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Cook County, Minnesota

45 topographic sheets cover 13 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
Cook County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 130 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 13 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 9 buildings, 3 sites and 1 district.
  • 3 of the 13 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 13 populated places in this county; 13 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
Bally Blacksmith Shopbuilding198686001548
Cascade River Waysidesite200303000733
Chik Wauk Lodgebuilding200707000599
Church of St. Francis Xavier-Catholicbuilding198686002119
Clearwater Lodgebuilding198585003032
Cook County Courthousebuilding198383000902
Grand Portage National Monumentdistrict196666000111
Height of Landsite197474001012
Height of Landsite197474001012
Lightkeeper's Housebuilding197878001528
Naniboujou Club Lodgebuilding198282000558
Schroeder Lumber Company Bunkhousebuilding198686002120
Jim Scott Fishhousebuilding198686002904

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

491 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 491 of them, burning about 134,650 acres. 145 started naturally and 17 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Recreation and ceremony146
Natural145
Debris and open burning59
Missing data/not specified/undetermined51
Equipment and vehicle use23
Smoking19
Power generation/transmission/distribution18
Arson/incendiarism17
Misuse of fire by a minor5
Fireworks3
Other causes3
Railroad operations and maintenance2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
5 May 2007Recreation and ceremony75,484 acresSuperior National ForestHAM LAKE
14 July 2006Natural31,830 acresSuperior National ForestCAVITY LAKE
10 August 1995Recreation and ceremony12,600 acresSuperior National ForestSAG CORRIDOR
14 June 1996Natural4,130 acresSuperior National ForestSOUTH TEMPERANCE
8 September 2006Natural4,104 acresSuperior National ForestFAMINE LAKE
9 September 2006Natural1,792 acresSuperior National ForestREDEYE
6 August 2005Natural1,335 acresSuperior National ForestALPINE LAKE
20 June 1995Natural1,269 acresSuperior National ForestWINCHELL

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

Storms, 1983 to 2025

60 of 86 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 86 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 3 injuries and about $1,122,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind33
Hail25
Flash Flood17
Tornado4
Lightning3
Flood3
Heavy Rain1

