Wikipedia

Cass County, Minnesota

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
County
The Cass County Courthouse
The Cass County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Cass County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting 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
FoundedSeptember 1, 1851 (created)
1897 (organized)[1]
Named forLewis Cass
SeatWalker
Largest cityLake Shore
Area
 • Total
2,414 sq mi (6,250 km2)
 • Land2,022 sq mi (5,240 km2)
 • Water393 sq mi (1,020 km2)  16%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
30,066
 • Estimate 
(2023)
31,446 Increase
 • Density14.9/sq mi (5.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.cass.mn.us

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

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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

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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

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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

[6]

Climate and weather

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Walker, Minnesota
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[9]
Metric conversion
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█ 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

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860150—
1870380153.3%
188048627.9%
18901,247156.6%
19007,777523.7%
191011,62049.4%
192015,89736.8%
193015,591−1.9%
194020,64632.4%
195019,468−5.7%
196016,720−14.1%
197017,3233.6%
198021,05021.5%
199021,7913.5%
200027,15024.6%
201028,5675.2%
202030,0665.2%
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

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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

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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

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Cities

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Census-designated place

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Unorganized territories

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Government and politics

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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

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References

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  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.
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46°57′N 94°19′W / 46.95°N 94.32°W / 46.95; -94.32

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