Kanabec County (/kəˈneɪbɪk/ kə-NAY-bik)[1] is a county in the East Central part of U.S. stateofMinnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,032.[2] Its county seatisMora.[3]
Kanabec County
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Kanabec County Courthouse in Mora (2007)
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Location within the U.S. state of Minnesota
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Minnesota's location within the U.S.
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| Coordinates: 45°57′N 93°18′W / 45.95°N 93.3°W / 45.95; -93.3 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Minnesota |
| Founded | March 13, 1858 (created) 1882 (fully organized) |
| Named for | Snake River |
| Seat | Mora |
| Largest city | Mora |
| Area | |
| • Total | 534 sq mi (1,380 km2) |
| • Land | 522 sq mi (1,350 km2) |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (30 km2) 2.3% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,032 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
| 16,602  |
| • Density | 30.7/sq mi (11.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
| Website | www |
The Minnesota legislature authorized creation of Kanabec County on March 13, 1858,[4] with territory partitioned from Pine County. No county seat was designated at that time, and the county organization was not effected at that time. The county name came from the Ojibwe term ginebig, meaning "snake," after the Snake River — Kanabecosippi (Ginebigo-ziibi in the modern spelling) — which flows through the county.[5]
The area of Kanabec County was attached to Chisago County for administrative and judicial purposes. What county business was handled locally was performed by part-time County Auditor and County Treasurer, in a single room in a stopping place operated by lumber-trader George Staples at Millet Rapids.
In 1871 the county was detached from Chisago, and assigned to Pine County. This assignment lasted through 1881.
The 1870 United States census listed 53 occupants of the Kanabec County area. However, an influx of settlers into its southern areas occurred in the early 1870s, and by 1876 an official county building was needed. A one-room wood building was erected at Millet Rapids, put into use in 1876. In 1881 the county was detached from Pine, and the government structure was finalized, with the county seat being designated at Brunswick. Only one court term was held at Brunswick; in the 1882 general election, a nearly-unanimous vote designated Mora as the county seat. The old courthouse building was sold to a local farmer, who moved it to his property to use as a home. The wood courthouse erected at Mora was used until 1894, when it burned and was replaced by a more fireproof building.[6]
The Snake River flows south-southeasterly through the central part of the county, fed by Groundhouse River (flowing northeasterly from the county's SW corner) and Red Creek and Mud Creek. The Snake continues easterly into Pine County. The county terrain consists of partly-wooded rolling hills, etched by drainages. It is largely devoted to agriculture.[7] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the NW corner, at 1,309 ft (399 m) ASL.[8] The county has a total area of 534 square miles (1,380 km2), of which 522 square miles (1,350 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.3%) is water.[9]
Minnesota State Highway 27
Minnesota State Highway 47
Minnesota State Highway 65
Minnesota State Highway 70
Minnesota State Highway 107| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 30 | — | |
| 1870 | 93 | 210.0% | |
| 1880 | 505 | 443.0% | |
| 1890 | 1,579 | 212.7% | |
| 1900 | 4,614 | 192.2% | |
| 1910 | 6,461 | 40.0% | |
| 1920 | 9,086 | 40.6% | |
| 1930 | 8,558 | −5.8% | |
| 1940 | 9,651 | 12.8% | |
| 1950 | 9,192 | −4.8% | |
| 1960 | 9,007 | −2.0% | |
| 1970 | 9,775 | 8.5% | |
| 1980 | 12,161 | 24.4% | |
| 1990 | 12,802 | 5.3% | |
| 2000 | 14,996 | 17.1% | |
| 2010 | 16,239 | 8.3% | |
| 2020 | 16,032 | −1.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 16,602 | [11] | 3.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14] 1990-2000[15] 2010-2020[2] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 14,954 | 93.3% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 65 | 0.4% |
| Native American (NH) | 113 | 0.7% |
| Asian (NH) | 80 | 0.5% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 582 | 3.63% |
| HispanicorLatino | 238 | 1.5% |
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,239 people and 6,277 households in the county. The population density was 31.1 per square mile (12.0/km2). There were 7,808 housing units (2014 estimate). The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% White, 0.6% BlackorAfrican American, 0.8% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 1.6% from other races or two or more races. 1.7% of the population were HispanicorLatino of any race. As of the 2000 census, 30.2% were of German, 18.1% Swedish, 13.1% Norwegian, 5.5% American and 5.4% Irish ancestry.
