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Cass County, Minnesota

99 topographic sheets cover 41 settlements here, and 13 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

13 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Minnesota within the United States
Cass County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 409 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 13 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 9 buildings, 2 districts, 1 site and 1 structure.
  • 2 of the 13 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 41 populated places in this county; 41 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

13

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Battle Point (21CA12)district199090001144
Brainerd and Northern Minnesota-Minnesota and International Railway Depotbuilding201212000459
Chase Hotelbuilding198080001994
Conservation Buildingbuilding200302001706
Crow Wing State Parksite197070000288
Great Northern Railway Company Bridgestructure198080001990
Hackensack Conservation Buildingbuilding2023100009470
Minnesota State Sanatorium for Consumptivesdistrict200101000766
Sherwood Forest Lodge Complexbuilding198080001992
Soo Line Depotbuilding198080001993
Supervisor's Office Headquartersbuilding197676001049
United States Forest Service, Remer District Ranger Stationbuilding2023100009469
Winnibigoshish Resortbuilding198080001989

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

2,319 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 2,319 of them, burning about 12,990 acres. 32 started naturally and 515 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning905
Arson/incendiarism515
Missing data/not specified/undetermined340
Equipment and vehicle use192
Recreation and ceremony139
Misuse of fire by a minor62
Power generation/transmission/distribution47
Smoking34
Natural32
Railroad operations and maintenance24
Other causes17
Fireworks12

The five largest, by the area the report gives. 6 of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
5 May 1996Arson/incendiarism1,242 acresChippewa National ForestBOY RIVER
15 March 2012Debris and open burning393 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
31 March 2003Arson/incendiarism360 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
4 May 1996Arson/incendiarism360 acresChippewa National ForestFED DAM WEST
3 May 1996Debris and open burning342 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
11 October 1992Arson/incendiarism342 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
29 March 2016Arson/incendiarism332 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
23 March 2003Arson/incendiarism329 acresChippewa National ForestBOY RIVER #8

