{{short description|County in Minnesota, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Anoka County | state = Minnesota | seal = | founded date = May 23 | founded year = 1857<ref>{{cite web|title=Minnesota Place Names|url=http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|access-date=March 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620201420/http://mnplaces.mnhs.org/upham/county.cfm|archive-date=June 20, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> | seat wl = Anoka | largest city wl = Blaine | area_total_sq_mi = 446 | area_land_sq_mi = 423 | area_water_sq_mi = 23 | area percentage = 5.2% | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 363887 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 381605 {{increase}} | density_sq_mi = 862 | time zone = Central | web = https://www.anokacountymn.gov/ | named for = City of Anoka | ex image = AnokaCntyCourthouse.jpg | ex image cap = The Anoka County Courthouse and Government Center in downtown Anoka, July 2009 | district = 3rd | district2 = 5th | district3 = 6th }}
'''Anoka County''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|n|oʊ|k|ə}} {{respell|ə|NOH|kə}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |title=Minnesota Pronunciation Guide |website=Associated Press |access-date=July 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722194213/http://www.ap.org/minnesota/prono.html |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }}</ref> is the fourth-most populous county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, its population was 363,887.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/anokacountyminnesota/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 10, 2023}}</ref> The county seat and namesake of the county is the city of Anoka,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> which is derived from the Dakota word {{lang|dak|anoka}}, meaning "on (or from) both sides", referring to its location on both banks of the Rum River.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.anokaminnesota.com/352/History |title=History |last= |first= |date= |website=Anoka, Minnesota |publisher= |access-date=March 8, 2023 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Upham |first=Warren |author-link=Warren Upham |date=2001 |title=Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |isbn=0-87351-396-7 |edition=3rd|pages=23}}</ref> The county's largest city is Blaine, the tenth-largest city in Minnesota and sixth-largest Twin Cities suburb.
Anoka County comprises the north portion of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul statistical area, the state's largest metropolitan area and the 16th-largest in the United States, with about 3.64 million residents.
The county is bordered by the counties of Isanti on the north, Chisago and Washington on the east, Hennepin and Ramsey on the south, Sherburne on the west, and the Mississippi River on the southwest. The Rum River cuts through the county and was the site of many early European settlements. It was a common route to the Mille Lacs Lake, the spiritual homeland of the Ojibwe people. Father Louis Hennepin traveled the river in his first exploration of the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ac-hs.org/anokaearlyyears.htm|title=Anoka County Early Years|publisher=Anoka County Historical Society|access-date=October 22, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820131342/http://www.ac-hs.org/anokaearlyyears.htm|archive-date=August 20, 2008}}</ref> The area became a center of fur trade and logging as French and French Canadian communities grew in Anoka and Centerville.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QWBhzg7AQPwC&q=minnesota+french+communities+anoka+county&pg=PA37|title=They Chose Minnesota|author=June D. Holmquist|page=40|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press|year=1981|isbn=978-0-87351-231-2}}</ref> Organized in 1857, the county's southern border eventually met Minneapolis and has become a predominantly suburban area since Interstate 35W was built. The county is home to destinations such as the Heights Theater in Columbia Heights and Northtown Mall and the National Sports Center in Blaine.thumb|right|Soils of Anoka County<ref>Nelson, Steven (2011). ''Savanna Soils of Minnesota.'' Minnesota: Self. pp. 61-64. {{ISBN|978-0-615-50320-2}}{{Self-published source|date=March 2024}}</ref> thumb|Soils of Springbrook Nature Center area
==History== Anoka County was organized by an act of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature on May 23, 1857, the year before Minnesota's admission to the Union. It was formed from parts of Ramsey County and Benton County; the Rum River previously formed the line between the two counties. The boundaries were mainly the same as they are now, except for a small part of the southeastern tip along the Mississippi River and at the south, formerly known as Manomin County. It was a small portion that connected to Ramsey and occupied one-third of the congressional township. It was attached to Anoka County by constitutional amendment on November 2, 1869, and became known as Fridley in 1879.
The first European descendants to explore what is now Anoka County were Franciscan friar Louis Hennepin and his party. Fur traders soon began to settle the area that is now Ramsey County. They settled on the Rum River and more people were attracted to the area now called Anoka.
