Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Crow Wing County is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 66,123.[1] Its county seat is Brainerd.[2] The county was formed in 1857, and was organized in 1870.[3]

Crow Wing County
County
Historic Crow Wing County courthouse
Historic Crow Wing County courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Crow Wing 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°29′N 94°04′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMay 23, 1857 (created)
March 3, 1870 (organized)
Named forCrow Wing River
SeatBrainerd
Largest cityBrainerd
Area
 • Total1,157 sq mi (3,000 km2)
 • Land999 sq mi (2,590 km2)
 • Water157 sq mi (410 km2)  14%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total66,123
 • Estimate 
(2022)
67,948 Increase
 • Density66.2/sq mi (25.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitecrowwing.us

Crow Wing County is included in the Brainerd, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

This area was long occupied by the Ojibwe people, also known as Chippewa. In addition, numerous Dakota people lived in central and southern Minnesota before European settlement. European Americans established a trading post by 1837 in this area, on the east side of the Mississippi River opposite the mouth of the Crow Wing River. The post (named Crow Wing) soon became a center of trading with the region's Native Americans, with a general-supply store that served the area. By 1866, the village contained about 600 whites and Chippewa; it was a major population center. The territorial government enacted the county's creation on May 23, 1857, and named Crow Wing the county seat.[4] The governmental structure of the county was not effected until March 3, 1870. The county was named for the river,[5] which is named for an island in the river that resembles a crow's wing.

Brainerd township was founded in 1870 when the Northern Pacific Railroad selected the site for a crossing of the Mississippi River. It attracted development and population, soon surpassing Crow Wing. It was also designated as the new county seat, drawing off more residents and businesses from what became known as a ghost town, Old Crow Wing. Crow Wing State Park encompasses much of the former village site along the river.

Brainerd City was incorporated on November 19, 1881, named for Lawrence Brainerd, the father-in-law of J. Gregory Smith, the first president of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Smith served as governor of Vermont from 1863 to 1865 before moving west. He is called the father and founder of Brainerd. Lawrence Brainerd was the first president of the Vermont Central Railroad. The Northern Pacific Railroad ran a special train as its first service to Brainerd on March 11, 1871. Its regular passenger service began the next September. The first passenger train from the Twin Cities, by way of Sauk Rapids, arrived on November 1, 1877.

On February 18, 1887, the Minnesota legislature annexed part of Cass County (west of the Mississippi) to Crow Wing County, which doubled the former area of Crow Wing County.

Soils of Crow Wing County[6]
Soils of Crow Wing State Park neighborhood

Geography

Crow Wing County has an area of 1,157 square miles (3,000 km2), of which 999 square miles (2,590 km2) is land and 157 square miles (410 km2) (14%) is water.[7]

Topography and vegetation

Crow Wing County has two state forests, the Crow Wing State Forest and the Emily State Forest. The Cuyuna Lakes State Trail lies in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The topography is gently rolling to flat, mostly wooded and heavily dotted with waters and wetlands.[8] It is home to an abundance of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, coyote, mink, muskrat, squirrels, beaver, occasional American black bear, Bald eagle, osprey and many other waterfowl.

Lakes and rivers

The main river is the Mississippi River, and there are several smaller streams. It has about 417 recognized lakes. The top ten by size are:

  1. Gull Lake – 9,419 acres (38.12 km2)
  2. Pelican Lake – 8,254 acres (33.40 km2)
  3. Upper and Lower White Fish Lake – 7,372 acres (29.83 km2)
  4. North Long Lake – 5,997 acres (24.27 km2)
  5. Lake Edward – 2,576 acres (10.42 km2)
  6. Bay Lake – 2,393 acres (9.68 km2)
  7. Cross Lake – 1,752 acres (7.09 km2)
  8. Round Lake – 1,645 acres (6.66 km2)
  9. Big Trout Lake – 1,343 acres (5.43 km2)
  10. Lower South Long Lake – 1,312 acres (5.31 km2)

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas
  • Crow Wing State Forest
  • Crow Wing State Park (part)
  • Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
  • Cuyuna Lakes State Trail (within Cuyuna Country SRA)[9]
  • Duck Lakes State Wildlife Management Area
  • Emily State Forest
  • Loerch State Wildlife Management Area
  • Mille Lacs Moraine Scientific and Natural Area
  • Safari North Wildlife Park
  • Upper Dean State Wildlife Management Area

[8]

Superfund site and environmental damage

The presence of railroads increased development in the county, but also brought environmental problems. The Burlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter) EPA Superfund site is between Brainerd and Baxter. Burlington Northern Railroad had a treatment plant in Crow Wing County for railroad ties, to protect the wood from weather and insects. Wastewater generated from the wood-treating process was sent to two shallow, unlined ponds. This created sludge that contaminated both the underlying soils and the groundwater with creosote and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).[10]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860269—
1870200−25.7%
18802,3191,059.5%
18908,852281.7%
190014,25061.0%
191016,86118.3%
192024,56645.7%
193025,6274.3%
194030,22617.9%
195030,8752.1%
196032,1344.1%
197034,8268.4%
198041,72219.8%
199044,2496.1%
200055,09924.5%
201062,50013.4%
202066,1235.8%
2022 (est.)67,948[11]2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[1]

