Cook County, Minnesota

Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 5,176,[1] making it the fifth-least populous county in Minnesota. Its county seat is Grand Marais.[2] The Grand Portage Indian Reservation is entirely within the county.

Not to be confused with Cook, Minnesota in Saint Louis County.
Cook County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°55′00″N 90°33′00″W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMarch 9, 1874
Named forMichael Cook
SeatGrand Marais
Largest cityGrand Marais
Area
 • Total3,340 sq mi (8,700 km2)
 • Land1,452 sq mi (3,760 km2)
 • Water1,887 sq mi (4,890 km2)  57%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total5,176
 • Estimate 
(2019)
5,463
 • Density3.72/sq mi (1.44/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.cook.mn.us

History

The first inhabitants of this area were the Ojibwe people. The first non-indigenous people to see the area were French fur traders, a few of whom settled in the area (by the 1830s the French population of this area was a few dozen). In the 1830s, settlers began arriving from New England and from upstate New York. Completion of the Erie Canal (1825) and settling of the Black Hawk War (1831) made this migration wave safer and easier.

Most of Cook County's 1830s settlers came from Orange County, Vermont and Down East Maine (modern day Washington County and Hancock County). Most were fishermen and farmers. By 1845 the future Cook County contained some 350 people of European descent; by 1874 there were about two thousand. They were primarily members of the Congregational Church, Methodist, and Baptist churches. By 1900 there were about 3,000 people in Cook County.

The first decade of the twentieth century saw a large influx of Europeans, from Germany, Scandinavia, and Ireland. These waves introduced Lutheranism and Catholicism to Cook County.

The county was created on March 9, 1874.[3] It was named for Michael Cook, Territorial and State Senator[4]

Geography
Eagle Mountain, the highest natural point in Minnesota at 2,301 feet (701 m), is located in northern Cook County.

Cook County is a rugged, heavily wooded triangle of land on the NE tip of Minnesota. It abuts the southern border of Canada and is largely surrounded by the northern end of the Great Lakes. It is heavily dotted with lakes, ponds and streams.[5] The state's highest point is in the county, at 2,301' (701m) ASL. The county has a total area of 3,340 square miles (8,700 km2), of which 1,452 square miles (3,760 km2) is land and 1,887 square miles (4,890 km2) (57%) is water.[6] It is the second-largest county in Minnesota by total area. The highest natural point in Minnesota, Eagle Mountain at 2,301 feet (701 m), and the highest lake in Minnesota, Lake Abita at 2,048 feet (624 m), are located in Cook County. Lake Superior is at the county's southern border.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Cook County is in the extreme northeast of the state at the tip of the Arrowhead region; it is adjacent to only one other county by land. Its geographic neighbors are:

Protected areas[5]

Climate
Climate data for Lutsen, Minnesota
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 22
(−6)		 26
(−3)		 35
(2)		 47
(8)		 56
(13)		 64
(18)		 70
(21)		 70
(21)		 62
(17)		 52
(11)		 39
(4)		 27
(−3)		 48
(9)
Average low °F (°C) 4
(−16)		 7
(−14)		 19
(−7)		 31
(−1)		 39
(4)		 45
(7)		 52
(11)		 54
(12)		 47
(8)		 38
(3)		 26
(−3)		 11
(−12)		 31
(−1)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 0.9
(23)		 0.7
(18)		 1.4
(36)		 1.9
(48)		 2.8
(71)		 3.5
(89)		 3.3
(84)		 3.3
(84)		 3.6
(91)		 2.5
(64)		 1.6
(41)		 1.1
(28)		 26.4
(670)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 15.2
(39)		 8.1
(21)		 8.1
(21)		 2.2
(5.6)		 0.2
(0.51)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.4
(1.0)		 3.8
(9.7)		 13.3
(34)		 50.8
(129)
Source: Weatherbase[7]

Northern Minnesota offers extreme winter weather. While the averages are low, the extremes provide more details. A third of the year is below freezing (31.9%, 116 days, or 4 months). Of those days, 21 are below zero degrees Fahrenheit (−17.8 °C).