==Geography== The Mississippi River flows southeasterly along the county's southwestern boundary. The Rum River flows southerly through the western part of the county, discharging into the Mississippi at the county's southwestern boundary. The terrain consists of low, rolling, wooded hills.<ref name="ACM">[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Anoka+County,+MN/@45.2252377,-93.4056133,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x52b34488c065fdbf:0xc2263f30aade47b3!8m2!3d45.3292832!4d-93.2197005 ''Anoka County MN'' Google Maps (accessed March 4, 2019)]</ref> The terrain slopes to the south and east; its highest point is a small hillock {{convert|1.2|mi|km}} east of the county's northwest corner, at {{convert|1,100|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=18370 Anoka County High Point, Minnesota. PeakBagger.com (accessed May 4, 2019)]</ref> Otherwise the terrain's highest point is along the western part of the north boundary line, at {{convert|1,083|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |title="Find an Altitude/Anoka County MN" Google Maps (accessed March 4, 2019) |access-date=March 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521043409/https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The county has an area of {{convert|446|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|23|sqmi}} (5.2%) are covered by water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102023/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_27.txt|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref>
===Lakes=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Baldwin Lake * Bunker Lake * Cedar Lake * Centerville Lake * Coon Lake * Crooked Lake * Fawn Lake * George Watch Lake * Golden Lake * Ham Lake * Island Lake * Laddie Lake * Lake George * Linwood lake * Marshan Lake * Martin Lake * McKay Lake * Moore Lake * Peltier Lake * Reshanau Lake * Rice Lake * Round Lake * Sherman Lake * Spring Lake * Smith Lake * Wards Lake {{div col end}}
===Waterways=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Cedar Creek * Coon Creek * Crooked Brook * Ford Brook * Hardwood Creek * Mahoney Brook * Mississippi River * Rice Creek * Rum River * Sand Creek * Seelye Brook * Trott Brook * Pheasant creek {{div col end}}
===Major highways=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * 20px Interstate 35 * 25px Interstate 35E * 25px Interstate 35W * 25px Interstate 694 * 20px US Highway 10 * 20px US Highway 169 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 47 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 65 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 97 * 20px Minnesota State Highway 610 * ''List of county roads'' {{div col end}}
===Adjacent counties=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Isanti County - north * Chisago County - northeast * Washington County - east * Ramsey County - southeast * Hennepin County - southwest * Sherburne County - northwest {{div col end}}
===Protected areas=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Bethel Wildlife Management Area * Boot Lake Scientific and Natural Area * Bunker Hills Regional Park * Carl E Bonnell Wildlife Management Area * Carlos Avery State Wildlife Management Area * Cedar Creek Conservation Area * Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park * East Bethel Booster Park * Gordie Mikkelson Wildlife Management Area * Helen Allison Savanna Scientific and Natural Area * Lake George Regional Park * Martin Island-Linwood Lakes Regional Park * Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (part) * Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Preserve * Robert and Marilyn Burman Wildlife Management Area {{div col end}} <ref name=ACM/>
==Climate and weather== {{See also|Climate of Minnesota|Climate of the Twin Cities}} {{climate chart
|Anoka, Minnesota |5|23|0.95 |10|29|0.87 |22|41|1.83 |35|58|2.99 |46|70|3.70 |56|77|4.38 |61|81|4.45 |59|78|4.35 |50|70|3.93 |38|57|2.80 |25|40|1.97 |10|26|1.23 |float=right |units=imperial |clear=both |source=The Weather Channel<ref name=WX>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMN0027|title=Monthly Averages for Anoka MN|access-date=February 13, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006142303/http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMN0027| archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>}} Anoka County has a hot-summer humid continental climate zone (''Dfa'' in the Köppen climate classification),<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Peel |first1=M. C. |last2=Finlayson |first2=B. L. |last3=McMahon |first3=T. A. |title=Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification |journal=Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |date=October 2007 |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=1633–1644 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007|bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P |url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00298818/|doi-access=free }}</ref> typical of southern parts of the Upper Midwest, and is situated in USDA plant hardiness zone 4b.<ref>[http://climate.umn.edu/pdf/normals_means_and_extremes/2005_Annual_LCD_MSP_page_3.pdf Normals, Means, and Extremes for Minneapolis/Saint Paul (1971–2000)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720065506/http://climate.umn.edu/pdf/normals_means_and_extremes/2005_Annual_LCD_MSP_page_3.pdf |date=July 20, 2010 }}: Mean of Extreme Mins for January</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=''Pioneer Press'' staff |title=USDA: Milder winters mean some changes in plant hardiness zones |url=http://www.twincities.com/2012/01/24/usda-milder-winters-mean-some-changes-in-plant-hardiness-zones/ |access-date=July 21, 2016 |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press|date=January 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721202402/http://www.twincities.com/2012/01/24/usda-milder-winters-mean-some-changes-in-plant-hardiness-zones/ |archive-date=July 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/ |title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map |publisher=Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture |date=2012 |access-date=August 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ |archive-date=February 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> As is typical in a continental climate, the difference between average temperatures in the coldest winter month and the warmest summer month is great: {{convert|60.1|F-change}}. In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Anoka have ranged from {{convert|5|°F}} in January to {{convert|81|°F}} in July. A record low of {{convert|-50|°F}} was recorded in January 2019 and a record high of {{convert|103|°F}} in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|0.87|in}} in February to {{convert|4.45|in}} in July.<ref name=WX/>
