Chisago County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

U.S. county in Minnesota

Chisago County

U.S. county

Old Chisago County Courthouse originally in Center City, Minnesota, moved in 1990 to Almelund, Minnesota.

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Minnesota
Founded| September 1, 1851[1]
Named for| Chisago Lake
Seat| Center City
Largest city| North Branch
Area

• Total| 442 sq mi (1,140 km2)
• Land| 415 sq mi (1,070 km2)
• Water| 28 sq mi (70 km2)  6.2%%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 56,621
• Estimate

(2021)

| 57,469
• Density| 136.4/sq mi (52.7/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 8th
Website| www.chisagocountymn.gov

Chisago County (/ʃɪˈsɑːɡoʊ/ shi-SAH-goh) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 56,621.[2] Its county seat is Center City.[3]

Chisago County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Major highways
* 2.2 Adjacent counties
* 2.3 Protected areas
* 3 Climate and weather
* 4 Demographics
* 4.1 2020 census
* 4.2 2010 census
* 4.3 2000 census
* 5 Education
* 6 Communities
* 6.1 Cities
* 6.2 Unincorporated communities
* 6.3 Townships
* 7 Arts and culture
* 8 Government and politics
* 9 See also
* 10 References
* 11 External links

## History

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Chisago County was organized on September 1, 1851.[4] It took its name from Chisago Lake.[5] Swedish immigrants were the predominant group in Chisago County from the early to late 1800s, and strongly influenced the county's religious and cultural development. The county has retained and continues to celebrate much of its Swedish heritage.[6]

## Geography

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File:Chisago County Pie Chart 2015 Wiki No Text Version.pdfSoils of Chisago County[7]

Chisago County lies on Minnesota's eastern border, abutting the western border of Wisconsin (across the Saint Croix River). The Saint Croix flows south-southeast along the county's eastern border. The Sunrise River flows north through the county's central part, collecting the waters of the North Branch Sunrise River and Hay Creek before discharging into the St. Croix at the county's eastern boundary. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, devoted to agriculture.[8] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the northwest corner, at 1,017' (310m) ASL.[9] The county has an area of 442 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 415 square miles (1,070 km2) is land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (6.2%) is water.[10]

### Major highways

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* Interstate 35
* US Highway 8
* US Highway 61
* Minnesota State Highway 95
* Minnesota State Highway 243
* List of county roads

### Adjacent counties

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* Pine County \- north
* Burnett County, Wisconsin \- northeast
* Polk County, Wisconsin \- east
* Washington County \- south
* Anoka County \- southwest
* Isanti County \- west
* Kanabec County \- northwest

### Protected areas

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* Fish Lake County Park
* Franconia Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area
* Interstate State Park
* Lawrence Creek Scientific and Natural Area
* Ojiketa Regional Park
* Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)
* Wild River State Park

[8]

## Climate and weather

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Center City, Minnesota

Climate chart (explanation)

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0.9

0.9

1.6

2.8

3.7

4.5

4.4

3.9

3.6

2.8

1.9

1.1

Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[11]
| Metric conversion

−17

−14

114

112

−13

Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Center City have ranged from a low of 2 °F (−17 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −38 °F (−39 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.89 inches (23 mm) in January to 4.48 inches (114 mm) in June.[11]

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1860| 1,743| | —
1870| 4,358| | 150.0%
1880| 7,982| | 83.2%
1890| 10,359| | 29.8%
1900| 13,248| | 27.9%
1910| 13,537| | 2.2%
1920| 14,445| | 6.7%
1930| 13,189| | −8.7%
1940| 13,124| | −0.5%
1950| 12,669| | −3.5%
1960| 13,419| | 5.9%
1970| 17,492| | 30.4%
1980| 25,717| | 47.0%
1990| 30,521| | 18.7%
2000| 41,101| | 34.7%
2010| 53,887| | 31.1%
2020| 56,621| | 5.1%
2021 (est.)| 57,469| [12]| 1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[2]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

### 2020 census

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As of the census of 2020, there were 56,621 people and 20,370 households. 95.4% of residents had at least a high school education, and 22.2% had attained a Bachelor's degree or higher. 4.9% were veterans.[17]

97.9% of residents were born in the United States, and 78.5% had been born in Minnesota. Among the foreign-born population, 56.5% were naturalized US citizens. 97.1% of residents spoke only English at home.

