Chisago County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
 Old Chisago County Courthouse originally inCenter City, Minnesota, moved in 1990 toAlmelund, Minnesota. | |
 Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:45°30′09″N92°54′30″W / 45.50247°N 92.90834°W /45.50247; -92.90834 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | September 1, 1851[1] |
| Named after | Chisago Lake |
| Seat | Center City |
| Largest city | North Branch |
| Area | |
• Total | 442 sq mi (1,140 km2) |
| • Land | 415 sq mi (1,070 km2) |
| • Water | 28 sq mi (73 km2) 6.2% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 56,621 |
• Estimate (2024) | 59,105 |
| • Density | 136/sq mi (52.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | www |
Chisago County (/ʃɪˈsɑːɡoʊ/shi-SAH-goh)[2] is acounty in the east-central part of the U.S. state ofMinnesota. The county covers an area of 442 square miles (1,140 square kilometers) and, as of the 2020 Census, had a population of 56,621 people. It is part of theMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county's largest city isNorth Branch. Within Chisago County is theChisago Lakes area, which includes the combined areas of Shafer, Chisago City, Lindström, and Center City. Center City is thecounty seat.[3] The county has a diverse economy, including manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.[4]
Before the arrival of European settlers, the area that is now Chisago County was home to theDakota andOjibwe tribes. The Dakota lived in the southern part of the county and the Ojibwe in the northern part.[5] The first European to explore the area was Sieur duLuth in 1679.[6] French and English trading posts were established in Taylors Falls and Sunrise during the 18th century. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, French fur traders who traveled south from Lake Superior established trading posts along the river, extending as far south as Taylors Falls.[6]
In 1837, a treaty between the United States and theChippewa Nation led to the cession of all lands between theSt. Croix andMississippi River, opening the area for European settlement.[7]
The first European settlers arrived in the Chisago County area in the early 1800s. Most of them were ofSwedish descent, and they came in search of land and new opportunities.[8] They established small farms and communities throughout the county. Chisago County's early economy was based on farming, logging, and mining. Its forests and mines attracted many settlers to the area. Records of early businesses in Chisago County are recorded inLindströmsjö.[9] Many Swedes emigrated seeking religious freedom from the oppressiveLutheranChurch of Sweden. However, the majority left for reasons other than religious repression and still identified as Lutherans.[10] The early Swedish churches in Minnesota, like the Chisago Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church in Center City, were initially lay-led due to the absence of ordained clergy.[11]
In the mid-1800s, the area that is now Chisago County was part of the Minnesota Territory, and it was not officially established as a county until 1851.[12] It took its name from theChisago Lake.[13] In its aboriginal form it was "Ki-chi-saga", from two Ojibwe words: "kichi" (large) and "saga" (fair or lovely).[14]
The county seat was originally inTaylors Falls, but was relocated to Chisago City in 1865. It took three more years before the legislature approved this relocation and voters approved it in a referendum. The move was later challenged in the courts on allegations of election fraud, resulting in a two-year delay before the state Supreme Court validated the results. In 1875, the county seat was again moved, this time to Center City where it remains as of 2025.[15]
The development of transportation infrastructure in Chisago County began with the completion of the first bridge across the St. Croix River at Taylors Falls in 1856. Prior to the bridge, ferryboats provided crossings at Sunrise and Rush City. In 1868, a military road was constructed, spanning the entire county from north to south. Railroads soon became a vital mode of transportation, with the completion of theSt. Paul and Duluth Railroad, also running north to south, in 1870.[6]
By the early 1900s and the dawn of theProgressive Era, much of Chisago County's forests had been cleared, leading to the closure of sawmills and the departure of lumberjacks in search of new employment. Advancements in farm machinery enabled fewer workers to manage larger farms. The county's economy shifted toward manufacturing and industry. The county was home to factories and mills, including sawmills, flour mills, and paper mills.[9]
