# Cass County, Minnesota *County in central Minnesota, U.S.* Cass County lies in central [[Minnesota]]. The 2020 census counted 30,066 residents, and Walker is the county seat.[^1] The county dates from 1851 but did not organize its government until 1897.[^1] It belongs to the Brainerd, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area, and much of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation falls within its boundaries.[^2] About 16% of its 2,414 square miles is water.[^7] ## History The [[Minnesota Territory]] legislature created Cass County on September 1, 1851; a county government was not organized until 1897.[^3] The new county was assembled from land taken from four existing counties: Dakota, Mahkatah, Pembina and Wahnata. It takes its name from Lewis Cass, a 19th-century Michigan political figure.[^4] In the years before organization, several parcels were split off from the county to enlarge neighboring counties or to create new ones.[^5] ## Geography The Crow Wing River runs east-southeast along the southern border. The Gull River crosses the lower part of the county toward the southwest and joins the Crow Wing at that border.[^6] The land is wooded and rolling, with many lakes and ponds, and falls away toward the south and east. The highest elevation is 1,614 feet (492 m) above sea level, on the upper western border.[^6] Of the county's 2,414 square miles (6,250 km²), 2,022 square miles (5,240 km²) are land. The remaining 393 square miles (1,020 km²), about 16%, are water.[^7] US Highway 2 crosses the county, as do Minnesota State Highways 6, 34, 64, 84, 87, 200, 210 and 371.[^8] Eight counties border Cass: Itasca to the northeast, Aitkin to the east, Crow Wing to the southeast, Morrison to the south, Todd to the southwest, Wadena to the west, Hubbard to the northwest and Beltrami to the north.[^8] Portions of Buena Vista State Forest, Chippewa National Forest, Crow Wing State Park and Foot Hills State Forest lie within the county.[^8] ## Climate and weather Average temperatures in Walker, the county seat, have recently run from a January low of 0 °F (−18 °C) to a July high of 79 °F (26 °C).[^9] The coldest reading on record, −44 °F (−42 °C), dates from February 1996. The hottest, 103 °F (39 °C), dates from August 1976.[^9] Monthly precipitation has averaged between 0.62 inches (16 mm) in February and 4.11 inches (104 mm) in July.[^9] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 30,066 residents, with a median age of 50.3 years.[^10] Residents under 18 made up 20.7% of the total, and those 65 or older made up 27.1%. There were 105.5 males per 100 females overall, and 104.0 males per 100 females among adults.[^10] By race, the 2020 population was 82.5% White and 11.7% American Indian and Alaska Native.[^11] A further 4.7% reported two or more races, 0.5% some other race, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Black or African American, and under 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. Residents of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race, accounted for 1.4%.[^11] The census classed 100.0% of residents as rural and under 0.1% as urban.[^11] The county had 12,614 households in 2020. Children under 18 lived in 22.8% of them, and 52.3% were married couples.[^12] A male householder with no spouse or partner headed 20.5% of households, and a female householder with no spouse or partner headed 19.6%. Single individuals made up 28.1% of households. In 14.3%, a person aged 65 or older lived alone.[^12] Of 23,872 housing units, 47.2% stood vacant.[^13] Owners occupied 83.8% of occupied units and renters 16.2%. The vacancy rate was 1.8% for owner housing and 7.8% for rental housing.[^13] The 2000 census had counted 27,150 people in 10,893 households, of which 7,734 were families. Density was 13.4 persons per square mile (5.2/km²).[^14] The county then had 21,286 housing units, an average of 10.5 per square mile (4.1/km²). The population was 86.52% White and 0.11% Black or African American.[^14] ## Communities Walker, the county seat, is one of fifteen cities in the county. The others are Backus, Bena, Boy River, Cass Lake, Chickamaw Beach, East Gull Lake, Federal Dam, Hackensack, Lake Shore, Longville, Motley (in part), Pillager, Pine River and Remer.[^15] Whipholt is a census-designated place.[^15] Among the unincorporated communities are Ah-gwah-ching, Brevik, Bridgeman, Casino, Leech Lake, Onigum, Outing and Wabedo.[^15] The rest of the county is divided into townships and four unorganized territories: Wahnena, North Cass, North Central Cass and East Cass.[^16] ## Government and politics In presidential voting the county has leaned Republican. As of 2024, it had backed the Republican nominee in 83% of presidential elections held since 1980.[^17] ## Education The county's school districts include Brainerd, Cass Lake-Bena, Deer River, Pequot Lakes, Pillager, Pine River-Backus, Northland Community Schools, Sebeka, Staples-Motley and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley.[^18] The Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School, which operates as a tribal school and is affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education, is also located in the county.[^18] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - The county is named for Lewis Cass, a 19th-century Michigan political figure; its seat is Walker.[^1][^4] ### What - A central Minnesota county within the Brainerd, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area that contains much of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation.[^2] ### When - Created September 1, 1851, by the Minnesota Territory legislature; county government organized in 1897.[^3] ### Where - The Crow Wing River forms part of its southern border; its highest point, 1,614 feet, is on the upper western border.[^6] ### How many - 30,066 residents at the 2020 census; 27,150 at the 2000 census.[^10][^14] - 12,614 households and 23,872 housing units at the 2020 census.[^12][^13] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, lead (retrieved 2026-10-25) — location, 2020 population, county seat, 1851 formation and 1897 organization. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, lead (retrieved 2026-10-25) — Brainerd micropolitan area; Leech Lake Indian Reservation overlap. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, History section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — creation on September 1, 1851, by the territorial legislature; organization in 1897. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, History section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — counties from which it was formed; naming for Lewis Cass. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, History section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — parcels partitioned off before organization. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Geography section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — rivers, terrain, highest point. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Geography section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — total, land and water area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Geography section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — major highways, adjacent counties, protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Climate and weather section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — Walker temperature and precipitation averages and records. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2020 census (retrieved 2026-10-25) — population, median age, age shares, sex ratios. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^11]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2020 census (retrieved 2026-10-25) — racial and ethnic composition; urban and rural shares. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^12]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2020 census (retrieved 2026-10-25) — household count and composition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^13]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2020 census (retrieved 2026-10-25) — housing units, vacancy, tenure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^14]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Demographics section, 2000 census (retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2000 population, households, families, density, housing units, racial shares. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^15]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Communities section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, census-designated place, unincorporated communities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^16]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Communities section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — townships and unorganized territories. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^17]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Government and politics section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting pattern since 1980, as of 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota [^18]: Wikipedia contributors, *Cass County, Minnesota*, Education section (retrieved 2026-10-25) — school districts; Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cass_County,_Minnesota