Aitkin County is a county in Minnesota, United States, along the Mississippi River as it flows through wooded rolling hills and lake country in the central part of the state. It had a population of 15,697 at the 2020 census and covers 1,995 square miles (5,170 km2) of which 174 square miles (450 km2) is water, centred near 46°37′N 93°25′W.
Aitkin is the county seat, and its postal code is 56431. The county has 6 incorporated cities, 43 civil townships, and roughly 30 unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Aitkin County
Aitkin County has six incorporated cities and dozens of small unincorporated places scattered through its townships. The table below lists every place carried over from the county’s community list; type key: City = incorporated city, Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin | City · seat | Aitkin | 2,048 | 56431 |
| Hill City | City | — | 530 | 55748 |
| McGrath | City | — | 67 | 56350 |
| McGregor | City | McGregor | 386 | 55760 |
| Palisade | City | — | 150 | 56469 |
| Tamarack | City | — | 76 | 55787 |
| Arthyde | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ball Bluff | Unincorp. | Ball Bluff | — | — |
| Balsam | Unincorp. | Balsam | — | — |
| Bennettville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cutler | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| East Lake | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Giese | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Glen | Unincorp. | Glen | — | — |
| Glory | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Hassman | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Haypoint | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Jacobson | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kimberly | Unincorp. | Kimberly | — | — |
| Lawler | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Libby | Unincorp. | Libby | — | — |
| Malmo | Unincorp. | Malmo | — | — |
| Minnewawa | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Nichols | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Red Top | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Ronald | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Rossburg | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sheshebee | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Shovel Lake | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Swatara | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Thor | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Waukenabo | Unincorp. | Waukenabo | — | — |
| Wealthwood | Unincorp. | Wealthwood | — | — |
Townships
Aitkin County has 43 organized civil townships. The table below lists a selection where an unincorporated community shares the township’s name; population figures per township are not published individually by the Census Bureau for this county and are omitted rather than estimated.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Aitkin Township | — | Aitkin (city, separately incorporated) |
| McGregor Township | — | McGregor (city, separately incorporated) |
| Malmo Township | — | Malmo |
| Waukenabo Township | — | Waukenabo |
| Wealthwood Township | — | Wealthwood |
| Kimberly Township | — | Kimberly |
| Libby Township | — | Libby |
| Ball Bluff Township | — | Ball Bluff |
| Balsam Township | — | Balsam |
| Glen Township | — | Glen |
Other organized townships include Beaver, Clark, Cornish, Farm Island, Fleming, Haugen, Hazelton, Hill Lake, Idun, Jevne, Lakeside, Lee, Logan, Macville, Millward, Morrison, Nordland, Pliny, Rice River, Salo, Seavey, Shamrock, Spalding, Spencer, Turner, Verdon, Wagner, White Pine, Williams, and Workman.
ZIP Codes
- 56431 — Aitkin (also serves the surrounding township)
- 55760 — McGregor
- 55748 — Hill City
- 56469 — Palisade
- 55787 — Tamarack
- 56350 — McGrath
Most of the county’s unincorporated communities use the ZIP code of the nearest post office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Aitkin County lies in central Minnesota’s lake country, where the Mississippi River flows south through the west-central part of the county. Terrain is wooded and rolling, dotted with lakes and ponds; Quadna Mountain, near McGrath, is the county’s highest point at 1,591 feet. Water covers 8.7 percent of the county’s total area.
Aitkin County borders eight counties: Itasca County to the north, Saint Louis County to the northeast, Carlton County to the east, Pine County to the southeast, Kanabec County to the south, Mille Lacs County to the south, Crow Wing County to the southwest, and Cass County to the west.
Demographics
Aitkin County’s population was 15,697 at the 2020 census, the second-lowest density among Minnesota counties this size given its large area. Aitkin, the county seat, is the largest community with about 2,048 residents, followed by Hill City with roughly 530. The county’s median household income runs well below the Minnesota median of $85,086, reflecting an economy built on retirement, tourism, and resource extraction rather than higher-wage employment. Population density works out to roughly 8.6 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Aitkin County’s economy centers on tourism, forestry, and healthcare, with the county’s many lakes drawing seasonal cabin owners and anglers each summer. Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin is a major local employer, along with the Aitkin Public Schools district and county government itself. Logging and wood-products work remain part of the local economy in the county’s more forested townships.
History
Aitkin County was created in 1857 as “Aiken County” and organized in 1871; the spelling was corrected to “Aitkin” in 1872. It was named for William Alexander Aitken, a fur trader who worked for the American Fur Company under John Jacob Astor and ran trading posts along the upper Mississippi. Logging drove the county’s early economy, with river drives moving white pine downstream to mills before the timber gave way to today’s tourism-based economy.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 210 are the county’s main roads, meeting at Aitkin.
- Brainerd — 25 miles southwest
- Duluth — 65 miles northeast
- Grand Rapids — 40 miles north
- Mille Lacs Lake area — 30 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport, about 30 miles southwest of Aitkin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Aitkin County?
It is in central Minnesota, along the Mississippi River, roughly 25 miles northeast of Brainerd.
What is the population of Aitkin County?
15,697 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Aitkin County?
1,995 square miles (5,170 km2), of which 174 square miles is water.
What is the Aitkin County seat?
Aitkin is the county seat.
How many towns are in Aitkin County?
Six incorporated cities — Aitkin, Hill City, McGrath, McGregor, Palisade, and Tamarack — plus about 30 unincorporated communities across 43 townships.
What ZIP codes are in Aitkin County?
Six ZIP codes: 56431 (Aitkin), 55760 (McGregor), 55748 (Hill City), 56469 (Palisade), 55787 (Tamarack), and 56350 (McGrath).
What is Aitkin County known for?
Its lake country, walleye fishing, and the Mississippi River headwaters region.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.