The Progressive Era also led to reform movements resonating throughout Minnesota and Chisago County.[16] The county's distinct approach to education can be primarily attributed to its homogeneous population and the unique structure of local governance.[17] This uniformity allowed the school boards in Chisago County to effectively control external influences through their selection of teachers.[18]
Nearly 70% of Chisago County voters supportedProgressive Party candidateTheodore Roosevelt in1912.[19]
Between 1970 and 2000, Chisago County's population surged by 135%. Enhanced transportation networks, includingInterstate Highway 35 andU.S. Highway 8, facilitated access to broader regions and led to business and industrial growth.[6]
Today, Chisago County has a diverse economy. It is home to several manufacturing companies, including the Anderson Corporation, a major producer of windows and doors.[20] Agriculture is also a large part of the local economy, with crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat grown in the county.[21] Tourism is also growing, with visitors drawn to theChisago Lakes area's recreational opportunities.[3]
The county has retained and continues to celebrate much of its Swedish heritage.[22]
Chisago County lies on Minnesota's eastern border, abutting the western border ofWisconsin (across theSaint Croix River). The Saint Croix flows south-southeast along the county's eastern border. TheSunrise River flows north through the county's central part, collecting the waters of the North Branch Sunrise River and Hay Creek before discharging into the St. Croix at the county's eastern boundary. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, devoted to agriculture.[23] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the northwest corner, at 1,017 ft (310 m) ASL.[24] The county has an area of 442 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 415 square miles (1,070 km2) is land and 28 square miles (73 km2) (6.2%) is water.[25]
| Center City, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chisago County has ahumid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with long, cold winters and warm summers. The average high temperature in the summer is around 80 °F (27 °C), while the average low temperature in the winter is around 5 °F (−15 °C).
A record low of −38 °F (−39 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1988.[26]
The county's location in the Upper Midwest region of the United States exposes it to a wide range of weather patterns, including severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and blizzards. The county experiences moderate precipitation throughout the year, with an average annual rainfall of 30 inches (760 mm) and an average annual snowfall of 47 inches (1,200 mm). Spring is the most active season for severe weather, with thunderstorms and tornadoes common. Winter storms are common during the winter, with heavy snowfall and blizzards.
Chisago County has many lakes and wetlands, which significantly affect its weather and climate. It has over 100 lakes, the largest being North and South Center Lakes, Green Lake, and Chisago Lake. The lakes and wetlands moderate temperatures by absorbing heat during the summer and releasing it during the winter.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,743 | — | |
| 1870 | 4,358 | 150.0% | |
| 1880 | 7,982 | 83.2% | |
| 1890 | 10,359 | 29.8% | |
| 1900 | 13,248 | 27.9% | |
| 1910 | 13,537 | 2.2% | |
| 1920 | 14,445 | 6.7% | |
| 1930 | 13,189 | −8.7% | |
| 1940 | 13,124 | −0.5% | |
| 1950 | 12,669 | −3.5% | |
| 1960 | 13,419 | 5.9% | |
| 1970 | 17,492 | 30.4% | |
| 1980 | 25,717 | 47.0% | |
| 1990 | 30,521 | 18.7% | |
| 2000 | 41,101 | 34.7% | |
| 2010 | 53,887 | 31.1% | |
| 2020 | 56,621 | 5.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 59,105 | [27] | 4.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[28] 1790-1960[29] 1900-1990[30] 1990-2000[31] 2010-2020[32] | |||
According to the most recent census data, Chisago County's population is 56,621, making it Minnesota's 18th-most populous county. 52.1% of residents are male and 47.9% are female. The average family size in Chisago County was 3.05 persons, and 62.2% of households were married-couple families.
From 1960 to 2010, Chisago County has been one of the state's fastest growing counties. From 2000 to 2014, Chisago County was the fifth-fastest growing county in the state, experiencing a population increase of 12,924 (growth rate of 31.4 percent).[6]
95.4% of residents have at least a high school education, and 22.2% have attained a bachelor's degree or higher. 4.9% are veterans.[33]
Historically, Chisago County has been overwhelmingly populated bynon-Hispanic Whites. Since 2000, it has been home to a small but growing Black, Asian, and Hispanic population.
