Lake County, Minnesota
Encyclopedia
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Minnesota
. As of 2010, the population was 10,866. Its county seat
is Two Harbors
. Lake County was founded on February 20, 1855, as Superior County, though its name was changed on March 3, of that year to St. Louis County. On March 1, 1856, St. Louis County became Lake County, while Newton County to the west was renamed St. Louis County
.
(Sioux) and Ojibwe (also called Anishinabe or Chippewa). The economy of these groups was based on hunting, fishing and gathering, with wild rice
being of particular importance. The first Europeans to explore the area were the French in the late 17th century who were followed by trappers, fur traders, missionaries, and explorers
. Beaver Bay
was the first city in Lake County in 1855.
In 1868, iron ore was discovered on the Vermillion Range by George Stuntz. In 1884, the first shipment of ore left Agate Bay, marking Minnesota
's entry into the iron ore industry. During the late 1880s
, commercial fishing
began on Lake Superior
with the coming of Swedish
and Norwegian immigrants to the North Shore
. In 1890, the Merritt brothers discovered the Mesabi Range
. The Two Harbors Lighthouse was built on Agate Bay in 1892. Ten years later, five Two Harbors businessmen signed the articles of incorporation
for a new mining
company named 3M.
The 3M Corp, which today has over 70,000 employees worldwide and produces more than 50,000 adhesive
household products, now has its headquarters in St. Paul
. In 1906, the Court House, which stands to this day, was built. In 1907, one of the nation's first steel
ore
docks was built in Two Harbors. In 1944, one of the first HMOs in the United States
was created in Lake County to serve railroad employees.
Region of Northeastern Minnesota covering 2,062 miles. Lake County is known for its spectacular natural beauty and within its boundaries are four state parks and a National Forest
. Lake County offers superior hiking
, camping
, fishing
and winter recreational opportunities. Lake County has Lake Superior
, the largest freshwater
lake
in the world
right at its side. With its rugged beauty and pristine shoreline, Lake County offers many recreational opportunities as well as historical shipwrecks, two operating lighthouses and two public marinas. Lake County is home to mining
, logging
, wood products, lumbering, shipping
and transportation, manufacturers, great health care
and tourism
for all ages.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 11,058 people, 4,646 households, and 3,140 families residing in the county. The population density
was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 6,840 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.99% White
, 0.10% Black
or African American
, 0.70% Native American
, 0.18% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.14% from other races
, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 22.3% were of Norwegian, 17.8% German, 14.3% Swedish, 8.4% Finnish, 6.3% Irish
and 5.4% English
ancestry.
There were 4,646 households out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples
living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,402, and the median income for a family was $46,980. Males had a median income of $39,719 versus $26,500 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $19,761. About 5.50% of families and 7.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. As of 2010, the population was 10,866. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Two Harbors
Two Harbors, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,613 people, 1,636 households, and 953 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,120.7 people per square mile . There were 1,631 housing units at an average density of 505.9 per square mile...
. Lake County was founded on February 20, 1855, as Superior County, though its name was changed on March 3, of that year to St. Louis County. On March 1, 1856, St. Louis County became Lake County, while Newton County to the west was renamed St. Louis County
St. Louis County, Minnesota
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 200,226. Its county seat is Duluth. It is the largest county by total area in Minnesota, and the second largest in the United States east of the Mississippi River; in land area alone, after Aroostook...
.
History
Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the area had long been inhabited by Native American groups. At the time of European contact, the principal Native American groups in the region were the DakotaSioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
(Sioux) and Ojibwe (also called Anishinabe or Chippewa). The economy of these groups was based on hunting, fishing and gathering, with wild rice
Wild rice
Wild rice is four species of grasses forming the genus Zizania, and the grain which can be harvested from them. The grain was historically gathered and eaten in both North America and China...
being of particular importance. The first Europeans to explore the area were the French in the late 17th century who were followed by trappers, fur traders, missionaries, and explorers
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
. Beaver Bay
Beaver Bay, Minnesota
Beaver Bay is a city in Lake County, Minnesota, U.S. The population was 181 at the 2010 census.-History:It is the oldest settlement on the NorthShore of Lake Superior. Est. in 1856...
was the first city in Lake County in 1855.