==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1860 = 2106 | 1870 = 3940 | 1880 = 7108 | 1890 = 9884 | 1900 = 11313 | 1910 = 12493 | 1920 = 15626 | 1930 = 18415 | 1940 = 22443 | 1950 = 35579 | 1960 = 85916 | 1970 = 154712 | 1980 = 195998 | 1990 = 243641 | 2000 = 298084 | 2010 = 330844 | 2020 = 363887 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 381605 | estref =<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 18, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}} | align-fn = center | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/mn190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF"/> | align = right }}
===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Anoka County, Minnesota – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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 may be of any race.''}}</small> !Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small> !Pop 1980<ref>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Minnesota - Tables 15 and 16 – Race by Sex: 1980 and Tables 16 and 17 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_mnABC-02.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=13-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007094943/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_mnABC-02.pdf| archive-date=October 7, 2022|via= Wayback Machine}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref name=1990Census>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Minnesota: Table 4-6 - Race and Hispanic Origin |website=United States Census Bureau|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-25.pdf|access-date=|page=17-79|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260424191904/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-25.pdf|via= Wayback Machine| archive-date=April 24, 2026}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Anoka County, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US27003&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Anoka County, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US27003&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Anoka County, Minnesota|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US27003&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |191,418 |235,340 |276,586 |281,929 |style='background: #ffffe6; |276,205 |97.66% |96.59% |92.79% |85.22% |style='background: #ffffe6; |75.90% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |380 |1,266 |4,683 |14,282 |style='background: #ffffe6; |28,378 |0.19% |0.52% |1.57% |4.32% |style='background: #ffffe6; |7.80% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |1,112 |1,799 |1,970 |1,994 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,912 |0.57% |0.74% |0.66% |0.60% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.53% |- |Asian alone (NH) |1,496 |2,876 |5,010 |12,796 |style='background: #ffffe6; |19,158 |0.76% |1.18% |1.68% |3.87% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.26% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |60 |91 |style='background: #ffffe6; |93 |x |x |0.02% |0.03% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03% |- |Other race alone (NH) |311 |91 |294 |378 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,401 |0.16% |0.04% |0.10% |0.11% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.39% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |4,520 |7,354 |style='background: #ffffe6; |17,234 |x |x |1.52% |2.22% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.74% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |1,281 |2,269 |4,961 |12,020 |style='background: #ffffe6; |19,506 |0.65% |0.93% |1.66% |3.63% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.36% |- |'''Total''' |'''195,998''' |'''243,641''' |'''298,084''' |'''330,844''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''363,887 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}
===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 363,887. The median age was 38.6 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.1 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A003&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 30, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A003&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 30, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
The racial makeup of the county was 77.0% White, 7.9% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 6.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 5.4% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>
84.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 15.9% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A003&in=state%3A27|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 30, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>
There were 133,879 households in the county, of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.2% were married-couple households, 16.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
There were 138,017 housing units, of which 3.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.4% were owner-occupied and 20.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>
===2010 census=== As of the census of 2010, 330,844 people were in the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/|title=2010 Census Data - 2010 Census|access-date=July 7, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706203009/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/|archive-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref>
===2000 census=== [[File:AnokaCountyMn2022PopPyr.png|thumb|right|2022 US Census population pyramid for Anoka County, from ACS 5-year estimates]] As of the census of 2000, 298,084 people, 106,428 households, and 79,395 families resided in the county. The population density was {{convert|705|/mi2|/km2}}. The 108,091 housing units had an average density of {{convert|256|/mi2|/km2}}.
At the time of the 2000 Census, the racial makeup of the county was 93.64% White, 1.60% African American, 0.70% Native American, 1.69% Asian, 0.67% from other races, and 1.71 percent from two or more races; 1.66% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. The 2000 Census found 30.2% were of German, 14.3% Norwegian, 9.0% Swedish, 7.3% Irish, and 5.9% Polish ancestry.
Of the 106,428 households, 39.9% had children under 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were not families. About 19.3% were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.77, and the average family size was 3.19.
