Isanti County (pop. 37,816) is just north of Anoka County. It is the only Isanti County in the U.S.

Isanti is pronounced “eye-SAN-tee.” The word apparently comes from “Izaty,” an ancient name of the Santee Indians.

The county also has a town called Isanti (pop. 5,251).

The county seat is Cambridge (pop. 8,111). The historic courthouse is now used for private offices.

Built in 1888

In the 2000 U.S. Census, Cambridge had the highest percentage of Swedish-Americans (27%) among U.S. cities with more than 5,000 people.

The town of Braham (pop. 1,793, partly in Kanabec County) is known as the Homemade Pie Capital of Minnesota. Since the 1930s, people driving between the Twin Cities and Duluth have stopped at the Park Cafe in Braham for pie.

Park Cafe, Braham

Isanti County has about 100 lakes, including the 298-acre Typo Lake. Research has been unable to determine how it got its name.

NEXT: CHISAGO (not a typo) COUNTY