Esko is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either hav ...

and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, su ...

(CDP) in Thomson Township,

Carlton County Carlton County is a county in the State of Minnesota, formed in 1857. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,207. Its county seat is Carlton. Part of the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation lies in northeastern Carlton County. Carlton Co ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minne ...

, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,869. The community is between Cloquet and Duluth at the

junction Junction may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Junction'' (film), a 2012 American film * Jjunction, a 2002 Indian film * Junction (album), a 1976 album by Andrew Cyrille * Junction (EP), by Basement Jaxx, 2002 * Junction (manga), or ''Hot ...

Interstate 35 Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican border ...

and County Road 1 (Thomson Road). Esko is six miles east of Cloquet and 16 miles southwest of

Duluth , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

. Carlton County Road 61 serves as a main route in the community. Most Esko residents are descendants of Finnish,

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

and Swedish immigrants who settled the area during the early 20th century. The nearby community of Thomson also has a large Scandinavian presence. Most students in kindergarten through 12th grade attend classes at Winterquist Elementary School and Lincoln High School of Esko. Esko is well known for its successful high school sports teams.

Demographics

History

Esko was settled by immigrants between the 1870s and early 1900s. The majority of settlers were Finnish and their culture is reflected in the community's traditions. In 1919, a small store was built at the corner of what is now Thomson Road and County 61 by a man named Alex Esko. It became known as "Esko's Corner." The Lincoln School was built nearby in 1920 and residents began to move into the area. The name was shortened to "Esko" in 1935. The book ''Esko's Corner'', published by the Esko Historical Society, gives a detailed account of Esko's history. The Historical Society also runs a small museum in the heart of the community."Esko History"
'Esko Historical Society.'' Retrieved 04/02/16

References

{{authority control Census-designated places in Carlton County, Minnesota Census-designated places in Minnesota