 crow wing county is a county located in the u.s. state of minnesota. as of the 2010 census, the population was 62,500. its county seat is brainerd. the county was formed in 1857 and organized in 1870. crow wing county is included in the brainerd, mn micropolitan statistical area. ==history== crow wing county was established on may 23, 1857 and organized march 3, 1870. it is named for the crow wing river, which is itself named for an island in the river which is shaped like the wing of a crow. twenty years or more before the county was outlined and named, a trading post was established on the east side of the mississippi river opposite the mouth of the crow wing river. in 1837 there was again a station of the fur traders facing the northern mouth of the crow wing river. a few years later it became the center of indian trading and had the general supply store for the area. by 1866 the village contained about 600 whites and chippewas. the part of crow wing county west of the mississippi was annexed from cass county by an act of the legislature on february 18, 1887, doubling its former area. brainerd township was founded in 1870 when the northern pacific survey determined that the crossing of the mississippi should be there. it became a city on november 19, 1881. the name was chosen in honor of the wife of j. gregory smith, the first president of the northern pacific railroad company. mrs. brainerd smith was the author of novels, books of travel and other works. the northern pacific railroad ran its first train to brainerd, a special train, on march 11, 1871 and its regular passenger service began the next september. the firs
1870_establishments_in_Minnesota Minnesota_counties Minnesota_counties_on_the_Mississippi_River Populated_places_established_in_1870