2020 Census
Crow Wing County Racial Composition[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 61,252 92.6%
Black or African American (NH) 383 0.6%
Native American (NH) 623 0.9%
Asian (NH) 332 0.5%
Pacific Islander (NH) 19 0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH) 2,602 3.9%
Hispanic or Latino 912 1.4%

2000 census
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 US census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 55,099 people, 22,250 households, and 15,174 families in the county. The population density was 55.2 per square mile (21.3/km2). There were 33,483 housing units at an average density of 33.5 per square mile (12.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.5% were of German, 16.4% Norwegian, 9.4% Swedish, 6.2% Irish and 5.2% American ancestry.

There were 22,250 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% 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 2.93.

The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,589, and the median income for a family was $44,847. Males had a median income of $33,838 versus $22,896 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,174. About 6.50% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Unorganized territories

Government and politics

Crow Wing County has voted Republican for several decades. In only one presidential election since 1976 has the county selected the Democratic candidate.

United States presidential election results for Crow Wing County, Minnesota[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 25,676 63.91% 13,726 34.17% 771 1.92%
2016 22,287 62.18% 10,982 30.64% 2,573 7.18%
2012 19,415 55.60% 14,760 42.27% 745 2.13%
2008 18,567 52.80% 15,859 45.10% 739 2.10%
2004 19,106 56.96% 14,005 41.75% 434 1.29%
2000 15,035 53.45% 11,255 40.01% 1,838 6.53%
1996 10,095 40.44% 11,156 44.69% 3,712 14.87%
1992 9,112 37.13% 8,896 36.25% 6,531 26.61%
1988 11,017 52.69% 9,674 46.26% 220 1.05%
1984 11,362 56.16% 8,719 43.10% 151 0.75%
1980 10,844 50.03% 9,323 43.01% 1,510 6.97%
1976 8,072 41.26% 10,653 54.45% 839 4.29%
1972 8,774 53.01% 7,328 44.28% 449 2.71%
1968 6,687 45.20% 7,411 50.09% 697 4.71%
1964 5,131 35.76% 9,197 64.10% 21 0.15%
1960 7,727 52.87% 6,835 46.77% 52 0.36%
1956 6,657 54.37% 5,556 45.38% 30 0.25%
1952 6,992 53.97% 5,883 45.41% 81 0.63%
1948 4,702 39.70% 6,773 57.18% 370 3.12%
1944 4,500 44.70% 5,504 54.67% 63 0.63%
1940 5,524 44.02% 6,876 54.79% 150 1.20%
1936 3,611 33.83% 6,561 61.47% 501 4.69%
1932 3,991 41.67% 5,068 52.91% 519 5.42%
1928 6,436 67.87% 2,851 30.06% 196 2.07%
1924 4,230 50.07% 417 4.94% 3,802 45.00%
1920 5,262 70.34% 1,077 14.40% 1,142 15.27%
1916 1,715 44.42% 1,568 40.61% 578 14.97%
1912 691 20.96% 709 21.50% 1,897 57.54%
1908 1,681 59.42% 661 23.37% 487 17.21%
1904 2,150 77.01% 333 11.93% 309 11.07%
1900 1,803 67.23% 804 29.98% 75 2.80%
1896 1,701 59.35% 1,066 37.19% 99 3.45%
1892 916 53.10% 519 30.09% 290 16.81%
County Board of Commissioners[18]
Position Name District
Commissioner Paul Koering District 1
Commissioner and Vice Chair John Lubke District 2
Commissioner Steve Barrows District 3
Commissioner and Chair Rosemary Franzen District 4
Commissioner Doug Houge District 5
State Legislature (2018–2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Carrie Ruud[19] Republican District 10
  House of Representatives Josh Heintzeman[20] Republican District 10A
  House of Representatives Dale Lueck[21] Republican District 10B
U.S Congress (2018–2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Pete Stauber[22] Republican 8th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[23] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[24] Democrat N/A

Education

School districts include:[25]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  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 October 27, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  4. Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Crow Wing" . The American Cyclopædia.
  5. Warren Upham (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 154.
  6. Nelson, Steven (2011).Savanna Soils of Minnesota. Minnesota: Self. pp. 53–56. ISBN 978-0-615-50320-2.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  8. Crow Wing County MN Google Maps (accessed March 7, 2019)
  9. Minnesota Div of Natural Resources: Cuyuna Lakes State Trail (accessed March 7, 2019)
  10. "Burlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter) Fact Sheet" Archived December 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, EPA, July 13, 2012
  11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  15. "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.
  16. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Crow Wing County, Minnesota".
  17. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  18. "County Board | Crow Wing County, MN – Official Website". crowwing.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  19. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  20. "Rep. Josh Heintzeman (10A) – Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  21. "Rep. Dale Lueck (10B) – Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  22. "Representative Pete Stauber". Representative Pete Stauber. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  23. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  24. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  25. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Crow Wing County, MN" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list
Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Crow Wing.

46.49°N 94.07°W / 46.49; -94.07

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