Aitkin County, Minnesota

Copyright 2017 – Gary C. Dahle

Aitkin County, Minnesota

Aitkin County – originally covered with white pine forests – is located in the north-central part of Minnesota.

Aitkin County, established in 1857, is bordered:

• on the north by Itasca County,
• on the west by Cass County and Crow Wing County,
• on the south by Mille Lacs County and Kanabec County, and
• on the east by Carlton County, Pine County, and St. Louis County.

The Mississippi River flows through Aitkin County, as does the Ripple River.

Aitkin County was named after William Alexander Aitken, a Scottish fur trader who worked for the American Fur Company.

County Courthouse

The current Beaux-Arts Courthouse – located in the city of Aitkin, was built of brick and stone in 1915 – and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

County Population

Aitkin County, Minnesota had a population of 16,202 as of the 2010 Census, an increase of 5.9% over the 2000 Census population of 15,301.

Primary Cities

The city of Aitkin is the county seat of Aitkin County, Minnesota.

Other cities in Aitkin County, Minnesota include McGrath, McGregor, Palisade, and Tamarack.