| Year | Total | White alone | Black alone | Hispanic (any race) | Native alone | Asian alone (incl.Pacific Is.) | Other race alone | Two or more | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | ||
| 1950[34] | 12,669 | 12,660 | 99.93 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9[a] | 0.06 | — | — |
| 1960[35] | 13,419 | 13,392 | 99.80 | 21 | 0.16 | — | — | — | — | 6[b] | 0.04 | 0 | 0.00 | — | — |
| 1970[36] | 17,492 | 17,427 | 99.63 | 33 | 0.19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 0.18 | — | — |
| 1980[37] | 25,717 | 25,423 | 98.86 | 28 | 0.11 | 91[c] | 0.35 | 76 | 0.30 | 59 | 0.23 | 40 | 0.16 | — | — |
| 1990[38] | 30,521 | 30,099 | 98.62 | 63 | 0.21 | 137[d] | 0.45 | 120 | 0.39 | 89 | 0.29 | 13 | 0.04 | — | — |
| 2000[39] | 41,101 | 39,953 | 97.21 | 210 | 0.51 | 473 | 1.15 | 187 | 0.45 | 287 | 0.70 | 126 | 0.31 | 327 | 0.80 |
| 2010[40] | 53,887[e] | 51,013 | 94.67 | 636 | 1.18 | 835 | 1.55 | 313 | 0.58 | 480 | 0.89 | 19 | 0.04 | 591 | 1.10 |
| 2020[41] | 56,621[e] | 50,804 | 89.73 | 845 | 1.49 | 1,451 | 2.56 | 309 | 0.55 | 771 | 1.36 | 185 | 0.33 | 2,256 | 3.98 |
The most common ancestries in Chisago County are German, English, Swedish, Irish and Norwegian.[42][43]
| Ancestry | Any ancestry[a] | Full ancestry[b] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Population | % | Rank | Population | % | |
| German | 1 | 19,608 | 34.63 | 1 | 6,551 | 11.57 |
| Irish | 2 | 8,895 | 15.71 | 4 | 1,515 | 2.68 |
| Swedish | 3 | 8,368 | 14.78 | 3 | 2,380 | 4.20 |
| English | 4 | 6,992 | 12.35 | 2 | 2,766 | 4.89 |
| Norwegian | 5 | 6,463 | 11.41 | 5 | 1,467 | 2.59 |
| Polish | 6 | 3,127 | 5.52 | 7 | 637 | 1.13 |
| French | 7 | 2,846 | 5.03 | 9 | 359 | 0.63 |
| Italian | 8 | 1,859 | 3.28 | 8 | 509 | 0.90 |
| Scandinavian | 9 | 1,692 | 2.99 | 6 | 985 | 1.74 |
| Scottish | 10 | 1,239 | 2.19 | 15 | 118 | 0.21 |
| Danish | 11 | 945 | 1.67 | 12 | 144 | 0.25 |
| Dutch | 12 | 908 | 1.60 | 11 | 146 | 0.26 |
| Finnish | 13 | 900 | 1.59 | 10 | 257 | 0.45 |
| Czech | 14 | 884 | 1.56 | 13 | 142 | 0.25 |
| Mexican | 15 | 883 | 1.56 | — | — | — |
| French-Canadian | 16 | 691 | 1.22 | 14 | 139 | 0.25 |
.svg)
In 2021, 97.9% of residents were born in the United States, and 78.5% had been born in Minnesota. Among the foreign-born population, 56.5% were naturalized U.S. citizens. 97.1% of residents spoke only English at home.
