# Aitkin County, Minnesota

Aitkin County (/ˈeɪkɪn/ AY-kin) is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,697. Its county seat is Aitkin. Part of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is in the county. The county was created in 1857 and organized in 1871.

## History

Aitkin County was established in 1857 as Aiken County. The current spelling was adopted in 1872. It was named for William Alexander Aitken, a fur trader for the American Fur Company, under John Jacob Astor. Formed from Ramsey and Pine counties, Aiken County originally consisted of the 17 townships closest to Mille Lacs Lake. It acquired outlands of Ramsey, Itasca and Pine Counties to its north and east. It was organized in 1871, taking up lands from Cass and Itasca Counties and losing a point in the southwestern corner to Crow Wing County to form its current boundaries.

## Geography

The Mississippi River flows southward through the west central part of the county. The county terrain consists of wooded rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds. The terrain slopes to the south; its highest point is Quadna Mountain, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-southeast of Hill City, at 1,591 ft (485 m) ASL. Otherwise the highest terrain is near its northwestern corner, at 1,388 ft (423 m) ASL. The county has a total area of 1,995 square miles (5,170 km$^2$), of which 1,822 square miles (4,720 km$^2$) is land and 174 square miles (450 km$^2$) (8.7%) is water.

### Major highways

* U.S. Highway 2
* U.S. Highway 169
* Minnesota State Highway 18
* Minnesota State Highway 27
* Minnesota State Highway 47
* Minnesota State Highway 65
* Minnesota State Highway 200
* Minnesota State Highway 210
* List of County Roads

### Adjacent counties

* Itasca County - north
* Saint Louis County - northeast
* Carlton County - east
* Pine County - southeast
* Kanabec County - south
* Mille Lacs County - southwest
* Crow Wing County - west
* Cass County - northwest

### Protected areas

* Grayling State Wildlife Management Area
* Hill River State Forest
* Kimberly State Wildlife Management Area
* McGregor Marsh Scientific and Natural Area
* Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge
* Ripple River State Wildlife Management Area
* Salo Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
* Savanna Portage State Park
* Snake River County Park
* Solana State Forest

## Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Aitkin have ranged from a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) in January to a high of 80 °F (27 °C) in July, although a record low of −47 °F (−44 °C) was recorded in January 1972 and a record high of 100 °F (38 °C) was recorded in August 1976. Although these records are the official records, temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) has been detected numerous times throughout Aitkin County and surrounding areas. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.79 inches (20 mm) in February to 4.46 inches (113 mm) in June.

## Demographics
### 2020 Census

Aitkin County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 14,479 | 92.24% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 58 | 0.37% |
| Native American (NH) | 376 | 2.4% |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 0.24% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 525 | 3.34% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 220 | 1.4% |

### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 16,202 people, 7,542 households, and 4,458 families in the county. The population density was 8.89 per square mile (3.43/km$^2$). There were 16,626 housing units at an average density of 9.13 per square mile (3.53/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 95.63% or 15,494 people White, 0.35% or 57 people Black or African American, 2.4% or 390 people Native American, 0.17% or 27 people Asian, 0.025% or 4 people Pacific Islander, 0.13% or 21 people from other races, and 1.29% or 209 people from two or more races. Of the population with two or more races, 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.5% were of German, 14.3% Norwegian, 13.0% Swedish, 6.2% Irish, 5.3% United States or American and 5.2% Finnish ancestry.
There were 6,644 households, out of which 22.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.76.
The county population contained 20.90% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 29.10% from 45 to 64, and 23.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 101.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,139, and the median income for a family was $58,290. Males had a median income of $51,604 versus $30,633 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,848. About 5.20% of families and 7.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.50% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Aitkin
* Hill City
* McGrath
* McGregor
* Palisade
* Tamarack

### Townships

* Aitkin Township
* Ball Bluff Township
* Balsam Township
* Beaver Township
* Clark Township
* Cornish Township
* Farm Island Township
* Fleming Township
* Glen Township
* Haugen Township
* Hazelton Township
* Hill Lake Township
* Idun Township
* Jevne Township
* Kimberly Township
* Lakeside Township
* Lee Township
* Libby Township
* Logan Township
* Macville Township
* Malmo Township
* McGregor Township
* Millward Township
* Morrison Township
* Nordland Township
* Pliny Township
* Rice River Township
* Salo Township
* Seavey Township
* Shamrock Township
* Spalding Township
* Spencer Township
* Turner Township
* Verdon Township
* Wagner Township
* Waukenabo Township
* Wealthwood Township
* White Pine Township
* Williams Township
* Workman Township

