Cass County, Minnesota

County in Minnesota, United States

County in Minnesota

Cass County

County

The Cass County Courthouse

Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota

Minnesota's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 46°57′N 94°19′W﻿ / ﻿46.95°N 94.32°W﻿ / 46.95; -94.32
Country|  United States
State|  Minnesota
Founded| September 1, 1851 (created)
1897 (organized)[1]
Named after| Lewis Cass
Seat| Walker
Largest city| Lake Shore
Area

• Total

| 2,414 sq mi (6,250 km2)
• Land| 2,022 sq mi (5,240 km2)
• Water| 393 sq mi (1,020 km2)  16%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 30,066

• Estimate

(2023)

| 31,446
• Density| 14.9/sq mi (5.8/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 8th
Website| www.co.cass.mn.us

Cass County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,066.[2] Its county seat is Walker.[3] The county was formed in 1851, and was organized in 1897.

Cass County is included in the Brainerd, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

A substantial part of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation is in the county.

## History

[edit]

Cass County of 1851 (pink) and today (red)

Cass County was created on September 1, 1851, by the Minnesota Territory legislature, although its government was not organized until 1897. The county was formed of areas partitioned from Dakota, Mahkatah, Pembina and Wahnata Counties. It was named for Lewis Cass, a Michigan political figure of the 19th century.[4] Before it was organized several parcels of county land were partitioned off to augment or form adjacent counties.

Soils of Cass County[5]

## Geography

[edit]

The Crow Wing River flows east-southeast along Cass County's southern border, and the Gull River flows southwest through the lower part, to discharge into the Crow Wing on the southern border. The terrain consists of wooded rolling hills, heavily dotted with lakes and ponds,[6] and slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on the upper western border, at 1,614 ft (492 m) ASL.[7] The county has an area of 2,414 square miles (6,250 km2), of which 2,022 square miles (5,240 km2) is land and 393 square miles (1,020 km2) (16%) is water.[8]

### Major highways

[edit]

* US Highway 2
* Minnesota State Highway 6
* Minnesota State Highway 34
* Minnesota State Highway 64
* Minnesota State Highway 84
* Minnesota State Highway 87
* Minnesota State Highway 200
* Minnesota State Highway 210
* Minnesota State Highway 371
* List of county roads

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Itasca County \- northeast
* Aitkin County \- east
* Crow Wing County \- southeast
* Morrison County \- south
* Todd County \- southwest
* Wadena County \- west
* Hubbard County \- northwest
* Beltrami County \- north

### Protected areas

[edit]

* Buena Vista State Forest (part)
* Chippewa National Forest (part)
* Crow Wing State Park (part)
* Foot Hills State Forest (part)

[6]

## Climate and weather

[edit]

Walker, Minnesota

Climate chart (explanation)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

0.7

0.6

1.4

2.2

3.3

4.1

4.1

3.4

3.5

2.8

1.3

0.9

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[9]
| Metric conversion

−18

−15

103

104

−14

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

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Walker have ranged from a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) in January to a high of 79 °F (26 °C) in July, although a record low of −44 °F (−42 °C) was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in August 1976. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.62 inches (16 mm) in February to 4.11 inches (104 mm) in July.[9]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1860| 150| | —
1870| 380| | 153.3%
1880| 486| | 27.9%
1890| 1,247| | 156.6%
1900| 7,777| | 523.7%
1910| 11,620| | 49.4%
1920| 15,897| | 36.8%
1930| 15,591| | −1.9%
1940| 20,646| | 32.4%
1950| 19,468| | −5.7%
1960| 16,720| | −14.1%
1970| 17,323| | 3.6%
1980| 21,050| | 21.5%
1990| 21,791| | 3.5%
2000| 27,150| | 24.6%
2010| 28,567| | 5.2%
2020| 30,066| | 5.2%
2023 (est.)| 31,446| [10]| 4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[2]

### 2020 Census

[edit]

Cass County Racial Composition[15] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (NH)  | 24,675  | 82.07%
Black or African American (NH)  | 64  | 0.21%
Native American (NH)  | 3,424  | 11.4%
Asian (NH)  | 111  | 0.37%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 0  | 0%
Other/Mixed (NH)  | 1,366  | 4.54%
Hispanic or Latino | 426  | 1.42%

### 2000 census

[edit]

2022 US Census population pyramid for Cass County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 27,150 people, 10,893 households, and 7,734 families in the county. The population density was 13.4 per square mile (5.2/km2). There were 21,286 housing units at an average density of 10.5 per square mile (4.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.52% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 11.45% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.2% were of German, 15.0% Norwegian, 7.3% Swedish, 6.1% Irish and 6.1% American ancestry.

