Chisago County, Minnesota

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Chisago County (Template:IPAc-en Script error: No such module "Respell".)[1] is a county in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The county covers an area of Script error: No such module "convert". and, as of the 2020 Census, had a population of 56,621 people. It is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county's largest city is North Branch. Within Chisago County is the Chisago Lakes area, which includes the combined areas of Shafer, Chisago City, Lindström, and Center City. Center City is the county seat.[2] The county has a diverse economy, including manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.[3]

History

Early history

Before the arrival of European settlers, the area that is now Chisago County was home to the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes. The Dakota lived in the southern part of the county and the Ojibwe in the northern part.[4] The first European to explore the area was Sieur duLuth in 1679.[5] French and English trading posts were established in Taylors Falls and Sunrise during the 18th century. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, French fur traders who traveled south from Lake Superior established trading posts along the river, extending as far south as Taylors Falls.[5]

In 1837, a treaty between the United States and the Chippewa Nation led to the cession of all lands between the St. Croix and Mississippi River, opening the area for European settlement.[6]

European Settlement

The first European settlers arrived in the Chisago County area in the early 1800s. Most of them were of Swedish descent, and they came in search of land and new opportunities.[7] They established small farms and communities throughout the county. Chisago County's early economy was based on farming, logging, and mining. Its forests and mines attracted many settlers to the area. Records of early businesses in Chisago County are recorded in Lindströmsjö.[8] Many Swedes emigrated seeking religious freedom from the oppressive Lutheran Church of Sweden. However, the majority left for reasons other than religious repression and still identified as Lutherans.[9] The early Swedish churches in Minnesota, like the Chisago Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church in Center City, were initially lay-led due to the absence of ordained clergy.[10]

In the mid-1800s, the area that is now Chisago County was part of the Minnesota Territory, and it was not officially established as a county until 1851.[11] It took its name from the Chisago Lake.[12] In its aboriginal form it was "Ki-chi-saga", from two Ojibwe words: "kichi" (large) and "saga" (fair or lovely).[13]

The county seat was originally in Taylors Falls, but was relocated to Chisago City in 1865. It took three more years before the legislature approved this relocation and voters approved it in a referendum. The move was later challenged in the courts on allegations of election fraud, resulting in a two-year delay before the state Supreme Court validated the results. In 1875, the county seat was again moved, this time to Center City where it remains as of Template:Currentyear.[14]

The development of transportation infrastructure in Chisago County began with the completion of the first bridge across the St. Croix River at Taylors Falls in 1856. Prior to the bridge, ferryboats provided crossings at Sunrise and Rush City. In 1868, a military road was constructed, spanning the entire county from north to south. Railroads soon became a vital mode of transportation, with the completion of the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad, also running north to south, in 1870.[5]

Progressive Era

By the early 1900s and the dawn of the Progressive Era, much of Chisago County's forests had been cleared, leading to the closure of sawmills and the departure of lumberjacks in search of new employment. Advancements in farm machinery enabled fewer workers to manage larger farms. The county's economy shifted toward manufacturing and industry. The county was home to factories and mills, including sawmills, flour mills, and paper mills.[8]

The Progressive Era also led to reform movements resonating throughout Minnesota and Chisago County.[15] The county's distinct approach to education can be primarily attributed to its homogeneous population and the unique structure of local governance.[16] This uniformity allowed the school boards in Chisago County to effectively control external influences through their selection of teachers.[17]

Nearly 70% of Chisago County voters supported Progressive Party candidate Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.[18]

Post-war

Between 1970 and 2000, Chisago County's population surged by 135%. Enhanced transportation networks, including Interstate Highway 35 and U.S. Highway 8, facilitated access to broader regions and led to business and industrial growth.[5]

Modern era

Today, Chisago County has a diverse economy. It is home to several manufacturing companies, including the Anderson Corporation, a major producer of windows and doors.[19] Agriculture is also a large part of the local economy, with crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat grown in the county.[20] Tourism is also growing, with visitors drawn to the Chisago Lakes area's recreational opportunities.[2]

