Aitkin County Demographics
A map of Aitkin County's Population by Race
Aitkin County, Minnesota has an estimated population of 16,056, a slight increase from the 15,697 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 92.5% White, 2.9% Multiracial, 2.1% Native American/Other, 1.5% Hispanic, 0.6% Black, and 0.2% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Aitkin County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.
Aitkin has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Minnesota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Aitkin County, that probability was 14.7% in 2020 and 14.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.
Aitkin County is ranked the 53rd most populous county in Minnesota, out of 87 counties. Aitkin County was ranked the 53rd most populous county in the 2020 Census.
Aitkin County's White Population
14,857 residents of Aitkin County, or 92.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Aitkin County is significantly higher than in Minnesota overall, where 75.9% of the population is White. Aitkin County ranks 19th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aitkin County's White population has grown by an estimated 2.6%. White residents' share of Aitkin County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 92.5%.
Aitkin County is more White than neighboring Mille Lacs County (88% White), Carlton County (86.9% White), and Pine County (87.2% White). Aitkin County is less White than neighboring Crow Wing County (93.2% White), and Kanabec County (92.7% White).
Aitkin County's Black Population
103 residents of Aitkin County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Aitkin County is lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.9% of the population is Black. Aitkin County ranks 72nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aitkin County's Black population has grown by an estimated 77.6%. Black residents' share of Aitkin County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.
Aitkin County is more Black than neighboring Crow Wing County (0.5% Black), and Mille Lacs County (0.4% Black). Aitkin County is less Black than neighboring Carlton County (2.2% Black), and Pine County (2.3% Black).
Aitkin County's Asian Population
38 residents of Aitkin County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Aitkin County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 5.1% of the population is Asian. Aitkin County ranks 80th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aitkin County's Asian population has remained roughly the same. Asian residents' share of Aitkin County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.
Aitkin County is less Asian than neighboring Crow Wing County (0.4% Asian), Kanabec County (0.5% Asian), Mille Lacs County (0.9% Asian), Carlton County (0.5% Asian), and Pine County (1.1% Asian).
Aitkin County's Hispanic Population
244 residents of Aitkin County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Aitkin County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.4% of the population is Hispanic. Aitkin County ranks 81st statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aitkin County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 10.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Aitkin County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.
Aitkin County is less Hispanic than neighboring Crow Wing County (1.6% Hispanic), Kanabec County (1.8% Hispanic), Mille Lacs County (2.3% Hispanic), Carlton County (1.9% Hispanic), and Pine County (2.8% Hispanic).
Aitkin County's Native American/Other Population
341 residents of Aitkin County, or 2.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Aitkin County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Aitkin County ranks 17th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aitkin County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 15.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Aitkin County's population has decreased from 2.6% to 2.1%.
Aitkin County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Crow Wing County (1.2% Native American/Other), and Kanabec County (0.8% Native American/Other). Aitkin County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Mille Lacs County (4.7% Native American/Other), Carlton County (3.6% Native American/Other), and Pine County (2.4% Native American/Other).
Aitkin County's Multiracial Population
473 residents of Aitkin County, or 2.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Aitkin County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Aitkin County ranks 44th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.
Since the 2020 Census, Aitkin County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 5.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Aitkin County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.9%.
Aitkin County is less Multiracial than neighboring Crow Wing County (3.1% Multiracial), Kanabec County (3.6% Multiracial), Mille Lacs County (3.6% Multiracial), Carlton County (4.9% Multiracial), and Pine County (4.2% Multiracial).
Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.