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
June 2016Thunderstorm WindMarais1 killed, 1 hurtA large tree trunk was snapped several feet above ground level and the tree landed on a man and his son who were camping on Duncan Lake. The tree killed the father, Craig Walz, the brother of Minnesota Representative Tim Walz, as well as seriously injuring Craig's son. The son was airlifted to a hospital in Duluth.
August 1996LightningGrand Marais1 killed, 1 hurtno account filed
June 2016Thunderstorm WindMarais1 hurtCook County authorities received a report that a tree fell on a man at Clove Lake, along the Canadian border northwest of Gunflint Lake.||The man suffered injuries to his upper body and was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Grand Marais.
June 2008Flash FloodHovland$900,000no account filed
July 2013Flash FloodLutsen$100,000Thunderstorm heavy rain resulted in flash flooding along and near the Cascade River and Highway 61 and near Cascade State Park. Water was flowing over Highway 61 and mile marker 104. Part of the highway was washed out. Other county roads in the area were damaged. There was also some cabin and road/driveway damage at Cascade Lodge that totaled about $50,000.
June 2012Flash FloodTaconite Harbor$61,000Three to five inches of rain in less that 24 hours lead to road damage as many small streams flooded.
September 2025LightningMarais$20,000A lightning strike near the Gunflint Trail and Soderberg Lane damaged about 2,000 feet of underground fiber optic cable causing a loss of phone and internet service to customers from that point to the end of the Gunflint Trail. Service was restored after about 14 hours.
July 2025Flash FloodMarais$10,000A stretch of Forest Road 323 was washed out for a length of 20 to 30 yards where it runs adjacent to an unnamed creek just west of Mit Lake. This led to the closure of Forest Road 323 west of Forest Road 323J until repairs could be completed.
August 2025Flash FloodHovland$10,000Fast moving water was running over County Road 14 and scouring out the road.
July 2025Flash FloodHovland$10,000A culvert on Trout Lake Road (Forest Road 308) between Marsh Lake and Trout Lake was washed out leading to the closure of Forest Road 308 until repairs were able to be made.
July 2013Flash FloodMarais$10,000Thunderstorm heavy rains resulted in flash flooding for parts of the Grand Marais campground due to high water from a nearby stream.
July 2014Flash FloodLutsen$1,000Flood debris covered U. S. Highway 61.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindLutsen-A medium to large spruce tree was down partially blocking Sawbill Trail.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindLutsen-Several medium trees of mixed types were down across The Grade near Rice Lake Road.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindHovland-Two large trees were down at the spotter's home. The spotter also recorded a gust of 74 mph during the storm from a personal weather station.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindMarais-Numerous spruce and poplar trees were snapped along the lake side of Highway 61. The area of damaged trees appeared to be fairly localized.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindTofte-A video was received of extensive tree damage in Tofte Park including several large trees that were uprooted or snapped. Per the Tofte Town Board Supervisor, approximately two-thirds of the trees in Tofte Park, around 40, were lost and two of the trees fell onto the Tofte Town Hall.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindLutsen-One large tree was uprooted as well as a couple of cedar trees snapped in half.
June 2024Flash FloodTofte-A small creek flowing between two houses was outside of its banks flowing downhill.
June 2024Flash FloodMarais-Video was received showing flash flooding affecting Minnesota Highway 61 east of Lutsen in multiple locations leading to its closure.
July 2023Thunderstorm WindMarais-A few fresh trees were downed along the Cascade River.
September 2023Thunderstorm WindHovland-Multiple large trees were down and the power was out.
May 2022FloodLutsen-Heavy rainfall led to the Poplar River becoming swollen and raging. Trees and other debris significantly damaged two covered bridges near the mouth of the river at the Lutsen Resort. The older of the two bridges was built in 1930 with the other dating from the 1950s. The resort owners have vowed to rebuild the bridges. Additionally, hundreds of trees were wiped out by the water as well.
May 2022Flash FloodMarais-Water was over Cook County Road 60 and County State Aid Highway 14 with multiple culvert washouts. A No Travel Advisory was issued by the county for this area due to the water and damage.
May 2022Flash FloodHovland-A photo was received showing Moose Valley Road flooded at Carlson Creek with water flowing over the road surface. A later report indicated the Cook County Highway Department closed the road at 6:30 AM CDT.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindMarais-Multiple trees were uprooted by the storm.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindLutsen-Many large pine trees were down with several broken halfway up.
October 2021HailMarais-A search and rescue crew in the area had to take cover near Eagle Mountain due to the large hail.
October 2021Thunderstorm WindMarais-Multiple trees were down along Ball Club Road from the storm.
October 2021Thunderstorm WindMarais-Multiple trees were downed along County Highway 57 on the north side of Devil Track Lake by the storm.
October 2021Tornado (EF2)Hovland-A rare late-season strong tornado caused tree damage|across parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in |northern Cook County. The tornado appeared to begin on Alder Lake, |initially causing damage near Campsite #3 where a small swath of |trees were downed, several snapped halfway down their trunks. The |tornado then traveled north causing sporadic damage until just north |of Rocky Lake where there was a more concentrated area of downed |trees roughly 270 yards across. Sporadic tree damage continued until |reaching Clearwater Lake and crossing the lake just west of Campsite |#5, causing significant damage north of Clearwater Lake and north to |the International Border (Mountain Lake). Significant tree damage was|observed along the Border Route Trail, of which passage was made |impossible as the tornado reached its maximum width of around 500 |yards as it moved across the trail. Numerous trees were snapped near |their bases within this area of damage. The coverage of damage was |widespread with satellite imagery depicting over 80% of trees |uprooted, bent, or snapped across its path near the Border Route |Trail. The tornado then crossed the International Border and continued into Northwestern Ontario, Canada. No private property was damaged along the course of the tornado. ||The National Weather Service appreciates the public reports, photos,|and videos of this tornado damage, aerial photographs from the US |Forest Service, and satellite imagery shared by the Northern |Tornadoes Project (Western University in Canada) which all aided in |an accurate assessment of the damage.
June 2019Tornado (EFU)Marais-A fishing party on Elbow Lake observed a funnel cloud and took a photo of it. They reported there was a brief period of debris being lofted into the air. The party contacted a local pilot who performed a flyover and confirmed tree damage in the woods north of Elbow Lake. This tornado occurred in an area with no roads, making it difficult to survey.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindLutsen-A large tree was downed near the end of the Gunflint Trail.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindMarais-A large tree was knocked down approximately 5 miles north of Grand Marais along the Gunflint Trail.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindMarais-Multiple 2 to 3 inch tree branches were downed due to the winds.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindLutsen-A tree was knocked down near Baker Lake Campground on the Grade Road.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindSchroeder-A large tree was blown down near the intersection of Highway 61 and Temperance Road.
September 2017Thunderstorm WindMarais-A few trees were blown down along Minnesota Highway 61 by mile marker 100.
October 2017FloodMarais-Water covered the west bound lane on Pike Lake Road near County Road 7.
October 2017Flash FloodHovland-Water was flowing over some roads while other roads were under water.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindLutsen-There were many trees blown down. The largest diameter trees were 16 to 20. There were some trees uprooted and sheared off.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindMarais-Three trees were blown down. One downed tree was a 2 to 3 foot diameter pine tree.
August 2015HailMarais-The hail fell for 10 minutes.
August 2015HailMarais-The largest hail was dime sized. One inch of rain fell in a few minutes.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindLutsen-There was widespread tree damage near the end of the Gunflint Trail near Seagull Lake. Most damaged trees were blown down.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindLutsen-There was a widespread tree blow down near the end of Gunflint Trail near Seagull Lake.
July 2014HailSchroeder-There was also ponding of water on Highway 61 in Tofte, MN.
May 2012Flash FloodTaconite Harbor-Water covered US Route 61.
April 2011HailLutsen-Penny size hail and gusty winds occurred near Seagull Lake.
June 2011Heavy RainMarais-Almost an inch of rain fell within 45 minutes.
June 2011Flash FloodTaconite Harbor-Water covered State Highway 61 between County Road 6 and the Manitou River.
July 2011Flash FloodMarais-Overnight rainfall of 2 to 5 inches across Cook County caused downtown Grand Marais to flood. Five inches of rain fell at Golden Eagle Lodge on the Gunflint Trail while 2.91 inches fell in Grand Marais.Most of the rain fell between 3:00 am and 6: am CDT. Cook County Road 8, also known as Devil Track Road, was flooded as were a few other county roads.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindMarais-A few large trees, as well as powerlines, were downed at the Trail Center on Poplar Lake along the Gunflint Trail.
October 2007FloodLutsen-Cook County law enforcement reported widespread road flooding from the evening of October 18 through early October 19. Portions of U.S. Highway 61 were flooded near Taconite Harbor. Several other county roads were also closed due to flooding, including county roads 1, 14, 42, 58, 60, 69, 70, and 71.
May 2006HailGrand Marais-The hail fell at Sea Gull Lake.
June 2006HailTofte-The hail caused severe stripping of vegetation.
April 2004Thunderstorm WindGrand Marais-Numerous trees were blown down three miles north of the Gunflint Lodge.
June 2004LightningGrand Marais-A lightning strike caused a cabin to catch fire.
July 2003HailGrand Marais-The hail fell at Sea Gull Lake.
July 1999Thunderstorm WindGrand Marais-Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. The wind speed is estimated.