The county has retained and continues to celebrate much of its Swedish heritage.[21]

Geography

Chisago County lies on Minnesota's eastern border, abutting the western border of Wisconsin (across the Saint Croix River). The Saint Croix flows south-southeast along the county's eastern border. The Sunrise River flows north through the county's central part, collecting the waters of the North Branch Sunrise River and Hay Creek before discharging into the St. Croix at the county's eastern boundary. The largest lakes in the county are Green Lake (1,800 acres) and Chisago Lake (897 acres). The county has 72,257 acres of wetlands.

The county terrain consists of rolling hills, devoted to agriculture.[22] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the northwest corner, at Script error: No such module "convert". ASL.[23] The county has an area of Script error: No such module "convert"., of which Script error: No such module "convert". is land and Script error: No such module "convert". (6.2%) is water.[24]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Protected areas

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  • Fish Lake County Park
  • Franconia Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area
  • Interstate State Park
  • Lawrence Creek Scientific and Natural Area
  • Ojiketa Regional Park
  • Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (part)
  • Wild River State Park

[22]

Climate and weather

Center City, Minnesota
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Source: The Weather Channel[25]
Metric conversion
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Chisago County has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with long, cold winters and warm summers. The average high temperature in the summer is around Script error: No such module "convert"., while the average low temperature in the winter is around Script error: No such module "convert"..

A record low of Script error: No such module "convert". was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of Script error: No such module "convert". was recorded in July 1988.[25]

The county's location in the Upper Midwest region of the United States exposes it to a wide range of weather patterns, including severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and blizzards. The county experiences moderate precipitation throughout the year, with an average annual rainfall of Script error: No such module "convert". and an average annual snowfall of Script error: No such module "convert".. Spring is the most active season for severe weather, with thunderstorms and tornadoes common. Winter storms are common during the winter, with heavy snowfall and blizzards.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Template:Sronly
18601,743
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U.S. Decennial Census[27]
1790-1960[28] 1900-1990[29]
1990-2000[30] 2010-2020[31]

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From 1960 to 2010, Chisago County has been one of the state's fastest growing counties. From 2000 to 2014, Chisago County was the fifth-fastest growing county in the state, experiencing a population increase of 12,924 (growth rate of 31.4 percent).[5]

95.4% of residents have at least a high school education, and 22.2% have attained a bachelor's degree or higher. 4.9% are veterans.[32]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 56,621. The median age was 40.8 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 106.7 males age 18 and over.[33][34]

The racial makeup of the county was 90.8% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 4.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.[34]

34.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 65.7% lived in rural areas.[35]

There were 20,900 households in the county, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.7% were married-couple households, 15.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 17.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[33]

There were 22,294 housing units, of which 6.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 86.6% were owner-occupied and 13.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.[33]

Age

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Population by decade
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File:ChisagoCountyMn2022PopPyr.png
2022 US Census population pyramid for Chisago County, from ACS 5-year estimate

Race and ethnicity

Historically, Chisago County has been overwhelmingly populated by non-Hispanic Whites. Since 2000, it has been home to a small but growing Black, Asian, and Hispanic population.

Year Total White alone Black alone Hispanic
(any race)
Native alone Asian alone
(incl. Pacific Is.)
Other
race
alone
Two or
more
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
1950[36] 12,669 12,660 99.93 9Template:Efn 0.06
1960[37] 13,419 13,392 99.80 21 0.16 6Template:Efn 0.04 0 0.00
1970[38] 17,492 17,427 99.63 33 0.19 32 0.18
1980[39] 25,717 25,423 98.86 28 0.11 91Template:Efn 0.35 76 0.30 59 0.23 40 0.16
1990[40] 30,521 30,099 98.62 63 0.21 137Template:Efn 0.45 120 0.39 89 0.29 13 0.04
2000[41] 41,101 39,953 97.21 210 0.51 473 1.15 187 0.45 287 0.70 126 0.31 327 0.80
2010[42] 53,887Template:Efn 51,013 94.67 636 1.18 835 1.55 313 0.58 480 0.89 19 0.04 591 1.10
2020[43] 56,621Template:Efn 50,804 89.73 845 1.49 1,451 2.56 309 0.55 771 1.36 185 0.33 2,256 3.98

