Geography
Carlton County lies on Minnesota's eastern edge. Its eastern boundary abuts Wisconsin. The Saint Louis River (Lake Superior tributary), Saint Louis River flows east-southeast through the county, discharging into Lake Superior. The Moose Horn River flows southwest through the county, discharging into the Kettle River (St. Croix River), Kettle River. The Nemadji River and the South Fork Nemadji River flow east through the county, meeting a few miles east of its eastern boundary before reaching Lake Superior. The county terrain consists of low rolling hills, heavily wooded,''Carlton County MN'' Google Maps (accessed March 5, 2019)Major highways
* Interstate 35 in Minnesota, Interstate 35 * Minnesota State Highway 23 * Minnesota State Highway 27 * Minnesota State Highway 33 * Minnesota State Highway 45 * Minnesota State Highway 73 * Minnesota State Highway 210 * Minnesota State Highway 289Adjacent counties
* St. Louis County, Minnesota, Saint Louis County - north * Douglas County, Wisconsin - east * Pine County, Minnesota, Pine County - south * Aitkin County, Minnesota, Aitkin County - westProtected areas
* Black Hoof Wildlife Management Area * Dye State Wildlife Management Area * Fond du Lac State Forest (part) * Jay Cooke State Park * Kettle Lake State Wildlife Management Area * Nemadji State Forest (part) * Sawyer State Wildlife Management AreaHistory
Under a 1854 Treaty of La Pointe the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation and other reservations were established in exchange for all the Lake Superior Ojibwe land in the Arrowhead Region. Carlton County was formed and organized in 1870. It was named for Reuben B. Carlton, a member of the Minnesota Senate (1857–58). In October 1918, an immense forest fire occurred, known as the Cloquet Fire. The Carlton County Historical Society hosts a permanent exhibit about the fire of 1918, along with ones about the Ojibwe of Carlton County and the Logging Era.Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Carlton have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1912 and a record high of was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in September.Demographics
2020 census
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.'' As of the 2010 United States census, 2010 census, there were 35,386 people living in the county. 89.7% were White American, White, 5.9% Native Americans in the United States, Native American, 1.4% African American, Black or African American, 0.5% Asian American, Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 2.4% Multiracial American, of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic and Latino Americans, Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 16.4% were of German American, German, 13.5% Finnish American, Finnish, 8.9% Norwegian American, Norwegian, 8.6% Swedish American, Swedish and 5.6% American ethnicity, American ancestry. As of the 2000 United States census, 2000 census, there were 31,671 people, 12,064 households, and 8,408 families in the county. The population density was 36.8/sqmi (14.2/km2). There were 13,721 housing units at an average density of 15.9/sqmi (6.15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.75% Race (United States Census), White, 0.97% Race (United States Census), Black or Race (United States Census), African American, 5.19% Race (United States Census), Native American, 0.35% Race (United States Census), Asian, 0.01% Race (United States Census), Pacific Islander, 0.21% from Race (United States Census), other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. 0.84% of the population were Race (United States Census), Hispanic or Race (United States Census), Latino of any race. 18.5% were of German people, German, 16.9% Finnish people, Finnish, 12.5% Norwegian people, Norwegian, 11.8% Swedish people, Swedish and 5.8% Polish people, Polish ancestry. 95.5% spoke English language, English, 1.8% finnish language, Finnish and 1.1% Spanish language, Spanish as their first language. There were 12,064 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were Marriage, married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00. The county population contained 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.20 males. The median income for a household in the county was $40,021, and the median income for a family was $48,406. Males had a median income of $38,788 versus $25,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,073. About 5.40% of families and 7.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.20% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.Communities
Cities
* Barnum, Minnesota, Barnum * Carlton, Minnesota, Carlton (county seat) * Cloquet, Minnesota, Cloquet * Cromwell, Minnesota, Cromwell * Kettle River, Minnesota, Kettle River * Moose Lake, Minnesota, Moose Lake * Scanlon, Minnesota, Scanlon * Thomson, Minnesota, Thomson * Wrenshall, Minnesota, Wrenshall * Wright, Minnesota, WrightCensus-designated places
* Big Lake, Carlton County, Minnesota, Big Lake * Esko, Minnesota, Esko * Mahtowa, Minnesota, MahtowaUnincorporated communities
* Atkinson, Minnesota, Atkinson * Automba, Minnesota, Automba * Duesler, Minnesota, Duesler * Harney, Minnesota, Harney * Holyoke, Minnesota, Holyoke * Iverson, Minnesota, Iverson * Nemadji, Minnesota, Nemadji * Otter Creek, Minnesota, Otter Creek * Pleasant Valley, Minnesota, Pleasant Valley * Sawyer, Minnesota, Sawyer * Scotts Corner, Minnesota, Scotts CornerTownships
* Atkinson Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Atkinson Township * Automba Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Automba Township * Barnum Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Barnum Township * Beseman Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Beseman Township * Blackhoof Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Blackhoof Township * Eagle Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Eagle Township * Holyoke Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Holyoke Township * Kalevala Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Kalevala Township * Lakeview Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Lakeview Township * Mahtowa Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Mahtowa Township * Moose Lake Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Moose Lake Township * Perch Lake Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Perch Lake Township * Silver Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Silver Township * Silver Brook Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Silver Brook Township * Skelton Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Skelton Township * Split Rock Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Split Rock Township * Thomson Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Thomson Township * Twin Lakes Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Twin Lakes Township * Wrenshall Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, Wrenshall TownshipUnorganized territories
* Clear Creek, Minnesota, Clear Creek * North Carlton, Minnesota, North CarltonGovernment and politics
Local government
As of 2019, the Carlton County Sheriff is Kelly Lake. The Carlton County Board of Commissioners has five members, each representing one district. In April 2019 Lake and the Fond du Lac Police Department collaborated on sex trafficking training on behalf of other sheriff agencies that would be affected by the upcoming Enbridge Line 3. In 2017, Carlton County published a detailed Jail & Criminal Justice System Planning Study. As of 2019, Carlton County Public Health employs 36 county staff and 6 contract staff. It has been operating since 1920.National
Carlton County voters trend Democratic. The Democratic Party has carried the county in every presidential election since 1928, though Donald Trump lost by only 300 votes in 2016 and 307 votes in 2020.See also
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Carlton County, MinnesotaReferences
External links