Itasca County, Minnesota

Infobox U.S. County
county = Itasca County
state = Minnesota


founded year = 1849 [http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/govseries/No32.htm]
founded date = October 27
seat wl = Grand Rapids
largest city wl = Grand Rapids
area_total_sq_mi = 2928
area_total_km2 = 7583
area_land_sq_mi = 2665
area_land_km2 = 6902
area_water_sq_mi = 263
area_water_km2 = 680
area percentage = 8.97%
census yr = 2000
pop = 43992
density_sq_mi = 16
density_km2 = 6
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset = -5
footnotes =
web = www.co.itasca.mn.us
named for = Two Latin words for "truth" and "head"

Itasca County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is named after Lake Itasca, which is in turn a shortened version the Latin words "veritas caput", meaning true head, a reference to the source of the Mississippi River. As of 2000, the population was 43,992. Its county seat is Grand RapidsGR|6. Portions of the Bois Forte and Leech Lake Indian reservations are in the county.

History

The county was first formed in 1849, upon the creation of Minnesota Territory, from the Minnesota portion of La Pointe County, Wisconsin. Originally much larger, the original Itasca County covered what today are Cook, Lake, St. Louis, Koochiching, eastern Lake of the Woods, eastern Beltrami, Itasca, northern Aitkin and northern Carlton counties of Minnesota.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,928 square miles (7,583 km²), of which, 2,665 square miles (6,902 km²) of it is land and 263 square miles (680 km²) of it (8.97%) is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

*Koochiching County (north)
*St. Louis County (east)
*Aitkin County (south)
*Cass County (southwest)
*Beltrami County (west)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 43,992 people, 17,789 households, and 12,381 families residing in the county. The population density was 16 people per square mile (6/km²). There were 24,528 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.64% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 3.40% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.6% were of German, 13.8% Norwegian, 7.7% Finnish, 7.2% Swedish, 6.2% Irish, 5.0% United States or American and 5.0% English ancestry.

There were 17,789 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 24.40% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,234, and the median income for a family was $44,025. Males had a median income of $37,066 versus $22,327 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,717. About 7.70% of families and 10.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

References

External links

* [http://www.co.itasca.mn.us/ Itasca County government’s website]