• Source: Cass Lake, Minnesota

Cass Lake is a city in Cass County, Minnesota, United States, located within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. It is surrounded by Pike Bay Township. Cass Lake had a population of 675 in the 2020 census. It is notable as the headquarters location of Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, as well as the Chippewa National Forest.
The city is located on the shore of its namesake Cass Lake, which was named in honor of Michigan Governor Lewis Cass.
Cass Lake is part of the Brainerd Micropolitan Statistical Area. It reached its peak of population of over 2,100 in 1920. Since 1950, the combination of decline of small town retailers, suburbanization, and decreased employment in forest industries have resulted in steadily decreasing population.




Economy


Forest products have historically been an important part of the local economy. The Glenmont Lumber Company opened a sawmill in the autumn of 1898, followed by Scanlon-Gipson Lumber Company opening a planing mill in the summer of 1899. Both operated until the sawmill burnt in 1902. The Julius Neils Lumber Company opened a 30 mft sawmill, planing mill, and 8 mft lath mill in May 1900, operating until 1923. The Northern Pine Crating Co. opened a wooden box factory in the autumn of 1907, operating until the mill burned c.1950.
Wheeler Lumber Bridge and Supply Co. opened a post-peeling plant in 1949, followed by a wood-treating plant in 1951. This facility was expanded in 1959 and 1971. Wheeler was purchased by St. Regis Paper Company in 1968; St. Regis later purchased a sawmill as well Frank's Mill (opened 1939). After the purchase of St. Regis by Champion International in 1985, the corporation closed the facility. The sawmill was purchased by Cass Forest Products and continues to operate (as of 2010).
Tourism has been an increasingly important component of the local economy since the earliest days of the community. Numerous resorts and campgrounds in the area cater to sport fishing, hunting, camping, and watersports. Due to the cold winters, tourism is highly seasonal.

The Federal Government has been an important local employer since 1902, when the Minnesota Forest Reserve was established. Cass Lake was selected as the location of the Forest Supervisor's Office. Following passage of the Emergency Conservation Work Act of 1933 and establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Cass Lake was the headquarters for the Chippewa Sub-District, responsible for management of over a dozen camps. Among the CCC projects completed in Cass Lake were the monumental log-construction Forest Supervisor's Office (1936) and establishment of the Lydick Nursery (1934), which produced millions of seedlings for reforestation work.
In 1922, the Bureau of Indian Affairs established the Consolidated Chippewa Agency to serve all the Ojibwe tribes in Minnesota, with the exception of Red Lake. It selected Cass Lake as its headquarters. Later, the Indian Health Service opened a hospital and clinic (1937) to serve the Leech Lake Indian Reservation.
Following passage of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and establishment of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, tribal headquarters were located in Cass Lake. Cass Lake is also location of the headquarters of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, which operates the Cedar Lakes Casino.
There are a variety of small businesses that keep the Cass Lake economy thriving.




Education


Cass Lake is located in Independent School District 115 (Cass Lake-Bena School District). Cass Lake–Bena Elementary School is located within the city limits, while Cass Lake–Bena High School and Middle School are located approximately one mile south of town. Elementary school classes began in 1899 and the high school opened in 1904.
Students also attend the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School in an area near Bena, a Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded elementary and secondary school established in 1975.
Leech Lake Tribal College, a two-year tribal college, is located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of town.




History


The area was inhabited for thousands of years by succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples. In historic times, the Ojibwe/Chippewa moved west and south from the Great Lakes region, settling across present-day Minnesota.
The village was established in 1898 with the construction of the Great North Railway. The post office was originally established as 'Tuller' in December 1898, named after the brother-in-law of the first postmaster. When this was known, residents quickly lodged protests with the Postmaster General and by the end of March 1899, it was renamed 'Cass Lake'.
The forest industry has historically supplied many jobs, but has been susceptible to boom-and-bust cycle. Between 1898 and 1923, the city was dependent on lumber mills utilizing pine from the surrounding forests. Depletion of the pine resource was followed by utilization of lower value species at a box factory which operated until 1950, and a wood treatment plant operated by Wheeler Lumber between 1949 and 1985. From 1983 until 2009, Potlatch Corporation and its successor Ainsworth operated an oriented strand board plant in nearby Farden Township, which provided employment to many residents. Cass Forest Products, an employee-owned company, operates a sawmill that has been in operation since 1939, and is one of the largest forest product producers in Minnesota. The former wood-treating plant operated by Wheeler Lumber within the city limits has been designated a Federal Superfund site, due to soil and groundwater contamination by the wood treating compounds creosote, pentachlorophenol, and ammoniacal copper arsenate.
From 1911-1919, the Cass Lake Boarding School, a Native American residential school, operated in Cass Lake. The school opened with the capacity for 50 students.
In 2003, Elaine Fleming was the first Native American to be elected as mayor of the town.




