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// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Itasca County in Minnesota a good place? It's a lake above the rest.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Itasca County)

Itasca County, Minnesota
County
Itasca County Courthouse
Itasca County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Itasca County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Coordinates: 47°31′N 93°38′W / 47.51°N 93.63°W / 47.51; -93.63
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedOctober 27, 1849[1]
Named afterLake Itasca
SeatGrand Rapids
Largest cityGrand Rapids
Area
 • Total
2,928 sq mi (7,580 km2)
 • Land2,668 sq mi (6,910 km2)
 • Water260 sq mi (670 km2)  8.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
45,014
 • Estimate 
(2025)
45,404 Increase
 • Density16.9/sq mi (6.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.itascacountymn.gov

Itasca County (/aɪˈtæskə/ eye-TASS-kə)[2] is a county in the Iron Range region of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,014.[3] Its county seat is Grand Rapids.[4] The county is named after Lake Itasca, whose name comes from the Latin veritas caput, meaning "truth" and "head", because it is the true source of the Mississippi River. Parts of the Bois Forte and Leech Lake Indian reservations are in the county.

History

[edit]

The boundaries of Itasca County were first defined in 1849, upon the creation of the Minnesota Territory. It was originally much larger, stretching over today's Cook, Lake, Saint Louis, Koochiching, eastern Lake of the Woods, eastern Beltrami, Itasca, northern Aitkin, and northern Carlton Counties.

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 the Mississippi's source, Henry Schoolcraft set out to find it in 1832. When he did, he named it Lake Itasca. At its source, the Mississippi can be crossed on foot.[5] It then flows past Bemidji, through Itasca County, to the Gulf of Mexico.

Geography

[edit]

The terrain of Itasca County is hilly, heavily wooded, and studded with lakes and ponds.[6] It generally slopes to the east, with its highest areas on its upper western border, at 1,437 ft (438 m) ASL.[7] The county has an 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.[8] It is Minnesota's third-largest county by area.

Itasca County's landscape varies greatly. The low plains, rolling hills, and wetlands are where there was glacial activity in the past. This area has been forested for centuries. The forests include pines, spruces, hardwoods, cedar, and tamarack. Forestry and logging are major sectors in the area's economy.

Itasca County has many bodies of water, including creeks, rivers, and more than 1,400 lakes. The bodies of water support various wildlife species. 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

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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Source:[6]

  • 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]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
185097—
186051−47.4%
18709688.2%
188012429.2%
1890743499.2%
19004,573515.5%
191017,208276.3%
192023,87638.7%
193027,22414.0%
194032,99621.2%
195033,3211.0%
196038,00614.1%
197035,530−6.5%
198043,06921.2%
199040,863−5.1%
200043,9927.7%
201045,0582.4%
202045,014−0.1%
2025 (est.)45,404[9] Increase0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[3]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 45,014. The median age was 46.5 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.0 males age 18 and over.[14][15]

The racial makeup of the county was 89.7% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 3.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.[15]

23.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 77.0% lived in rural areas.[16]

There were 18,968 households in the county, of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.9% were married-couple households, 19.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[14]

There were 25,375 housing units, of which 25.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.9% were owner-occupied and 20.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.[14]

Racial and ethnic composition

[edit]
Itasca County, Minnesota – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[17] Pop 1990[18] Pop 2000[19] Pop 2010[20] Pop 2020[21] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 41,677 39,263 41,494 41,951 40,166 96.77% 96.08% 94.32% 93.10% 89.23%
Black or African American alone (NH) 29 39 69 136 174 0.07% 0.10% 0.16% 0.30% 0.39%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,087 1,334 1,448 1,541 1,497 2.52% 3.26% 3.29% 3.42% 3.33%
Asian alone (NH) 92 83 120 142 145 0.21% 0.20% 0.27% 0.32% 0.32%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [22] x [23] 10 12 2 x x 0.02% 0.03% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 36 1 22 11 125 0.08% 0.00% 0.05% 0.02% 0.28%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [24] x [25] 566 848 2,287 x x 1.29% 1.88% 5.08%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 148 143 263 417 618 0.34% 0.35% 0.60% 0.93% 1.37%
Total 43,069 40,863 43,992 45,058 45,014 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census

[edit]
2022 US Census population pyramid for Itasca County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 43,992 people, 17,789 households, and 12,381 families in the county. The population density was 16.5 per square mile (6.4/km2). There were 24,528 housing units at an average density of 9.19 per square mile (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 age 18 and over.

