map of Minnesota highlighting Itasca County

Townships|

* Alvwood
* Arbo
* Ardenhurst
* Balsam
* Bearville
* Bigfork
* Blackberry
* Bowstring
* Carpenter
* Deer River
* Feeley
* Good Hope
* Goodland
* Grand Rapids
* Grattan
* Greenway
* Harris
* Iron Range
* Kinghurst
* Lake Jessie
* Lawrence
* Lone Pine
* Marcell
* Max
* Moose Park
* Morse
* Nashwauk
* Nore
* Oteneagen
* Pomroy
* Sago
* Sand Lake
* Spang
* Splithand
* Stokes
* Third River
* Trout Lake
* Wabana
* Wawina
* Wildwood
* Wirt

Unorganized
territories|

* Bowstring Lake
* Deer Lake
* Effie
* Liberty
* Little Sand Lake
* Northeast Itasca

CDPs|

* Ball Club
* Goodland
* Inger

Other
communities|

* Alvwood
* Bass Lake
* Bear River
* Bergville
* Blackberry
* Bowstring
* Dora Lake
* Dunbar
* Grattan
* Houpt
* Jessie Lake
* Mack
* Marcell
* Martin
* Max
* Orth
* Pengilly
* Pomroy
* Rosy
* Spring Lake
* Suomi
* Swan River
* Talmoon
* Togo
* Wawina
* Wirt

Indian
reservations|

* Deer Creek Indian Reservation‡
* Leech Lake Indian Reservation‡

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Minnesota

Saint Paul (capital)

Topics|

* Index
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Regions|

* Arrowhead
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Largest cities
pop. over 25,000|

* Andover
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* Burnsville
* Champlin
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* Chaska
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* Cottage Grove
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* Moorhead
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* Prior Lake
* Ramsey
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* Rochester
* Rosemount
* Roseville
* St. Cloud
* St. Louis Park
* Saint Paul
* Savage
* Shakopee
* Shoreview
* Winona
* White Bear Lake
* Woodbury

Counties|

* Aitkin
* Anoka
* Becker
* Beltrami
* Benton
* Big Stone
* Blue Earth
* Brown
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* Carver
* Cass
* Chippewa
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* Dakota
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* Houston
* Hubbard
* Isanti
* Itasca
* Jackson
* Kanabec
* Kandiyohi
* Kittson
* Koochiching
* Lac qui Parle
* Lake
* Lake of the Woods
* Le Sueur
* Lincoln
* Lyon
* Mahnomen
* Marshall
* Martin
* McLeod
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* Polk
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* Red Lake
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* Rock
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* Sherburne
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* Stevens
* Swift
* Todd
* Traverse
* Wabasha
* Wadena
* Waseca
* Washington
* Watonwan
* Wilkin
* Winona
* Wright
* Yellow Medicine

Attractions|

| Festivals|

* State Fair

|

Other|

* Mall of America

Coordinates: 47°31′N 93°38′W﻿ / ﻿47.51°N 93.63°W﻿ / 47.51; -93.63
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