Cass Lake

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Our Story

Population: 770

Median Age: 31.8

Median Income: $24,063

Area: 1.14 square miles

Most Common Industry: Healthcare & social assistance, Information, Construction

PAST

The City of Cass Lake has a rich and interesting history. The area was inhabited for thousands of years by succeeding cultures of indigenous peoples. During these historic times, the Ojibwe/Chippewa moved west and south from the Great Lakes region, settling across present-day Minnesota. Native people lived in the area for centuries before white settlers arrived. When non-native settlers first arrived is not known, but they were believed to have been fur traders and missionaries.

The first trading post is believed to have been established prior to 1760, by a Canadian businessman. A fort was built at the same site and was garrisoned by French soldiers, but the fort was abandoned shortly after 1763. Early records indicate that the Hudson Bay Company then took over the post, and in 1821 it was sold to the American Fur Company, owned by John Jacob Astor.

The Cass Lake Chain of Lakes was part of the Red Lake-Leech Lake Trail, a series of interconnected waterways used as a water “highway” by Native Americans, trappers and traders. The trail ran from the southern point of Leech Lake to Cass Lake, on to Red Lake and finally to the Red River of the North.

When the area was first explored, Cass Lake was thought to be the source of the Mississippi River. It was not until 1832 that a party led by Henry Schoolcraft discovered the true source, Lake Itasca.

Missionaries, as well as trappers and traders, played a great role in the early history of Cass Lake. Probably the first missionaries to work among the native Tribes of Minnesota were the Jesuits, though no individual names have been preserved.

In 1898, the Great Northern Railway was built through the northern section of Minnesota. Through a series of changes in the right-of-way of the railroad, Cass Lake became an important rail staging area and more densely populated settlement. Logging and sawmill operations became the backbone of the Cass Lake economy in the late 1800s. The village was established in 1898 with the construction of the Great North Railway and the post office was established in December 1898.

Forest products have historically been an important part of the local economy. Beginning with the Glenmont Lumber Company which opened a sawmill in the autumn of 1898. The Northern Pine Crating Co. opened a wooden box factory in the autumn of 1907, operating until the mill burned c.1950.

The forest industry has historically supplied many jobs, but has been susceptible to boom-and-bust cycle. Between 1898 and 1923, the city was dependent on lumber mills utilizing pine from the surrounding forests. Depletion of the pine resource was followed by utilization of lower value species at a box factory which operated until 1950. From 1983 until 2009, Potlatch Corporation and its successor Ainsworth operated an oriented strand board plant in nearby Farden Township, which provided employment to many residents. Cass Forest Products, an employee-owned company, operates a sawmill that has been in operation since 1939, and is one of the largest forest product producers in Minnesota. A former wood-treating plant operated by Wheeler Lumber within the city limits has been designated a Federal Superfund site, due to soil and groundwater contamination by the wood treating compounds creosote, pentachlorophenol, and ammoniacal copper arsenate.

Tourism has been an increasingly important component of the local economy since the earliest days of the community. Numerous resorts and campgrounds in the area cater to sport fishing, hunting, camping, and watersports. Due to the cold winters, tourism is highly seasonal.

The Federal Government has been an important local employer since 1902, when the Minnesota Forest Reserve was established. Cass Lake was selected as the location of the Forest Supervisor's Office. Following passage of the Emergency Conservation Work Act of 1933 and establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Cass Lake was the headquarters for the Chippewa Sub-District, responsible for management of over a dozen camps. Among the CCC projects completed in Cass Lake were the monumental log-construction Forest Supervisor's Office (1936) and establishment of the Lydick Nursery (1934), which produced millions of seedlings for reforestation work.

In 1922, the Bureau of Indian Affairs established the Consolidated Chippewa Agency to serve all the Ojibwe tribes in Minnesota, with the exception of Red Lake. It selected Cass Lake as its headquarters. Later, the Indian Health Service opened a hospital and clinic (1937) to serve the Leech Lake Indian Reservation.

Following passage of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and establishment of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, tribal headquarters were located in Cass Lake. Cass Lake is also location of the headquarters of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, which operates the Palace Bingo and Casino.

PRESENT

Be sure to visit Cass Lake’s many historic sites. Whether exploring the history of camps at the Cass Lake Museum and Lyle’s Logging Camp (HWY 371 and HWY 2) or experiencing the spirit and pageantry of native culture at an area Pow-Wow, you are sure to uncover something fascinating.

Cass Lake is unique in that 66.8% of the population is American Indian and 24.2% is white. The city is located within the boundaries of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. In addition, the median age is 31.8 years in Cass Lake compared to 43.1 for the State of MN.

One of Cass Lake’s proudest moments was in the late 1990’s when a Christmas tree was requested to be sent to the White House and Washington D.C. School children also made native decorations to send along to adorn the tree.

Cass Lake-Bena Elementary School is located within the city limits and the High School and Middle School are located approximately 1 mile south of town. Elementary school classes began in 1899 and the high school opened in 1904. Students also attend the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School in nearby Bena, a Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded elementary and secondary school established in 1975. Leech Lake Tribal College, a two-year tribal college, is located approximately 3 miles northwest of town.

Due to the culture the environment is important to the people in Cass Lake. A “super fund” site is located on the southside of town and it has been an ongoing project to clean up and rebuild the former rail yard site and wood processing plant locations of years ago.

In 2005, Elaine Fleming was the first Native American to be elected as mayor of the town.

Residents identified these specific assets in CASS LAKE

Natural Assets:

Fishing	Forest
Chippewa National Forest	Quality of life based on nature
Ricing season	Nature
Lakes/streams	Land

Cultural Assets:

Elders/youth	Anishinabe History
Native homeland	Pow Wow
Heritage	Archeological Division
Museum	History/white & Indian
Camp Rabideau

Human Assets:

Strong cultural groups	Diverse population living together
Many highly skilled people	Healthcare workers
Volunteers	Teachers/elders
Large labor force/trainable youth	Resourceful-can live off land w/minimal funds
Generational population living together

Social Assets:

Community itself	Boys & Girls Club
Organizations	Pow Wows
Leech Lake Tribal College	Streetscape
Norway Beach	Miracle Group

Political Assets:

City government	Reservation Tribal Council
Churches	State Representatives
2 Lions clubs	Federal Representatives
MN Chippewa Tribe

Financial Assets:

Casino/Leech Lake Gaming	Individual donors
Western Bank	Outside grants
Region Five Development Commission	Outside gaming
Initiative Foundation	Shakopee Mdewakanton/other tribes
New businesses being built	Other business donations

Built Assets:

Hwy 2 and Hwy 371 junction	Cass Lake Museum &Lyles Logging Camp
Fishing pier	Pow Wow grounds
Dream Catcher Park	Ball fields
Resorts	Casino
Parks/National Park	Local businesses
Schools	Library
School-new tribal office building	Hospital/medical center
National Parks buildings	Wayside rest and picnic area
Fox Creek Apartments	Municipal buildings

FUTURE

Participants would like to see the community come together as a whole instead of divided by issues. They would like the community to support and embrace education to increase high school graduation and college entrance rates.

Community Goals

1. More community development and involvement-community could be self- supporting and keep the dollars in town. Consider upgrading the existing parks, provide activities and recreation for youth such as art club and t-ball and invest in new housing starts in the community.

2. Find more economic development opportunities and build relationships.

3. Better exchange of information/coordination of information to groups

4. Housing

For more information on the City of Cass Lake and all it has to offer, visit the Chamber at: http://www.casslake.com/

Or the city hall: http://www.ci.casslake.mn.us/City_of_Cass_Lake/Cass_Lake_Municipal_Center.html