Crow Wing County, Minnesota | |
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 Location within the U.S. state ofMinnesota | |
 Minnesota's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:46°29′N94°04′W / 46.49°N 94.07°W /46.49; -94.07 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | May 23, 1857 (created) March 3, 1870 (organized) |
| Named after | Crow Wing River |
| Seat | Brainerd |
| Largest city | Brainerd |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,157 sq mi (3,000 km2) |
| • Land | 999 sq mi (2,590 km2) |
| • Water | 157 sq mi (410 km2) 14% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 66,123 |
• Estimate (2024) | 68,642 |
| • Density | 66.2/sq mi (25.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | crowwing |
Crow Wing County is acounty in the East Central part of theU.S. state ofMinnesota. As of the2020 census, the population was 66,123.[1] Itscounty seat isBrainerd.[2] The county was formed in 1857, and was organized in 1870.[3]
Crow Wing County is included in the Brainerd, MNMicropolitan Statistical Area.
This area was long occupied by theOjibwe people, also known as Chippewa. In addition, numerousDakota people lived in central and southern Minnesota before European settlement. European Americans established a trading post by 1837 in this area, on the east side of theMississippi River opposite the mouth of the Crow Wing River. The post (named Crow Wing) soon became a center of trading with the region's Native Americans, with a general-supply store that served the area. By 1866, the village contained about 600 whites and Chippewa; it was a major population center. The territorial government enacted the county's creation on May 23, 1857, and named Crow Wing the county seat.[4] The governmental structure of the county was not effected until March 3, 1870. The county was named for the river,[5] which is named for an island in the river that resembles a crow's wing.
Brainerd township was founded in 1870 when theNorthern Pacific Railroad selected the site for a crossing of theMississippi River. It attracted development and population, soon surpassing Crow Wing. It was also designated as the new county seat, drawing off more residents and businesses from what became known as a ghost town,Old Crow Wing.Crow Wing State Park encompasses much of the former village site along the river.
Brainerd City was incorporated on November 19, 1881, named for Lawrence Brainerd, the father-in-law ofJ. Gregory Smith, the first president of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Smith served as governor of Vermont from 1863 to 1865 before moving west. He is called the father and founder of Brainerd. Lawrence Brainerd was the first president of theVermont Central Railroad.[citation needed] The Northern Pacific Railroad ran a special train as its first service to Brainerd on March 11, 1871. Its regular passenger service began the next September. The first passenger train from theTwin Cities, by way ofSauk Rapids, arrived on November 1, 1877.
On February 18, 1887, the Minnesota legislature annexed part ofCass County (west of the Mississippi) to Crow Wing County, which doubled the former area of Crow Wing County.
Crow Wing County has an area of 1,157 square miles (3,000 km2), of which 999 square miles (2,590 km2) is land and 157 square miles (410 km2) (14%) is water.[7]
Crow Wing County has twostate forests, theCrow Wing State Forest and theEmily State Forest. The Cuyuna Lakes State Trail lies in theUpper Mississippi River Basin. The topography is gently rolling to flat, mostly wooded and heavily dotted with waters and wetlands.[8] It is home to an abundance ofwildlife, includingwhite-tailed deer,cottontail rabbit,snowshoe hare,raccoon,red fox,gray fox,coyote,mink,muskrat,squirrels,beaver, occasionalAmerican black bear,Bald eagle,osprey and many otherwaterfowl.
The main river is theMississippi River, and there are several smaller streams.It has about 417 recognized lakes. The top ten by size are:
The presence of railroads increased development in the county, but also brought environmental problems. TheBurlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter)EPASuperfund site is between Brainerd andBaxter.Burlington Northern Railroad had a treatment plant in Crow Wing County for railroad ties, to protect the wood from weather and insects. Wastewater generated from the wood-treating process was sent to two shallow, unlined ponds. This created sludge that contaminated both the underlying soils and thegroundwater withcreosote andpolynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).[10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 269 | — | |
| 1870 | 200 | −25.7% | |
| 1880 | 2,319 | 1,059.5% | |
| 1890 | 8,852 | 281.7% | |
| 1900 | 14,250 | 61.0% | |
| 1910 | 16,861 | 18.3% | |
| 1920 | 24,566 | 45.7% | |
| 1930 | 25,627 | 4.3% | |
| 1940 | 30,226 | 17.9% | |
| 1950 | 30,875 | 2.1% | |
| 1960 | 32,134 | 4.1% | |
| 1970 | 34,826 | 8.4% | |
| 1980 | 41,722 | 19.8% | |
| 1990 | 44,249 | 6.1% | |
| 2000 | 55,099 | 24.5% | |
| 2010 | 62,500 | 13.4% | |
| 2020 | 66,123 | 5.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 68,642 | [11] | 3.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14] 1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[1] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 61,252 | 92.6% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 383 | 0.6% |
| Native American (NH) | 623 | 0.9% |
| Asian (NH) | 332 | 0.5% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 19 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 2,602 | 3.9% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 912 | 1.4% |
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 55,099 people, 22,250 households, and 15,174 families in the county. Thepopulation density was 55.2 per square mile (21.3/km2). There were 33,483 housing units at an average density of 33.5 per square mile (12.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64%White, 0.31%Black orAfrican American, 0.78%Native American, 0.28%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.20% fromother races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 32.5% were ofGerman, 16.4%Norwegian, 9.4%Swedish, 6.2%Irish and 5.2%American ancestry.
