Carlton County, Minnesota

Carlton County, Minnesota
Carlton County is a county in the State of Minnesota, formed in 1857. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,207. Its county seat is Carlton. Part of the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation lies in northeastern Carlton County.
Carlton County is part of the Duluth, MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Carlton County lies on Minnesota's eastern edge. Its eastern boundary abuts Wisconsin. The Saint Louis River flows east-southeast through the county, discharging into Lake Superior. The Moose Horn River flows southwest through the county, discharging into the Kettle River. The Nemadji River and the South Fork Nemadji River flow east through the county, meeting a few miles east of its eastern boundary before reaching Lake Superior. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, heavily wooded, and slopes to the several river valleys. The county's northwest corner lies at ASL, and a small hill west of Rogers Lake rises to ASL.
The county has an area of , of which is land and (1.6%) is water.
Major highways
Interstate 35
Minnesota State Highway 23
Minnesota State Highway 27
Minnesota State Highway 33
Minnesota State Highway 45
Minnesota State Highway 73
Minnesota State Highway 210
Minnesota State Highway 289
Adjacent counties
Saint Louis County – north
Douglas County, Wisconsin – east
Pine County – south
Aitkin County – west
Protected areas
Black Hoof Wildlife Management Area
Dye State Wildlife Management Area
Fond du Lac State Forest (part)
Jay Cooke State Park
Kettle Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Nemadji State Forest (part)
Sawyer State Wildlife Management Area
History
Under a 1854 Treaty of La Pointe the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation and other reservations were established in exchange for all the Lake Superior Ojibwe land in the Arrowhead Region. Carlton County was formed and organized in 1870. It was named for Reuben B. Carlton, a member of the Minnesota Senate (1857–58).
In October 1918, an immense forest fire occurred, known as the Cloquet fire. The Carlton County Historical Society hosts a permanent exhibit about the fire of 1918, along with ones about the Ojibwe of Carlton County and the Logging Era.
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Carlton have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1912 and a record high of was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in September.
Demographics
2020 census
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 35,386 people living in the county. 89.7% were White, 5.9% Native American, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 2.4% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 16.4% were of German, 13.5% Finnish, 8.9% Norwegian, 8.6% Swedish and 5.6% American ancestry.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,671 people, 12,064 households, and 8,408 families in the county. The population density was . There were 13,721 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 91.75% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 5.19% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.5% were of German, 16.9% Finnish, 12.5% Norwegian, 11.8% Swedish and 5.8% Polish ancestry. 95.5% spoke English, 1.8% Finnish and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.
There were 12,064 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.
The county population contained 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,021, and the median income for a family was $48,406. Males had a median income of $38,788 versus $25,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,073. About 5.40% of families and 7.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.20% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Barnum
Carlton (county seat)
Cloquet
Cromwell
Kettle River
Moose Lake
Scanlon
Wrenshall
Wright
Census-designated places
Big Lake
Esko
Mahtowa
Unincorporated communities
Atkinson
Automba
Duesler
Harney
Holyoke
Iverson
Nemadji
Otter Creek
Pleasant Valley
Sawyer
Scotts Corner
Townships
Atkinson Township
Automba Township
Barnum Township
Beseman Township
Blackhoof Township
Eagle Township
Holyoke Township
Kalevala Township
Lakeview Township
Mahtowa Township
Moose Lake Township
Perch Lake Township
Silver Township
Silver Brook Township
Skelton Township
Split Rock Township
Thomson Township
Twin Lakes Township
Wrenshall Township
Unorganized territories
Clear Creek
North Carlton
Government and politics
Local government
As of 2019, the Carlton County Sheriff is Kelly Lake. The Carlton County Board of Commissioners has five members, each representing one district. In April 2019 Lake and the Fond du Lac Police Department collaborated on sex trafficking training on behalf of other sheriff agencies that would be affected by the upcoming Enbridge Line 3. In 2017, Carlton County published a detailed Jail & Criminal Justice System Planning Study. As of 2019, Carlton County Public Health employs 36 county staff and 6 contract staff. It has been operating since 1920.
National
Carlton County voters lean Democratic. The Democratic Party has carried the county in every presidential election since 1928, though Donald Trump lost by only 300 votes in 2016 and 307 votes in 2020.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Carlton County, Minnesota
References
External links
Carlton County official website
Carltoncountyhelp.org: A guide to service organizations in Carlton County MN
Mn/DOT – map of Carlton County
Minnesota counties
1870 establishments in Minnesota
Populated places established in 1870