Carlton County Demographics

A map of Carlton County's Population by Race

Carlton County, Minnesota has an estimated population of 36,518, a less than 1% change from the 36,207 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.9% White, 4.9% Multiracial, 3.6% Native American/Other, 2.2% Black, 1.9% Hispanic, and 0.5% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Carlton County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Carlton has become 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 Carlton County, that probability was 26.5% in 2020 and 24.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Carlton County is ranked the 30th most populous county in Minnesota, out of 87 counties. Carlton County was ranked the 30th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Carlton County's White Population

31,722 residents of Carlton County, or 86.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Carlton County is considerably higher than in Minnesota overall, where 75.9% of the population is White. Carlton County ranks 56th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carlton County's White population has grown by an estimated 2.6%. White residents' share of Carlton County's population has increased from 85.4% to 86.9%.

Carlton County is less White than neighboring Pine County (87.2% White), Aitkin County (92.5% White), Douglas County (89.7% White), Burnett County (89.6% White), and Kanabec County (92.7% White).

Carlton County's Black Population

789 residents of Carlton County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Carlton County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.9% of the population is Black. Carlton County ranks 27th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carlton County's Black population has grown by an estimated 41.9%. Black residents' share of Carlton County's population has increased from 1.5% to 2.2%.

Carlton County is more Black than neighboring Aitkin County (0.6% Black), Douglas County (0.8% Black), Burnett County (0.9% Black), and Kanabec County (0.6% Black). Carlton County is less Black than neighboring Pine County (2.3% Black).

Carlton County's Asian Population

196 residents of Carlton County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Carlton County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 5.1% of the population is Asian. Carlton County ranks 62nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carlton County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 28.1%. Asian residents' share of Carlton County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Carlton County is more Asian than neighboring Aitkin County (0.2% Asian). Carlton County is less Asian than neighboring Pine County (1.1% Asian), and Douglas County (0.7% Asian).

Carlton County's Hispanic Population

711 residents of Carlton County, or 1.9% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Carlton County is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.4% of the population is Hispanic. Carlton County ranks 73rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carlton County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 16.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Carlton County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.9%.

Carlton County is more Hispanic than neighboring Aitkin County (1.5% Hispanic), and Kanabec County (1.8% Hispanic). Carlton County is less Hispanic than neighboring Pine County (2.8% Hispanic), and Burnett County (2% Hispanic).

Carlton County's Native American/Other Population

1,297 residents of Carlton County, or 3.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Carlton County is slightly higher than in Minnesota overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Carlton County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carlton County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 42.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Carlton County's population has decreased from 6.2% to 3.6%.

Carlton County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Pine County (2.4% Native American/Other), Aitkin County (2.1% Native American/Other), Douglas County (1.4% Native American/Other), Burnett County (3.2% Native American/Other), and Kanabec County (0.8% Native American/Other).

Carlton County's Multiracial Population

1,803 residents of Carlton County, or 4.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Carlton County is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Carlton County ranks 8th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 87 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Carlton County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 4.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Carlton County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.9%.

Carlton County is more Multiracial than neighboring Pine County (4.2% Multiracial), Aitkin County (2.9% Multiracial), Burnett County (3.8% Multiracial), and Kanabec County (3.6% Multiracial). Carlton County is less Multiracial than neighboring Douglas County (5.3% 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.