Carlton County, Minnesota

Carlton County is a county in the State of Minnesota, formed in 1857. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,207.^[2] Its county seat is Carlton.^[3] Part of the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation lies in northeastern Carlton County.

Carlton County
County
Carlton County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 46°35′N 92°41′W
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
Founded	May 23, 1857 (created) 1870 (organized)[1]
Named after	Reuben B. Carlton
Seat	Carlton
Largest city	Cloquet
Area
• Total	875 sq mi (2,270 km2)
• Land	861 sq mi (2,230 km2)
• Water	14 sq mi (40 km2)  1.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	36,207
• Estimate  (2023)	36,825
• Density	42.1/sq mi (16.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	8th
Website	www.carltoncountymn.gov

Carlton County is part of the Duluth, MN–WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Carlton County lies on Minnesota's eastern edge. Its eastern boundary abuts Wisconsin. The Saint Louis River flows east-southeast through the county, discharging into Lake Superior. The Moose Horn River flows southwest through the county, discharging into the Kettle River. The Nemadji River and the South Fork Nemadji River flow east through the county, meeting a few miles east of its eastern boundary before reaching Lake Superior. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, heavily wooded,^[4] and slopes to the several river valleys. The county's northwest corner lies at 1,329 ft (405 m) ASL,^[5] and a small hill 0.2 miles (0.32 km) west of Rogers Lake^[4] rises to 1,450 ft (440 m) ASL.^[6]

The county has an area of 875 square miles (2,270 km²), of which 861 square miles (2,230 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (1.6%) is water.^[7]

Major highways

• Interstate 35
• Minnesota State Highway 23
• Minnesota State Highway 27
• Minnesota State Highway 33
• Minnesota State Highway 45
• Minnesota State Highway 73
• Minnesota State Highway 210
• Minnesota State Highway 289

Adjacent counties

• Saint Louis County – north
• Douglas County, Wisconsin – east
• Pine County – south
• Aitkin County – west

Protected areas

• Black Hoof Wildlife Management Area
• Dye State Wildlife Management Area
• Fond du Lac State Forest (part)
• Jay Cooke State Park
• Kettle Lake State Wildlife Management Area
• Nemadji State Forest (part)
• Sawyer State Wildlife Management Area

^[4]

History

Under a 1854 Treaty of La Pointe the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation and other reservations were established in exchange for all the Lake Superior Ojibwe land in the Arrowhead Region. Carlton County was formed and organized in 1870.^[8] It was named for Reuben B. Carlton, a member of the Minnesota Senate (1857–58).^[9]

In October 1918, an immense forest fire occurred, known as the Cloquet fire. The Carlton County Historical Society hosts a permanent exhibit about the fire of 1918, along with ones about the Ojibwe of Carlton County and the Logging Era.^[10]

Climate and weather

Carlton, Minnesota
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     1     20 1     0.9     27 6     1.5     38 17     2.3     54 29     3.2     67 39     4.2     75 48     4.2     80 54     4     78 53     4.3     68 45     3.1     54 34     2     37 22     1.1     23 7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel[11]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     24     −7 −17     22     −3 −14     38     3 −8     59     12 −2     82     19 4     108     24 9     107     27 12     102     26 12     110     20 7     79     12 1     50     3 −6     29     −5 −14 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Carlton have ranged from a low of 1 °F (−17 °C) in January to a high of 80 °F (27 °C) in July, although a record low of −45 °F (−43 °C) was recorded in January 1912 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 0.87 inches (22 mm) in February to 4.34 inches (110 mm) in September.^[11]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	51		—
1870	286		460.8%
1880	1,230		330.1%
1890	5,272		328.6%
1900	10,017		90.0%
1910	17,559		75.3%
1920	19,391		10.4%
1930	21,232		9.5%
1940	24,212		14.0%
1950	24,584		1.5%
1960	27,932		13.6%
1970	28,072		0.5%
1980	29,936		6.6%
1990	29,259		−2.3%
2000	31,671		8.2%
2010	35,386		11.7%
2020	36,207		2.3%
2023 (est.)	36,825	[12]	1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15] 1990-2000[16] 2010-2020[2]

2020 census

Democgraphic profile of Carlton County, Minnesota
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010[17]	Pop 2020[18]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	31,458	30,910	88.90%	85.37%
Black or African American alone (NH)	494	556	1.40%	1.54%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	2,012	2,148	5.69%	5.93%
Asian alone (NH)	160	153	0.45%	0.42%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	2	12	0.01%	0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	9	85	0.03%	0.23%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	767	1,731	2.17%	4.78%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	484	612	1.37%	1.69%
Total	35,386	36,207	100.00%	100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 35,386 people living in the county. 89.7% were White, 5.9% Native American, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 2.4% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 16.4% were of German, 13.5% Finnish, 8.9% Norwegian, 8.6% Swedish and 5.6% American ancestry.^[19]

2000 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Carlton County, from ACS 5-year estimates

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,671 people, 12,064 households, and 8,408 families in the county. The population density was 36.8 per square mile (14.2/km²). There were 13,721 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.75% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 5.19% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.5% were of German, 16.9% Finnish, 12.5% Norwegian, 11.8% Swedish and 5.8% Polish ancestry. 95.5% spoke English, 1.8% Finnish and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 12,064 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.10% 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 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,021, and the median income for a family was $48,406. Males had a median income of $38,788 versus $25,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,073. About 5.40% of families and 7.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.20% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Barnum
• Carlton (county seat)
• Cloquet
• Cromwell
• Kettle River
• Moose Lake
• Scanlon
• Wrenshall
• Wright

