Aitkin County, Minnesota
Aitkin County Courthouse
Location in the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded	May 23, 1857 (created) June 30, 1871 (organized)[1]
Named for	William Alexander Aitken
Seat	Aitkin
Largest city	Aitkin
Area
• Total	1,995 sq mi (5,167 km2)
• Land	1,822 sq mi (4,719 km2)
• Water	174 sq mi (451 km2), 8.7%
Population (est.)
• (2016)	15,583
• Density	8.9/sq mi (3.4/km2)
Congressional district	8th
Time zone	Central: UTC−6/−5
Website	www.co.aitkin.mn.us

Aitkin County (/ˈeɪkɪn/ AY-kin) is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,202.^[2] Its county seat is Aitkin.^[3] A portion of the Mille Lacs Indian Reservation is in the county. The county was created in 1857 and organized in 1871.

History[edit]

Aitkin County was established in 1857 as Aiken County and had a spelling change of its name to the current spelling in 1872. Aitkin County was named after William Alexander Aitken, a fur trader for the American Fur Company, under John Jacob Astor. Formed from Ramsey and Pine counties, Aiken County originally consisted of the 17 townships closest to Mille Lacs Lake. It acquired out-lands of Ramsey, Itasca and Pine Counties to its north and east. It was organized in 1871, taking up lands from Cass and Itasca Counties and losing a point located in the southwestern corner to Crow Wing County to form its current boundaries.

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,995 square miles (5,170 km²), of which 1,822 square miles (4,720 km²) is land and 174 square miles (450 km²) (8.7%) is water.^[4]

Soils of Aitkin County^[5]

Major highways[edit]

• 
  U.S. Highway 2
  


• 
  U.S. Highway 169
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 18
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 27
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 47
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 65
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 200
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 210
  


• List of County Roads

Adjacent counties[edit]

National protected area[edit]

• Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge

State protected area[edit]

• Savanna Portage State Park

Politics[edit]

Climate and weather[edit]

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Aitkin have ranged from a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) in January to a high of 80 °F (27 °C) in July, although a record low of −47 °F (−44 °C) was recorded in January 1972 and a record high of 100 °F (38 °C) was recorded in August 1976. Although these records are the official records, temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) has been detected numerous times throughout Aitkin County and surrounding areas. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.79 inches (20 mm) in February to 4.46 inches (113 mm) in June.^[7]

Demographics[edit]

Age pyramid of county residents based on 2000 U.S. census data

As of the census^[13] of 2010, there were 16,202 people, 7,542 households, and 4,458 families residing in the county. The population density was 8.9 people per square mile (3/km²). There were 16,626 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.63% or 15,494 people White, 0.35% or 57 people Black or African American, 2.4% or 390 people Native American, 0.17% or 27 people Asian, 0.025% or 4 people Pacific Islander, 0.13% or 21 people from other races, and 1.29% or 209 people from two or more races. Of the population with two or more races, 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.5% were of German, 14.3% Norwegian, 13.0% Swedish, 6.2% Irish, 5.3% United States or American and 5.2% Finnish ancestry.

There were 6,644 households out of which 22.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.90% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 21.60% from 25 to 44, 29.10% from 45 to 64, and 23.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 101.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,139, and the median income for a family was $58,290. Males had a median income of $51,604 versus $30,633 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,848. About 5.20% of families and 7.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.50% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

• Aitkin


• Hill City


• McGrath


• McGregor


• Palisade


• Tamarack

Townships[edit]

Unorganized territories[edit]

• Davidson


• Jewett


• Northeast Aitkin


• Northwest Aitkin

Unincorporated communities[edit]

See also[edit]

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Aitkin County, Minnesota

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Aitkin County government’s website


• 
  Minnesota Department of Transportation map of Aitkin County (southern portion, northern portion)


• Records

Coordinates: 46°37′N 93°25′W / 46.61°N 93.41°W / 46.61; -93.41