# Crow Wing County, Minnesota *County in east central Minnesota; county seat Brainerd* Crow Wing County lies in east central [[Minnesota]], and its county seat is Brainerd.[^1] The 2020 census counted 66,123 residents.[^1] The territorial government created the county in 1857, but county government was not organized until 1870.[^1][^2] The county is part of the Brainerd, MN Micropolitan Statistical Area.[^1] Its settlement began with a trading post across from the mouth of the Crow Wing River. A railroad town later grew at the Northern Pacific's Mississippi crossing and took the county seat from the original village.[^2] ## History Ojibwe people, also called Chippewa, long lived in the area. Many [[Dakota]] people lived across central and southern Minnesota before Europeans settled there.[^2] By 1837 European Americans had set up a trading post on the east bank of the [[Mississippi River]], across from where the Crow Wing River enters it.[^2] The post, called Crow Wing, grew into a hub for trade with the region's Native Americans, and a general-supply store served the area. By 1866 the village had about 600 white and Chippewa residents and was a major population center.[^2] On May 23, 1857, the territorial government passed the act creating the county and designated Crow Wing as its seat.[^2] County government did not take effect until March 3, 1870.[^2] The county's name comes from the Crow Wing River, which is itself named for an island in the river shaped like a crow's wing.[^2] In 1870 the Northern Pacific Railroad chose a site for its Mississippi River crossing, and Brainerd township was founded there that year.[^2] The new settlement drew growth and people and soon overtook Crow Wing. It also became the county seat, which pulled more residents and businesses away from the older village. Crow Wing then became the ghost town known as Old Crow Wing, and much of its site along the river now lies within Crow Wing State Park.[^2] The railroad's first service to Brainerd was a special train on March 11, 1871.[^2] Brainerd City was incorporated on November 19, 1881.[^2] It was named for Lawrence Brainerd, first president of the Vermont Central Railroad. Lawrence Brainerd was the father-in-law of J. Gregory Smith, the Northern Pacific Railroad Company's first president, who had been [[governor]] of Vermont from 1863 to 1865 before he moved west.[^2] ## Geography The county covers 1,157 square miles. Of that area, 999 square miles are land and 157 square miles, or 14 percent, are water.[^3] Two state forests lie within its boundaries, the Crow Wing State Forest and the Emily State Forest. The Cuyuna Lakes State Trail runs within the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and part of Crow Wing State Park is also in the county.[^3] The land ranges from flat to gently rolling and is largely forested, with many lakes and wetlands.[^3] The Mississippi is the county's principal river, and several smaller streams also cross the county.[^3] About 417 lakes are recognized in the county. Gull Lake is the largest at 9,419 acres, followed by Pelican Lake at 8,254 acres, Upper and Lower White Fish Lake at 7,372 acres, and North Long Lake at 5,997 acres.[^3] Highways crossing the county include U.S. Route 169, Minnesota State Highways 6, 18, 25, 210 and 371, and Business MN 371.[^3] Crow Wing County borders Aitkin County to the northeast, Mille Lacs County to the southeast, Morrison County to the southwest, and Cass County to the northwest and north.[^3] ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 66,123 residents with a median age of 44.8 years. Of those residents, 21.4 percent were under 18 and 23.8 percent were 65 or older.[^4] Using the census race categories, 93.1 percent of residents were White, 0.6 percent were Black or African American, and 1.0 percent were American Indian and Alaska Native.[^4] Another 0.5 percent were Asian, 0.6 percent were of some other race, and 4.1 percent were of two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 1.4 percent of the population.[^4] Rural areas held 68.7 percent of residents and urban areas 31.3 percent.[^4] The same census counted 27,872 households and 41,568 housing units, of which 32.9 percent were vacant. Owners occupied 76.0 percent of the occupied units.[^4] Earlier, the 2000 census had counted 55,099 people, 22,250 households, 15,174 families and 33,483 housing units.[^4] ## Communities The county's incorporated cities are Baxter, Brainerd (the county seat), Breezy Point, Crosby, Crosslake, Cuyuna, Deerwood, Emily, Fifty Lakes, Fort Ripley, Garrison, Ironton, Jenkins, Manhattan Beach, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Riverton and Trommald.[^5] Merrifield is a census-designated place. Dean Lake and West Crow Wing are unorganized territories.[^5] The unincorporated communities include Crow Wing, Bay Lake and Lake Hubert, as well as the ghost town of Old Crow Wing.[^5] ## Government and politics For several decades, Crow Wing County has supported Republican presidential candidates.[^6] The county has taken part in 34 presidential elections and has chosen the Democratic nominee in 10 of them, but in only one election since 1976.[^6] No Democratic presidential candidate has received 40 percent or more of the county's vote since 2012.[^6] ## Education Eight public school districts serve parts of the county:[^7] - Aitkin Public School District - Brainerd Public Schools - Crosby-Ironton Public School District - Little Falls Public School District - Onamia Public Schools - Pequot Lakes Public Schools - Pierz Public School District - Pine River-Backus Public School District ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Crow Wing County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375328786, retrieved 2026-10-25) — lead section: location, county seat, 2020 population, formation in 1857 and organization in 1870, micropolitan area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow_Wing_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Crow Wing County, Minnesota*, History section (rev. 1375328786, retrieved 2026-10-25) — Ojibwe and Dakota occupancy, 1837 trading post, creation on May 23, 1857, organization on March 3, 1870, founding of Brainerd, and incorporation of Brainerd City in 1881. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow_Wing_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Crow Wing County, Minnesota*, Geography section (rev. 1375328786, retrieved 2026-10-25) — area, state forests and protected areas, lakes, highways and adjacent counties. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow_Wing_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Crow Wing County, Minnesota*, Demographics section (rev. 1375328786, retrieved 2026-10-25) — 2020 and 2000 census figures as summarized there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow_Wing_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Crow Wing County, Minnesota*, Communities section (rev. 1375328786, retrieved 2026-10-25) — cities, census-designated place, unincorporated communities and unorganized territories. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow_Wing_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Crow Wing County, Minnesota*, Government and politics section (rev. 1375328786, retrieved 2026-10-25) — presidential voting record. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow_Wing_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Crow Wing County, Minnesota*, Education section (rev. 1375328786, retrieved 2026-10-25) — school districts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow_Wing_County,_Minnesota