### Unorganized territories

* Davidson
* Jewett
* Northeast Aitkin
* Northwest Aitkin

### Unincorporated communities

* Arthyde
* Ball Bluff
* Bennettville
* Cutler
* Dads Corner
* East Lake (Minisinaakwaang)
* Giese
* Glen
* Glory
* Hassman
* Haypoint
* Jacobson
* Kimberly
* Lawler
* Libby
* Malmo
* Minnewawa
* Nichols
* Rabey
* Red Top
* Ronald
* Rossburg
* Sandy Lake (Gaa-mitaawangaagamaag)
* Sheshebee
* Shovel Lake
* Swatara
* Thor
* Waukenabo
* Wealthwood

## Government and politics

Aitkin County voters have selected the Democratic Party candidate in 62.5% of national elections since 1960, as of 2020. Recent presidential elections have shifted to the Republican Party, with their candidate winning five of the last six elections as of 2024 and their lone loss in that span coming by just 6 votes.
United States presidential election results for Aitkin County, Minnesota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 6,741 | 64.53% | 3,524 | 33.74% | 181 | 1.73% |
| 2020 | 6,258 | 62.42% | 3,607 | 35.98% | 160 | 1.60% |
| 2016 | 5,516 | 59.76% | 3,134 | 33.95% | 581 | 6.29% |
| 2012 | 4,533 | 49.58% | 4,412 | 48.26% | 197 | 2.15% |
| 2008 | 4,589 | 48.77% | 4,595 | 48.83% | 226 | 2.40% |
| 2004 | 4,768 | 50.44% | 4,539 | 48.02% | 145 | 1.53% |
| 2000 | 3,755 | 45.46% | 3,830 | 46.37% | 675 | 8.17% |
| 1996 | 2,327 | 31.43% | 3,810 | 51.46% | 1,267 | 17.11% |
| 1992 | 2,151 | 28.46% | 3,400 | 44.98% | 2,008 | 26.56% |
| 1988 | 3,011 | 43.37% | 3,863 | 55.65% | 68 | 0.98% |
| 1984 | 3,422 | 46.14% | 3,943 | 53.17% | 51 | 0.69% |
| 1980 | 3,396 | 44.28% | 3,677 | 47.94% | 597 | 7.78% |
| 1976 | 2,476 | 35.63% | 4,308 | 61.99% | 165 | 2.37% |
| 1972 | 3,241 | 53.73% | 2,687 | 44.55% | 104 | 1.72% |
| 1968 | 2,254 | 39.84% | 3,094 | 54.69% | 309 | 5.46% |
| 1964 | 2,000 | 33.96% | 3,874 | 65.77% | 16 | 0.27% |
| 1960 | 3,097 | 50.66% | 2,980 | 48.75% | 36 | 0.59% |
| 1956 | 2,762 | 50.18% | 2,733 | 49.65% | 9 | 0.16% |
| 1952 | 3,384 | 55.93% | 2,577 | 42.60% | 89 | 1.47% |
| 1948 | 2,466 | 41.05% | 3,277 | 54.55% | 264 | 4.39% |
| 1944 | 2,720 | 49.37% | 2,743 | 49.79% | 46 | 0.83% |
| 1940 | 3,744 | 50.12% | 3,610 | 48.33% | 116 | 1.55% |
| 1936 | 2,466 | 37.30% | 3,806 | 57.57% | 339 | 5.13% |
| 1932 | 2,341 | 40.76% | 2,945 | 51.28% | 457 | 7.96% |
| 1928 | 3,951 | 70.10% | 1,428 | 25.34% | 257 | 4.56% |
| 1924 | 2,720 | 53.67% | 212 | 4.18% | 2,136 | 42.15% |
| 1920 | 2,933 | 70.15% | 613 | 14.66% | 635 | 15.19% |
| 1916 | 1,122 | 46.23% | 877 | 36.14% | 428 | 17.63% |
| 1912 | 362 | 17.38% | 413 | 19.83% | 1,308 | 62.79% |
| 1908 | 1,205 | 67.02% | 389 | 21.64% | 204 | 11.35% |
| 1904 | 1,327 | 80.96% | 191 | 11.65% | 121 | 7.38% |
| 1900 | 988 | 77.31% | 262 | 20.50% | 28 | 2.19% |
| 1896 | 855 | 69.46% | 344 | 27.94% | 32 | 2.60% |
| 1892 | 445 | 62.59% | 217 | 30.52% | 49 | 6.89% |
County Board of Commissioners :
| Position | Name | District |
| Commissioner and Chairperson | J. Mark Wedel | District 1 |
| Commissioner | Laurie Westerlund | District 2 |
| Commissioner and Vice Chair | Travis Leiviska | District 3 |
| Commissioner | Bret Sample | District 4 |
| Commissioner | Michael Kearney | District 5 |
State Legislature (2018-2020) :
| Position | Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| | Senate | Carrie Ruud | Republican | District 10 |
| | House of Representatives | Dale Lueck | Republican | District 10B |
U.S. Congress (2018-2020) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| House of Representatives | Pete Stauber | Republican | 8th |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar | Democrat | N/A |
| Senate | Tina Smith | Democrat | N/A |