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1959 to 2025

60 of 557 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 557 reports for this county, causing 14 deaths, 79 injuries and about $10,928,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail263
Thunderstorm Wind255
Tornado28
Lightning4
Flash Flood3
Funnel Cloud2
Waterspout1
Flood1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 1969Tornado (F4)not stated12 killed, 70 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
August 2000Thunderstorm WindOuting1 killedA 51 year old male scout leader was killed when a tree fell on a tent he was in near Lake Washburn.
July 1991Tornado (F1)not stated1 killedno account filed
August 1969Tornado (F3)not stated4 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
June 2016LightningPontoria3 hurtThree fishermen were injured when struck by lightning while on Baby Lake in rural Hackensack. The father and two sons had been fishing from a boat. The father, a 48 year-old, took a direct hit of lightning and was in serious condition with significant burns on his body. His two sons were treated at a local hospital and released.
July 1976Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
June 2018LightningGull Lake1 hurtLightning struck a cabin just north of the Brainerd International Raceway. It went through the roof and struck a 15 year-old boy who was lying in bed before passing through the boxspring of the bed and exiting the cabin through an electrical outlet. The boy received superficial injuries. The bed he was on started on fire and there was damage to the electrical system of the cabin and an air conditioner.
August 1981Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
August 1977Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
June 2012FloodLongville$300,000Numerous roads were washed out due to flooding of streams due to heavy rain of 3 to 5 inches that fell June 19th and 20th. The worse area was from Longville to Remer and points east.
July 2015LightningChickamaw Beach$155,000Lightning struck a house east of Pine River, MN the morning of July 28th. The lightning caused extensive damage. It hit three large white pines and the house. It scorched outlets and wires, and blew out sheet rock and light fixtures. There was also some fire damage.
May 2022Tornado (EF1)Esterday$150,000The tornado crossed into Cass County from Wadena County along County Road 30 just south of 84th Street Southwest and tracked northeast for about half a mile before lifting just after crossing 84th Street Southwest. The tornado blew a center pivot irrigation system across 84th Street Southwest, snapping power poles in the process. No other damage was observed. The time of the tornado was estimated by radar and peak winds were around 100 mph.
April 2025LightningLake Shr$100,000A positive bolt of lightning struck a large red pine tree on a cul-de-sac on the south side of Loon Lake just southeast of the town of Pequot Lakes. The bolt caused extensive damage to one of the homes on the cul-de-sac including blowing out two well systems, burning the electric lines into the home, damaged a water line along with a water heater and water softener, blew off multiple tongue and groove boards, insulation and soffit on the house and a shed, destroyed internet and phone lines and all equipment connected to it, and had several wires burn and melt, leading to a smoky haze in the home. All of the homes on the cul-de-sac had some degree of damage, ranging from blown outlets to warped soffit pieces to blown out wells.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBackus$50,000Extensive damage was reported to several farms and homes in the area.
August 1977Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1975Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1968Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1967Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 2010HailBena$15,000Most of the hail that fell was golf ball size. A few larger stones up to baseball size were observed. The hail was reported at the new Leech Lake Campground. There was hail damage to vehicles, awnings, and buildings in Bena.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindBena$15,000Substantial wind damage was reported. The wind blew hard enough to blow water through seals around windows of the campground lodge. A 100 pound access cover on the roof was thrown the entire length of the roof. Siding and shingles were damaged and thrown about. Covers were taken off the boat lift. Trees were downed, and a few were uprooted and sheared off.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindPillager$8,000Many trees were blown down, and power outages occurred. Some shingles were blown off a roof.
August 1982Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
September 1964Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 2010Tornado (EF0)Poplar$2,000The tornado continued from Wadena County. Trees were snapped along its path, including County Road 2 and 64 up to the west side of Deer Lake.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindPine River$1,500Several people reported trees down.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindBena$1,000Tree limbs were blown down due to the strong winds.
July 1978Tornado (F0)not stated$250no account filed
June 1971Tornado (F1)not stated$250no account filed
May 2025Thunderstorm WindRemer Muni Arpt-Two 20 inch diameter white spruce trees were snapped 4 to 6 feet off the ground by the winds. The downed trees then took down some nearby power lines.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindCass Lake-A tree was down on camper at a campground.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindCass Lake-A gust of 59 mph was recorded by Mesonet station CASM5 Cass Lake RAWS.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindWalker-Numerous trees were snapped and blown over. One tree was uprooted.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindBena-One large tree was down along with many branches snapped off.
June 2025Tornado (EF1)Pillager-First of two tornadoes from a severe thunderstorm that crossed through Cass and Crow Wing Counties. The tornado began just north of Casino, Minnesota, and moved northeasterly for about 3.75 miles before taking an easterly turn near the end of Home Brook Lane on the south end of Hardy Lake. It then traveled east-southeast for about 7 miles and crossed into Crow Wing County while over Gull Lake. The tornado continued into Crow Wing County for about three-quarters of a mile moving back on shore then dissipating after crossing Sea Gull Road NW at 1643 CDT. Damage along the path was mainly limited to hardwood and softwood trees that were snapped about 10 to 20 feet up (DI 27/28, DOD 4). Near the beginning of the tornado, it moved across a homestead causing roof damage to the attached garage of a home and pushed the entire unanchored garage structure about one foot (DI 1, DOD 4).
June 2025Thunderstorm WindCass Lake-A large tree was uprooted at the Cass Lake rest area on US2.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindWalker-Tree and structure damage was reported in the city park.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindWalker-Damage was reported at the marina.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindWalker-A gust of 64 mph was recorded by the Walker Ambient Weather Station on First Point Drive.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindBena-Several large trees were snapped and large branches down.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindGull Lake-A 5 to 6 foot section of a dock was pulled out of the water. A few 3 foot in diameter tree branches were down from trees due to strong thunderstorm winds as well. Winds were gusty for about 20 minutes.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindAh Gwan Ching-Several branches larger than four inches in diameter were broken off.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindBrevik-A dozen large trees down on Highway 200 blocking at least one lane. One tree was down on Highway 8 just north of Highway 200.
September 2025HailEsterday-Hail was accumulating and looked like snow.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindPontoria-A tree and several large branches were down at the spotter's location.
August 2024HailBackus-The hail for upwards of 10 to 15 minutes.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindLongville-A few trees 14 inches in diameter were snapped at the trunk in a concentrated area.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindPine River-Several small to medium trees were reported down and were snapped near the base.
June 2024Flash FloodLongville-Water was covering County Road 5 NW near the outboard motor shop. The water was over a feet deep being about halfway up car tires near the edge of the flooded roadway.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindBrevik-Widespread tree damage was reported with large white pine branches being tossed.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindBrevik-Several trees were snapped with one large pine at least several feet in diameter snapped near the ground.
June 2023HailPine River Muni Arpt-Hail fell for up to 30 minutes. Most of the hail was around a half inch in size, but a few were up to the size of quarters.
July 2023HailPillager-Some damage to vehicles was observed.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindPine River-Multiple trees were down in the Pine River area.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindHackensack-Several large pine trees were uprooted and knocked over.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindPillager-A few trees were down across Minnesota Highway 210.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindLongville-Thunderstorm winds flipped over a dock on Little Boy Lake.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBrevik-A photo was received of an estimated 10 to 12 inch diameter pine tree down.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindInguadona-A few large trees were down in the area.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindCass Lake-Photos were received from the Chippewa National Forest of numerous small to medium trees down over forest roads.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindRemer-Photos were received showing large trees snapped at the base with several down on power lines.

Mines and quarries

14 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 14 workings inside this county. 5 still produce and 9 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction7
Limestone, General5
Peat1
Iron1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Cass County Peat DepositsPeatOccurrence
Utica MineIronPast ProducerHematite, Magnetite
Cass County Marl Beds No 1Limestone, GeneralOccurrence
Cass County Marl Beds No 2Limestone, GeneralOccurrence
Cass County Marl Beds No 3Limestone, GeneralOccurrence
Cass County Marl Beds No 4Limestone, GeneralOccurrence
Sorum Marl PitLimestone, GeneralPast ProducerMarl
Dixon PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hopen Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Sixth Lake Rd Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Snyker MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Snyker PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Stark PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Whitney Pit & MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

41

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Cass County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.