Minnesota

Aitkin

15,697
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Aitkin

Aitkin, Minnesota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 2. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 15,697.

Its recorded population peaked at 17,865 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 12 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Sandy Lake Tragedy — Ojibwe Removal (1850), and 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202015,697
201016,202
200015,301
199012,425
198013,404
197011,403
196012,162
195014,327
194017,865
193015,009
192015,043
191010,371
19006,743
18902,462
1880366
1870178
18602
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Aitkin

Military engagements that took place in Aitkin, Minnesota.

Sandy Lake Tragedy — Ojibwe Removal (1850)
1850

Historic places in Aitkin

National Register of Historic Places listings in Aitkin, Minnesota.

Bethelhem Lutheran Church
Aitkin
Pine-Hickory Lakes Roadside Parking Area
Aitkin
Potter/Casey Company Building
Aitkin
Aitkin Carnegie Library
Aitkin
Malmo Mounds and Village Site
McGrath
ANDY GIBSON (shipwreck)
Aitkin
Casey, Patrick, House
Aitkin
Arthyde Stone House
McGrath
Savanna Portage
McGregor
Aitkin County Courthouse and Jail
Aitkin
National Woodenware Company Superintendent's Residence
Hill City
Northern Pacific Depot
Aitkin

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Everything a full report reveals about Aitkin County, Minnesota

This page charts the census history of Aitkin County, Minnesota. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Aitkin

When does Aitkin first appear in the US census?
Aitkin, Minnesota first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 2.
What is the population of Aitkin?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Aitkin had a recorded population of 15,697.
When did Aitkin's population peak?
Aitkin's recorded population peaked at 17,865 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Aitkin?
1 documented military engagement took place in Aitkin, including Sandy Lake Tragedy — Ojibwe Removal (1850).
How many historic places are in Aitkin?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Aitkin, Minnesota.
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