Geography and climate


According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.09 square miles (2.8 km2), all of it land.
Cass Lake has a humid continental climate (Köppen Climate Classification Dfb), with warm summers and long, cold winters.




Demographics






= 2020 census

=
As of the census of 2020, the population was 675. The population density was 619.3 inhabitants per square mile (239.1/km2). There were 296 housing units at an average density of 271.6 per square mile (104.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.4% Native American, 19.0% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 8.7% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 1.8% Hispanic or Latino of any race. The 2020 census results may be inaccurate, especially for rural and non-white communities, owing to the Census Bureau's implementation of differential privacy.




= 2010 census

=
As of the census of 2010, there were 770 people, 305 households, and 164 families residing in the city. The population density was 675.4 inhabitants per square mile (260.8/km2). There were 371 housing units at an average density of 325.4 per square mile (125.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 67.9% Native American, 24.3% White, 0.3% African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.
There were 305 households, of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 17.0% were married couples living together, 25.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 10.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 46.2% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.29.
The median age in the city was 31.8 years. 30.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 21.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.




= 2000 census

=
As of the census of 2000, there were 860 people, 331 households, and 192 families residing in the city. The population density was 753.2 inhabitants per square mile (290.8/km2). There were 384 housing units at an average density of 336.3 per square mile (129.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 30.12% White, 64.42% Native American, 0.23% from other races, and 5.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.74% of the population.
There were 331 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.2% were married couples living together, 27.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 38.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.40.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 36.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $20,583, and the median income for a family was $23,977. Males had a median income of $22,614 versus $20,066 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,569. About 25.4% of families and 29.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.0% of those under age 18 and 29.4% of those age 65 or over.




Infrastructure






= Major highways

=
The following routes are located within Cass Lake.

U.S. Highway 2
Minnesota State Highway 371




Notable people


Alonzo Barnard (1817–1905), missionary
Jamie Becker-Finn (born 1982), Minnesota State Representative District 42B (DFL)
Elaine Fleming, Mayor, Cass Lake, MN (2003).
Skip Finn (1948–2018), attorney, Minnesota State Senator District 4 (DFL).
Roland H. Hartley (1864–1952), Governor of Washington, 1925-1933
Donald D. Lundrigan (1910–1990), Minnesota State Representative and lawyer
Charlie Munger (1924–2023), Vice-Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Corporation
Henry J. Neils (1896–1988), President of Flour City Ornamental Iron Works Company
Alfred O. C. Nier (1911–1994), physicist (summer resident)
Ozaawindib, Ojibwe chief and guide
Joe Polo (born 1982), Olympic gold medalist in curling (2018)
Dick Siebert (1912–1978), professional baseball player
John Smith (1785?–1922), centenarian
Erma Vizenor (born 1944), White Earth tribal chair




Gallery



























References






External links



City of Cass Lake
Leech Lake Tribal College
Cass Lake Chamber of Commerce
Cass Lake Times Newspaper
Cass Lake Photo Gallery
[1]
• Source: Cass Lake (Minnesota)

Cass Lake is a lake in north central Minnesota in the United States. It is approximately 10 mi (16 km) long and 7 mi (11 km) wide, located in Cass and Beltrami counties, within the Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Indian Reservation, adjacent to its namesake city of Cass Lake. It is the 11th largest lake in Minnesota, and the 8th largest lake lying entirely within the borders of the state.




Name


In the Ojibwe language, the lake is called Gaa-miskwaawaakokaag (where there are many red cedars), and was known to early explorers and traders in French as Lac du Cedre Rouge, and English as Upper Red Cedar Lake.