There were 10,893 households, out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.90.

The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 6.10% from 18 to 24, 23.00% from 25 to 44, 27.90% from 45 to 64, and 18.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,332, and the median income for a family was $40,156. Males had a median income of $30,097 versus $21,232 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,189. About 9.50% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.20% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Backus
* Bena
* Boy River
* Cass Lake
* Chickamaw Beach
* East Gull Lake
* Federal Dam
* Hackensack
* Lake Shore
* Longville
* Motley (partial)
* Pillager
* Pine River
* Remer
* Walker (county seat)

### Census-designated place

[edit]

* Whipholt

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Ah-gwah-ching
* Brevik
* Bridgeman
* Casino
* Ellis
* Esterdy
* Graff
* Inguadona
* Leader
* Leech Lake
* Mae
* Mildred
* Onigum
* Oshawa
* Outing
* Pontoria
* Raboin
* Ryan Village
* Schley
* Sylvan
* Tobique
* Wabedo
* Wilkinson

### Townships

[edit]

* Ansel Township
* Barclay Township
* Becker Township
* Beulah Township
* Birch Lake Township
* Blind Lake Township
* Boy Lake Township
* Boy River Township
* Bull Moose Township
* Bungo Township
* Byron Township
* Crooked Lake Township
* Deerfield Township
* Fairview Township
* Gould Township
* Hiram Township
* Home Brook Township
* Inguadona Township
* Kego Township
* Leech Lake Township
* Lima Township
* Loon Lake Township
* Maple Township
* May Township
* McKinley Township
* Meadow Brook Township
* Moose Lake Township
* Otter Tail Peninsula Township
* Pike Bay Township
* Pine Lake Township
* Pine River Township
* Ponto Lake Township
* Poplar Township
* Powers Township
* Remer Township
* Rogers Township
* Salem Township
* Shingobee Township
* Slater Township
* Smoky Hollow Township
* Sylvan Township
* Thunder Lake Township
* Torrey Township
* Trelipe Township
* Turtle Lake Township
* Wabedo Township
* Walden Township
* Wilkinson Township
* Wilson Township
* Woodrow Township

### Unorganized territories

[edit]

* Wahnena
* North Cass
* North Central Cass
* East Cass

## Government and politics

[edit]

Cass County tends to vote Republican. As of 2024, the county has selected the Republican nominee in 83% of presidential elections since 1980.

