Koochiching County, Minnesota

Koochiching County (/ˈkuːtʃɪtʃɪŋ/ KOOCH-itch-ing) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,062.[2] Its county seat is International Falls.[3] A portion of the Bois Forte Indian Reservation is in the county. A small part of Voyageurs National Park extends into its boundary, with Lake of the Woods County to its northwest.

Koochiching County
County
Koochiching County Courthouse
Koochiching County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Koochiching County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 48°16′N 93°46′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedDecember 19, 1906[1]
Named forOjibway words for neighbor lake, river
SeatInternational Falls
Largest cityInternational Falls
Area
 • Total3,154 sq mi (8,170 km2)
 • Land3,104 sq mi (8,040 km2)
 • Water50 sq mi (100 km2)  1.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total12,062
 • Estimate 
(2022)
11,844 Decrease
 • Density3.9/sq mi (1.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.koochiching.mn.us

History

About 10,000 years ago almost 90% of Koochiching County was covered by Lake Agassiz. When it receded it left low areas of decayed vegetation (muskeg); as a result, three-quarters of northern Koochiching are underlain with 2 to 50 feet of peat.[4][5]

The name "Koochiching" comes from either the Ojibwe word Gojijiing or Cree Kocicīhk (recorded in some documents as "Ouchichiq"), both meaning "at the place of inlets," referring to the neighboring Rainy Lake and River. Reverend J.A. Gilfillan recorded their meaning, "according to some, Neighbor lake, according to others a lake somewhere," possibly referring to the neighbouring Rainy Lake and to Lake Couchiching located in southern Ontario. Early European (French) inhabitants gave the names Lac à la Pluie (Rainy Lake) and Rivière à la Pluie (Rainy River) to the nearby bodies of water because of the mist-like rain present at the falls of Rainy River and then to the settlement that became known as International Falls.

European settlers in Koochiching County were of many occupations. They were explorers, traders, homesteaders, and lumberjacks. They also were teachers, preachers, merchants, engineers, and builders of industry. Settlers came at the beginning of the 1900s and suffered through isolation, illness, harsh weather, and poverty. They built schools, churches, and good roads.

Koochiching County is the second largest county in area next to Saint Louis County. It is also one of the youngest counties in the state having been created in 1906 after it was separated from Itasca County.

Geography
Voyageurs National Park

Koochiching County lies on the northern edge of Minnesota. Its northern border abuts the south border of Canada (across the Rainy River). The Rainy River flows west-northwestward along its north border, being fed by several rivers which drain from the county into the Rainy: Rat Root River drains the east central part of the county; Little Fork River flows northward through the eastern part of the county; Big Fork River flows northward through the east-central part of the county; Black River flows northward through the central part of the county; Rapid River and East Fork Rapid River flow north-northwestward through the western part of the county, joining in the northwestern part of the county shortly before exiting the county's west line to discharge into the Rainy, just west of the county's northwestern corner.

The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, with swampy areas where Lake Agassiz basin was deepest. There are also deposits of peat from 1½ to 50 feet in the low areas. The fairly level soil is broken by ledges of precambrian rock. Bedrock in the area includes Ely greenstone and greenstone schists that are said to be among the oldest on the planet.[6] The terrain slopes to the north, with its highest point on the western part of its southern border at 1,515 ft (462 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 3,154 square miles (8,170 km2), of which 3,104 square miles (8,040 km2) is land and 50 square miles (130 km2) (1.6%) is water.[8] It is the second-largest county in Minnesota by land area and third-largest by total area.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[6]
  • East Rat Root River Scientific and Natural Area
  • Lost River Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
  • Myrtle Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
  • Pine Island State Forest
  • Smoky Bear State Forest
  • South Black River Peatland Scientific and Natural Area
  • Superior National Forest (part)
  • Voyageurs National Park (part)

Lakes[6]
  • Bartlett Lake
  • Battle Lake
  • Cameron Lake
  • Clear Lake
  • Dark Lake
  • Franklin Lake
  • Larson Lake
  • Little Constance Lake
  • Little Lake
  • Lost Lake
  • Moose Lake
  • Myrtle Lake
  • Nett Lake (part)
  • Pine Lake
  • Pocquette Lake
  • Rainy Lake (part)
  • Rat Root Lake
  • Seretha Lake
  • Silversack Lake
  • Teufer Lake

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19106,431—
192013,520110.2%
193014,0784.1%
194016,93020.3%
195016,910−0.1%
196018,1907.6%
197017,131−5.8%
198017,5712.6%
199016,299−7.2%
200014,355−11.9%
201013,311−7.3%
202012,062−9.4%
2022 (est.)11,844[9]−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[2]

2020 Census
Koochiching County Racial Composition[14]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 10,920 90.53%
Black or African American (NH) 44 0.36%
Native American (NH) 278 2.3%
Asian (NH) 34 0.3%
Pacific Islander (NH) 12 0.1%
Other/Mixed (NH) 607 5.03%
Hispanic or Latino 167 1.4%

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

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,355 people, 6,040 households, and 3,962 families in the county. The population density was 4.62 per square mile (1.78/km2). There were 7,719 housing units at an average density of 2.49 per square mile (0.96/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.12% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 2.15% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 0.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.2% were of Norwegian, 19.8% German, 12.3% Swedish and 7.0% Irish ancestry.

There were 6,040 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 30.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.88.

