# Anoka County, Minnesota *County in the U.S. state of Minnesota* Anoka County is a county in [[Minnesota]] that ranks fourth in the state by population, with 363,887 residents counted in the 2020 census.[^1] Its seat is the city of [[Anoka]], which also gave the county its name. That name comes from the [[Dakota]] word anoka, meaning "on (or from) both sides", a reference to the city's position on both banks of the Rum River.[^1] Blaine is the county's most populous city and ranks tenth among Minnesota cities.[^1] The county makes up the northern portion of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul statistical area. With about 3.64 million residents, that area is Minnesota's largest metropolitan area and the 16th-largest in the United States.[^1] Organized in 1857, the county has been mostly suburban since the construction of Interstate 35W, and its southern edge eventually met [[Minneapolis]].[^1][^2] In national elections the county has supported the Republican presidential nominee in every contest since 2000. In 2018 it split its Senate votes, backing the Democratic-Farmer-Labor incumbent in one race and the Republican nominee in the special election held the same year.[^3] ## History The Minnesota Territorial Legislature created Anoka County by an act dated May 23, 1857, one year before Minnesota became a state.[^2] The county was carved from parts of Ramsey and Benton counties, which had been divided by the Rum River.[^2] The original boundaries match today's except for two areas: a small area at the southeastern tip along the Mississippi River, and a portion to the south once called Manomin County. That southern portion adjoined Ramsey County and took up one-third of the congressional township.[^2] A constitutional amendment of November 2, 1869, attached it to Anoka County, and it took the name Fridley in 1879.[^2] Franciscan friar [[Louis Hennepin]] and his party are recorded as the first people of European descent to explore the present county. Hennepin traveled the Rum River during his first exploration of the region.[^2][^1] The river was a common route to Mille Lacs Lake, the spiritual homeland of the Ojibwe people, and its banks held many early European settlements.[^1] Fur traders settled along the river, which drew further settlement to what became Anoka. Fur trading and logging grew as French and French Canadian communities developed in Anoka and Centerville.[^2][^1] ## Geography The [[Mississippi River]] runs southeast along the county's southwestern edge. The Rum River crosses the western part of the county from north to south and empties into the Mississippi at that edge.[^4] The land is made up of low, wooded, rolling hills that slope toward the south and east. The highest point is a small hillock 1.2 miles (1.9 km) east of the northwest corner, at 1,100 ft (340 m) above sea level.[^4] Of the county's 446 square miles (1,160 km²), 23 square miles (60 km²), or 5.2%, are water.[^4] Neighboring counties are Isanti to the north, Chisago to the northeast, Washington to the east, Ramsey to the southeast, Hennepin to the southwest, and Sherburne to the northwest.[^4] ## Climate and weather The county falls in the hot-summer humid continental zone (Dfa under the Köppen system) and in USDA plant hardiness zone 4b.[^5] Average temperatures in the coldest and warmest months differ by 60.1 °F (33.4 °C). Recent averages at Anoka run from 5 °F (−15 °C) in January to 81 °F (27 °C) in July.[^5] The source gives the record low as −50 °F (−46 °C) in January 2019 and the record high as 103 °F (39 °C) in July 1988.[^5] Average monthly precipitation runs from 0.87 inches (22 mm) in February to 4.45 inches (113 mm) in July.[^5] ## Demographics The 2020 census counted 363,887 residents with a median age of 38.6 years. Of those residents, 24.2% were under 18 and 14.3% were 65 or older.[^6] By race, 77.0% of residents were White, 7.9% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.3% Asian, less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% some other race, and 6.5% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 5.4% of the population.[^6] Urban areas held 84.1% of residents and rural areas 15.9%.[^6] The census recorded 133,879 households. Of these, 33.4% had children under 18 present and 54.2% were married-couple households.[^6] Of the county's 138,017 housing units, 3.0% stood vacant; owners occupied 79.4% of occupied units and renters 20.6%.[^6] Earlier counts recorded 330,844 residents in 2010. In 2000 the county had 298,084 residents in 106,428 households, along with 108,091 housing units.[^7] ## Government and politics The county has backed the Republican presidential candidate in every election since 2000. Its margins stayed under 3% except in 2004, 2016, and 2024.[^3] The Wikipedia account describes the county as formerly one of the most Democratic suburban counties in the nation and as one of few such counties to move toward Republicans during this century.[^3] Incumbent Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Senator [[Amy Klobuchar]] carried the county over Jim Newberger by more than 20,000 votes in 2018, and she also carried it in 2006, 2012, and 2024.[^3] In that year's special Senate election, Republican nominee [[Karin Housley]] narrowly led incumbent DFL Senator [[Tina Smith]] in the county, although Smith won the election by more than 10 points.[^3] [[Tim Walz]] of the DFL carried the county by fewer than 300 votes in his 2018 race for governor. In the 2022 race for governor, the county voted Republican.[^3] As of April 2023, the county commissioners were:[^3] - Matt Look (District 1) - Julie Braastad (District 2) - Jeff Reinert (District 3) - Scott Schulte (District 4) - Mike Gamache (District 5) - Julie Jeppson (District 6) - Mandy Meisner (District 7) ## Communities The county's cities are Andover, Anoka, Bethel, Blaine (partly in Ramsey County), Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Columbus, [[Coon Rapids]], East Bethel, Fridley, Ham Lake, Hilltop, Lexington, Lino Lakes, Nowthen, Oak Grove, Ramsey, Saint Francis (partly in Isanti County), and Spring Lake Park (partly in Ramsey County).[^8] The county also includes Linwood Township, the census-designated place of Martin Lake, and the unincorporated community of Linwood.[^8] ## Education The county is served by these school districts:[^9] - Anoka-Hennepin - Centennial - Columbia Heights - Elk River - Forest Lake - Fridley - Spring Lake Park - St. Francis Area - White Bear Lake Area ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Anoka County, Minnesota* (revision 1375320591, retrieved 2026-10-25) — population rank and 2020 count, county seat and name origin, Blaine, metropolitan area, Rum River history, suburban development. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Anoka County, Minnesota*, History section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — act of May 23, 1857; formation from Ramsey and Benton counties; Manomin County portion attached November 2, 1869; Fridley name in 1879; Hennepin's exploration; fur-trader settlement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Anoka County, Minnesota*, Government and politics section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting since 2000; 2018 Senate, special Senate and gubernatorial results; 2022 result; April 2023 commissioners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Anoka County, Minnesota*, Geography section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — river courses, terrain and highest point, area and water share, adjacent counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Anoka County, Minnesota*, Climate and weather section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — climate classification, hardiness zone, temperature ranges and records, precipitation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Anoka County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2020 census (retrieved 2026-10-25) — population, age, racial composition, urban/rural shares, households, housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Anoka County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2010 and 2000 censuses (retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2010 population of 330,844; 2000 population, households, housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Anoka County, Minnesota*, Communities section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, township, census-designated place, unincorporated community. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Anoka County, Minnesota*, Education section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — school districts serving the county. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County,_Minnesota