There were 22,250 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% weremarried couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.
The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,589, and the median income for a family was $44,847. Males had a median income of $33,838 versus $22,896 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,174. About 6.50% of families and 9.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.
Crow Wing County has voted Republican for several decades. In only one presidential election since 1976 has the county selected the Democratic candidate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1892 | 916 | 53.10% | 519 | 30.09% | 290 | 16.81% |
| 1896 | 1,701 | 59.35% | 1,066 | 37.19% | 99 | 3.45% |
| 1900 | 1,803 | 67.23% | 804 | 29.98% | 75 | 2.80% |
| 1904 | 2,150 | 77.01% | 333 | 11.93% | 309 | 11.07% |
| 1908 | 1,681 | 59.42% | 661 | 23.37% | 487 | 17.21% |
| 1912 | 691 | 20.96% | 709 | 21.50% | 1,897 | 57.54% |
| 1916 | 1,715 | 44.42% | 1,568 | 40.61% | 578 | 14.97% |
| 1920 | 5,262 | 70.34% | 1,077 | 14.40% | 1,142 | 15.27% |
| 1924 | 4,230 | 50.07% | 417 | 4.94% | 3,802 | 45.00% |
| 1928 | 6,436 | 67.87% | 2,851 | 30.06% | 196 | 2.07% |
| 1932 | 3,991 | 41.67% | 5,068 | 52.91% | 519 | 5.42% |
| 1936 | 3,611 | 33.83% | 6,561 | 61.47% | 501 | 4.69% |
| 1940 | 5,524 | 44.02% | 6,876 | 54.79% | 150 | 1.20% |
| 1944 | 4,500 | 44.70% | 5,504 | 54.67% | 63 | 0.63% |
| 1948 | 4,702 | 39.70% | 6,773 | 57.18% | 370 | 3.12% |
| 1952 | 6,992 | 53.97% | 5,883 | 45.41% | 81 | 0.63% |
| 1956 | 6,657 | 54.37% | 5,556 | 45.38% | 30 | 0.25% |
| 1960 | 7,727 | 52.87% | 6,835 | 46.77% | 52 | 0.36% |
| 1964 | 5,131 | 35.76% | 9,197 | 64.10% | 21 | 0.15% |
| 1968 | 6,687 | 45.20% | 7,411 | 50.09% | 697 | 4.71% |
| 1972 | 8,774 | 53.01% | 7,328 | 44.28% | 449 | 2.71% |
| 1976 | 8,072 | 41.26% | 10,653 | 54.45% | 839 | 4.29% |
| 1980 | 10,844 | 50.03% | 9,323 | 43.01% | 1,510 | 6.97% |
| 1984 | 11,362 | 56.16% | 8,719 | 43.10% | 151 | 0.75% |
| 1988 | 11,017 | 52.69% | 9,674 | 46.26% | 220 | 1.05% |
| 1992 | 9,112 | 37.13% | 8,896 | 36.25% | 6,531 | 26.61% |
| 1996 | 10,095 | 40.44% | 11,156 | 44.69% | 3,712 | 14.87% |
| 2000 | 15,035 | 53.45% | 11,255 | 40.01% | 1,838 | 6.53% |
| 2004 | 19,106 | 56.96% | 14,005 | 41.75% | 434 | 1.29% |
| 2008 | 18,567 | 52.80% | 15,859 | 45.10% | 739 | 2.10% |
| 2012 | 19,415 | 55.60% | 14,760 | 42.27% | 745 | 2.13% |
| 2016 | 22,287 | 62.18% | 10,982 | 30.64% | 2,573 | 7.18% |
| 2020 | 25,676 | 63.91% | 13,726 | 34.17% | 771 | 1.92% |
| 2024 | 27,423 | 64.73% | 14,173 | 33.45% | 770 | 1.82% |
| Position | Name | District | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commissioner | Paul Koering | District 1 | |
| Commissioner and Vice Chair | John Lubke | District 2 | |
| Commissioner | Steve Barrows | District 3 | |
| Commissioner and Chair | Rosemary Franzen | District 4 | |
| Commissioner | Doug Houge | District 5 | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Carrie Ruud[19] | Republican | District 10 | |
| House of Representatives | Josh Heintzeman[20] | Republican | District 10A | |
| House of Representatives | Dale Lueck[21] | Republican | District 10B | |
| Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | Pete Stauber[22] | Republican | 8th | |
| Senate | Amy Klobuchar[23] | Democrat | N/A | |
| Senate | Tina Smith[24] | Democrat | N/A | |
School districts include:[25]
Places adjacent to Crow Wing County, Minnesota | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofCrow Wing County, Minnesota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unorganized territories | ||
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Cities in theBrainerd Lakes area,Minnesota | |||||
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| Core city |  | ||||
| Surrounding communities |
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| Counties | |||||
† indicates acounty seat.‡ indicates that it is partially in the micropolitan area.§ indicates aCDP. | |||||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
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