The racial makeup of the county was 89.8% White alone (95.5% White alone or in combination), 1.5% Black, 1.4% Asian, 0.6% Native American, and 0.9% some other race. 4.9% were two or more races. 2.56% of residents were Hispanic of any race. The most common ancestries in Chisago County were German (33.4%), Swedish (15.8%), Norwegian (13.0%), Irish (9.7%), and English (5.4%).

Racial composition | 2020[18] | 2010 [19]

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White alone | 89.8% | 94.7%
Black alone | 1.5% | 1.1%
Hispanic or Latino | 2.6% | 1.6%
Asian alone | 1.4% | 0.9%
Other race alone | 0.4% | 0.4%
Two or more races | 4.0% | 1.1%

Among workers 16 years and older, 80.3% commuted to work via car, 9.0% carpooled, 1.6% used public transit, and 2.2% walked, biked, or used some other method. 7.0% worked from home. The median household income in Chisago County was $86,900, slightly above the state average. 6.4% of residents lived below the poverty line, and 2.5% were unemployed. 86.4% of housing in the county was owner-occupied.

The average family size in Chisago County was 3.05 persons, and 62.2% of households were married-couple families.

### 2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, there were 53,887 people, 19,470 households, and 14,389 families in the county. The population density was 130/sqmi (50.1/km2). There were 21,172 housing units at an average density of 51.0/sqmi (19.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.80% White, 1.20% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. 1.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,470 households, out of which 37.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 20.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.09.

The county population contained 25.70% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 28.60% from 45 to 64, and 11.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.50 males. The per capita income for the county was $29,293. About 6.20% of the population was below the poverty line.

### 2000 census

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As of the 2000 census, there were 41,101 people, 14,454 households, and 11,086 families in the county. The population density was 99.0/sqmi (38.2/km2). There were 15,533 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile (14/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.21% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.15% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.3% were of German, 18.1% Swedish, 11.3% Norwegian and 6.9% Irish ancestry.

There were 14,454 households, out of which 41.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.50% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.30% were non-families. 18.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.18.

The county population contained 30.20% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,012, and the median income for a family was $57,335. Males had a median income of $40,743 versus $27,653 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,013. About 3.20% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.40% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

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* Chisago Lakes High School
* North Branch Area High School
* Rush City High School

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Center City (county seat)
* Chisago City
* Harris
* Lindström
* North Branch
* Rush City
* Shafer
* Stacy
* Taylors Falls
* Wyoming

### Unincorporated communities

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* Almelund
* Franconia
* Palmdale
* Rush Point
* Stark
* Sunrise

### Townships

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* Amador Township
* Chisago Lake Township
* Fish Lake Township
* Franconia Township
* Lent Township
* Nessel Township
* Rushseba Township
* Shafer Township
* Sunrise Township
* Wyoming Township (former, now defunct)

## Arts and culture

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Chisago County is strongly influenced by the German, Swedish and Norwegian immigrants who settled there in the mid-19th century. It provided the setting for much of Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg's suite of novels The Emigrants in the 1950s, and Moberg engaged in both archival and oral history research for his books to recreate the early Swedish immigration in the area. Sculptor Ian Dudley's bronze statue of Moberg stands in Chisago City's park. His fictional characters Karl-Oskar and Kristina Nilsson from Ljuder parish in Småland settled around the Lake Ki-Chi-Saga (from the Ojibwe language Ki-chi-saga-igun (Gichi-zaaga'igan in the contemporary spelling) meaning "Big Lake-with-an-outlet," which was later shortened to Lake Chisago). The early settlers' heritage is still honored by the annual Karl Oskar Days in Lindström.

## Government and politics

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Chisago County has trended conservative in recent state and federal elections, backing every Republican nominee for president since 2000.

