# Isanti County, Minnesota *County in east-central Minnesota; county seat Cambridge.* Isanti County lies in east-central [[Minnesota]], with Cambridge as its seat of government. The 2020 census counted 41,135 residents.[^1] The county forms part of the [[Minneapolis]]–St. Paul–Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area.[^2] Organized on February 13, 1857, the county takes its name from a [[Dakota]] word for "knife". It was dry under county option until May 1965.[^2] In presidential and gubernatorial contests the county has returned larger Republican-candidate and independent-candidate shares than the statewide totals. No Democrat has carried it with more than 50% since 1992.[^7] ## History The county came into being on February 13, 1857. Its name traces to the Izaty, an old name for the Santee, who belonged to the Dakota alliance; "Isanti" comes from the Dakota word for "knife" and refers to the Santee tribe.[^2] A law signed in March 1915 let Minnesota counties decide whether to permit alcohol production. By then every city in the county had already voted for prohibition. The county stayed dry, with sales of beverages above 3.2% alcohol barred, until county option ended in May 1965.[^2] ## Geography The Rum River runs southward through the middle of the county. Lakes, ponds, drainages and gullies mark its hilly ground, which falls generally toward the south and east. The highest elevation, 1,020 ft (310 m) above sea level, lies near the northwest corner.[^3] Of the county's 452 square miles (1,170 km²), land accounts for 436 square miles (1,130 km²) and water for 16 square miles (41 km²), or 3.5%.[^3] ### Major highways Minnesota State Highways 47, 65, 95 and 107 cross the county.[^4] ### Adjacent counties The neighboring counties are: - Kanabec County to the north. - Pine County to the northeast. - Chisago County to the east. - Anoka County to the south. - Sherburne County to the southwest. - Mille Lacs County to the northwest.[^4] ### Protected areas The source lists eight protected areas: - Cranberry Wildlife Management Area - Crooked Road State Wildlife Management Area - Marget Lake State Wildlife Management Area - Marvin W. Schubring Memorial Wildlife Management Area - Maywood County Park - Spectacle Lake Wildlife Management Area - Springvale County Park - Twin Lake Scientific and Natural Area[^4] ## Demographics ### 2020 census The 2020 count recorded 41,135 residents and a median age of 39.6 years. Residents under 18 made up 24.1% of the population, and those 65 and older made up 16.7%. There were 101.0 males per 100 females overall, and 99.5 per 100 among adults.[^5] By race, residents were: - 92.1% White. - 0.8% Black or African American. - 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native. - 1.2% Asian. - Less than 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. - 0.8% some other race. - 4.5% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 2.2%. Rural residents outnumbered urban ones, 59.3% to 40.7%.[^5] Of 15,615 households, 32.2% included children under 18. The household types were: - Married couples: 53.9%. - Male householder with no spouse or partner: 16.4%. - Female householder with no spouse or partner: 19.7%. Single-person households were 22.7% of the total. In 10.3% of households, a person 65 or older lived alone.[^5] Of 16,550 housing units, 5.6% stood vacant. Owners held 82.5% of occupied units and renters 17.5%. Vacancy rates were 0.8% for homeowner units and 5.3% for rental units.[^5] ### 2010 census The 2010 count found 37,816 people in 14,331 households, including 8,415 families. Population density was 86.7 per square mile (33.5/km²). The 12,062 housing units averaged 27.7 per square mile (10.7/km²).[^6] ## Communities ### Cities The county contains four cities: - Braham, part of which lies in Kanabec County. - Cambridge, the county seat. - Isanti. - St. Francis, most of which lies in Anoka County.[^8] ### Census-designated place Stanchfield is the county's census-designated place.[^8] ### Unincorporated communities The unincorporated communities are: - Andree - Athens - Blomford - Bodum, a ghost town - Bradford - Carmody - Crown - Dalbo - Day - Edgewood - Elm Park - Grandy - Oxlip - Pine Brook - Spencer Brook - Spring Lake - Springvale - Stanchfield Corner - Stanford - Stanley - Walbo - Weber - West Point - Wyanett[^8] ### Townships There are thirteen townships: - Athens - Bradford - Cambridge - Dalbo - Isanti - Maple Ridge - North Branch - Oxford - Spencer Brook - Springvale - Stanchfield - Stanford - Wyanett[^8] ## Politics The source characterizes the county as once rural and now exurban, and as more conservative than Minnesota overall. In 2008, John McCain took almost 57% of the county vote but only 44% statewide. Norm Coleman took 48% in the county against 42% statewide. George W. Bush and [[Tim Pawlenty]] each carried the county twice, both times with a majority.[^7] On the Democratic side, Barack Obama received 41% of the county vote in 2008 while carrying the state with 54%. Al Franken received 33% in the county. No Democrat has won the county with more than 50% since 1992.[^9] Donald Trump received almost 65% of the county vote in 2016, when he narrowly lost Minnesota to Hillary Clinton. His share rose to just over 68% in 2020 and to nearly 70% in 2024.[^9] Independent candidates have also run strongly here. [[Jesse Ventura]] carried the county with more than 50% in 1998, his best result in any Minnesota county. Ross Perot took 29% in the county, finishing a close third, against 24% statewide.[^10] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), lead section — location, 2020 population and county seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), "History" — formation date, name origin, 1915 county-option law, dry status to May 1965, metropolitan statistical area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), "Geography" — river, terrain, elevation and area figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), "Geography" subsections — highways, adjacent counties, protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), "Demographics: 2020 census" — population, age, racial composition, households and housing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), "Demographics: 2010 census" — population, households, families, densities and housing units. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), "Politics" — 2008 McCain and Coleman results, Bush and Pawlenty wins, county's conservative lean. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota [^8]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), "Communities" — cities, census-designated place, unincorporated communities and townships. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota [^9]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), "Politics" — Obama, Franken and Trump results; no Democratic majority since 1992. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota [^10]: Wikipedia contributors, *Isanti County, Minnesota* (rev. 1375292659, retrieved 25 October 2026), "Politics" — 1998 Ventura result and Perot share. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isanti_County,_Minnesota