Esko, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Esko
Census-designated place (CDP) and Unincorporated community
Esko Historical Society
Esko Location in Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Carlton County
Township	Thomson Township
Area
• Total	4.86 sq mi (12.59 km2)
• Land	4.86 sq mi (12.59 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,168 ft (356 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,082
• Density	428.31/sq mi (165.38/km2)
ZIP code	55733
Area code(s)	218
GNIS feature ID	643411

Esko is a small community in Minnesota, United States. It is known as an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It's also a census-designated place (CDP), which is an area the U.S. Census Bureau defines for gathering population data.

Esko is located in Thomson Township, within Carlton County. In 2020, about 2,082 people lived there.

Where is Esko located?

Esko is found between two larger cities: Cloquet and Duluth. It's right where the big highway Interstate 35 meets County Road 1 (also called Thomson Road).

• Esko is about six miles east of Cloquet.
• It's about 16 miles southwest of Duluth.

Carlton County Road 61 is an important road that runs through the community.

Who lives in Esko?

Many people living in Esko today are descendants of immigrants who came from Finnish, Norway, and Sweden. These families settled in the area in the early 1900s. Their culture is still a big part of Esko's traditions. The nearby community of Thomson also has many people with Scandinavian roots.

A Look at Esko's History

Esko was first settled by immigrants between the 1870s and the early 1900s. Most of these early settlers came from Finland. Their culture and traditions have greatly influenced the community.

How Esko got its name

In 1919, a man named Alex Esko built a small store. This store was located at the corner of what is now Thomson Road and County 61. People started calling this spot "Esko's Corner."

A school called Lincoln School was built nearby in 1920. More and more people began to move into the area around the store and the school. In 1935, the name "Esko's Corner" was shortened to simply "Esko."

Learning more about Esko

You can learn a lot about Esko's past from a book called Esko's Corner. This book was published by the Esko Historical Society. The Historical Society also runs a small museum right in the middle of the community. It's a great place to see artifacts and learn more about the area's history.

Population data

See also

In Spanish: Esko (Minnesota) para niños