United States presidential election results for Chisago County, Minnesota[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 21,916  | 63.40% | 11,806  | 34.15%  | 848  | 2.45%
2016 | 18,441  | 61.01% | 9,278  | 30.69%  | 2,509  | 8.30%
2012 | 16,227  | 55.12% | 12,524  | 42.54%  | 690  | 2.34%
2008 | 15,789  | 53.88% | 12,783  | 43.62%  | 733  | 2.50%
2004 | 15,705  | 55.57% | 12,219  | 43.24%  | 336  | 1.19%
2000 | 10,937  | 49.74% | 9,593  | 43.63%  | 1,457  | 6.63%
1996 | 5,984  | 33.74%  | 8,611  | 48.56% | 3,138  | 17.70%
1992 | 4,813  | 28.11%  | 7,077  | 41.34% | 5,229  | 30.55%
1988 | 6,163  | 43.49%  | 7,875  | 55.58% | 132  | 0.93%
1984 | 6,279  | 48.12%  | 6,683  | 51.21% | 87  | 0.67%
1980 | 5,017  | 40.06%  | 6,240  | 49.83% | 1,266  | 10.11%
1976 | 3,874  | 35.65%  | 6,625  | 60.96% | 368  | 3.39%
1972 | 4,718  | 51.06% | 4,174  | 45.17%  | 349  | 3.78%
1968 | 3,053  | 39.90%  | 4,102  | 53.61% | 496  | 6.48%
1964 | 2,525  | 36.65%  | 4,347  | 63.10% | 17  | 0.25%
1960 | 3,822  | 56.59% | 2,907  | 43.04%  | 25  | 0.37%
1956 | 3,413  | 55.47% | 2,731  | 44.38%  | 9  | 0.15%
1952 | 3,892  | 60.25% | 2,536  | 39.26%  | 32  | 0.50%
1948 | 2,704  | 44.58%  | 3,184  | 52.50% | 177  | 2.92%
1944 | 3,020  | 55.58% | 2,376  | 43.72%  | 38  | 0.70%
1940 | 3,569  | 55.97% | 2,746  | 43.06%  | 62  | 0.97%
1936 | 2,462  | 40.49%  | 3,360  | 55.26% | 258  | 4.24%
1932 | 2,524  | 43.86%  | 3,047  | 52.95% | 184  | 3.20%
1928 | 4,215  | 75.51% | 1,297  | 23.24%  | 70  | 1.25%
1924 | 2,678  | 52.80% | 135  | 2.66%  | 2,259  | 44.54%
1920 | 4,361  | 80.02% | 484  | 8.88%  | 605  | 11.10%
1916 | 1,749  | 61.22% | 944  | 33.04%  | 164  | 5.74%
1912 | 346  | 13.31%  | 435  | 16.73%  | 1,819  | 69.96%
1908 | 2,107  | 79.90% | 408  | 15.47%  | 122  | 4.63%
1904 | 2,417  | 91.45% | 156  | 5.90%  | 70  | 2.65%
1900 | 2,354  | 83.36% | 411  | 14.55%  | 59  | 2.09%
1896 | 2,558  | 84.37% | 437  | 14.41%  | 37  | 1.22%
1892 | 1,480  | 75.01% | 338  | 17.13%  | 155  | 7.86%

County Board of Commissioners[21] Position  | Name  | District  | Next Election

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|

| Commissioner and Vice Chair  | Chris DuBose  | District 1  | 2022
| Commissioner  | Rick Greene  | District 2  | 2020
| Commissioner  | George McMahon  | District 3  | 2020
| Commissioner and Chair  | Ben Montzka  | District 4  | 2022
| Commissioner  | Mike Robinson  | District 5  | 2020
State Legislature (2018-2020)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

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| Senate  | Mark Koran[22] | Republican | District 32
| Senate  | Karin Housley[23] | Republican | District 39
| House of Representatives  | Brian Johnson[24] | Republican | District 32A
| House of Representatives  | Anne Neu[25] | Republican | District 32B
| House of Representatives  | Bob Dettmer[26] | Republican | District 39A
U.S. Congress (2018-2020)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

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| House of Representatives | Pete Stauber | Republican | 8th
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[27] | Democratic–Farmer–Labor | N/A
| Senate | Tina Smith[28] | Democratic–Farmer–Labor | N/A

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Chisago County, Minnesota
* Swedish Americans

