Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

^[4]

2020 census

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 35,386 people living in the county. 89.7% were White, 5.9% Native American, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% of some other race and 2.4% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 16.4% were of German, 13.5% Finnish, 8.9% Norwegian, 8.6% Swedish and 5.6% American ancestry.^[19]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 31,671 people, 12,064 households, and 8,408 families in the county. The population density was 36.8 per square mile (14.2/km²). There were 13,721 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.75% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 5.19% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. 0.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.5% were of German, 16.9% Finnish, 12.5% Norwegian, 11.8% Swedish and 5.8% Polish ancestry. 95.5% spoke English, 1.8% Finnish and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 12,064 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.30% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.

The county population contained 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,021, and the median income for a family was $48,406. Males had a median income of $38,788 versus $25,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,073. About 5.40% of families and 7.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.20% of those under age 18 and 9.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

Census-designated places

• Big Lake
• Esko
• Mahtowa

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Unorganized territories

• Clear Creek
• North Carlton

Local government

As of 2019, the Carlton County Sheriff is Kelly Lake.^[20] The Carlton County Board of Commissioners has five members, each representing one district.^[21] In April 2019 Lake and the Fond du Lac Police Department collaborated on sex trafficking training on behalf of other sheriff agencies that would be affected by the upcoming Enbridge Line 3.^[22] In 2017, Carlton County published a detailed Jail & Criminal Justice System Planning Study.^[23] As of 2019, Carlton County Public Health employs 36 county staff and 6 contract staff. It has been operating since 1920.^[24]

National

Carlton County voters lean Democratic. The Democratic Party has carried the county in every presidential election since 1932, though Donald Trump lost by only 300 votes in 2016 and 307 votes in 2020, obtaining the top two shares of the electorate for a Republican in that span as well. The only other Republican to hit at least 40% since 1932 was Richard Nixon during his 49-state landslide in 1972.