Cass County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,066. Its county seat is Walker. The county was formed in 1851, and was organized in 1897.

Cass County is included in the Brainerd, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

A substantial part of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation is in the county.

History

Cass County was created on September 1, 1851, by the Minnesota Territory legislature, although its government was not organized until 1897. The county was formed of areas partitioned from Dakota, Mahkatah, Pembina and Wahnata Counties. It was named for Lewis Cass, a Michigan political figure of the 19th century.Upham, Warren. "Cass County" in Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition. . Minnesota Historical Society Press (St. Paul, 2001) . Before it was organized several parcels of county land were partitioned off to augment or form adjacent counties.

Geography The Crow 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,Cass County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019) and slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on the upper western border, at ASL. The county has an area of , of which is land and (16%) is water.

Major highways

US Highway 2 Minnesota State Highway 6 Minnesota State Highway 34 Minnesota State Highway 64 Minnesota State Highway 84 Minnesota State Highway 87 Minnesota State Highway 200 Minnesota State Highway 210 Minnesota State Highway 371 List of county roads

Adjacent counties

Itasca County - northeast Aitkin County - east Crow Wing County - southeast Morrison County - south Todd County - southwest Wadena County - west Hubbard County - northwest Beltrami County - north

Protected areas

Buena Vista State Forest (part) Chippewa National Forest (part) Crow Wing State Park (part) Foot Hills State Forest (part)

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Walker have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of was recorded in August 1976. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in July.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Cass County, Minnesota – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)18,98819,25123,37724,38324,67590.20%88.34%86.10%85.35%82.07%Black or African American alone (NH)14383159640.07%0.17%0.11%0.21%0.21%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1,8952,3563,0563,0923,4249.00%10.81%11.26%10.82%11.39%Asian alone (NH)425270881110.20%0.24%0.26%0.31%0.37%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census530xx0.02%0.01%0.00%Other race alone (NH)501012960.02%0.00%0.04%0.04%0.32%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census3815901,270xx1.40%2.07%4.22%Hispanic or Latino (any race)106942203404260.50%0.43%0.81%1.19%1.42%Total21,05021,79127,15028,56730,066 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 30,066. The median age was 50.3 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 27.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 104.0 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 82.5% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 11.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.

<0.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 12,614 households in the county, of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.3% were married-couple households, 20.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 23,872 housing units, of which 47.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.8% were owner-occupied and 16.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 27,150 people, 10,893 households, and 7,734 families in the county. The population density was . There were 21,286 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 86.52% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 11.45% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.2% were of German, 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the county was $17,189. About 9.50% of families and 13.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.20% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities Cities

Backus Bena Boy River Cass Lake Chickamaw Beach East Gull Lake Federal Dam Hackensack Lake Shore Longville Motley (partial) Pillager Pine River Remer Walker (county seat)

Census-designated place Whipholt

Unincorporated communities

Ah-gwah-ching Brevik Bridgeman Casino Ellis Esterdy Graff Inguadona Leader Leech Lake Mae Mildred Onigum Oshawa Outing Pontoria Raboin Ryan Village Schley Sylvan Tobique Wabedo Wilkinson

Townships

Ansel Township Barclay Township Becker Township Beulah Township Birch Lake Township Blind Lake Township Boy Lake Township Boy River Township Bull Moose Township Bungo Township Byron Township Crooked Lake Township Deerfield Township Fairview Township Gould Township Hiram Township Home Brook Township Inguadona Township Kego Township Leech Lake Township Lima Township Loon Lake Township Maple Township May Township McKinley Township Meadow Brook Township Moose Lake Township Otter Tail Peninsula Township Pike Bay Township Pine Lake Township Pine River Township Ponto Lake Township Poplar Township Powers Township Remer Township Rogers Township Salem Township Shingobee Township Slater Township Smoky Hollow Township Sylvan Township Thunder Lake Township Torrey Township Trelipe Township Turtle Lake Township Wabedo Township Walden Township Wilkinson Township Wilson Township Woodrow Township

Unorganized territories

Wahnena North Cass North Central Cass East Cass

Government and politics Cass County tends to vote Republican. As of 2024, the county has selected the Republican nominee in 83% of presidential elections since 1980.

+County Board of CommissionersPositionNameDistrictNext ElectionCommissionerNeal GaalswykDistrict 12026CommissionerRobert KangasDistrict 22024CommissionerJeff PetersonDistrict 32024CommissionerScott BrunsDistrict 42026CommissionerRick HaalandDistrict 52024 +State Legislature (2018-2020)PositionNameAffiliationDistrictSenateJustin EichornRepublicanDistrict 5House of RepresentativesJohn PersellDemocratDistrict 5AHouse of RepresentativesSandy LaymanRepublicanDistrict 5B +U.S Congress (2018-2020)PositionNameAffiliationDistrictHouse of RepresentativesPete StauberRepublican8thSenateAmy KlobucharDemocratN/ASenateTina SmithDemocratN/A

Education School districts include: - Text list

Brainerd Public Schools Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools Deer River Public School District Pequot Lakes Public Schools Pillager Public School District Pine River-Backus Public School District Northland Community Schools Sebeka Public School District Staples-Motley School District Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District

Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, a tribal school affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education, is in the county.

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Cass County, Minnesota Woman Lake

References

External links Cass County government's website Minnesota Department of Transportation map of Cass County (southern portion, west central portion, east central portion, northern portion)