In the census of 2000, there were 5,759 households, out of which 34.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.80% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03.
The county population contained 24.0% under the age of 18 and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $47,068. The per capita income for the county was $22,291. About 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line.
Locations where the US Post office used to operate but no longer exist.[17]
Kanabec County voters have moved toward the Republican Party in the past few decades; since 1980 the county has selected the Republican Party candidate in 67% of national elections (as of 2020).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 6,278 | 67.93% | 2,774 | 30.02% | 190 | 2.06% |
| 2016 | 5,230 | 63.96% | 2,327 | 28.46% | 620 | 7.58% |
| 2012 | 4,328 | 53.10% | 3,593 | 44.09% | 229 | 2.81% |
| 2008 | 4,479 | 52.70% | 3,743 | 44.04% | 277 | 3.26% |
| 2004 | 4,527 | 54.89% | 3,592 | 43.55% | 129 | 1.56% |
| 2000 | 3,480 | 51.09% | 2,831 | 41.57% | 500 | 7.34% |
| 1996 | 1,924 | 32.35% | 2,927 | 49.21% | 1,097 | 18.44% |
| 1992 | 1,876 | 29.83% | 2,532 | 40.27% | 1,880 | 29.90% |
| 1988 | 2,571 | 45.93% | 2,970 | 53.05% | 57 | 1.02% |
| 1984 | 3,027 | 52.88% | 2,660 | 46.47% | 37 | 0.65% |
| 1980 | 2,500 | 45.39% | 2,654 | 48.18% | 354 | 6.43% |
| 1976 | 1,943 | 36.58% | 3,188 | 60.03% | 180 | 3.39% |
| 1972 | 2,395 | 51.71% | 1,969 | 42.51% | 268 | 5.79% |
| 1968 | 1,847 | 43.48% | 2,154 | 50.71% | 247 | 5.81% |
| 1964 | 1,348 | 33.50% | 2,666 | 66.25% | 10 | 0.25% |
| 1960 | 2,278 | 54.33% | 1,890 | 45.08% | 25 | 0.60% |
| 1956 | 1,950 | 52.80% | 1,736 | 47.01% | 7 | 0.19% |
| 1952 | 2,205 | 55.85% | 1,714 | 43.41% | 29 | 0.73% |
| 1948 | 1,531 | 38.56% | 2,305 | 58.06% | 134 | 3.38% |
| 1944 | 1,913 | 51.52% | 1,776 | 47.83% | 24 | 0.65% |
| 1940 | 2,311 | 50.85% | 2,185 | 48.07% | 49 | 1.08% |
| 1936 | 1,350 | 33.02% | 2,579 | 63.09% | 159 | 3.89% |
| 1932 | 1,268 | 35.17% | 2,106 | 58.42% | 231 | 6.41% |
| 1928 | 2,380 | 68.35% | 1,040 | 29.87% | 62 | 1.78% |
| 1924 | 1,507 | 47.57% | 128 | 4.04% | 1,533 | 48.39% |
| 1920 | 2,436 | 75.68% | 332 | 10.31% | 451 | 14.01% |
| 1916 | 776 | 49.02% | 608 | 38.41% | 199 | 12.57% |
| 1912 | 218 | 16.99% | 270 | 21.04% | 795 | 61.96% |
| 1908 | 803 | 69.52% | 242 | 20.95% | 110 | 9.52% |
| 1904 | 872 | 86.08% | 106 | 10.46% | 35 | 3.46% |
| 1900 | 658 | 73.44% | 210 | 23.44% | 28 | 3.13% |
| 1896 | 484 | 64.11% | 256 | 33.91% | 15 | 1.99% |
| 1892 | 182 | 53.53% | 38 | 11.18% | 120 | 35.29% |
| 1888 | 162 | 45.25% | 82 | 22.91% | 114 | 31.84% |
| 1884 | 280 | 87.50% | 40 | 12.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1880 | 101 | 67.79% | 48 | 32.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1876 | 109 | 78.99% | 29 | 21.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1872 | 22 | 62.86% | 13 | 37.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1868 | 8 | 88.89% | 1 | 11.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 15 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
