# Lake County, Minnesota *County in the U.S. state of Minnesota* Lake County is a county in the Arrowhead Region of northeastern [[Minnesota]]. Its county seat is Two Harbors, and the 2020 census counted 10,905 residents.[^1][^2] Lake Superior forms the county's southern boundary and the province of Ontario, Canada, lies along its northern edge. Of its 2,991 square miles, 881 (29%) are water, and it ranks fifth among Minnesota counties by area.[^2] The county received its present name on March 1, 1856, after the 1855 partition of Itasca County. In 1874 its eastern portion was split off to form Cook County.[^3] ## History Native American groups lived in the area long before Europeans arrived. At the time of European contact the principal groups in the region were the [[Dakota]] (Sioux) and the Ojibwe (also known as Anishinabe or Chippewa). They lived by hunting, fishing and gathering, and wild rice held particular importance.[^3] French explorers reached the area in the late 17th century. Trappers, fur traders, missionaries and other explorers came after them.[^3] The federal government created the Wisconsin Territory effective July 3, 1836. It lasted until 1848, when its eastern portion was admitted as the state of Wisconsin. The [[Minnesota Territory]] followed, effective March 3, 1849. In October 1849 its territorial legislature organized nine counties, and Itasca was one of them.[^3] Itasca's eastern section was divided on February 20, 1855. The western half became Newton County and the eastern half became Superior County.[^3] On March 3, 1855, the territorial legislature renamed Superior County as Saint Louis County. A further change on March 1, 1856, gave the county the name Lake County and transferred the Saint Louis County name to the former Newton County.[^3] The renaming also designated Beaver Bay, first platted in 1856, as county seat.[^3] In 1874 the county's eastern portion was detached and organized as Cook County, which redrew the county's boundaries.[^3] George Stuntz found iron ore on the Vermilion Range in 1868. The Duluth and Iron Range Railroad extended a spur to the Lake Superior shore, and a settlement grew quickly at its end.[^3] ## Geography The county is part of the Arrowhead Region of northeastern Minnesota. Lake Superior bounds it to the south. To the north it meets the south border of Ontario.[^2] The Canadian border cannot be reached from within the county because of the dense Superior National Forest and the rugged northern terrain. Travellers instead cross into Canada at Grand Portage, International Falls or Baudette.[^2] The landscape is made up of hills and rolling high ground. It is heavily forested and scattered with lakes and ponds.[^2] A crestline running from the northeast to the southwest divides the slope of the land. The highest point is Stony Tower Hill, 2,301 feet above sea level.[^2] The total area of 2,991 square miles comprises 2,109 square miles of land and 881 square miles (29%) of water.[^2] The Rainy River District of Ontario lies to the north, Cook County to the east, and St. Louis County to the west. Across Lake Superior are Ashland County, Wisconsin, to the southeast, and Bayfield and Douglas counties, Wisconsin, to the south.[^2] Minnesota State Highways 1, 61 and 169 serve the county.[^2] Protected areas wholly or partly in the county include:[^2] - Finland State Forest - George H. Crosby Manitou State Park - Gooseberry Falls State Park - Split Rock Lighthouse State Park - Tettegouche State Park - Sand Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area - Part of the Superior National Forest - Part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness ## Demographics The 2020 census recorded 10,905 residents. Their median age was 50.6 years. Residents under 18 made up 18.9% of the population, and those 65 or older made up 27.9%.[^4] The census found 104.8 males for every 100 females overall, and 102.8 males for every 100 females among adults.[^4] The census reported the county's racial makeup as follows:[^4] - White: 94.7% - Two or more races: 3.8% - American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% - Asian: 0.5% - Some other race: 0.4% - Black or African American: 0.1% - Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: under 0.1% Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 1.0% of the population. The census classified 100.0% of residents as rural and under 0.1% as urban.[^4] The census counted 4,869 households. Of these, 23.0% included children under 18 and 51.4% were married-couple households. One-person households made up 32.1% of the total.[^4] Of 7,311 housing units, 33.4% stood vacant. Owners occupied 82.5% of occupied units and renters 17.5%. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.[^4] The 2000 census had counted 11,058 people in 4,646 households and 3,140 families. Population density was 5.24 per square mile, and there were 6,840 housing units.[^5] ## Government and politics Lake County has historically leaned Democratic/Labor in presidential voting. Socialist Party of America candidate Eugene V. Debs recorded his best county result there in 1908, 1912 and 1920.[^6] Republican Herbert Hoover carried the county in 1932, when he lost re-election to Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was the only Minnesota county Hoover won that year, and no Republican has carried it since. Socialist Norman Thomas took 19.32% of the county's 1932 vote, among the highest shares in the country.[^6] In 1936 the county gave Roosevelt his highest percentage in Minnesota, and it continued to vote Democratic through 2012.[^6] Democrat Hillary Clinton carried the county over Republican Donald Trump in 2016 without a majority. She was the first Democrat since 1932 to fall short of one there, and Trump's share was the highest for any Republican since 1928.[^6] Trump's share rose again in 2020, when Joe Biden won the county with under 51%.[^6] Trump finished 145 votes short in 2016, 254 votes short in 2020 and 269 votes short in 2024. No other Republican since 1932 has come within 1,000 votes of carrying the county.[^6] ## Communities Beaver Bay, Silver Bay and Two Harbors are the county's cities, and Two Harbors is the county seat. Finland and Knife River are census-designated places.[^7] The county has 19 listed unincorporated communities, including Castle Danger, Isabella, Larsmont and Little Marais. It also has dozens of ghost towns.[^7] Its townships are Beaver Bay, Crystal Bay, Fall Lake, Silver Creek and Stony River. Its unorganized territories are Lake No. 1 and Lake No. 2.[^7] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Lake County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407372, retrieved 2026-10-25), lead section — county status, 2020 population, county seat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia, *Lake County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407372, retrieved 2026-10-25), "Geography" section — region, borders, area, highest point, adjacent counties, highways, protected areas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_County,_Minnesota [^3]: Wikipedia, *Lake County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407372, retrieved 2026-10-25), "History" section — inhabitants at contact, territorial and county formation dates 1836–1874, 1868 iron ore discovery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_County,_Minnesota [^4]: Wikipedia, *Lake County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407372, retrieved 2026-10-25), "Demographics" section — 2020 census figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_County,_Minnesota [^5]: Wikipedia, *Lake County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407372, retrieved 2026-10-25), "Demographics" section — 2000 census figures. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_County,_Minnesota [^6]: Wikipedia, *Lake County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407372, retrieved 2026-10-25), "Government and politics" section — presidential voting history 1908–2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_County,_Minnesota [^7]: Wikipedia, *Lake County, Minnesota* (revision 1378407372, retrieved 2026-10-25), "Communities" section — cities, census-designated places, unincorporated communities, ghost towns, townships, unorganized territories. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_County,_Minnesota