Itasca County, Minnesota

Itasca County is located in the State of Minnesota. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 45,058.[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.

Itasca County
U.S. county
Postcard. Grand Rapids High School was founded in 1895.
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 47°31′N 93°38′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedOctober 27, 1849[1]
Named forLake Itasca
SeatGrand Rapids
Largest cityGrand Rapids
Area
 • Total2,928 sq mi (7,580 km2)
 • Land2,668 sq mi (6,910 km2)
 • Water260 sq mi (700 km2)  8.9%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total45,058
 • Estimate 
(2019)
45,130
 • Density16.9/sq mi (6.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.itasca.mn.us

History

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

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

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[5]
  • 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
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
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%
2019 (est.)45,130[8]0.2%
US Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[2]
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 US census data

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States 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.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Unorganized territories

Politics

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%.[13] 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.

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 57.4% 15,239 40.6% 10,786 2.0% 536
2016 54.1% 12,920 37.8% 9,015 8.2% 1,945
2012 43.9% 10,501 53.7% 12,852 2.4% 566
2008 42.3% 10,309 55.2% 13,460 2.6% 626
2004 43.9% 10,705 54.5% 13,290 1.5% 372
2000 44.0% 9,545 48.7% 10,583 7.3% 1,586
1996 31.8% 6,506 52.3% 10,706 15.9% 3,261
1992 28.6% 5,952 46.2% 9,621 25.3% 5,265
1988 43.9% 8,358 55.2% 10,517 0.9% 178
1984 44.4% 9,306 54.7% 11,455 0.9% 187
1980 37.7% 8,368 54.6% 12,134 7.8% 1,726
1976 32.8% 6,646 64.0% 12,979 3.2% 656
1972 45.6% 7,558 52.4% 8,683 2.1% 342
1968 30.2% 4,898 64.9% 10,512 4.9% 796
1964 25.5% 4,137 74.3% 12,054 0.3% 40
1960 38.0% 6,615 61.8% 10,761 0.2% 32
1956 42.2% 6,408 57.6% 8,737 0.2% 33
1952 41.7% 6,573 57.8% 9,128 0.5% 81
1948 29.5% 4,334 65.6% 9,653 5.0% 729
1944 32.3% 4,227 67.1% 8,787 0.6% 81
1940 34.1% 5,196 64.9% 9,899 1.0% 159
1936 28.0% 3,594 69.4% 8,896 2.6% 329
1932 36.9% 3,782 54.9% 5,616 8.2% 839
1928 59.0% 5,103 36.1% 3,122 5.0% 431
1924 60.1% 4,961 6.0% 496 33.9% 2,798
1920 58.3% 3,973 28.3% 1,930 13.4% 910
1916 36.9% 1,163 47.7% 1,504 15.4% 486
1912 16.6% 446 26.0% 699 57.4% 1,544
1908 63.2% 1,883 22.9% 684 13.9% 415
1904 77.0% 1,796 12.6% 293 10.4% 243
1900 63.3% 770 34.0% 413 2.7% 33
1896 52.9% 826 46.4% 724 0.7% 11
1892 40.7% 520 53.6% 686 5.7% 73

See also

References
  1. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  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. Itasca County MN Google Maps (accessed 12 March 2019)
  6. ""Find an Altitude/Itasca County MN" Google Maps (accessed 12 March 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  9. "US Decennial Census". US 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". US 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). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  13. "Why one Minnesota county voted for Trump". MPR News. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018.

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