Cass County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 The Cass County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:46°57′N94°19′W / 46.95°N 94.32°W /46.95; -94.32 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | September 1, 1851 (created) 1897 (organized)[1] |
| Named after | Lewis Cass |
| Seat | Walker |
| Largest city | Lake Shore |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,414 sq mi (6,250 km2) |
| • Land | 2,022 sq mi (5,240 km2) |
| • Water | 393 sq mi (1,020 km2) 16% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 30,066 |
• Estimate (2024) | 31,442 |
| • Density | 14.9/sq mi (5.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | www |
Cass County is acounty in the central part of theU.S. state ofMinnesota. As of the2020 census, the population was 30,066.[2] Itscounty seat isWalker.[3] The county was formed in 1851, and was organized in 1897.
Cass County is included in theBrainerd, MNMicropolitan Statistical Area.
A substantial part of theLeech Lake Indian Reservation is in the county.
Cass County was created on September 1, 1851, by theMinnesota Territory legislature, although its government was not organized until 1897. The county was formed of areas partitioned fromDakota, Mahkatah,Pembina andWahnata Counties. It was named forLewis Cass, a Michigan political figure of the 19th century.[4] Before it was organized several parcels of county land were partitioned off to augment or form adjacent counties.
TheCrow 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,[6] and slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on the upper western border, at 1,614 ft (492 m) ASL.[7] The county has an area of 2,414 square miles (6,250 km2), of which 2,022 square miles (5,240 km2) is land and 393 square miles (1,020 km2) (16%) is water.[8]
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Walker have ranged from a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) in January to a high of 79 °F (26 °C) in July, although a record low of −44 °F (−42 °C) was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in August 1976. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.62 inches (16 mm) in February to 4.11 inches (104 mm) in July.[9]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 150 | — | |
| 1870 | 380 | 153.3% | |
| 1880 | 486 | 27.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,247 | 156.6% | |
| 1900 | 7,777 | 523.7% | |
| 1910 | 11,620 | 49.4% | |
| 1920 | 15,897 | 36.8% | |
| 1930 | 15,591 | −1.9% | |
| 1940 | 20,646 | 32.4% | |
| 1950 | 19,468 | −5.7% | |
| 1960 | 16,720 | −14.1% | |
| 1970 | 17,323 | 3.6% | |
| 1980 | 21,050 | 21.5% | |
| 1990 | 21,791 | 3.5% | |
| 2000 | 27,150 | 24.6% | |
| 2010 | 28,567 | 5.2% | |
| 2020 | 30,066 | 5.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 31,442 | [10] | 4.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13] 1990-2000[14] 2010-2020[2] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 24,675 | 82.07% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 64 | 0.21% |
| Native American (NH) | 3,424 | 11.4% |
| Asian (NH) | 111 | 0.37% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 1,366 | 4.54% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 426 | 1.42% |
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 27,150 people, 10,893 households, and 7,734 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 13.4 per square mile (5.2/km2). There were 21,286 housing units at an average density of 10.5 per square mile (4.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 86.52%White, 0.11%Black orAfrican American, 11.45%Native American, 0.28%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.14% fromother races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 28.2% were ofGerman, 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $17,189. About 9.50% of families and 13.60% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 18.20% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.