Mines and quarries

34 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 34 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 33 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Iron, Titanium, Metal8
Iron6
Graphite4
Sand and Gravel, Construction3
Cobalt2
Gold2
Nickel, Copper1
Copper, Nickel1
Silver, Gold1
Gold, Copper, Nickel1
Silver1
Arsenic, Cobalt1
Arsenic1
Copper1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Blankenburg-Whiteside ProspectCobalt, ArsenicOccurrenceArsenopyrite, Chalcopyrite
Cobalt ProspectArsenic, CobaltOccurrenceArsenopyrite
Green Prospect PitCopperOccurrencePentlandite, Pyrrhotite, Chalcopyrite
Gunflint Corridor EastNickel, CopperOccurrence1966
Gunflint Corridor WestCopper, NickelOccurrence1966
Mcfarland Lake ProspectSilver, GoldOccurrenceGold, Silver
Old Silver MineSilverPast Producer
Rove Slate Area Prospect PitsGold, Copper, NickelUnknownCubanite, Pentlandite
Susie Island Copper VeinsCopper, SilverPast ProducerChalcopyrite, Bornite, Pyrite, Covellite, Chalcocite
Tucker-Poplar Lake DepositTitanium, VanadiumProspect1880
Lake Saganaga-Gold Island ProspectGoldUnknownGold
Loon LakeCobaltOccurrenceChalcopyrite, Pyrite, Arsenopyrite
Old Spaulding MineGoldOccurrenceGold
Gunflint Gravel Pit No 1Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Gunflint Gravel Pit No 2Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Johnson Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Graphite Pit No 1GraphiteOccurrence
Graphite Pit No 2GraphiteOccurrence
Graphite Pit No. 1GraphiteUnknownGraphite
Graphite Pit No. 2GraphiteUnknownGraphite
Titaniferous Magnetite Pit No 1IronOccurrence
Titaniferous Magnetite Pit No 2IronOccurrence
Titaniferous Magnetite Pit No 3IronOccurrence
Titaniferous Magnetite Pit No 4IronOccurrence
Titaniferous Magnetite Pit No 5IronOccurrence
Titaniferous Magnetite Prospect #6IronOccurrence
Dawkins Lake ProspectIron, Titanium, MetalUnknownMagnetite, Ilmenite
Gabimichigama Lake DepositIron, Titanium, MetalUnknownIlmenite, Magnetite
Iron Lake DepositIron, Titanium, MetalUnknownIlmenite, Magnetite
Pillsbery Lake ProspectIron, Titanium, MetalUnknownIlmenite, Magnetite
Poplar Lake DepositIron, Titanium, MetalUnknownIlmenite, Magnetite
Smoke Lake DepositIron, Titanium, MetalUnknownIlmenite, Magnetite
Tucker Lake DepositIron, Titanium, MetalUnknownIlmenite, Magnetite
Tuscarora Lake ProspectIron, Titanium, MetalUnknownIlmenite, Magnetite

Every populated place in the county

13

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 Cook 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.