Clearwater County, Minnesota

The Red Lake River flows west out of Red Lake across the top of Clearwater County on its way to discharge into the Red River at Grand Forks, North Dakota. The Clearwater River flows west-southwest across the central part of the county on its way to discharge into the Red Lake River. The county terrain consists of wooded rolling hills, dotted with lakes and ponds.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Clearwater+County,+MN/@47.5845018,-95.9377907,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x52b804bdafd64735:0x6d383d13c2818282!8m2!3d47.7200787!4d-95.3105661 Clearwater County MN Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019)] The terrain slopes to the north, with the highest point on the lower west boundary, at {{convert|1,781|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.{{Cite web |title="Find an Altitude/Clearwater County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 6, 2019) |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=March 7, 2019}} The county has an area of {{convert|1030|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|999|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|31|sqmi}} (3.0%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102023/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=October 6, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} File:Clearwater Co Pie Chart No Text Version.pdf The county's high point, just south of Scoop Lake, is one of a few places to exceed 2000 feet in Minnesota, rising to 2005 feet at 47.2318°N, -95.5034°W.

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• 20px U.S. Highway 2
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 1
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 92
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 113
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 200
• 20px Minnesota State Highway 223

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• Beltrami County - northeast
• Hubbard County - southeast
• Becker County - south
• Mahnomen County - southwest
• Polk County - west
• Pennington County - northwest

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• Bagley Lake State Wildlife Management Area
• Clearwater State Wildlife Management Area
• Iron Springs Bog SNA
• Itasca State Park (part)
• Jackson Lake State Wildlife Management Area
• Little Pine State Wildlife Management Area
• Lower Rice Lake State Wildlife Management Area
• Old Red Lake Trail State Wildlife Management Area
• Upper Rice Lake State Wildlife Management Area

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{{climate chart

|Bagley, Minnesota

|-5|16|0.69

|0|22|0.68

|14|35|0.89

|29|53|1.60

|42|66|2.98

|51|74|4.62

|55|79|3.94

|52|78|3.23

|43|68|2.87

|32|54|2.40

|18|35|0.96

|2|21|0.64

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{Cite web |title=Monthly Averages for Bagley, Minnesota |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMN0043 |access-date=November 6, 2011 |publisher=The Weather Channel}}}}

In recent years average temperatures in Bagley have ranged from a low of {{convert|-15|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|85|°F}} in July, with a record low of {{convert|-53|°F}} recorded in February 1996 and a record high of {{convert|103|°F}} recorded in August 1976. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|0.64|in}} in December to {{convert|4.62|in}} in June.

{{US Census population

|1910= 6870

|1920= 8569

|1930= 9546

|1940= 11153

|1950= 10204

|1960= 8864

|1970= 8013

|1980= 8761

|1990= 8309

|2000= 8423

|2010= 8695

|2020= 8524

|estyear=2023

|estimate=8643

|estref={{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 18, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html |archive-date=April 26, 2015 |access-date=October 6, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790-1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/ |archive-date=August 11, 2012 |access-date=October 6, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900-1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt |access-date=October 6, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1990-2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=October 6, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010-2020

}}

File:ClearwaterCountyMn2022PopPyr.png for Clearwater County, from ACS 5-year estimates]]

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,423 people, 3,330 households, and 2,287 families in the county. The population density was {{convert|8.43|/mi2|/km2}}. There were 4,114 housing units at an average density of {{convert|4.12|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 89.26% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 8.58% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 0.77% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 43.6% were of Norwegian, 15.6% German, 6.5% Swedish, and 6.2% American ancestry.

There were 3,330 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.30% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.02.

The county population contained 26.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 24.60% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,517, and the median income for a family was $39,698. Males had a median income of $29,338 versus $20,417 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,694. About 11.00% of families and 15.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 18.20% of those age 65 or over.

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• Bagley (county seat)
• Clearbrook
• Gonvick
• Leonard
• Shevlin

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• Ebro
• Elbow Lake
• Rice Lake
• Roy Lake
• South End

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• Alida
• Big Bear Landing
• Bonga Landing
• Bush Landing
• Lake Itasca
• Mallard
• Ponsford Landing
• Vern
• Weme
• Zerkel

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• Bear Creek Township
• Clover Township
• Copley Township
• Dudley Township
• Eddy Township
• Falk Township
• Greenwood Township
• Hangaard Township
• Holst Township
• Itasca Township
• La Prairie Township
• Leon Township
• Long Lost Lake Township
• Minerva Township
• Moose Creek Township
• Nora Township
• Pine Lake Township
• Popple Township
• Rice Township
• Shevlin Township
• Sinclair Township
• Winsor Township

{{div col end}}

• North Clearwater
• South Clearwater

From 1932 to 1996, Clearwater County voted for the Democratic nominee all but twice, both during nationwide Republican landslides for Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1984. Though the county went Democrat in the subsequent three elections, Reagan's victory foreshadowed the changing political landscape of Clearwater County, as the margins for Michael Dukakis and Bill Clinton were much reduced compared to the prior decades, with Dukakis winning the county by only 6 votes in 1988 and Clinton winning by less than 7.5% in both of his successful runs for the presidency. Beginning in 2000, Clearwater County has voted Republican in each election, and the only time the margin got under 10% was in 2008. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican to win over 60% of the county's vote since 1928, defeating Hillary Clinton by an astounding 43%. In 2020, Trump increased his vote share again, defeating Joe Biden in the county by 45%, and in 2024 improved yet again, defeating Kamala Harris by almost a 50% margin of victory.{{Cite news|url=https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/145965 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422114344/https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/145965 |archive-date=2025-04-22 |url-status=live|title=2024 State Canvassing Board Certificate|last=Simon|first=Steve|author-link=Steve Simon|date=November 21, 2024|work=Minnesota Secretary of State|access-date=May 13, 2025}} It was the best Republican performance in the county's history outside of its inaugural election in 1904 for Theodore Roosevelt.

{{PresHead|place=Clearwater County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=April 17, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,575|1,169|70|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,372|1,260|76|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,925|1,100|220|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,359|1,753|85|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,291|1,877|93|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,438|1,871|52|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,137|1,466|221|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,423|1,578|513|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,315|1,587|856|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,763|1,769|35|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,066|1,917|42|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,919|1,955|263|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,374|2,437|204|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,819|1,751|113|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,284|2,046|231|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,137|2,596|6|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,651|2,466|18|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,464|2,171|15|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,971|2,089|56|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,171|2,793|248|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,125|2,658|34|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,354|3,289|35|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|939|3,208|111|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|845|2,688|159|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,898|1,189|76|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1924|Progressive|1,020|86|1,611|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,788|340|400|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|493|544|198|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|125|123|847|Minnesota}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|779|164|236|Minnesota}}

{{PresFoot|1904|Republican|903|79|77|Minnesota}}

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Clearwater County MN

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.co.clearwater.mn.us/ Clearwater County government website]
• [http://www.bagleymn.us/ City of Bagley website]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Clearwater County, Minnesota

|Northeast = Beltrami County

||Southeast = Hubbard County

|South = Becker County

|Southwest = Mahnomen County

|West = Polk County

|Northwest = Pennington County

}}

{{Clearwater County, Minnesota}}

{{Minnesota}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|47.57|-95.38|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Minnesota counties

Category:Minnesota counties on the Mississippi River

Category:1902 establishments in Minnesota

Category:Populated places established in 1902

Category:Minnesota placenames of Native American origin