From the late 19th to mid-20th century, a majority of the foreign-born population was born in Sweden.[45][46] As of 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 1,174 people were foreign born, or 2.06% of the total population. Of these, about 40% were born in Asia, 30% inLatin America, 15% in Canada, 10% in Europe, and 5% in Africa.[47]
| Country of birth | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 1930[45] | 1940[46] | 1970 | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
 Sweden | 4,215 | 84.00 | 2,319 | 84.85 | 1,541 | 82.45 | 220 | 59.46 |
 Germany | 390 | 2.94 | 133 | 4.86 | 92 | 4.93 | 52 | 14.05 |
 Norway | 69 | 1.38 | 94 | 3.44 | 77 | 4.12 | 8 | 2.16 |
 Canada | 128 | 2.55 | 56 | 2.05 | 38 | 2.03 | 16 | 4.32 |
 Denmark | 55 | 0.42 | 41 | 1.50 | 40 | 2.14 | 6 | 1.62 |
| Other | 161 | 3.21 | 90 | 3.29 | 80 | 4.28 | 68 | 18.38 |
| Total foreign born | 5,018 | 100.00 | 2,733 | 100.00 | 1,868 | 100.00 | 370 | 100.0 |
| Country | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
 Mexico | 201 | 17.12 |
| Canada | 178 | 15.16 |
 Philippines | 116 | 9.88 |
 Thailand | 68 | 5.79 |
 Laos | 64 | 5.45 |
 Honduras | 61 | 5.20 |
 Cambodia | 60 | 5.11 |
 South Korea | 51 | 4.34 |
 China | 37 | 3.15 |
 Russia | 36 | 3.07 |
 Brazil | 30 | 2.56 |
 Ukraine | 28 | 2.38 |
| Other | 244 | 20.79 |
| Total | 1,174 | 100.00 |
The 2020 U.S. Religion Census conducted by theAssociation of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies found that 7,549 Chisago County residents were affiliated with theCatholic Church, 6,098 with theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America, and 2,975 with theAssemblies of God.[48]
A notable religious building in Chisago County is the Chisago Lake Lutheran Church. The church was founded in 1890 and has been in Center City since 1906. It is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Another prominent religious building in the county is the First United Methodist Church of Lindström. The church has served the community for over 130 years.
The Church of St. Joseph in Taylors Falls is a Catholic church that was founded in 1854. The current building was constructed in 1896.
Among workers 16 years and older, 80.3% commuted to work by car, 9.0%carpooled, 1.6% used public transit, and 2.2% walked, biked, or used some other method. 7.0%worked from home. The median household income was $86,900, slightly above the state average. 6.4% of residents lived below thepoverty line, and 2.5% were unemployed. 86.4% of housing in the county wasowner-occupied.
Arrowhead Transit provides public bus routes and Dial-A-Ride in Chisago County.
Chisago County is strongly influenced by theGerman,Swedish andNorwegian immigrants who settled there in the mid-19th century. It provided the setting for much of Swedish authorVilhelm Moberg's suite of novelsThe Emigrants in the 1950s, and Moberg engaged in both archival and oral history research for his books to recreate the area's early Swedish immigration. Sculptor Ian Dudley's bronze statue of Moberg stands in Chisago City's park.
Moberg's fictional characters Karl-Oskar and Kristina Nilsson from Ljuder parish inSmåland in 1850 with three small children and a group of relatives and neighbors, during the period of the first wave of mass emigration from Sweden.
Moberg penned Karl Oskar as the first to settle around Lake Ki-Chi-Saga (from theOjibweKi-chi-saga-igun, orGichi-zaaga'igan in contemporary spelling), meaning "big lake with an outlet", which was later shortened toLake Chisago. The annual Karl Oskar Days inLindström honor the early settlers' heritage.
The County Board, comprising five members, is responsible for setting policies and making laws in the county. Its members are elected from specific regions and serve four-year terms in a rotating manner.[49]
The County Board sets the county tax rate, adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government.
The Chisago County Court Administrator's Office is responsible for maintaining records, managing case flow, overseeing jury management, and collecting fines for all District Court cases in the county. These cases encompass various types, such as juvenile, civil, family, probate, criminal, and conciliation court cases. Chisago County accommodates three chambered judges in a full-time capacity, and is part of the 10th Judicial District, which comprises eight counties and 45 judges. Any judge in this district may preside over cases in Chisago County.
| Office[49] | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Jim Swenson | Nonpartisan | |
| District 2 | Rick Greene | Nonpartisan | |
| District 3 | Marlys Dunne | Nonpartisan | |
| District 4 | Ben Montzka | Nonpartisan | |
| District 5 | Dan Dahlberg | Nonpartisan | |
| Office[50] | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | Janet Reiter | Nonpartisan | |
| Auditor-Treasurer | Bridgitte Konrad | Nonpartisan | |
| Recorder | Karen Long | Nonpartisan | |
| Sheriff | Brandon Thyen | Nonpartisan | |
Chisago County has trended conservative in recent state and federal elections, backing every Republican nominee for president since 2000.
