Editing Squaw Lake, Minnesota

{{Short description|City in Minnesota, United States}}
{{For|other places named Squaw Lake|Squaw Lake (disambiguation){{!}}Squaw Lake}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Squaw Lake, Minnesota
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Itasca_County_Minnesota_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Squaw_Lake_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of the city of Squaw Lake<br />within Itasca County, Minnesota
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Minnesota]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Minnesota|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Itasca County, Minnesota|Itasca]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Joan Lecuyer
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = December 17, 1940
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023">{{cite web|title=2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_27.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=July 24, 2022|archive-date=March 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315174206/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2023_Gazetteer/2023_gaz_place_27.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 2.180
|area_land_km2            = 2.097
|area_water_km2           = 0.083
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.840
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.810
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.030
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 98
|pop_est_as_of            = 2022
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2022"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 98
|population_density_km2   = 46.72
|population_density_sq_mi = 120.99
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = −6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 408
|elevation_ft             = 1339
|coordinates              = {{coord|47|37|43|N|94|8|20|W|region:US-MN|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 56681
|area_code                = [[Area code 218|218]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 27-62284
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0658441<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|0658441}}</ref>
|blank2_name              = [[Sales tax]]
|blank2_info              = 7.875%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/minnesota/cities/squaw-lake.html|title=Elkton (MN) sales tax rate|access-date=February 2, 2024|archive-date=February 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202014102/https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/minnesota/cities/squaw-lake.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Squaw Lake''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|k|w|ɔː}} {{respell|SKWAW}}) is a city in [[Itasca County, Minnesota|Itasca County]], [[Minnesota]], United States. The population was 98 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Squaw_Lake_city,_Minnesota?g=160XX00US2762284 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=February 2, 2024}}</ref>

The town center is located along [[Minnesota State Highway 46]]. A significant portion of the economy can be attributed to fishing and hunting-related tourism.

==History==
The Squaw Lake area was inhabited by [[Ojibwe]] people prior to the arrival of European colonizers. The land was set aside for the [[Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe]] in 19th century treaties as part of the [[Leech Lake Indian Reservation]]. Early on it was a hub for fur traders and loggers. It was later the site of a [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] station. A post office was established there by 1923 and it was incorporated as a village in 1940.<ref name="The Circle"/>

The lake located to the east of the town was renamed from Squaw Lake to Nature's Lake in 1995 by the Minnesota Legislature following a campaign led by students from [[Cass Lake-Bena Schools|Cass Lake-Bena High School]]. The term "[[squaw]]" is an ethnic and sexual slur.<ref name="MPR">{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Tom |title=Squaw Lake Resists Name Change |url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200104/30_robertsont_squawlake-m/ |work=MPR News |date=April 30, 2001 |archive-date=August 3, 2024 |access-date=January 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803075727/http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200104/30_robertsont_squawlake-m/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Johansen |first1=Bruce Elliott |title=The Native Peoples of North America: A History |date=2006 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-3899-0 |page=442 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Native_Peoples_of_North_America/yiKgBuSUPUIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22squaw%20lake%22%20minnesota&pg=PA442&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> The Leech Lake Name Change Committee attempted to introduce a referendum on changing the town's name in November 2000, but did not have enough valid signatures for its petition.<ref name="MPR"/>

==Geography==
Squaw Lake is located on the [[Leech Lake Indian Reservation]], between Round Lake and Nature's Lake.<ref name="The Circle">{{cite news |last1=Whipple |first1=Cat |title=650 geographic features with “squaw” in them to be changed |url=https://thecirclenews.org/news/650-geographic-features-with-squaw-in-them-to-be-changed/ |work=The Circle News |date=October 4, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=May 20, 2024 |access-date=January 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520185501/https://thecirclenews.org/news/650-geographic-features-with-squaw-in-them-to-be-changed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|0.840|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.810|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.030|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2023"/>

==Education==
[[Independent School District 318]] serves the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.isd318.org/Page/57 | title=About Us / District Map }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1950= 132
|1960= 129
|1970= 113
|1980= 162
|1990= 139
|2000= 99
|2010= 107
|2020= 98
|estyear=2022
|estimate=98
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2022">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|date=February 2, 2024|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=February 2, 2024|archive-date=July 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711040810/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321050514/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br />2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 107 people, 39 households, and 26 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|133.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 63 housing units at an average density of {{convert|78.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 46.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 51.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.9% from two or more races.

There were 39 households, of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 28.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.23.

The median age in the city was 35.9 years. 29.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.9% were from 25 to 44; 18.8% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.5% male and 49.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 99 people, 35 households, and 21 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|120.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 56 housing units at an average density of {{convert|68.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 63.64% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 31.31% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.01% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 4.04% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.01% of the population.

There were 35 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.76.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 38.4% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $11,875, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $12,000 versus $20,000 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $9,895. There were 42.1% of families and 49.5% of the population living below the [[poverty line]], including 64.0% of under eighteens and 50.0% of those over 64.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Itasca County, Minnesota}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|47|37|57|N|94|08|11|W|type:city_region:US-MN|display=title}}

[[Category:Cities in Itasca County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Cities in Minnesota]]