Cass County, Minnesota


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.
WWW Official Site

History

[Image:HistoricalCassCoMN.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Cass County of 1851 (pink) and today (red)]
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. 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, 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 is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

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

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

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Unorganized territories

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.

Education

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