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Ancestry

The most common ancestries in Chisago County are German, English, Swedish, Irish and Norwegian.[44][45]

Ancestry Any ancestryTemplate:Efn Full ancestryTemplate:Efn
Rank Population % Rank Population %
German 1 19,608 34.63 1 6,551 11.57
Irish 2 8,895 15.71 4 1,515 2.68
Swedish 3 8,368 14.78 3 2,380 4.20
English 4 6,992 12.35 2 2,766 4.89
Norwegian 5 6,463 11.41 5 1,467 2.59
Polish 6 3,127 5.52 7 637 1.13
French 7 2,846 5.03 9 359 0.63
Italian 8 1,859 3.28 8 509 0.90
Scandinavian 9 1,692 2.99 6 985 1.74
Scottish 10 1,239 2.19 15 118 0.21
Danish 11 945 1.67 12 144 0.25
Dutch 12 908 1.60 11 146 0.26
Finnish 13 900 1.59 10 257 0.45
Czech 14 884 1.56 13 142 0.25
Mexican 15 883 1.56
French-Canadian 16 691 1.22 14 139 0.25

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Nativity

File:Swedish ancestry in Chisago County, MN (2020).svg
Percent of population reporting Swedish ancestry in 2020 by census tract[46]

In 2021, 97.9% of residents were born in the United States, and 78.5% had been born in Minnesota. Among the foreign-born population, 56.5% were naturalized U.S. citizens. 97.1% of residents spoke only English at home.

From the late 19th to mid-20th century, a majority of the foreign-born population was born in Sweden.[47][48] As of 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that 1,174 people were foreign born, or 2.06% of the total population. Of these, about 40% were born in Asia, 30% in Latin America, 15% in Canada, 10% in Europe, and 5% in Africa.[49]

Country of birth of foreign born population, 1930–1970
Country of birth
1900 1930[47] 1940[48] 1970
Number % Number % Number % Number %
File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 4,215 84.00 2,319 84.85 1,541 82.45 220 59.46
File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany 390 2.94 133 4.86 92 4.93 52 14.05
File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway 69 1.38 94 3.44 77 4.12 8 2.16
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 128 2.55 56 2.05 38 2.03 16 4.32
File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 55 0.42 41 1.50 40 2.14 6 1.62
Other 161 3.21 90 3.29 80 4.28 68 18.38
Total foreign born 5,018 100.00 2,733 100.00 1,868 100.00 370 100.0

Template:Notelist

Country of birth of foreign born population, 2022[49]
Country Number Percent
File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico 201 17.12
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 178 15.16
File:Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines 116 9.88
File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand 68 5.79
File:Flag of Laos.svg Laos 64 5.45
File:Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Honduras 61 5.20
File:Flag of Cambodia.svg Cambodia 60 5.11
File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea 51 4.34
File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China 37 3.15
File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia 36 3.07
File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil 30 2.56
File:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine 28 2.38
Other 244 20.79
Total 1,174 100.00

Religion

File:Chisago Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church.jpg
Chisago Lake Evangelical Lutheran Church

The 2020 U.S. Religion Census conducted by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies found that 7,549 Chisago County residents were affiliated with the Catholic Church, 6,098 with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and 2,975 with the Assemblies of God.[50]

A notable religious building in Chisago County is the Chisago Lake Lutheran Church. The church was founded in 1890 and has been in Center City since 1906. It is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Another prominent religious building in the county is the First United Methodist Church of Lindström. The church has served the community for over 130 years.