In 1868, iron ore was discovered on the Vermillion Range by George Stuntz. In 1884, the first shipment of ore left Agate Bay, marking Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
's entry into the iron ore industry. During the late 1880s
1880s
The 1880s was the decade that spanned from January 1, 1880 to December 31, 1889. They occurred at the core period of the Second Industrial Revolution. Most Western countries experienced a large economic boom, due to the mass production of railroads and other more convenient methods of travel...
, commercial fishing
Commercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
began on Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
with the coming of Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Norwegian immigrants to the North Shore
North Shore (Lake Superior)
The North Shore of Lake Superior runs from Duluth, Minnesota, United States, at the southwestern end of the lake, to Thunder Bay and Nipigon, Ontario, Canada, in the north to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in the east...
. In 1890, the Merritt brothers discovered the Mesabi Range
Mesabi Range
The Mesabi Iron Range is a vast deposit of iron ore and the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Iron Range of Minnesota. Discovered in 1866, it is the chief deposit of iron ore in the United States. The deposit is located in northeast Minnesota, largely in...
. The Two Harbors Lighthouse was built on Agate Bay in 1892. Ten years later, five Two Harbors businessmen signed the articles of incorporation
Articles of Incorporation
The Articles of Incorporation are the primary rules governing the management of a corporation in the United States and Canada, and are filed with a state or other regulatory agency.An equivalent term for LLCs in the United States is the Articles of Organization...
for a new mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
company named 3M.
The 3M Corp, which today has over 70,000 employees worldwide and produces more than 50,000 adhesive
Adhesive
An adhesive, or glue, is a mixture in a liquid or semi-liquid state that adheres or bonds items together. Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources. The types of materials that can be bonded are vast but they are especially useful for bonding thin materials...
household products, now has its headquarters in St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. In 1906, the Court House, which stands to this day, was built. In 1907, one of the nation's first steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
docks was built in Two Harbors. In 1944, one of the first HMOs in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was created in Lake County to serve railroad employees.
Topography and Vegetation
Lake County is located in the ArrowheadArrowhead
An arrowhead is a tip, usually sharpened, added to an arrow to make it more deadly or to fulfill some special purpose. Historically arrowheads were made of stone and of organic materials; as human civilization progressed other materials were used...
Region of Northeastern Minnesota covering 2,062 miles. Lake County is known for its spectacular natural beauty and within its boundaries are four state parks and a National Forest
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
. Lake County offers superior hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and winter recreational opportunities. Lake County has Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
, the largest freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
right at its side. With its rugged beauty and pristine shoreline, Lake County offers many recreational opportunities as well as historical shipwrecks, two operating lighthouses and two public marinas. Lake County is home to mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
, wood products, lumbering, shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
and transportation, manufacturers, great health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
for all ages.
Presidential Election Results
| Year | Democrat Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 59.89% 4174 | 37.82% 2636 |
| 2004 | 59.57% 4212 | 39.16% 2769 |
| 2000 | 54.53% 3579 | 37.56% 2465 |
| 1996 | 56.2% 3388 | 27.9% 1684 |
| 1992 | 53.7% 3415 | 23.0% 1465 |
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 2990.82 square miles (7,746.2 km²), of which 2099.16 square miles (5,436.8 km²) (or 70.19%) is land and 891.66 square miles (2,309.4 km²) (or 29.81%) is water.Major highways
Minnesota State Highway 1Minnesota State Highway 1Minnesota State Highway 1 is a highway in northwest and northeast Minnesota, which runs from North Dakota Highway 54 at the North Dakota state line and continues east to its eastern terminus at its intersection with Minnesota Highway 61 at the unincorporated town of Illgen City in Beaver Bay...
Minnesota State Highway 61Minnesota State Highway 61Minnesota State Highway 61 is a highway in northeast Minnesota, which runs from the junction of Interstate Highway 35 and Minnesota 61 in Duluth and continues northeast to its northern terminus at the U.S.-Canadian border near Grand Portage...
Minnesota State Highway 169Minnesota State Highway 169Minnesota State Highway 169 is a highway in northeast Minnesota, which runs from its interchange with U.S. Highway 53 in Wuori Township and continues northeast to its northern terminus at the intersection of Lake County Road 18 and Power Dam Road in Fall Lake Township...