The county's age distribution was 28.9% under 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 34.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 99.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $57,754, and for a family was $64,261. Males had a median income of $41,527 versus $30,534 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,297. About 2.90% of families and 4.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.90% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over. ==Government and politics== Anoka County was once one of the most Democratic suburban counties in any metropolitan area nationwide and is one of the few to have trended Republican in the 21st century. On a national level, Anoka County has voted for the Republican presidential nominee since 2000, though with the margins remaining within 3% outside of 2004, 2016, and 2024. Incumbent Democratic-Farmer-Labor Senator Amy Klobuchar defeated Jim Newberger by over 20,000 votes there in the 2018 midterms; Klobuchar also won the county in 2006, 2012, and 2024.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/145965 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422114344/https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/145965 |archive-date=2025-04-22 |url-status=live|title=2024 State Canvassing Board Certificate|last=Simon|first=Steve|author-link=Steve Simon|date=November 21, 2024|work=Minnesota Secretary of State|access-date=May 13, 2025}}</ref> Republican nominee Karin Housley narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Tina Smith in the concurrent Senate special election in 2018; Smith won the election by over 10 points. Incumbent Democratic-Farmer-Labor Governor Tim Walz also won Anoka County in his 2018 gubernatorial bid by fewer than 300 votes, but the county flipped to Republican in the 2022 gubernatorial election.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/133584 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422214813/https://officialdocuments.sos.mn.gov/Files/GetDocument/133584 |archive-date=April 22, 2025 |url-status=live|title=2022 State Canvassing Board Certificate|last=Simon|first=Steve|author-link=Steve Simon|date=November 29, 2022|work=Minnesota Secretary of State|access-date=May 13, 2025}}</ref>
===County commissioners=== As of April 2023: * District 1 - Matt Look * District 2 - Julie Braastad * District 3 - Jeff Reinert * District 4 - Scott Schulte * District 5 - Mike Gamache * District 6 - Julie Jeppson * District 7 - Mandy Meisner
===National elections=== {{PresHead|place=Anoka County, Minnesota|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,002|720|177|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,553|791|49|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,511|555|66|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,557|283|53|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,577|610|99|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1912|Progressive|562|591|926|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,262|1,171|145|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,505|865|489|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,146|458|1,901|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,816|2,571|75|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,718|4,253|181|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,586|4,501|822|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|4,302|5,501|80|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,958|5,431|79|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,853|7,730|346|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1952|Democratic|7,425|9,344|70|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1956|Democratic|9,359|11,697|36|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|14,114|20,324|73|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|13,201|31,714|90|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|16,358|30,656|3,120|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|29,546|28,031|1,783|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|27,863|48,173|2,279|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1980|Democratic|33,100|45,532|9,211|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1984|Democratic|46,578|50,305|557|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1988|Democratic|46,853|57,953|1,003|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|39,458|54,621|35,941|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|41,745|63,756|18,521|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|69,256|68,008|8,355|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|91,853|80,226|1,987|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|91,357|86,976|3,891|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|93,430|88,614|4,421|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|93,339|75,500|16,919|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|104,902|100,893|5,337|Minnesota}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|106,974|97,667|5,840|Minnesota}} {{PresFoot}}
==Communities== ===Cities=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Andover * Anoka * Bethel * Blaine (partially in Ramsey County) * Centerville * Circle Pines * Columbia Heights * Columbus * Coon Rapids * East Bethel * Fridley * Ham Lake * Hilltop * Lexington * Lino Lakes * Nowthen * Oak Grove * Ramsey * Saint Francis (partially in Isanti County) * Spring Lake Park (partially in Ramsey County) {{div col end}}
===Township=== * Linwood Township
===Census-designated place=== * Martin Lake
===Unincorporated community=== * Linwood
==Education== School districts include:<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27003_anoka/DC20SD_C27003.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722182823/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27003_anoka/DC20SD_C27003.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Anoka County, MN|publisher=United States Census Bureau|place=Suitland, Maryland|date=January 15, 2021|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st27_mn/schooldistrict_maps/c27003_anoka/DC20SD_C27003_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> * Anoka-Hennepin School District * Centennial Public School District * Columbia Heights Public School District * Elk River School District * Forest Lake Public School District * Fridley Public School District * Spring Lake Park Public Schools * St. Francis Area Schools * White Bear Lake Area School District
==See also== * Anoka County History Center * National Register of Historic Places listings in Anoka County, Minnesota * List of Minnesota placenames of Native American origin {{-}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.anokacountymn.gov/ Anoka County government's website] * [http://reflections.mndigital.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/ach Anoka County Historical Society Digital Collection], Minnesota Reflections
{{Geographic location |Centre = Anoka County, Minnesota |North = Isanti County |Northeast = Chisago County |Southeast = Washington County and Ramsey County |Southwest = Hennepin County |Northwest = Sherburne County }}
{{Anoka County, Minnesota}} {{Minnesota}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|45.27|-93.24|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MN_source:UScensus1990}}
Category:Anoka County, Minnesota Category:Minneapolis–Saint Paul Category:Minnesota counties Category:Minnesota counties on the Mississippi River Category:Minnesota placenames of Native American origin Category:1857 establishments in Minnesota Territory Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1857