Geography


The lake occupies a basin that formed over a ground moraine on the lake's west side and glacial outwash on its east side from melting glacial ice of the Wadena and Des Moines Lobes, respectively, during the retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet after the Last Glacial Maximum. The Mississippi River flows through the lake from west to east. A second major stream, the Turtle River, enters the lake from the north. The lake has a large littoral area, particularly around Cedar Island.
Historically, Cass Lake was considered to be much larger. Pike Bay is a 4,760 acres (19.3 km2) lake lying to the south of Cass Lake; the two lakes are connected by a narrow 0.5 mi (0.80 km) long channel. Formerly, the two lakes were connected by a 0.6 mi (0.97 km) wide shallow narrows. Beginning in 1898, construction of a railroad, and later highway and pipeline, across the narrows led to decreased currents through and increased sedimentation in the narrows. The two bodies of water are now generally considered separate lakes, although Pike Bay retains its old name.
The lake contains five islands, including Star Island, Cedar Island, the two Potato Islands, and a small unnamed island. Star Island is notable in that it contains the 199 acres (0.81 km2)-sized Lake Windigo, thus forming "a lake within an island within a lake". [1].
The Mississippi River leaves Cass Lake in the northeastern corner, flowing next into Lake Winnibigoshish.
Lake level was maintained and stabilized by Knutson Dam beginning in 1924. Knutson Dam was built to replace earlier brush and log dams built by lumber companies. In 2015, Knutson Dam was removed and replaced with a rock weir. This allows a natural setting for water flowing downstream from Cass Lake, accommodates higher flow rates and allows fish migration between lakes connected by the Mississippi.




History


The first recorded visits to the lake by Canadian fur traders were in the 1790s. Mapmaker David Thompson passed through the lake in the spring of 1798 while in the employ of the North West Company. He made the first designation of the location of the headwaters of the Mississippi River, naming Turtle Lake, located upstream of Cass Lake, as the source. This was a matter of great geopolitical importance, as the location of the headwaters was key to mapping the boundary between Canada (British North America) and the United States agreed to in the Treaty of Paris. Thompson's visit was followed by that of Zebulon Pike in February 1806 as a part of a military expedition to explore the northern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase. Pike designated Cass Lake as the 'upper source' and nearby Leech Lake as the 'lower source' of the river.
In July 1820, an expedition led by General Lewis Cass visited the lake. They were prevented from traveling further upstream by low water, and so designated the lake as the headwaters of the Mississippi because below this point, the river is navigable throughout the ice-free season. In June 1832, Henry Schoolcraft, who had been a member of the 1820 expedition, designated the source of the river as being further upstream at Lake Itasca, the source of the perennial stream. Subsequent to the Cass Expedition of 1820, the lake was renamed Cass Lake in order to distinguish it from Red Cedar Lake (known today as Cedar Lake) in Aitkin County.
Formerly, the lake played an important role in the lumber industry. Log booms were towed across the lake by steamboat from surrounding lakes and streams to either be sawed into lumber at local mills or transported elsewhere by railroad.




Recreation


The lake is popular destination for recreational fishing, boating, and swimming. The lake is known for its walleye, northern pike, muskellunge, and yellow perch fisheries. Tullibee are important forage fish. There are numerous campgrounds and resorts located on its shores. The southern and eastern shores of the lake, as well as all the islands, are protected within the Ten Section Area of the Chippewa National Forest. Norway Beach recreation area is located at the southeast corner of the lake and contains Norway Beach Lodge, a notable example of Civilian Conservation Corps-built Finnish-style log architecture. The city of Cass Lake sits near the southwestern side of the lake.
On the isthmus between Cass Lake and neighboring Buck Lake lies Camp Chippewa, a boys camp founded in 1935 by Otto John Endres. Camp Chippewa is a non-profit, private camp for boys between the ages of 8 and 17. Camp Chippewa is renowned for its tripping program. The camp outfits multi week wilderness canoe trips in Minnesota, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The trips vary in length from overnight trips for the youngest campers, to 21 days for the oldest. The in-camp program allows campers to choose their own activities, including archery, riflery, swimming, sailing, canoeing, tennis, fencing, climbing, kayaking, water skiing and soccer. In the Summer of 2019 Camp Chippewa had finally purchased a plot of land on Star Island. Camp Chippewa is directed by Michael and Mary Endres. Another camp, UniStar, lies on a portion of Star Island.




See also


Schoolcraft River
Lake Bemidji
List of Minnesota lakes




References






External links


Camp Chippewa
Camp UniStar

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Kota Praja Otter Tail Peninsula, County Cass, Minnesota
• Daftar kota di Minnesota
• Keuskupan Duluth
• Detroit
• Daftar county dan daerah setingkat county di Amerika Serikat
• Jaringan Nasional
• Cass Lake, Minnesota
• Cass Lake (Minnesota)
• Cass Lake
• Cass County, Minnesota
• Pine Lake Township, Minnesota
• Pike Bay Township, Cass County, Minnesota
• Wabedo Township, Cass County, Minnesota
• Leech Lake Indian Reservation
• Moose Lake Township, Minnesota
• Birch Lake Township, Cass County, Minnesota