Aitkin County, Minnesota | |
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 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:46°37′N93°25′W / 46.61°N 93.41°W /46.61; -93.41 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | May 23, 1857 (created) June 30, 1871 (organized)[1] |
| Named after | William Alexander Aitken |
| Seat | Aitkin |
| Largest city | Aitkin |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,995 sq mi (5,170 km2) |
| • Land | 1,822 sq mi (4,720 km2) |
| • Water | 174 sq mi (450 km2) 8.7% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 15,697 |
• Estimate (2024) | 16,335 |
| • Density | 8.69/sq mi (3.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | www |
Aitkin County (/ˈeɪkɪn/AY-kin)[2] is acounty in theU.S. state ofMinnesota. As of the2020 census, the population was 15,697.[3] Itscounty seat isAitkin.[4] Part of theMille Lacs Indian Reservation is in the county. The county was created in 1857 and organized in 1871.
Aitkin County was established in 1857 asAiken County. The current spelling was adopted in 1872. It was named forWilliam Alexander Aitken, a fur trader for theAmerican Fur Company, underJohn Jacob Astor. Formed fromRamsey andPine counties, Aiken County originally consisted of the 17townships closest toMille Lacs Lake. It acquired outlands of Ramsey,Itasca and Pine Counties to its north and east. It was organized in 1871, taking up lands fromCass and Itasca Counties and losing a point in the southwestern corner toCrow Wing County to form its current boundaries.
TheMississippi River flows southward through the west central part of the county. The county terrain consists of wooded rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds.[5] The terrain slopes to the south; its highest point is Quadna Mountain, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-southeast ofHill City, at 1,591 ft (485 m) ASL.[6] Otherwise the highest terrain is near its northwestern corner, at 1,388 ft (423 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 1,995 square miles (5,170 km2), of which 1,822 square miles (4,720 km2) is land and 174 square miles (450 km2) (8.7%) is water.[8]
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Aitkin have ranged from a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) in January to a high of 80 °F (27 °C) in July, although a record low of −47 °F (−44 °C) was recorded in January 1972 and a record high of 100 °F (38 °C) was recorded in August 1976. Although these records are the official records, temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) has been detected numerous times throughout Aitkin County and surrounding areas. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.79 inches (20 mm) in February to 4.46 inches (113 mm) in June.[10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 2 | — | |
| 1870 | 178 | 8,800.0% | |
| 1880 | 366 | 105.6% | |
| 1890 | 2,462 | 572.7% | |
| 1900 | 6,473 | 162.9% | |
| 1910 | 10,371 | 60.2% | |
| 1920 | 15,043 | 45.0% | |
| 1930 | 15,009 | −0.2% | |
| 1940 | 17,865 | 19.0% | |
| 1950 | 14,327 | −19.8% | |
| 1960 | 12,162 | −15.1% | |
| 1970 | 11,403 | −6.2% | |
| 1980 | 13,404 | 17.5% | |
| 1990 | 12,425 | −7.3% | |
| 2000 | 15,301 | 23.1% | |
| 2010 | 16,202 | 5.9% | |
| 2020 | 15,697 | −3.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 16,335 | [11] | 4.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[3] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 14,479 | 92.24% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 58 | 0.37% |
| Native American (NH) | 376 | 2.4% |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 0.24% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 525 | 3.34% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 220 | 1.4% |
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 16,202 people, 7,542 households, and 4,458 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 8.89 per square mile (3.43/km2). There were 16,626 housing units at an average density of 9.13 per square mile (3.53/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.63% or 15,494 peopleWhite, 0.35% or 57 peopleBlack orAfrican American, 2.4% or 390 peopleNative American, 0.17% or 27 peopleAsian, 0.025% or 4 peoplePacific Islander, 0.13% or 21 people fromother 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 wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 29.5% were ofGerman, 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $21,848. About 5.20% of families and 7.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.50% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.
