Crow Wing County, Minnesota

This area was long occupied by the Ojibwe people, also known as Chippewa. In addition, numerous Dakota people lived in central and southern Minnesota before European settlement. European Americans established a trading post by 1837 in this area, on the east side of the Mississippi River opposite the mouth of the Crow Wing River. The post (named Crow Wing) soon became a center of trading with the region's Native Americans, with a general-supply store that served the area. By 1866, the village contained about 600 whites and Chippewa; it was a major population center. The territorial government enacted the county's creation on May 23, 1857, and named Crow Wing the county seat.^[4] The governmental structure of the county was not effected until March 3, 1870. The county was named for the river,^[5] which is named for an island in the river that resembles a crow's wing.

Brainerd township was founded in 1870 when the Northern Pacific Railroad selected the site for a crossing of the Mississippi River. It attracted development and population, soon surpassing Crow Wing. It was also designated as the new county seat, drawing off more residents and businesses from what became known as a ghost town, Old Crow Wing. Crow Wing State Park encompasses much of the former village site along the river.

Brainerd City was incorporated on November 19, 1881, named for Lawrence Brainerd, the father-in-law of J. Gregory Smith, the first president of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Smith served as governor of Vermont from 1863 to 1865 before moving west. He is called the father and founder of Brainerd. Lawrence Brainerd was the first president of the Vermont Central Railroad. ^{[citation needed]} The Northern Pacific Railroad ran a special train as its first service to Brainerd on March 11, 1871. Its regular passenger service began the next September. The first passenger train from the Twin Cities, by way of Sauk Rapids, arrived on November 1, 1877.

On February 18, 1887, the Minnesota legislature annexed part of Cass County (west of the Mississippi) to Crow Wing County, which doubled the former area of Crow Wing County.

Crow Wing County has an area of 1,157 square miles (3,000 km²), of which 999 square miles (2,590 km²) is land and 157 square miles (410 km²) (14%) is water.^[7]

Topography and vegetation

Crow Wing County has two state forests, the Crow Wing State Forest and the Emily State Forest. The Cuyuna Lakes State Trail lies in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The topography is gently rolling to flat, mostly wooded and heavily dotted with waters and wetlands.^[8] It is home to an abundance of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, coyote, mink, muskrat, squirrels, beaver, occasional American black bear, Bald eagle, osprey and many other waterfowl.

Lakes and rivers

The main river is the Mississippi River, and there are several smaller streams.It has about 417 recognized lakes. The top ten by size are:

1. Gull Lake – 9,419 acres (38.12 km²)
2. Pelican Lake – 8,254 acres (33.40 km²)
3. Upper and Lower White Fish Lake – 7,372 acres (29.83 km²)
4. North Long Lake – 5,997 acres (24.27 km²)
5. Lake Edward – 2,576 acres (10.42 km²)
6. Bay Lake – 2,393 acres (9.68 km²)
7. Cross Lake – 1,752 acres (7.09 km²)
8. Round Lake – 1,645 acres (6.66 km²)
9. Big Trout Lake – 1,343 acres (5.43 km²)
10. Lower South Long Lake – 1,312 acres (5.31 km²)

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

^[8]

Superfund site and environmental damage

The presence of railroads increased development in the county, but also brought environmental problems. The Burlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter) EPA Superfund site is between Brainerd and Baxter. Burlington Northern Railroad had a treatment plant in Crow Wing County for railroad ties, to protect the wood from weather and insects. Wastewater generated from the wood-treating process was sent to two shallow, unlined ponds. This created sludge that contaminated both the underlying soils and the groundwater with creosote and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).^[10]

2020 Census

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 55,099 people, 22,250 households, and 15,174 families in the county. The population density was 55.2 per square mile (21.3/km²). There were 33,483 housing units at an average density of 33.5 per square mile (12.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.64% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.5% were of German, 16.4% Norwegian, 9.4% Swedish, 6.2% Irish and 5.2% American ancestry.

There were 22,250 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93.

The county population contained 24.80% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,589, and the median income for a family was $44,847. Males had a median income of $33,838 versus $22,896 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,174. About 6.50% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

Census-designated place

• Merrifield

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Unorganized territories

• Dean Lake
• West Crow Wing

Crow Wing County has voted Republican for several decades. In only one presidential election since 1976 has the county selected the Democratic candidate.

School districts include:^[25]

• Aitkin Public School District
• Brainerd Public School District
• Crosby-Ironton Public School District
• Little Falls Public School District
• Onamia Public School District
• Pequot Lakes Public Schools
• Pierz Public School District
• Pine River-Backus Public School District

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Crow Wing County, Minnesota
• List of Superfund sites in Minnesota

Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Crow Wing.

• Crow Wing County official website
• Crow Wing County Historical Society website

46°29′N 94°04′W / 46.49°N 94.07°W / 46.49; -94.07