The Church of St. Joseph in Taylors Falls is a Catholic church that was founded in 1854. The current building was constructed in 1896.

Transportation

Among workers 16 years and older, 80.3% commuted to work by car, 9.0% carpooled, 1.6% used public transit, and 2.2% walked, biked, or used some other method. 7.0% worked from home. The median household income was $86,900, slightly above the state average. 6.4% of residents lived below the poverty line, and 2.5% were unemployed. 86.4% of housing in the county was owner-occupied.

Arrowhead Transit provides public bus routes and Dial-A-Ride in Chisago County.

Education

Communities

Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Culture

File:Svenskar i Amerika. Olof Olsson från Nerikes Kil, utvandrade ca 1880 till Rush City, Minnesota - Nordiska Museet - NMA.0039211.jpg
Swedish immigrants in Rush City, Minnesota, in 1887.

Chisago County is strongly influenced by the German, Swedish and Norwegian immigrants who settled there in the mid-19th century. It provided the setting for much of Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg's suite of novels The Emigrants in the 1950s, and Moberg engaged in both archival and oral history research for his books to recreate the area's early Swedish immigration. Sculptor Ian Dudley's bronze statue of Moberg stands in Chisago City's park.

Moberg's fictional characters Karl-Oskar and Kristina Nilsson from Ljuder parish in Småland in 1850 with three small children and a group of relatives and neighbors, during the period of the first wave of mass emigration from Sweden.

Moberg penned Karl Oskar as the first to settle around Lake Ki-Chi-Saga (from the Ojibwe Ki-chi-saga-igun, or Gichi-zaaga'igan in contemporary spelling), meaning "big lake with an outlet", which was later shortened to Lake Chisago. The annual Karl Oskar Days in Lindström honor the early settlers' heritage.

Government and politics

Government

The County Board, comprising five members, is responsible for setting policies and making laws in the county. Its members are elected from specific regions and serve four-year terms in a rotating manner.[51]

The County Board sets the county tax rate, adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government.

The Chisago County Court Administrator's Office is responsible for maintaining records, managing case flow, overseeing jury management, and collecting fines for all District Court cases in the county. These cases encompass various types, such as juvenile, civil, family, probate, criminal, and conciliation court cases. Chisago County accommodates three chambered judges in a full-time capacity, and is part of the 10th Judicial District, which comprises eight counties and 45 judges. Any judge in this district may preside over cases in Chisago County.

County Commissioners

Office[51] Name Party
  District 1 Jim Swenson Nonpartisan
  District 2 Rick Greene Nonpartisan
  District 3 Marlys Dunne Nonpartisan
  District 4 Ben Montzka Nonpartisan
  District 5 Dan Dahlberg Nonpartisan

County officials

Office[52] Name Party
  Attorney Janet Reiter Nonpartisan
  Auditor-Treasurer Bridgitte Konrad Nonpartisan
  Recorder Karen Long Nonpartisan
  Sheriff Brandon Thyen Nonpartisan

Politics

Chisago County has trended conservative in recent state and federal elections, backing every Republican nominee for president since 2000.

State legislators

Office District Name Party Residence
bgcolor=Template:Party color Senate 11 Jason Rarick Republican Pine City
bgcolor=Template:Party color Senate 28 Mark Koran Republican North Branch
bgcolor=Template:Party color House 11B Nathan Nelson Republican Hinckley
bgcolor=Template:Party color House 28A Jimmy Gordon Republican Isanti
bgcolor=Template:Party color House 28B Max Rymer Republican North Branch

Federal officials

Office District Name Party
bgcolor=Template:Party color Senate Statewide Amy Klobuchar DFL
bgcolor=Template:Party color Senate Statewide Tina Smith DFL
bgcolor=Template:Party color House 8th Pete Stauber Republican

Presidential elections

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See also

References

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Notes

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External links

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