United States presidential election results for Cass County, Minnesota[16] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 12,759  | 65.89% | 6,300  | 32.54%  | 304  | 1.57%
2020 | 11,620  | 63.54% | 6,342  | 34.68%  | 327  | 1.79%
2016 | 9,982  | 62.39% | 4,949  | 30.93%  | 1,068  | 6.68%
2012 | 8,957  | 55.49% | 6,858  | 42.49%  | 326  | 2.02%
2008 | 8,660  | 53.11% | 7,276  | 44.62%  | 371  | 2.28%
2004 | 8,875  | 55.78% | 6,835  | 42.96%  | 200  | 1.26%
2000 | 7,134  | 52.48% | 5,534  | 40.71%  | 925  | 6.80%
1996 | 4,791  | 39.83%  | 5,437  | 45.20% | 1,801  | 14.97%
1992 | 4,276  | 35.06%  | 4,901  | 40.18% | 3,020  | 24.76%
1988 | 5,895  | 53.02% | 5,127  | 46.11%  | 97  | 0.87%
1984 | 6,619  | 57.71% | 4,773  | 41.61%  | 78  | 0.68%
1980 | 6,119  | 53.28% | 4,717  | 41.07%  | 649  | 5.65%
1976 | 4,443  | 43.41%  | 5,424  | 53.00% | 367  | 3.59%
1972 | 4,906  | 57.70% | 3,347  | 39.36%  | 250  | 2.94%
1968 | 3,888  | 48.91% | 3,569  | 44.89%  | 493  | 6.20%
1964 | 3,110  | 40.11%  | 4,635  | 59.78% | 9  | 0.12%
1960 | 4,399  | 55.05% | 3,578  | 44.78%  | 14  | 0.18%
1956 | 4,007  | 59.23% | 2,748  | 40.62%  | 10  | 0.15%
1952 | 4,601  | 61.46% | 2,818  | 37.64%  | 67  | 0.90%
1948 | 3,179  | 43.68%  | 3,933  | 54.04% | 166  | 2.28%
1944 | 3,135  | 47.88%  | 3,377  | 51.58% | 35  | 0.53%
1940 | 4,089  | 47.92%  | 4,392  | 51.47% | 52  | 0.61%
1936 | 2,634  | 35.91%  | 4,440  | 60.54% | 260  | 3.55%
1932 | 2,302  | 38.09%  | 3,494  | 57.82% | 247  | 4.09%
1928 | 3,781  | 67.02% | 1,747  | 30.96%  | 114  | 2.02%
1924 | 2,800  | 54.13% | 270  | 5.22%  | 2,103  | 40.65%
1920 | 3,242  | 70.51% | 710  | 15.44%  | 646  | 14.05%
1916 | 982  | 38.21%  | 1,260  | 49.03% | 328  | 12.76%
1912 | 431  | 20.55%  | 565  | 26.94%  | 1,101  | 52.50%
1908 | 1,009  | 59.04% | 461  | 26.97%  | 239  | 13.98%
1904 | 1,178  | 74.79% | 222  | 14.10%  | 175  | 11.11%
1900 | 1,074  | 65.17% | 518  | 31.43%  | 56  | 3.40%
1896 | 351  | 55.63% | 271  | 42.95%  | 9  | 1.43%
1892 | 311  | 39.72% | 233  | 29.76%  | 239  | 30.52%
County Board of Commissioners[17] Position  | Name  | District  | Next Election

|
|
|

| Commissioner  | Neal Gaalswyk  | District 1  | 2026
| Commissioner  | Robert Kangas  | District 2  | 2024
| Commissioner  | Jeff Peterson  | District 3  | 2024
| Commissioner  | Scott Bruns  | District 4  | 2026
| Commissioner  | Rick Haaland  | District 5  | 2024
State Legislature (2018-2020)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

|
|
|

| Senate  | Justin Eichorn[18] | Republican | District 5
| House of Representatives  | John Persell[19] | Democrat | District 5A
| House of Representatives  | Sandy Layman[20] | Republican | District 5B
U.S Congress (2018-2020)  Position  | Name  | Affiliation  | District

|
|
|

| House of Representatives | Pete Stauber[21] | Republican | 8th
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[22] | Democrat | N/A
| Senate | Tina Smith[23] | Democrat | N/A

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Cass County, Minnesota
* Woman Lake

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ Upham, Warren. "Cass County" in Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition. Archived June 20, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Minnesota Historical Society Press (St. Paul, 2001) ISBN 0-87351-396-7.
5. ^ Nelson, Steven (2011). Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 53-56. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
6. ^ a b Cass County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)
7. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Cass County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
9. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Walker MN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
15. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cass County, Minnesota".
16. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
17. ^ "County Commissioners". www.casscountymn.gov. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
18. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
19. ^ "Rep. John Persell (05A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
20. ^ "Rep. Sandy Layman (05B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
21. ^ "Representative Pete Stauber". Representative Pete Stauber. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
22. ^ "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
23. ^ "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Cass County government's website
* Minnesota Department of Transportation map of Cass County (southern portion, west central portion, east central portion, northern portion)

