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Cass County, Minnesota facts for kids

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Cass 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.
Country  United States
State  Minnesota
Founded September 1, 1851 (created)
1897 (organized)
Named for 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 
(2021)
30,639 Increase
 • Density 14.9/sq mi (5.8/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 8th

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. Its county seat is Walker. 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

HistoricalCassCoMN
Cass County of 1851 (shown in pink) and today (shown in red)

Cass County was created on September 1, 1851 by the legislature of the Minnesota Territory. It was not formally organized until 1897. Cass County was formed from portions of Dakota, Mahkatah, Pembina and Wahnata Counties. The county was named in honor of Lewis Cass. In turn, before formal organization, land from Cass County was split off to form other of the surrounding counties.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total 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.

Major highways

  • US 2.svg US Highway 2
  • MN-6.svg Minnesota State Highway 6
  • MN-34.svg Minnesota State Highway 34
  • MN-64.svg Minnesota State Highway 64
  • MN-84.svg Minnesota State Highway 84
  • MN-87.svg Minnesota State Highway 87
  • MN-200.svg Minnesota State Highway 200
  • MN-210.svg Minnesota State Highway 210
  • MN-371.svg Minnesota State Highway 371
  • List of county roads

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Chippewa National Forest (part)

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Walker, Minnesota
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
0.7
 
18
0
 
 
0.6
 
25
5
 
 
1.4
 
36
18
 
 
2.2
 
52
32
 
 
3.3
 
66
44
 
 
4.1
 
74
54
 
 
4.1
 
79
59
 
 
3.4
 
76
57
 
 
3.5
 
66
48
 
 
2.8
 
52
36
 
 
1.3
 
35
21
 
 
0.9
 
21
6
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

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.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
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%
2015 (est.) 28,706 0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2015
USA Cass County, Minnesota age pyramid
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 27,150 people, 10,893 households, and 7,734 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile (5/km²). There were 21,286 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/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.

In the county, the population was spread out with 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

Cities

Townships

  • 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

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Cass (Minnesota) para niños

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