Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

Mille Lacs County
County
Mille Lacs County Courthouse
Mille Lacs County Courthouse
Map of Minnesota highlighting Mille Lacs County
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Map of the United States highlighting Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 45°56′N 93°38′W / 45.93°N 93.63°W / 45.93; -93.63
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
 (2020)
 • Total26,459
 • Estimate 
(2023)
27,427 Increase
 • Density46.3/sq mi (17.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.mille-lacs.mn.us

Mille Lacs County (/məˈlæks/ mə-LAX) is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,459.[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 is included in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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

Etymology[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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 ft (418 m) ASL.[8]

According to the United States 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]

Mille Lacs located in the north of Mille Lacs County

Major highways[edit]

Airports[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Protected areas[6][7][edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202026,4591.4%
2023 (est.)27,421[11]3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[1]

2020 Census[edit]

Mille Lacs County Racial Composition[16]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 17,947 87.42%
Black or African American (NH) 78 0.3%
Native American (NH) 1,466 5.54%
Asian (NH) 124 0.47%
Pacific Islander (NH) 6 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,173 4.43%
Hispanic or Latino 481 1.82%

2000 census[edit]

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 census data

As of the census of 2000, there were 22,330 people, 8,638 households, and 6,003 families in the county. The population density was 39.0 per square mile (15.1/km2). There were 10,467 housing units at an average density of 18.3 per square mile (7.1/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[edit]

Cities[edit]

Census-designated place[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Ghost towns[edit]

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

Townships[edit]

Politics[edit]

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 2020).

United States presidential election results for Mille Lacs County, Minnesota[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,952 67.75% 4,404 29.98% 333 2.27%
2016 8,340 64.07% 3,710 28.50% 967 7.43%
2012 6,951 53.10% 5,829 44.53% 311 2.38%
2008 7,049 52.05% 6,072 44.83% 423 3.12%
2004 7,194 55.06% 5,677 43.45% 194 1.48%
2000 5,223 50.94% 4,376 42.68% 654 6.38%
1996 2,948 33.22% 4,336 48.86% 1,591 17.93%
1992 2,814 30.74% 3,648 39.85% 2,692 29.41%
1988 3,862 46.52% 4,327 52.13% 112 1.35%
1984 4,307 51.45% 4,011 47.92% 53 0.63%
1980 3,860 42.83% 4,443 49.30% 710 7.88%
1976 3,212 37.05% 5,172 59.65% 286 3.30%
1972 4,291 55.83% 3,221 41.91% 174 2.26%
1968 2,990 43.40% 3,494 50.71% 406 5.89%
1964 2,474 36.00% 4,369 63.58% 29 0.42%
1960 3,913 57.29% 2,886 42.25% 31 0.45%
1956 3,315 55.80% 2,619 44.08% 7 0.12%
1952 3,766 58.42% 2,639 40.94% 41 0.64%
1948 2,502 41.43% 3,343 55.36% 194 3.21%
1944 2,798 49.03% 2,872 50.32% 37 0.65%
1940 3,459 48.37% 3,619 50.61% 73 1.02%
1936 2,091 33.62% 3,767 60.56% 362 5.82%
1932 1,986 34.03% 3,538 60.62% 312 5.35%
1928 3,998 72.01% 1,436 25.86% 118 2.13%
1924 2,413 48.79% 167 3.38% 2,366 47.84%
1920 3,521 73.17% 526 10.93% 765 15.90%
1916 1,127 44.58% 1,113 44.03% 288 11.39%
1912 392 19.55% 449 22.39% 1,164 58.05%
1908 1,119 61.96% 427 23.64% 260 14.40%
1904 1,451 83.87% 154 8.90% 125 7.23%
1900 1,072 71.42% 358 23.85% 71 4.73%
1896 977 66.78% 456 31.17% 30 2.05%
1892 463 56.05% 223 27.00% 140 16.95%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  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. ^ a b c d Mille Lacs County MN Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019)
  7. ^ a b ""Find an Altitude/Mille Lacs County MN" Google Maps (accessed May 3, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 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". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States 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". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  16. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mille Lacs County, Minnesota".
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 9, 2018.

External links[edit]

45°56′N 93°38′W / 45.93°N 93.63°W / 45.93; -93.63

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