## References

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1. ^ "Chisago County History". Chisago County Office. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
2. ^ a b "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Chisago 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 3, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ "Chisago County, Minnesota". Minnesota Geographic Names. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
5. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 107.
6. ^ Bosman, Julie (April 16, 2015). "Lindström Loses Umlauts on Road Signs, and the Town is Dotted With Displeasure (Published 2015)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
7. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 61-64. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
8. ^ a b Chisago County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)
9. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Chisago County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
10. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
11. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Center City MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
12. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved March 30, 2022.
13. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
14. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
15. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
16. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
17. ^ Bureau, U.S. Census. "Explore Census Data". Explore Census Data. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
18. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Chisago County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
19. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Chisago County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
20. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
21. ^ "County Board of Commissioners | Chisago County, MN - Official Website". www.chisagocounty.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
22. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
23. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
24. ^ "Rep. Brian Johnson (32A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
25. ^ "Rep. Anne Neu (32B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
26. ^ "Rep. Bob Dettmer (39A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
27. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
28. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chisago County, Minnesota.

* No URL found. Please specify a URL (using |1= or |url=).
* Chisago County Historical Society website
* Minnesota DOT Highway map of Chisago County

Places adjacent to Chisago County, Minnesota

| Kanabec County | Pine County | Burnett County, Wisconsin

|
|

|  |
Isanti County |

Chisago County, Minnesota

| Polk County, Wisconsin
|  |
Anoka County | Washington County |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Chisago County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Center City

Cities|

* Center City
* Chisago City
* Harris
* Lindström
* North Branch
* Rush City
* Shafer
* Stacy
* Taylors Falls
* Wyoming

Error creating thumbnail: Map of Minnesota highlighting Chisago County

Townships|

* Amador
* Chisago Lake
* Fish Lake
* Franconia
* Lent
* Nessel
* Rushseba
* Shafer
* Sunrise
* Wyoming

Unincorporated
communities|

* Almelund
* Franconia
* Kost
* Palmdale
* Rush Point
* Stark
* Sunrise

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Minnesota

Saint Paul (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Outline
* Biking/Cycling
* Cities
* Climate (Climate change)
* Colleges and universities
* Congressional districts
* Ecology
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Society|

* Culture
* Crime
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* Economy
* Education
* LGBT
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* Sports
* Theater

Regions|

* Arrowhead
* Boundary Waters
* Buffalo Ridge
* Central
* Coteau des Prairies
* Dissected Till Plains
* Driftless Area
* Iron Range
* Minnesota River Valley
* North Shore
* Northwest Angle
* North Woods
* Pipestone
* Red River Valley
* Siouxland
* Southeast
* Twin Cities metropolitan area

Largest cities
pop. over 25,000|

* Andover
* Apple Valley
* Blaine
* Bloomington
* Brooklyn Center
* Brooklyn Park
* Burnsville
* Champlin
* Chanhassen
* Chaska
* Coon Rapids
* Cottage Grove
* Duluth
* Eagan
* Eden Prairie
* Edina
* Elk River
* Fridley
* Inver Grove Heights
* Lakeville
* Mankato
* Maple Grove
* Maplewood
* Minneapolis
* Minnetonka
* Moorhead
* Oakdale
* Owatonna
* Plymouth
* Prior Lake
* Ramsey
* Richfield
* 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
* Carlton
* Carver
* Cass
* Chippewa
* Chisago
* Clay
* Clearwater
* Cook
* Cottonwood
* Crow Wing
* Dakota
* Dodge
* Douglas
* Faribault
* Fillmore
* Freeborn
* Goodhue
* Grant
* Hennepin
* 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
* Meeker
* Mille Lacs
* Morrison
* Mower
* Murray
* Nicollet
* Nobles
* Norman
* Olmsted
* Otter Tail
* Pennington
* Pine
* Pipestone
* Polk
* Pope
* Ramsey
* Red Lake
* Redwood
* Renville
* Rice
* Rock
* Roseau
* Saint Louis
* Scott
* Sherburne
* Sibley
* Stearns
* Steele
* Stevens
* Swift
* Todd
* Traverse
* Wabasha
* Wadena
* Waseca
* Washington
* Watonwan
* Wilkin
* Winona
* Wright
* Yellow Medicine

Attractions|

| Festivals|

* State Fair

|

Other|

* Mall of America

Coordinates: 45°30′09″N 92°54′30″W﻿ / ﻿45.50247°N 92.90834°W﻿ / 45.50247; -92.90834
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