Aitkin County voters have selected theDemocratic Party candidate in 62.5% of national elections since 1960, as of 2020. Recent presidential elections have shifted to theRepublican Party, with their candidate winning five of the last six elections as of2024 and their lone loss in that span coming by just 6 votes.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 445 | 62.59% | 217 | 30.52% | 49 | 6.89% |
| 1896 | 855 | 69.46% | 344 | 27.94% | 32 | 2.60% |
| 1900 | 988 | 77.31% | 262 | 20.50% | 28 | 2.19% |
| 1904 | 1,327 | 80.96% | 191 | 11.65% | 121 | 7.38% |
| 1908 | 1,205 | 67.02% | 389 | 21.64% | 204 | 11.35% |
| 1912 | 362 | 17.38% | 413 | 19.83% | 1,308 | 62.79% |
| 1916 | 1,122 | 46.23% | 877 | 36.14% | 428 | 17.63% |
| 1920 | 2,933 | 70.15% | 613 | 14.66% | 635 | 15.19% |
| 1924 | 2,720 | 53.67% | 212 | 4.18% | 2,136 | 42.15% |
| 1928 | 3,951 | 70.10% | 1,428 | 25.34% | 257 | 4.56% |
| 1932 | 2,341 | 40.76% | 2,945 | 51.28% | 457 | 7.96% |
| 1936 | 2,466 | 37.30% | 3,806 | 57.57% | 339 | 5.13% |
| 1940 | 3,744 | 50.12% | 3,610 | 48.33% | 116 | 1.55% |
| 1944 | 2,720 | 49.37% | 2,743 | 49.79% | 46 | 0.83% |
| 1948 | 2,466 | 41.05% | 3,277 | 54.55% | 264 | 4.39% |
| 1952 | 3,384 | 55.93% | 2,577 | 42.60% | 89 | 1.47% |
| 1956 | 2,762 | 50.18% | 2,733 | 49.65% | 9 | 0.16% |
| 1960 | 3,097 | 50.66% | 2,980 | 48.75% | 36 | 0.59% |
| 1964 | 2,000 | 33.96% | 3,874 | 65.77% | 16 | 0.27% |
| 1968 | 2,254 | 39.84% | 3,094 | 54.69% | 309 | 5.46% |
| 1972 | 3,241 | 53.73% | 2,687 | 44.55% | 104 | 1.72% |
| 1976 | 2,476 | 35.63% | 4,308 | 61.99% | 165 | 2.37% |
| 1980 | 3,396 | 44.28% | 3,677 | 47.94% | 597 | 7.78% |
| 1984 | 3,422 | 46.14% | 3,943 | 53.17% | 51 | 0.69% |
| 1988 | 3,011 | 43.37% | 3,863 | 55.65% | 68 | 0.98% |
| 1992 | 2,151 | 28.46% | 3,400 | 44.98% | 2,008 | 26.56% |
| 1996 | 2,327 | 31.43% | 3,810 | 51.46% | 1,267 | 17.11% |
| 2000 | 3,755 | 45.46% | 3,830 | 46.37% | 675 | 8.17% |
| 2004 | 4,768 | 50.44% | 4,539 | 48.02% | 145 | 1.53% |
| 2008 | 4,589 | 48.77% | 4,595 | 48.83% | 226 | 2.40% |
| 2012 | 4,533 | 49.58% | 4,412 | 48.26% | 197 | 2.15% |
| 2016 | 5,516 | 59.76% | 3,134 | 33.95% | 581 | 6.29% |
| 2020 | 6,258 | 62.42% | 3,607 | 35.98% | 160 | 1.60% |
| 2024 | 6,741 | 64.53% | 3,524 | 33.74% | 181 | 1.73% |
| Position | Name | District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner and Chairperson | J. Mark Wedel | District 1 | |
| Commissioner | Laurie Westerlund | District 2 | |
| Commissioner and Vice Chair | Travis Leiviska | District 3 | |
| Commissioner | Bret Sample | District 4 | |
| Commissioner | Michael Kearney | District 5 | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Carrie Ruud[19] | Republican | District 10 | |
| House of Representatives | Dale Lueck[20] | Republican | District 10B | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | Pete Stauber[21] | Republican | 8th | |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[22] | Democrat | N/A | |
| Senate | Tina Smith[23] | Democrat | N/A | |
Places adjacent to Aitkin County, Minnesota | |
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Municipalities and communities ofAitkin County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unorganized territories | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservations | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
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