Minnesota

Lake

10,905
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Lake

Lake, Minnesota, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 248. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 10,905.

Its recorded population peaked at 13,702 in 1960, and has since declined by roughly 20 percent.

On the ground today, 28 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202010,905
201010,866
200011,058
199010,415
198013,043
197013,351
196013,702
19507,781
19406,956
19307,068
19208,251
19108,011
19004,654
18901,299
1880106
1870135
1860248
Source

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

Historic places in Lake

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake, Minnesota.

Split Rock Light Station
Two Harbors
NIAGARA Shipwreck Site
Knife River
BENJAMIN NOBLE (Shipwreck)
Knife River
Bridge No. 3589-Silver Creek Township
Silver Creek Township
Isabella Ranger Station
Isabella
MADEIRA (Schooner-Barge) Shipwreck
Beaver Bay
Two Harbors Light Station
Two Harbors
SAMUEL P. ELY Shipwreck
Two Harbors
Tettegouche Camp Historic District
Silver Bay
Dwan, John, Office Building
Two Harbors
EDNA G (tugboat)
Two Harbors
Fort St. Charles Archeological Site
Angle Inlet
Lake County Courthouse and Sheriff's Residence
Two Harbors
ONOKO (Bulk Freight Steamer) Shipwreck
Knife River
HARRIET B. (shipwreck)
Two Harbors
Duluth and Iron Range Railroad Company Depot
Two Harbors
HESPER Shipwreck Site
Silver Bay
Canadian National Railways Depot
Baudette
Browse all Minnesotahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Minnesota

Explore census history and historic records for more Minnesota counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Lake County, Minnesota

This page charts the census history of Lake 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 Lake

When does Lake first appear in the US census?
Lake, Minnesota first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 248.
What is the population of Lake?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lake had a recorded population of 10,905.
When did Lake's population peak?
Lake's recorded population peaked at 13,702 in 1960.
How many historic places are in Lake?
28 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lake, Minnesota.
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