Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

Mille Lacs County (/ˌmɪl ˈlæks/ mil LAKS) is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 26,097.[1] Its county seat is Milaca.[2] The county was founded in 1857, and its boundary was expanded in 1860.[3][4]

Mille Lacs County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°56′N 93°38′W
Country United States
State Minnesota
FoundedMay 23, 1857
Named forMille Lacs Lake
SeatMilaca
Largest cityPrinceton
Area
 • Total682 sq mi (1,770 km2)
 • Land572 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Water109 sq mi (280 km2)  16%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total26,097
 • Estimate 
(2019)
26,277
 • Density45.7/sq mi (17.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.mille-lacs.mn.us

Mille Lacs County is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area.

A portion of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is in the county.

Etymology

The name Mille Lacs, meaning "thousand lakes" in French, was associated with Mille Lacs Lake in the region. (Its full name in French was Grand lac du pays des mille lacs.) This is the largest lake in the Brainerd Lakes Area, which French colonists and traders called the "Region of the Thousand Lakes" (Pays des mille lacs).[5]

History

The US legislature established the Wisconsin Territory effective July 3, 1836. It existed until its eastern portion was granted statehood (as Wisconsin) in 1848. The federal government set up the Minnesota Territory from the remaining territory effective March 3, 1849. The newly organized territorial legislature created nine counties across the territory in October of that year. On May 23, 1857, one of those original counties, Benton, had its eastern portion partitioned off to create Mille Lacs County. The original county consisted of the portion of the contemporary Mille Lacs County east of the west branch of the Rum River and two townships now part of Isanti County, adjacent to Mille Lacs County. In 1858 the 12 townships forming the contemporary southern 10 townships of Mille Lacs County and the two northwestern townships in Isanti County were organized apart from Benton and Mille Lacs Counties to form Monroe County, leaving the northern "Square Top-knot" as Mille Lacs County. In 1860, Monroe and Mille Lacs Counties merged. Shortly thereafter, the two southeastern townships were transferred to Isanti County, forming the county's present boundaries.

Geography

The Rum River flows south through the county, originating from Mille Lacs Lake. It is joined by the West Branch of the Rum River, which rises in northwest Mille Lacs County and flows south-southeast to its confluence with the Rum at Princeton. The county terrain consists of wooded rolling hills, carved by drainages, with open areas devoted to agriculture.[6] The terrain slopes to the south and east,[7] with its highest point at one mile (1.6 km) from the southwest shoreline of Mille Lacs Lake, in Mille Lacs Kathio State Park. A hill there measures 1,371' (418m) ASL.[8]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 682 square miles (1,770 km2), of which 572 square miles (1,480 km2) is land[9] and 109 square miles (280 km2) (16%) is water.[10]

Major highways

Airports

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[6][7]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
186073—
18701,1091,419.2%
18801,50135.3%
18902,84589.5%
19008,066183.5%
191010,70532.7%
192014,18032.5%
193014,076−0.7%
194015,55810.5%
195015,165−2.5%
196014,560−4.0%
197015,7037.9%
198018,43017.4%
199018,6701.3%
200022,33019.6%
201026,09716.9%
2019 (est.)26,277[11]0.7%
US Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2019[1]

2000 census
Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 22,330 people, 8,638 households, and 6,003 families in the county. The population density was 39.0/sqmi (15.1/km2). There were 10,467 housing units at an average density of 18.3/sqmi (7.07/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.55% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 4.68% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.9% were of German, 14.4% Swedish and 14.2% Norwegian ancestry.

There were 8,638 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.03.

The county population contained 27.00% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,977, and the median income for a family was $44,054. Males had a median income of $32,348 versus $22,036 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,656. About 6.70% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 11.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns
  • Brickton[6]
  • Burnhelm Siding
  • Esteville
  • Freer
  • Johnsdale[6]
  • Soule's Crossing
  • Stirling

Townships

Politics

Mille Lacs County voters have traditionally voted a balanced ticket, but in the past few decades have become strongly Republican. Since 1980 the county selected the Republican Party candidate in 67% of national elections (as of 2016).

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 67.8% 9,952 30.0% 4,404 2.3% 333
2016 64.1% 8,340 28.5% 3,710 7.4% 967
2012 53.1% 6,951 44.5% 5,829 2.4% 311
2008 52.1% 7,049 44.8% 6,072 3.1% 423
2004 55.1% 7,194 43.5% 5,677 1.5% 194
2000 50.9% 5,223 42.7% 4,376 6.4% 654
1996 33.2% 2,948 48.9% 4,336 17.9% 1,591
1992 30.7% 2,814 39.9% 3,648 29.4% 2,692
1988 46.5% 3,862 52.1% 4,327 1.4% 112
1984 51.5% 4,307 47.9% 4,011 0.6% 53
1980 42.8% 3,860 49.3% 4,443 7.9% 710
1976 37.1% 3,212 59.7% 5,172 3.3% 286
1972 55.8% 4,291 41.9% 3,221 2.3% 174
1968 43.4% 2,990 50.7% 3,494 5.9% 406
1964 36.0% 2,474 63.6% 4,369 0.4% 29
1960 57.3% 3,913 42.3% 2,886 0.5% 31
1956 55.8% 3,315 44.1% 2,619 0.1% 7
1952 58.4% 3,766 40.9% 2,639 0.6% 41
1948 41.4% 2,502 55.4% 3,343 3.2% 194
1944 49.0% 2,798 50.3% 2,872 0.7% 37
1940 48.4% 3,459 50.6% 3,619 1.0% 73
1936 33.6% 2,091 60.6% 3,767 5.8% 362
1932 34.0% 1,986 60.6% 3,538 5.4% 312
1928 72.0% 3,998 25.9% 1,436 2.1% 118
1924 48.8% 2,413 3.4% 167 47.8% 2,366
1920 73.2% 3,521 10.9% 526 15.9% 765
1916 44.6% 1,127 44.0% 1,113 11.4% 288
1912 19.6% 392 22.4% 449 58.1% 1,164
1908 62.0% 1,119 23.6% 427 14.4% 260
1904 83.9% 1,451 8.9% 154 7.2% 125
1900 71.4% 1,072 23.9% 358 4.7% 71
1896 66.8% 977 31.2% 456 2.1% 30
1892 56.1% 463 27.0% 223 17.0% 140

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Minnesota Place Names". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  4. "History of the County". Mille Lacs County. April 1, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  5. Upham, Warren. (1920; repr. 1991), Minnesota Place Names, St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press.
  6. Mille Lacs County MN Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019)
  7. ""Find an Altitude/Mille Lacs County MN" Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  8. Mille Lacs County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 3, 2019)
  9. The total county area can be accurately calculated using its described boundaries. The quantity of "land", however, is not consistent across all sources. The US Census Bureau lists 572 square miles; the Mille Lacs County website "History" section lists 583 square miles, and the Census Bureas's Quick Facts website lists 574.47 square miles.
  10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  11. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  12. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  16. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 9, 2018.

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