Cass County, Minnesota

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 ASL. The county has an area of , of which is land and (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 in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of was recorded in August 1976. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in July.
Demographics
2020 Census
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 . There were 21,286 housing units at an average density of . 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 2020 the county has selected the Republican nominee in 78% of presidential elections since 1980.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Cass County, Minnesota
Woman Lake
References
External links
Cass County government's website
Minnesota Department of Transportation map of Cass County (southern portion, west central portion, east central portion, northern portion)
Minnesota counties
Leech Lake
1897 establishments in Minnesota
Populated places established in 1897
Minnesota counties on the Mississippi River