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Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Historic Crow Wing County courthouse
Location in the U.S. state of Minnesota
Minnesota's location in the U.S.
Founded	May 23, 1857 (created) 1870 (organized)[1]
Named for	Crow Wing River
Seat	Brainerd
Largest city	Brainerd
Area
• Total	1,157 sq mi (2,997 km2)
• Land	999 sq mi (2,587 km2)
• Water	157 sq mi (407 km2), 14%
Population (est.)
• (2016)	63,940
• Density	55/sq mi (21/km2)
Congressional district	8th
Time zone	Central: UTC−6/−5
Website	www.co.crow-wing.mn.us

Crow Wing County is a county located in central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 62,500.^[2] Its county seat is Brainerd.^[3] The county was formed in 1857 and organized in 1870.

Crow Wing County is included in the Brainerd, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

This area was long occupied by the Ojibwe people, known as Chippewa in the United States. In addition, numerous Dakota people lived in central and southern Minnesota before European settlement.
Crow Wing County was established by European Americans on May 23, 1857 and formally organized March 3, 1870. It is named for the Crow Wing River,^[4] which is itself named for an island in the river that resembles a crow's wing.

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. A few years later the post had become a center of trading with the Chippewa (also known as Ojibwe) and other Native Americans on the region. It was the site of the general supply store for the area. By 1866, the village contained about 600 whites and Chippewa; it was one of the major population centers in Minnesota and was designated as the county seat.^[5]

Brainerd township was founded in 1870 when the Northern Pacific Railroad selected this site for a crossing of the Mississippi. 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 was incorporated as a city on November 19, 1881. The name was chosen in honor of Lawrence Brainerd, the father-in-law of J. Gregory Smith, the first president of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. Smith had served as governor of Vermont (1863-1865) 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]}

Soils of Crow Wing County^[6]

Soils of Crow Wing State Park neighborhood

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, did not arrive until November 1, 1877.

The part of Crow Wing County that is west of the Mississippi was annexed from Cass County by an act of the Legislature on February 18, 1887, doubling the former area of the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total 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 of the region is gently rolling to flat, with waters and wetlands generously interspersed with the woodlands that cover the landscape. It is home to an abundance of wildlife. Visitors may see white-tailed deer, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, coyote, mink, muskrat, squirrels, and beaver. Occasionally, American black bears may be observed. Bald eagles and osprey frequent the area, and many species of waterfowl also take advantage of the abundant aquatic habitat found in the marshes and lakes of the county.

There are many lakes and rivers in Crow Wing County. The main river is the Mississippi River, and there are several smaller streams in the county. It has about 417 recognized lakes. The top ten ranked according to 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 (Minnesota) – 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)

Superfund site and environmental damage

The presence of railroads increased development in the county. Longterm, they contributed to environmental problems as well. The Burlington Northern (Brainerd/Baxter) United States Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site is located here, between the cities of Brainerd and Baxter. Burlington Northern Railroad had a treatment plant here for railroad ties, to strengthen and protect the wood from weather and insects. Wastewater generated from the wood-treating process was sent to two shallow, unlined ponds. This created a sludge, which contaminated both the underlying soils and the groundwater with creosote and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).^[8]

Major highways

• 
  U.S. Route 169
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 6
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 18
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 25
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 210
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 309
  


• 
  Minnesota State Highway 371
  

Adjacent counties

• 
  Aitkin County (northeast)


• 
  Mille Lacs County (southeast)


• 
  Morrison County (southwest)


• 
  Cass County (northwest, north)

Demographics

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

As of the 2000 census, there were 55,099 people, 22,250 households, and 15,174 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile (21/km²). There were 33,483 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/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.

In the county, the population was spread out with 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.

Communities

Cities

Townships

Census-designated place

• Merrifield

Other unincorporated communities

Unorganized territories

• Dean Lake


• West Crow Wing

Original settlement

• Old Crow Wing

Politics

See also

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


• List of Superfund sites in Minnesota

References

External links

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

• Crow Wing County official website


• Crow Wing County Historical Society website

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