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.

Communities

[edit]

Cities

[edit]

Census-designated places

[edit]

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Townships

[edit]

Unorganized territories

[edit]

Politics

[edit]

Like fellow Iron Range counties St. Louis County, Carlton County, and Lake County, Itasca County voted strongly Democratic in presidential elections for about 80 years after the Great Depression, selecting the Democratic nominee in every election from 1932 through 2012. In 2016, the county swung Republican as Donald Trump received 54.1% of the vote.[26] In 2020, Trump won 57.4% of the vote, the first time the county had voted Republican in two consecutive presidential elections since 1924 and 1928. In 2024, Trump won 59% of the vote, the most for a Republican presidential nominee since 1924.[27]

United States presidential election results for Itasca County, Minnesota[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1892 520 40.66% 686 53.64% 73 5.71%
1896 826 52.91% 724 46.38% 11 0.70%
1900 770 63.32% 413 33.96% 33 2.71%
1904 1,796 77.02% 293 12.56% 243 10.42%
1908 1,883 63.15% 684 22.94% 415 13.92%
1912 446 16.59% 699 25.99% 1,544 57.42%
1916 1,163 36.89% 1,504 47.70% 486 15.41%
1920 3,973 58.31% 1,930 28.33% 910 13.36%
1924 4,961 60.10% 496 6.01% 2,798 33.89%
1928 5,103 58.95% 3,122 36.07% 431 4.98%
1932 3,782 36.94% 5,616 54.86% 839 8.20%
1936 3,594 28.04% 8,896 69.40% 329 2.57%
1940 5,196 34.06% 9,899 64.89% 159 1.04%
1944 4,227 32.28% 8,787 67.10% 81 0.62%
1948 4,334 29.45% 9,653 65.60% 729 4.95%
1952 6,573 41.65% 9,128 57.84% 81 0.51%
1956 6,408 42.22% 8,737 57.56% 33 0.22%
1960 6,615 38.00% 10,761 61.82% 32 0.18%
1964 4,137 25.49% 12,054 74.27% 40 0.25%
1968 4,898 30.22% 10,512 64.86% 796 4.91%
1972 7,558 45.58% 8,683 52.36% 342 2.06%
1976 6,646 32.77% 12,979 64.00% 656 3.23%
1980 8,368 37.65% 12,134 54.59% 1,726 7.76%
1984 9,306 44.42% 11,455 54.68% 187 0.89%
1988 8,358 43.87% 10,517 55.20% 178 0.93%
1992 5,952 28.56% 9,621 46.17% 5,265 25.27%
1996 6,506 31.78% 10,706 52.29% 3,261 15.93%
2000 9,545 43.96% 10,583 48.74% 1,586 7.30%
2004 10,705 43.93% 13,290 54.54% 372 1.53%
2008 10,309 42.26% 13,460 55.18% 626 2.57%
2012 10,501 43.90% 12,852 53.73% 566 2.37%
2016 12,920 54.10% 9,015 37.75% 1,945 8.14%
2020 15,239 57.37% 10,786 40.61% 536 2.02%
2024 15,863 59.10% 10,467 39.00% 510 1.90%

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Minnesota Pronunciation Guide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ↑ Walk Across the Mississippi River (accessed March 12, 2019)
  6. 1 2 Itasca County MN Google Maps (accessed March 12, 2019)
  7. ↑ ""Find an Altitude/Itasca County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 12, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  8. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  16. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  17. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Minnesota - Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Minnesota: Table 4-6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 17-79. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 24, 2026 – via Wayback Machine.
  19. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Itasca County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Itasca County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Itasca County, Minnesota". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  23. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  24. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  25. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  26. ↑ "Why one Minnesota county voted for Trump". MPR News. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  27. ↑ Simon, Steve (November 21, 2024). "2024 State Canvassing Board Certificate". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  28. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018.
[edit]

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

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Itasca_County,_Minnesota&oldid=1360728875"