According to liuxers.com, Carlton County is located in the northeastern part of Minnesota and is bordered by St. Louis, Lake, and Pine Counties. The county seat is located in the city of Carlton, which is also the county’s largest city. With a population of approximately 35,000 people, Carlton County is one of Minnesota’s least populous counties.
Carlton County covers an area of approximately 1,220 square miles and has a wide variety of natural features including rivers, lakes, forests, wetlands, and prairies. The most notable river in Carlton County is the Saint Louis River which runs through the county from north to south. The largest lake in the county is Moosehead Lake which covers an area of nearly 800 acres and offers excellent fishing opportunities for anglers.
The economy of Carlton County is largely based on agriculture with dairy farming being one of its primary industries. Other major agricultural products include corn, soybeans, hay, wheat, oats, and barley. In addition to agriculture, there are also several manufacturing companies located in the area.
Carlton County is also home to a number of recreational activities including hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, boating, and snowmobiling. There are several state parks located in the county including Jay Cooke State Park and St. Louis River State Park that offer visitors a variety of outdoor activities.
The cities of Carlton and Cloquet are the two most populated cities in the county with both having populations of over 10,000 people. The city of Cloquet is home to the University of Minnesota-Duluth’s Cloquet campus which serves students from throughout the region.
Carlton County is an excellent place to visit or live with its beautiful natural scenery and diverse economy. From outdoor recreation to agricultural production, there is something for everyone in this unique county located in northeastern Minnesota.
History of Carlton County, Minnesota
Carlton County has a long and rich history that dates back to the mid-1800s. Prior to European settlement, the area was home to several Native American tribes, including the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Ho-Chunk people.
The first European settlers arrived in Carlton County in 1852 and established the towns of Carlton and Cloquet. The county was officially organized in 1857 and named after Reuben B. Carlton, a prominent lawyer and politician from St. Paul who served in the Minnesota legislature from 1855 to 1859.
In the late 1800s, logging became an important industry in Carlton County as several sawmills were established along the Saint Louis River. Logging was so important that it eventually gave rise to two new towns: Cromwell (1890) and Wrenshall (1901).
Agriculture also began to play an important role in the county’s economy during this period as farmers began planting crops such as wheat, oats, barley, hay, corn, and soybeans. Dairy farming eventually became one of the most important agricultural industries in Carlton County with many dairy farms being established throughout the county.
By 1900, Carlton County’s population had grown to nearly 8500 people with most of them living in either Carlton or Cloquet. During this time period both cities experienced rapid growth with new businesses being established and new homes being built throughout both towns.
Today, Carlton County is home to over 35000 people spread across its 1120 square miles of land. Despite its small size, it remains an important part of northeastern Minnesota with its diverse economy which includes agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, retail trade, healthcare services, education services and more recently technology services such as bioscience research & development & software development companies operating out of local business incubators & accelerators like D2E2 Incubator located at UMD’s Technology Park near downtown Duluth MN.
Major cities and towns in Carlton County, Minnesota
Carlton County, Minnesota is home to a variety of cities and towns, each with its own unique charm. Its largest city is Duluth, located on the shores of Lake Superior and home to nearly 86,000 people. The city’s economy is primarily driven by the tourism industry as it attracts thousands of visitors each year to its many attractions such as Canal Park, the Lakewalk, and the Aerial Lift Bridge. Duluth is also home to several universities including University of Minnesota Duluth and College of St. Scholastica.
The county’s second largest city is Cloquet with a population of over 11,000 people. Located in the western part of Carlton County along the banks of the Saint Louis River, Cloquet has long been an important hub for logging and paper production in northeastern Minnesota. Today, it remains an important center for manufacturing as well as retail trade and healthcare services.
The town of Carlton has a population of over 1,700 people and serves as a bedroom community for those who work in nearby Duluth or Cloquet. The town was founded in 1852 by settlers from New England who were attracted to its rich soil and abundant natural resources. In recent years, it has become increasingly attractive to retirees looking for a safe place to live near family or friends with plenty of outdoor activities such as hunting or fishing nearby.
Cromwell is another small town located in Carlton County with a population just over 1,200 people. It was established in 1890 by lumberjacks from Finland who came seeking work at local sawmills that had recently been built along the Saint Louis River Valley area. Today, Cromwell remains largely dependent upon logging but also serves as an important center for local retail trade due to its proximity to larger cities like Duluth or Cloquet.
Wrenshall is another small town located within Carlton County with a population just over 800 people that was founded in 1901 by settlers from Norway looking for work at local sawmills that had recently been established along the Saint Louis River Valley area near Cromwell. Wrenshall remains largely dependent upon logging but also serves as an important center for local retail trade due to its proximity to larger cities like Duluth or Cloquet.
Finally, there are several unincorporated communities throughout Carlton County including Esko (population 1125), Kettle River (population 456), Barnum (population 389), Scanlon (population 247), Wrenshall-Riverside (population 183), Moose Lake Township (population 81), Kalevala Township (population 60), Holyoke Township (population 43), Mahtowa Township (population 33), Bruno Township (population 27 ), Kelly Lake Township(Population 26). Each one offers something unique whether it be access to outdoor activities such as fishing or hunting or simply providing rural charm away from larger metropolitan areas like Duluth or Cloquet.
Airports in Carlton County, Minnesota
According to Countryaah, Carlton County, Minnesota is home to several airports that serve the area’s residents and visitors. These airports include the Cloquet-Carlton County Airport, the Duluth International Airport, and the Sky Harbor Airport. Each of these airports has its own unique features and services that make them ideal for those looking to travel to or from Carlton County.
The Cloquet-Carlton County Airport is located just five miles from downtown Cloquet and provides general aviation services to both private and commercial aircrafts. The airport offers a wide variety of services including aircraft rental, flight instruction, charter flights, fuel sales, pilot supplies, aircraft maintenance, and hangars for rent. The airport also features a large runway with a 5500 foot long main runway and two shorter runways that are each 4500 feet long. Additionally, there are several other amenities available such as free Wi-Fi internet access and car rentals.
The Duluth International Airport is located about twenty miles south of Carlton County in the city of Duluth. It serves as a major hub for both domestic and international flights with service provided by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Air Canada Express, Sun Country Airlines, Allegiant Air among others. The airport features two runways which measure 8800 feet long and 6500 feet long respectively as well as several other amenities like car rentals available both onsite or through the nearby terminal building. Additionally, there are several restaurants located within the terminal building offering up various types of food before or after your flight.
Finally, there is Sky Harbor Airport which is located in Moose Lake Township just outside of Carlton County’s boundaries in Pine County. This airport serves primarily private aircrafts but still offers some services such as fuel sales for those looking to stop by before continuing on their journey elsewhere. The airport consists of one runway measuring 4000 feet long as well as some additional amenities like free Wi-Fi internet access and car rentals available onsite or through nearby businesses in Moose Lake Township itself.
Carlton County has three airports all within close proximity that offer travelers various levels of service depending on their needs whether they be business-related or simply recreational purposes looking to explore the area further away from their home base in Cloquet or Duluth respectively.