Census-designated places

• Big Lake
• Esko
• Mahtowa

Unincorporated communities

• Atkinson
• Automba
• Duesler
• Harney
• Holyoke
• Iverson
• Nemadji
• Otter Creek
• Pleasant Valley
• Sawyer
• Scotts Corner

Townships

• Atkinson Township
• Automba Township
• Barnum Township
• Beseman Township
• Blackhoof Township
• Eagle Township
• Holyoke Township
• Kalevala Township
• Lakeview Township
• Mahtowa Township
• Moose Lake Township
• Perch Lake Township
• Silver Township
• Silver Brook Township
• Skelton Township
• Split Rock Township
• Thomson Township
• Twin Lakes Township
• Wrenshall Township

Unorganized territories

• Clear Creek
• North Carlton Includes Corona, Progress, Red Clover, and Sawyer Unorganized Townships.

Government and politics

Local government

As of 2019, the Carlton County Sheriff is Kelly Lake.^[20] The Carlton County Board of Commissioners has five members, each representing one district.^[21] In April 2019 Lake and the Fond du Lac Police Department collaborated on sex trafficking training on behalf of other sheriff agencies that would be affected by the upcoming Enbridge Line 3.^[22] In 2017, Carlton County published a detailed Jail & Criminal Justice System Planning Study.^[23] As of 2019, Carlton County Public Health employs 36 county staff and 6 contract staff. It has been operating since 1920.^[24]

National

The Democratic Party historically dominated the county, carrying it by wide margins in every presidential election from 1932 to 2012, but Donald Trump lost by only 300 votes in 2016 and 307 votes in 2020 (a margin of under 2% and holding the Democrats to only a plurality in both elections), signaling a new competitiveness in Carlton County. The only other Republican to receive at least 40% of the vote since 1932 was Richard Nixon during his 49-state landslide in 1972. During the 2022 Midterm Elections, the Republican candidates for Attorney General and State Auditor won Carlton County,^[25] and Republicans also flipped State House District 11A,^[26] which includes most of Carlton County and came among other seat flips on the Iron Range despite not winning the State House overall.^[27] These wins marked a potential realignment towards the Republican Party. This trend continued in 2024, with Donald Trump becoming the first Republican since Herbert Hoover in 1928 to win the county, receiving 50.13% of the vote.^[28]

United States presidential election results for Carlton County, Minnesota^[29]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,435	50.13%	9,905	47.59%	475	2.28%
2020	9,791	48.07%	10,098	49.58%	480	2.36%
2016	8,160	44.81%	8,460	46.46%	1,591	8.74%
2012	6,586	35.72%	11,389	61.78%	461	2.50%
2008	6,549	35.50%	11,501	62.34%	399	2.16%
2004	6,642	36.23%	11,462	62.52%	230	1.25%
2000	5,578	36.99%	8,620	57.16%	883	5.86%
1996	4,034	28.99%	8,052	57.87%	1,829	13.14%
1992	3,922	26.60%	7,736	52.46%	3,089	20.95%
1988	4,626	34.12%	8,790	64.82%	144	1.06%
1984	4,877	34.34%	9,189	64.70%	137	0.96%
1980	4,760	32.09%	8,822	59.48%	1,251	8.43%
1976	4,371	31.33%	9,247	66.28%	334	2.39%
1972	5,445	42.77%	7,116	55.90%	169	1.33%
1968	3,016	25.10%	8,538	71.04%	464	3.86%
1964	2,780	22.49%	9,552	77.29%	27	0.22%
1960	4,613	37.74%	7,576	61.98%	35	0.29%
1956	4,168	39.04%	6,484	60.73%	25	0.23%
1952	4,175	39.03%	6,432	60.12%	91	0.85%
1948	2,742	27.00%	6,967	68.59%	448	4.41%
1944	2,653	29.96%	6,153	69.48%	50	0.56%
1940	3,400	31.87%	7,159	67.09%	111	1.04%
1936	2,163	22.82%	7,136	75.29%	179	1.89%
1932	3,336	42.56%	3,586	45.75%	916	11.69%
1928	4,582	64.01%	2,138	29.87%	438	6.12%
1924	3,142	49.76%	303	4.80%	2,869	45.44%
1920	2,833	59.47%	1,152	24.18%	779	16.35%
1916	1,096	40.18%	1,115	40.87%	517	18.95%
1912	283	10.94%	631	24.39%	1,673	64.67%
1908	1,487	62.37%	506	21.22%	391	16.40%
1904	1,480	76.92%	236	12.27%	208	10.81%
1900	1,119	68.78%	467	28.70%	41	2.52%
1896	1,169	67.15%	543	31.19%	29	1.67%
1892	737	58.49%	370	29.37%	153	12.14%

County Board of Commissioners^[30]

Position		Name	District	Next Election
	Commissioner	Dick Brenner	District 1	2024
	Commissioner and Vice Chair	Marv Bodie	District 2	2026
	Commissioner	Thomas R. Proulx	District 3	2028
	Commissioner and Chairperson	Susan Zmyslony	District 4	2026
	Commissioner	Gary Peterson	District 5	2024

State Legislature (2023-2025)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	Senate	Jason Rarick[31]	Republican	District 11
	House of Representatives	Jeff Dotseth[32]	Republican	District 11A

U.S Congress (2023-2025)

Position		Name	Affiliation	District
	House of Representatives	Pete Stauber[33]	Republican	8th
	Senate	Amy Klobuchar[34]	Democrat	N/A
	Senate	Tina Smith[35]	Democrat	N/A

See also

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