The county population contained 23.90% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 26.00% 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 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,262, and the median income for a family was $43,608. Males had a median income of $40,642 versus $22,261 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,167. About 8.40% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.10% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

From 1932 through 1996, Koochiching County voters tended Democratic, selecting the Democratic nominee in every election save Nixon's 1972 landslide. In 2000, George W. Bush became the first Republican to carry the county since 1972, despite narrowly losing the overall national popular vote. It returned to the Democratic column in the subsequent three elections, although none of the Democratic nominees in those three elections managed as high a vote share as Mondale in 1984 or Dukakis in 1988. In 2016, Donald Trump became the second Republican since 1972 to carry the county, and carried it again in 2020, with an increased majority—the first time the county has ever voted Republican two elections in a row.

United States presidential election results for Koochiching County, Minnesota[15][16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,131 59.68% 2,659 38.41% 132 1.91%
2016 3,569 56.09% 2,306 36.24% 488 7.67%
2012 2,841 43.99% 3,451 53.44% 166 2.57%
2008 2,962 43.55% 3,649 53.65% 191 2.81%
2004 3,539 48.42% 3,662 50.10% 108 1.48%
2000 3,523 51.21% 2,903 42.20% 453 6.59%
1996 2,080 30.91% 3,472 51.59% 1,178 17.50%
1992 1,954 26.18% 3,474 46.54% 2,037 27.29%
1988 2,842 41.92% 3,867 57.04% 71 1.05%
1984 3,466 44.77% 4,238 54.74% 38 0.49%
1980 3,433 41.61% 4,181 50.68% 636 7.71%
1976 2,893 36.13% 4,846 60.52% 268 3.35%
1972 3,681 50.91% 3,396 46.97% 153 2.12%
1968 2,104 29.57% 4,697 66.01% 315 4.43%
1964 1,602 21.39% 5,878 78.47% 11 0.15%
1960 3,055 39.90% 4,578 59.80% 23 0.30%
1956 2,757 42.63% 3,695 57.13% 16 0.25%
1952 2,742 40.02% 4,078 59.52% 31 0.45%
1948 1,718 24.66% 4,968 71.30% 282 4.05%
1944 1,607 28.50% 3,981 70.60% 51 0.90%
1940 2,095 28.49% 5,219 70.98% 39 0.53%
1936 1,316 20.21% 5,065 77.77% 132 2.03%
1932 1,427 28.69% 3,148 63.29% 399 8.02%
1928 2,599 53.67% 2,110 43.57% 134 2.77%
1924 1,536 37.42% 222 5.41% 2,347 57.17%
1920 1,786 55.29% 859 26.59% 585 18.11%
1916 474 25.68% 1,089 58.99% 283 15.33%
1912 239 12.63% 638 33.72% 1,015 53.65%
1908 826 56.00% 420 28.47% 229 15.53%
County Board of Commissioners[17]
Position Name District Next Election
Commissioner and Vice Chair Destry Hell District 1 2026
Commissioner Ricky Roche District 2 2026
Commissioner Terry Murray District 3 2025
Commissioner and Board Chair Jason Sjoblom District 4 2026
Commissioner Wayne Skoe District 5 2025
State Legislature
Position Name Affiliation District
Senate Tom Bakk[18] Independent District 3
House of Representatives Rob Ecklund[19] Democrat District 3A
U.S Congress (2018-2020)
Position Name Affiliation District
House of Representatives Pete Stauber[20] Republican 8th
Senate Amy Klobuchar[21] Democrat N/A
Senate Tina Smith[22] Democrat N/A

Communities

Koochiching County is unique in Minnesota, in the sense that there are no organized civil township governments within the county, due to legislative action taken by the county to absorb existing township governments. Survey townships, as defined by the Public Land Survey System exist but are not organized. Six city governments have been created, and the rest of the county consists of unorganized territories and unincorporated communities.

Cities[6]

Unorganized territories

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities[6]

Ghost towns[6]
  • Border
  • Fairland
  • Falls Junction
  • Rainy Lake City[24]
  • Ridge
  • The Pines
  • Wayland

Koochiching County is the location of the fictional town of Frostbite Falls, the home of the animated characters Rocky and Bullwinkle. Frostbite Falls was probably named in honor of International Falls, since International Falls is often referred to as the nation's icebox.[25]

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. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Schwankl, Hermoine Gordon (1983). "History of Koochiching County". Koochiching County. Archived from the original on April 5, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  5. Soper, E. K. (1919). "Peat Deposits of Minnesota". Bulletin of the Minnesota Geological Survey (16): 172.
  6. Koochiching County MN Google Maps (accessed March 17, 2019)
  7. ""Find an Altitude/Koochiching County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 17, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  8. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  13. "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 18, 2014.
  14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Koochiching County, Minnesota".
  15. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  16. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 522 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 460 votes, Prohibition candidate Eugene Chafin received 16 votes, and Socialist Labor candidate Arthur Reimer received 17 votes.
  17. "County Commission | Koochiching County, MN". www.co.koochiching.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  18. "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. "Rep. Rob Ecklund (03A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. "Representative Pete Stauber". Representative Pete Stauber. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  21. "U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar". www.klobuchar.senate.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. "Home". Senator Tina Smith. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  23. History of International Falls (page 4). Accessed March 17, 2019
  24. Rainy Lake City - National Park Service (accessed March 17, 2019)
  25. History of International Falls (p. 5) Accessed March 17, 2019
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