Cass County tends to vote Republican. As of 2024, the county has selected the Republican nominee in 83% of presidential elections since 1980.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 311 | 39.72% | 233 | 29.76% | 239 | 30.52% |
| 1896 | 351 | 55.63% | 271 | 42.95% | 9 | 1.43% |
| 1900 | 1,074 | 65.17% | 518 | 31.43% | 56 | 3.40% |
| 1904 | 1,178 | 74.79% | 222 | 14.10% | 175 | 11.11% |
| 1908 | 1,009 | 59.04% | 461 | 26.97% | 239 | 13.98% |
| 1912 | 431 | 20.55% | 565 | 26.94% | 1,101 | 52.50% |
| 1916 | 982 | 38.21% | 1,260 | 49.03% | 328 | 12.76% |
| 1920 | 3,242 | 70.51% | 710 | 15.44% | 646 | 14.05% |
| 1924 | 2,800 | 54.13% | 270 | 5.22% | 2,103 | 40.65% |
| 1928 | 3,781 | 67.02% | 1,747 | 30.96% | 114 | 2.02% |
| 1932 | 2,302 | 38.09% | 3,494 | 57.82% | 247 | 4.09% |
| 1936 | 2,634 | 35.91% | 4,440 | 60.54% | 260 | 3.55% |
| 1940 | 4,089 | 47.92% | 4,392 | 51.47% | 52 | 0.61% |
| 1944 | 3,135 | 47.88% | 3,377 | 51.58% | 35 | 0.53% |
| 1948 | 3,179 | 43.68% | 3,933 | 54.04% | 166 | 2.28% |
| 1952 | 4,601 | 61.46% | 2,818 | 37.64% | 67 | 0.90% |
| 1956 | 4,007 | 59.23% | 2,748 | 40.62% | 10 | 0.15% |
| 1960 | 4,399 | 55.05% | 3,578 | 44.78% | 14 | 0.18% |
| 1964 | 3,110 | 40.11% | 4,635 | 59.78% | 9 | 0.12% |
| 1968 | 3,888 | 48.91% | 3,569 | 44.89% | 493 | 6.20% |
| 1972 | 4,906 | 57.70% | 3,347 | 39.36% | 250 | 2.94% |
| 1976 | 4,443 | 43.41% | 5,424 | 53.00% | 367 | 3.59% |
| 1980 | 6,119 | 53.28% | 4,717 | 41.07% | 649 | 5.65% |
| 1984 | 6,619 | 57.71% | 4,773 | 41.61% | 78 | 0.68% |
| 1988 | 5,895 | 53.02% | 5,127 | 46.11% | 97 | 0.87% |
| 1992 | 4,276 | 35.06% | 4,901 | 40.18% | 3,020 | 24.76% |
| 1996 | 4,791 | 39.83% | 5,437 | 45.20% | 1,801 | 14.97% |
| 2000 | 7,134 | 52.48% | 5,534 | 40.71% | 925 | 6.80% |
| 2004 | 8,875 | 55.78% | 6,835 | 42.96% | 200 | 1.26% |
| 2008 | 8,660 | 53.11% | 7,276 | 44.62% | 371 | 2.28% |
| 2012 | 8,957 | 55.49% | 6,858 | 42.49% | 326 | 2.02% |
| 2016 | 9,982 | 62.39% | 4,949 | 30.93% | 1,068 | 6.68% |
| 2020 | 11,620 | 63.54% | 6,342 | 34.68% | 327 | 1.79% |
| 2024 | 12,759 | 65.89% | 6,300 | 32.54% | 304 | 1.57% |
| Position | Name | District | Next Election | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner | Neal Gaalswyk | District 1 | 2026 | |
| Commissioner | Robert Kangas | District 2 | 2024 | |
| Commissioner | Jeff Peterson | District 3 | 2024 | |
| Commissioner | Scott Bruns | District 4 | 2026 | |
| Commissioner | Rick Haaland | District 5 | 2024 | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Justin Eichorn[18] | Republican | District 5 | |
| House of Representatives | John Persell[19] | Democrat | District 5A | |
| House of Representatives | Sandy Layman[20] | Republican | District 5B | |
| 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 | |
School districts include:[24]
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, a tribal school affiliated with theBureau of Indian Education, is in the county.
Places adjacent to Cass County, Minnesota | |
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Municipalities and communities ofCass County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships |
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| Unorganized territories | ||
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Cities in theBrainerd Lakes area,Minnesota | |||||
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| Surrounding communities |
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| Counties | |||||
† indicates acounty seat.‡ indicates that it is partially in the micropolitan area.§ indicates aCDP. | |||||
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