Lake County is a county in Minnesota, United States, stretching along the North Shore of Lake Superior in the Arrowhead Region. It had a population of 10,905 at the 2020 census and covers 2,991 square miles (7,750 km2), of which 2,109 square miles (5,460 km2) are land and 881 square miles (2,280 km2) are water, centred near 47°32′N 91°23′W.
Two Harbors is the county seat, and its postal code is 55616. The county has three incorporated cities, two census-designated places, five organized townships and two unorganized territories. Lake County observes Central time and shares a namesake with Lake Superior, which forms its entire southeastern boundary.
Towns & Villages in Lake County
Lake County has three incorporated cities (Two Harbors, Beaver Bay and Silver Bay), two census-designated places (Finland and Knife River), and dozens of smaller North Shore and Superior National Forest communities, resorts and landings that never incorporated. In the table, CDP marks a census-designated place and Unincorp. marks an unincorporated community with no municipal government of its own.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Harbors | City · seat | — | 10,676 | 55616 |
| Silver Bay | City | — | 1,600 | 55614 |
| Beaver Bay | City | Beaver Bay Township | — | 55601 |
| Finland | CDP | — | — | 55603 |
| Knife River | CDP | — | — | 55609 |
| Isabella | Unincorp. | — | — | 55607 |
| Alger | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Baptism Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Beaver Crossing | Unincorp. | Beaver Bay Township | — | — |
| Bell Harbor | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Castle Danger | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cramer | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Darby Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| East Beaver Bay | Unincorp. | Beaver Bay Township | — | — |
| Forest Center | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Greenwood Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Happy Wanderer | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Highland | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Illgen City | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Jay See Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Jordan | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kelly Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Kennedy Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Larsmont | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lauren | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Lax Lake | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Little Marais | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| London | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Manitou Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Maple | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Martin Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| McNair | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Murphy City | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Norshor Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Prairie Portage | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sawbill Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Scott Junction | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Section Thirty | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Silver Creek | Unincorp. | Silver Creek Township | — | — |
| Silver Rapids | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Stewart | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Toimi | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Voyageur Trailer Park | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Waldo | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wales | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Wheeler Landing | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| White Iron | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Whyte | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Winter | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Winton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| York | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Many of the smaller entries above are historic landing sites, junctions and lookout stations from the county’s logging and shipping era rather than present-day settlements; they are kept here because they remain on record as named places in Lake County.
Townships
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Bay Township | — | East Beaver Bay, Beaver Crossing |
| Silver Creek Township | — | Silver Creek, Castle Danger |
| Crystal Bay Township | — | Larsmont, Knife River area |
| Fall Lake Township | — | Winton |
| Stony River Township | — | Isabella area |
The rest of the county outside these five townships and the three cities is unorganized territory, split into Lake No. 1 (the Isabella/Superior National Forest interior) and Lake No. 2 (the Finland area), administered directly by the county rather than a township board.
ZIP Codes
- 55616 — Two Harbors
- 55614 — Silver Bay
- 55601 — Beaver Bay (also serves East Beaver Bay, Beaver Crossing)
- 55603 — Finland
- 55607 — Isabella
- 55609 — Knife River (also serves Larsmont)
Most of the smaller unincorporated places and forest landings listed above have no ZIP code of their own and use the nearest of the six post offices above for mail.
Geography
Lake County sits in the Arrowhead Region of northeastern Minnesota, its southeastern edge formed by roughly 90 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. Inland, the terrain rises into the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a landscape of exposed bedrock ridges, boreal forest and thousands of lakes; water makes up 29% of the county’s total area. The county has no major rivers of its own scale to the lake itself, though the Baptism, Manitou and Knife rivers cross it on their way to Superior.
Lake County borders Cook County to the northeast, St. Louis County to the west, and the Rainy River District of Ontario, Canada, to the north. Across Lake Superior to the southeast lie Douglas, Bayfield and Ashland counties in Wisconsin.
Demographics
Lake County had 10,905 residents at the 2020 census, giving a population density of about 5 people per square mile of land — among the lowest in Minnesota. Two Harbors is by far the largest community, home to roughly two-thirds of the county’s population; Silver Bay is the second-largest city. Lake County’s median household income runs below the Minnesota median of $85,086, reflecting its reliance on mining and resource-sector jobs that have contracted since the late 20th century.
Economy & Local Life
Mining has shaped Lake County since iron ore was discovered near Two Harbors in 1868; Silver Bay grew up around a taconite processing plant built in the 1950s that remains a major employer today. Two Harbors is also a working Lake Superior shipping port, and 3M Corporation traces its 1902 founding to a group of Two Harbors businessmen. Commercial fishing, forestry and tourism round out the local economy, with the Superior National Forest, the Boundary Waters and the Gitchi-Gami State Trail drawing visitors along the North Shore.
History
Lake County was organized on March 1, 1856, and takes its name directly from Lake Superior, which defines its border. The discovery of iron ore in 1868 and the growth of commercial fishing from the 1880s built the county’s early economy, and Two Harbors became a key Great Lakes ore-shipping port. In 1944, one of the nation’s first health maintenance organizations was established in the county. More recently, the Greenwood Fire burned more than 10,500 acres of the county’s interior in 2021.
Getting There
Minnesota State Highways 1, 61 and 169 are the county’s main routes, with Highway 61 running the length of the North Shore.
- Duluth — about 27 miles southwest of Two Harbors
- Grand Marais — about 55 miles northeast via Highway 61
- Ely — about 35 miles west via the Fernberg/Echo Trail corridor
The nearest commercial airport is Duluth International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lake County, Minnesota?
It is in the Arrowhead Region of northeastern Minnesota, along the North Shore of Lake Superior, roughly 27 miles northeast of Duluth.
What is the population of Lake County?
10,905 at the 2020 census.
How big is Lake County?
2,991 square miles (7,750 km2) in total, of which 2,109 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Lake County?
Two Harbors is the county seat.
How many towns are in Lake County?
Three incorporated cities (Two Harbors, Beaver Bay, Silver Bay), two census-designated places, five townships and dozens of smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Lake County?
55616 (Two Harbors), 55614 (Silver Bay), 55601 (Beaver Bay), 55603 (Finland), 55607 (Isabella) and 55609 (Knife River).
What is Lake County known for?
Its Lake Superior shoreline, the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters wilderness, and its iron-mining and taconite-processing history centred on Silver Bay.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Minnesota.