# Cass County, Minnesota

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

Cass County was created on September 1, 1851, by the Minnesota Territory legislature, although its government was not organized until 1897. The county was formed of areas partitioned from Dakota, Mahkatah, Pembina and Wahnata Counties. It was named for Lewis Cass, a Michigan political figure of the 19th century. Before it was organized several parcels of county land were partitioned off to augment or form adjacent counties.

## Geography

The Crow Wing River flows east-southeast along Cass County's southern border, and the Gull River flows southwest through the lower part, to discharge into the Crow Wing on the southern border. The terrain consists of wooded rolling hills, heavily dotted with lakes and ponds, and slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on the upper western border, at 1,614 ft (492 m) ASL. The county has an area of 2,414 square miles (6,250 km$^2$), of which 2,022 square miles (5,240 km$^2$) is land and 393 square miles (1,020 km$^2$) (16%) is water.

### Major highways

* US Highway 2
* Minnesota State Highway 6
* Minnesota State Highway 34
* Minnesota State Highway 64
* Minnesota State Highway 84
* Minnesota State Highway 87
* Minnesota State Highway 200
* Minnesota State Highway 210
* Minnesota State Highway 371
* List of county roads

### Adjacent counties

* Itasca County - northeast
* Aitkin County - east
* Crow Wing County - southeast
* Morrison County - south
* Todd County - southwest
* Wadena County - west
* Hubbard County - northwest
* Beltrami County - north

### Protected areas

* Buena Vista State Forest (part)
* Chippewa National Forest (part)
* Crow Wing State Park (part)
* Foot Hills State Forest (part)

## Climate and weather

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
### 2020 Census

Cass County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 24,675 | 82.07% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 64 | 0.21% |
| Native American (NH) | 3,424 | 11.4% |
| Asian (NH) | 111 | 0.37% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,366 | 4.54% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 426 | 1.42% |

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 27,150 people, 10,893 households, and 7,734 families in the county. The population density was 13.4 per square mile (5.2/km$^2$). There were 21,286 housing units at an average density of 10.5 per square mile (4.1/km$^2$). 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.
The county population contained 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

* Backus
* Bena
* Boy River
* Cass Lake
* Chickamaw Beach
* East Gull Lake
* Federal Dam
* Hackensack
* Lake Shore
* Longville
* Motley (partial)
* Pillager
* Pine River
* Remer
* Walker (county seat)

### Census-designated place

* Whipholt

### Unincorporated communities

* Ah-gwah-ching
* Brevik
* Bridgeman
* Casino
* Ellis
* Esterdy
* Graff
* Inguadona
* Leader
* Leech Lake
* Mae
* Mildred
* Onigum
* Oshawa
* Outing
* Pontoria
* Raboin
* Ryan Village
* Schley
* Sylvan
* Tobique
* Wabedo
* Wilkinson

### 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

* Wahnena
* North Cass
* North Central Cass
* East Cass

## Government and politics

Cass County tends to vote Republican. As of 2024, the county has selected the Republican nominee in 83% of presidential elections since 1980.
United States presidential election results for Cass County, Minnesota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 12,759 | 65.89% | 6,300 | 32.54% | 304 | 1.57% |
| 2020 | 11,620 | 63.54% | 6,342 | 34.68% | 327 | 1.79% |
| 2016 | 9,982 | 62.39% | 4,949 | 30.93% | 1,068 | 6.68% |
| 2012 | 8,957 | 55.49% | 6,858 | 42.49% | 326 | 2.02% |
| 2008 | 8,660 | 53.11% | 7,276 | 44.62% | 371 | 2.28% |
| 2004 | 8,875 | 55.78% | 6,835 | 42.96% | 200 | 1.26% |
| 2000 | 7,134 | 52.48% | 5,534 | 40.71% | 925 | 6.80% |
| 1996 | 4,791 | 39.83% | 5,437 | 45.20% | 1,801 | 14.97% |
| 1992 | 4,276 | 35.06% | 4,901 | 40.18% | 3,020 | 24.76% |
| 1988 | 5,895 | 53.02% | 5,127 | 46.11% | 97 | 0.87% |
| 1984 | 6,619 | 57.71% | 4,773 | 41.61% | 78 | 0.68% |
| 1980 | 6,119 | 53.28% | 4,717 | 41.07% | 649 | 5.65% |
| 1976 | 4,443 | 43.41% | 5,424 | 53.00% | 367 | 3.59% |
| 1972 | 4,906 | 57.70% | 3,347 | 39.36% | 250 | 2.94% |
| 1968 | 3,888 | 48.91% | 3,569 | 44.89% | 493 | 6.20% |
| 1964 | 3,110 | 40.11% | 4,635 | 59.78% | 9 | 0.12% |
| 1960 | 4,399 | 55.05% | 3,578 | 44.78% | 14 | 0.18% |
| 1956 | 4,007 | 59.23% | 2,748 | 40.62% | 10 | 0.15% |
| 1952 | 4,601 | 61.46% | 2,818 | 37.64% | 67 | 0.90% |
| 1948 | 3,179 | 43.68% | 3,933 | 54.04% | 166 | 2.28% |
| 1944 | 3,135 | 47.88% | 3,377 | 51.58% | 35 | 0.53% |
| 1940 | 4,089 | 47.92% | 4,392 | 51.47% | 52 | 0.61% |
| 1936 | 2,634 | 35.91% | 4,440 | 60.54% | 260 | 3.55% |
| 1932 | 2,302 | 38.09% | 3,494 | 57.82% | 247 | 4.09% |
| 1928 | 3,781 | 67.02% | 1,747 | 30.96% | 114 | 2.02% |
| 1924 | 2,800 | 54.13% | 270 | 5.22% | 2,103 | 40.65% |
| 1920 | 3,242 | 70.51% | 710 | 15.44% | 646 | 14.05% |
| 1916 | 982 | 38.21% | 1,260 | 49.03% | 328 | 12.76% |
| 1912 | 431 | 20.55% | 565 | 26.94% | 1,101 | 52.50% |
| 1908 | 1,009 | 59.04% | 461 | 26.97% | 239 | 13.98% |
| 1904 | 1,178 | 74.79% | 222 | 14.10% | 175 | 11.11% |
| 1900 | 1,074 | 65.17% | 518 | 31.43% | 56 | 3.40% |
| 1896 | 351 | 55.63% | 271 | 42.95% | 9 | 1.43% |
| 1892 | 311 | 39.72% | 233 | 29.76% | 239 | 30.52% |
County Board of Commissioners :
| Position | Name | District | Next Election |
| Commissioner | Neal Gaalswyk | District 1 | 2026 |
| Commissioner | Robert Kangas | District 2 | 2024 |
| Commissioner | Jeff Peterson | District 3 | 2024 |
| Commissioner | Scott Bruns | District 4 | 2026 |
| Commissioner | Rick Haaland | District 5 | 2024 |
State Legislature (2018-2020) :
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District |
| Senate | Justin Eichorn | Republican | District 5 |
| House of Representatives | John Persell | Democrat | District 5A |
| House of Representatives | Sandy Layman | Republican | District 5B |
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 |