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Days Below 32 °F/0 °C[7]
20 18 19 13 3.5 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.5 5.8 16 20 116
Days Below 0 °F/-17.8 °C[7]
8.2 6 1.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0.5 4.8 21

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
188065—
18909850.8%
1900810726.5%
19101,33664.9%
19201,84137.8%
19302,43532.3%
19403,03024.4%
19502,900−4.3%
19603,37716.4%
19703,4231.4%
19804,09219.5%
19903,868−5.5%
20005,16833.6%
20105,1760.2%
2019 (est.)5,463[8]5.5%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[1]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census,[13] there were 5,168 people, 2,350 households, and 1,438 families in the county. The population density was 3.56/sqmi (1.37/km2). There were 4,708 housing units at an average density of 3.24/sqmi (1.25/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.45% White, 7.59% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.29% Black or African American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.6% were of German, 17.7% Norwegian, 11.5% Swedish, 7.2% Irish and 5.4% English ancestry.

There were 2,350 households, out of which 24.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 6.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.80% were non-families. 32.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.73.

The county population contained 20.40% under the age of 18, 5.40% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 31.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,640, and the median income for a family was $47,132. Males had a median income of $31,211 versus $23,650 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,775. About 8.10% of families and 10.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.20% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities[5]

Townships

Unorganized territories

Ghost towns

Government and politics

Cook County voters have generally voted Democratic. In 78% of national elections since 1980 (as of 2016), the county selected the Democratic Party candidate. The county was a bellwether in every election between 1916 to 1984 (with exception to 1960 and 1976).

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 31.6% 1,203 65.6% 2,496 2.9% 109
2016 34.1% 1,156 56.3% 1,912 9.6% 327
2012 36.8% 1,221 60.0% 1,993 3.3% 108
2008 37.0% 1,240 60.3% 2,019 2.7% 89
2004 45.1% 1,489 52.5% 1,733 2.5% 81
2000 45.9% 1,295 41.5% 1,171 12.6% 354
1996 39.9% 1,010 46.2% 1,169 13.8% 350
1992 33.5% 878 38.4% 1,005 28.1% 735
1988 49.4% 1,078 49.5% 1,080 1.2% 26
1984 51.6% 1,219 47.8% 1,129 0.6% 13
1980 50.6% 1,147 38.4% 871 10.9% 248
1976 48.5% 1,034 47.8% 1,018 3.7% 78
1972 57.6% 1,047 40.8% 742 1.5% 28
1968 49.3% 853 44.9% 777 5.7% 99
1964 43.9% 764 56.0% 976 0.1% 2
1960 60.2% 987 39.6% 650 0.2% 4
1956 61.7% 1,078 38.2% 668 0.1% 2
1952 65.1% 946 34.6% 503 0.3% 5
1948 47.9% 674 48.9% 688 3.1% 44
1944 48.1% 513 51.1% 545 0.8% 8
1940 49.3% 673 50.2% 686 0.5% 7
1936 32.1% 387 65.9% 793 2.0% 24
1932 43.3% 418 50.9% 492 5.8% 56
1928 72.6% 609 26.1% 219 1.3% 11
1924 68.0% 471 4.2% 29 27.9% 193
1920 72.9% 467 15.3% 98 11.9% 76
1916 34.4% 125 44.6% 162 20.9% 76
1912 8.6% 30 18.7% 65 72.7% 253
1908 78.0% 255 12.8% 42 9.2% 30
1904 82.8% 207 12.4% 31 4.8% 12
1900 52.6% 81 42.2% 65 5.2% 8
1896 42.2% 81 55.7% 107 2.1% 4
1892 51.5% 68 14.4% 19 34.1% 45
County Board of Commissioners[15]
Position Name District
Commissioner Robert Deschampe District 1
Commissioner and Vice Chair Myron Bursheim District 2
Commissioner David Mills District 3
Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk District 4
Commissioner and Chairperson Ginny Storlie District 5
State Legislature (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Tom Bakk[16] Democrat District 3
  House of Representatives Rob Ecklund[17] Democrat District 3A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives Pete Stauber[18] Republican 8th
  Senate Amy Klobuchar[19] Democrat N/A
  Senate Tina Smith[20] Democrat N/A

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  4. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 135.
  5. Cook County MN Google Maps (accessed 6 March 2019)
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  7. "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Lutsen MN". Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  9. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  15. "County Commissioners". www.co.cook.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  16. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  17. "Rep. Rob Ecklund (03A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  18. "Representative Pete Stauber". Representative Pete Stauber. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.

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