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Cass County, Minnesota

| Hubbard County | Beltrami County | Itasca County

|
|

|  |
Wadena County |

Cass County, Minnesota

| Aitkin County
|  |
Todd County | Morrison County | Crow Wing County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Cass County, Minnesota, United States

County seat: Walker

Cities|

* Backus
* Bena
* Boy River
* Cass Lake
* Chickamaw Beach
* East Gull Lake
* Federal Dam
* Hackensack
* Lake Shore
* Longville
* Motley‡
* Pillager
* Pine River
* Remer
* Walker

Map of Minnesota highlighting Cass County

Townships|

* Ansel
* Barclay
* Becker
* Beulah
* Birch Lake
* Blind Lake
* Boy Lake
* Boy River
* Bull Moose
* Bungo
* Byron
* Crooked Lake
* Deerfield
* Fairview
* Gould
* Hiram
* Home Brook
* Inguadona
* Kego
* Leech Lake
* Lima
* Loon Lake
* Maple
* May
* McKinley
* Meadow Brook
* Moose Lake
* Otter Tail Peninsula
* Pike Bay
* Pine Lake
* Pine River
* Ponto Lake
* Poplar
* Powers
* Remer
* Rogers
* Salem
* Shingobee
* Slater
* Smoky Hollow
* Sylvan
* Thunder Lake
* Torrey
* Trelipe
* Turtle Lake
* Wabedo
* Walden
* Wilkinson
* Wilson
* Woodrow

Unorganized
territories|

* East Cass
* North Cass
* North Central Cass
* Wahnena

CDP|

* Whipholt

Unincorporated
communities|

* Ah-gwah-ching
* Brevik
* Bridgeman
* Casino
* Ellis
* Esterdy
* Graff
* Inguadona
* Leader
* Leech Lake
* Mae
* Mildred
* Onigum
* Oshawa
* Outing
* Pontoria
* Raboin
* Ryan Village
* Schley
* Snowball
* Sylvan
* Tobique
* Wabedo
* Wilkinson

Indian
reservation|

* Leech Lake Indian Reservation‡

Ghost town|

* Cuba

Footnotes|

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

* Minnesota portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Cities in the Brainerd Lakes area, Minnesota

Core city|

* Brainerd†

Surrounding
communities|

| (over 1,000)|

* Baxter
* Crosby
* Crosslake
* East Gull Lake
* Lake Shore
* Nisswa
* Pequot Lakes

|

(under 1,000)|

* Backus
* Bena
* Boy River
* Breezy Point
* Cass Lake
* Chickamaw Beach
* Cuyuna
* Deerwood
* Emily
* Federal Dam
* Fifty Lakes
* Fort Ripley
* Garrison
* Hackensack
* Ironton
* Jenkins
* Longville
* Manhattan Beach
* Merrifield§
* Motley‡
* Pillager
* Pine River
* Remer
* Riverton
* Trommald
* Walker†
* Whipholt§

Counties|

* Cass
* Crow Wing

† indicates a county seat. ‡ indicates that it is partially in the micropolitan area. § indicates a CDP.

* v
* t
* e

State of Minnesota

Saint Paul (capital)

Topics|

* Index
* Outline
* Biking/Cycling
* Cities
* Climate (Climate change)
* Colleges and universities
* Congressional districts
* Delegations
* Ecology
* Geography
* Geology
* Governor
* Hiking
* Historical Landmarks
* History
* Indian reservations
* Lakes
* Legislature
* Local government
* Townships
* People
* Political parties
* Rivers
* School districts
* High schools
* Scouting
* State fair
* Statutes
* State parks
* Symbols
* Territory
* Tourist attractions
* Mall of America
* Transportation

Society|

* Abortion
* Culture
* Crime
* Demographics
* Economy
* Education
* Homelessness
* Law
* Cannabis
* Guns
* LGBT
* Movies and TV
* Music
* Newspapers
* Politics
* Religion
* 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
* Austin
* Blaine
* Bloomington
* Brooklyn Center
* Brooklyn Park
* Burnsville
* 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
* 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

Minnesota portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* NARA

46°57′N 94°19′W﻿ / ﻿46.95°N 94.32°W﻿ / 46.95; -94.32
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template