Adjacent counties
- Rainy River District, OntarioRainy River District, OntarioRainy River District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1885. It is the only division in Ontario that lies completely in the Central time zone. Its seat is Fort Frances...
(north) - Cook CountyCook County, MinnesotaNorthern Minnesota offers extreme winter weather. While the averages are low, the extremes provide more details. A third of the year is below freezing . Of those days, 21 are below zero degrees Fahrenheit .-External links:...
(east) - Ashland County, Wisconsin (southeast - water boundary)
- Bayfield County, Wisconsin (south - water boundary)
- Douglas County, Wisconsin (south - water boundary)
- St. Louis CountySt. Louis County, MinnesotaSt. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 200,226. Its county seat is Duluth. It is the largest county by total area in Minnesota, and the second largest in the United States east of the Mississippi River; in land area alone, after Aroostook...
(west)
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 11,058 people, 4,646 households, and 3,140 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 5 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 6,840 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.99% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.10% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.70% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.14% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 22.3% were of Norwegian, 17.8% German, 14.3% Swedish, 8.4% Finnish, 6.3% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 5.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry.
There were 4,646 households out of which 27.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,402, and the median income for a family was $46,980. Males had a median income of $39,719 versus $26,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $19,761. About 5.50% of families and 7.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.
Localities
| Cities | Townships | Unincorporated communities | Ghost towns | Unorganized | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Silver Creek Township, Lake County, Minnesota Silver Creek Township is a township in Lake County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,178 at the 2000 census.Minnesota State Highway 61 serves as a main arterial route in the township.-Geography:... |
Castle Danger, Minnesota Castle Danger is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located between Two Harbors and Beaver Bay on Minnesota Highway 61.Gooseberry Falls State Park is nearby.-History:... East Beaver Bay, Minnesota East Beaver Bay is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located immediately northeast of Beaver Bay and southwest of Silver Bay on Minnesota Highway 61.... Finland, Minnesota Finland is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located north of Silver Bay on Minnesota Highway 1.-Notes:... Illgen City, Minnesota Illgen City is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located immediately northeast of the city of Silver Bay at the junction of Minnesota Highway 61 and Minnesota Highway 1.... Isabella, Minnesota Isabella is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located north of Silver Bay and southeast of Ely on Minnesota Highway 1.Isabella is located within the Superior National Forest.... Knife River, Minnesota Knife River is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States. It was originally established in 1856 as Buchanan located on the west side of the Knife River... Larsmont, Minnesota Larsmont is an unincorporated community in southwestern Lake County, Minnesota, United States.First settled in 1888 at Milepost 22 on the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad the community is located between Duluth and Two Harbors on the North Shore Scenic Drive. It was founded by Finland-Swedish... Lax Lake, Minnesota Lax Lake is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located north of Beaver Bay and Silver Bay on Lax Lake Road .-References:... |
Little Marais, Minnesota Little Marais is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States. The community was originally known as Philips Trading Post.The community is located northeast of Silver Bay on Minnesota Highway 61.... Murphy City, Minnesota Murphy City is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located north of Silver Bay on Minnesota Highway 1, and is located within the Finland State Forest.... Silver Creek, Lake County, Minnesota Silver Creek is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States. Silver Creek is northeast of Two Harbors.... |
|
Splitrock, Minnesota Splitrock is an abandoned townsite in Beaver Bay Township, Lake County, Minnesota, United States at the mouth of the Split Rock River. It was inhabited from 1899 to 1906 as a company town to house workers for a logging operation... |
Lake No. 1, Minnesota Lake No. 1 is an unorganized territory in Lake County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 117 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the unorganized territory has a total area of 191.7 square miles , of which, 177.7 square miles of it is... Lake No. 2, Minnesota Lake No. 2 is an unorganized territory in Lake County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,955 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the unorganized territory has a total area of 272.3 square miles , of which, 268.4 square miles of it is... |
|
External links
- County website
- Lake County Visitor Information Website
- Minnesota DOT map of Lake County (Southern portion, Central portion, Northern portion)