Aitkin County, Minnesota

Aitkin County, Minnesota
Aitkin County 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, south-southeast of Hill City, at ASL. Otherwise the highest terrain is near its northwestern corner, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (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 in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1972 and a record high of was recorded in August 1976. Although these records are the official records, temperatures above has been detected numerous times throughout Aitkin County and surrounding areas. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in June.
Demographics
2020 Census
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 . There were 16,626 housing units at an average density of . 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 67% of national elections since 1960. Recent presidential elections have shifted to the Republican Party, with their candidate winning four of the last five elections as of 2020 and their lone loss in that span coming by just 6 votes.
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Aitkin County, Minnesota
References
External links
Aitkin County government’s website
Minnesota Department of Transportation map of Aitkin County (southern portion, northern portion)
Records
Minnesota counties
1871 establishments in Minnesota
Minnesota counties on the Mississippi River