| Office | District | Name | Party | Residence | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | 11 | Jason Rarick | Republican | Pine City | |
| Senate | 28 | Mark Koran | Republican | North Branch | |
| House | 11B | Nathan Nelson | Republican | Hinckley | |
| House | 28A | Jimmy Gordon | Republican | Isanti | |
| House | 28B | Max Rymer | Republican | North Branch | |
| Office | District | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Statewide | Amy Klobuchar | DFL | |
| Senate | Statewide | Tina Smith | DFL | |
| House | 8th | Pete Stauber | Republican | |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 1,480 | 75.01% | 338 | 17.13% | 155 | 7.86% |
| 1896 | 2,558 | 84.37% | 437 | 14.41% | 37 | 1.22% |
| 1900 | 2,354 | 83.36% | 411 | 14.55% | 59 | 2.09% |
| 1904 | 2,417 | 91.45% | 156 | 5.90% | 70 | 2.65% |
| 1908 | 2,107 | 79.90% | 408 | 15.47% | 122 | 4.63% |
| 1912 | 346 | 13.31% | 435 | 16.73% | 1,819 | 69.96% |
| 1916 | 1,749 | 61.22% | 944 | 33.04% | 164 | 5.74% |
| 1920 | 4,361 | 80.02% | 484 | 8.88% | 605 | 11.10% |
| 1924 | 2,678 | 52.80% | 135 | 2.66% | 2,259 | 44.54% |
| 1928 | 4,215 | 75.51% | 1,297 | 23.24% | 70 | 1.25% |
| 1932 | 2,524 | 43.86% | 3,047 | 52.95% | 184 | 3.20% |
| 1936 | 2,462 | 40.49% | 3,360 | 55.26% | 258 | 4.24% |
| 1940 | 3,569 | 55.97% | 2,746 | 43.06% | 62 | 0.97% |
| 1944 | 3,020 | 55.58% | 2,376 | 43.72% | 38 | 0.70% |
| 1948 | 2,704 | 44.58% | 3,184 | 52.50% | 177 | 2.92% |
| 1952 | 3,892 | 60.25% | 2,536 | 39.26% | 32 | 0.50% |
| 1956 | 3,413 | 55.47% | 2,731 | 44.38% | 9 | 0.15% |
| 1960 | 3,822 | 56.59% | 2,907 | 43.04% | 25 | 0.37% |
| 1964 | 2,525 | 36.65% | 4,347 | 63.10% | 17 | 0.25% |
| 1968 | 3,053 | 39.90% | 4,102 | 53.61% | 496 | 6.48% |
| 1972 | 4,718 | 51.06% | 4,174 | 45.17% | 349 | 3.78% |
| 1976 | 3,874 | 35.65% | 6,625 | 60.96% | 368 | 3.39% |
| 1980 | 5,017 | 40.06% | 6,240 | 49.83% | 1,266 | 10.11% |
| 1984 | 6,279 | 48.12% | 6,683 | 51.21% | 87 | 0.67% |
| 1988 | 6,163 | 43.49% | 7,875 | 55.58% | 132 | 0.93% |
| 1992 | 4,813 | 28.11% | 7,077 | 41.34% | 5,229 | 30.55% |
| 1996 | 5,984 | 33.74% | 8,611 | 48.56% | 3,138 | 17.70% |
| 2000 | 10,937 | 49.74% | 9,593 | 43.63% | 1,457 | 6.63% |
| 2004 | 15,705 | 55.57% | 12,219 | 43.24% | 336 | 1.19% |
| 2008 | 15,789 | 53.88% | 12,783 | 43.62% | 733 | 2.50% |
| 2012 | 16,227 | 55.12% | 12,524 | 42.54% | 690 | 2.34% |
| 2016 | 18,441 | 61.01% | 9,278 | 30.69% | 2,509 | 8.30% |
| 2020 | 21,916 | 63.40% | 11,806 | 34.15% | 848 | 2.45% |
| 2024 | 23,047 | 64.74% | 11,894 | 33.41% | 660 | 1.85% |
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Places adjacent to Chisago County, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofChisago County, Minnesota,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
45°30′09″N92°54′30″W / 45.50247°N 92.90834°W /45.50247; -92.90834
