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Backus Minnesota Guide

As of the census² of 2000, there are 311 people, 123 households, and 83 families residing in the city. The population density is 200.1/km² (518.9/mi²). There are 194 housing units at an average density of 124.8/km² (323.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 98.07% White, 0.00% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 0.00% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 123 households out of which 34.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% are married couples living together, 17.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% are non-families. 29.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.53 and the average family size is 3.12.

In the city the population is spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $26,875, and the median income for a family is $32,500. Males have a median income of $26,563 versus $13,438 for females. The per capita income for the city is $12,077. 23.0% of the population and 16.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 36.4% of those under the age of 18 and 14.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Community Named for Lumber King

The community of Backus, located in central Cass County, took its name from one of the greatest lumbermen in Minnesota history.

Edward Wellington Backus was born in Jamestown, New York in 1860, and left a country school at the age of 18 to attend the University of Minnesota. His hard work eventually led to a position with the Twin Cities lumber firm of Lee and McCulloch. Wages amounted to $9 a week, but Backus had bigger plans.

As the years passed, he gained experience in the timber industry. By 1890, he had built sawmills that were the second largest in Minneapolis.

In August of 1893 a fire hit the booming city, destroying 20 blocks of homes, factories and the Backus mills. With insurance money, Backus bought another mill, only to have it, too, destroyed by fire a short time later.

Meanwhile, the timber industry moved northward. Tall pine stands in Cass and Itasca Counties attracted attention from enterprising mill owners. Edward Backus was not going to be left behind.

The E.W. Backus Lumber Company, which later became the Backus and Brooks Lumber Company, was established in Powers Township of Cass County around 1898. Lumber camps were constructed, and nearby buildings to house employees and a warehouse were added to the landscape. As more and more families made this area their home, the settlement became a town. The community was incorporated in 1902, and appropriately, the name Backus was adopted by its founders.

Edward Backus was still looking North, however. In following years, he built a dam and papermills near the Canadian border. He also added hundreds of miles of logging railroad to his new operations.

Across the United States, however, the economy was seriously strained. The Great Depression arrived, and with it thousands of businesses were bankrupted.

On March 1, 1931, the world of Edward Backus collapsed. The lumberman faced debts he could not pay. With only memories of a life of prosperity, he was nearly penniless. His innovative mind was still active, however, and. when he died — just two and a half years later in a New York hotel — he was planning yet another timber empire, this time in Alaska.

From "In Our Own Backyard" by Carol Russell
© 1979, North Central Minnesota Historical Center

Courtesy Google Maps - Click map to zoom or enlarge

Aerial Photo & Topographic Map Below - Click Here

Lake Name	Size (acres)	Location	Lake info	Lake Map	Rec Map	Topo Map
Big Portage	918	6 mi E of Backus
Bowen	176	.5 mi E of Backus
Brockway	85	3 mi E of Backus
Horseshoe	225	3 mi NE of Backus
Lind (Lindsay)	377	.5 mi E of Backus
Loon	n/a	4 mi NE of Backus
Pine Mountain	1567	W edge of Backus
Sandborn	233	3 mi E of Backus

Backus Church of the Nazarene	618 State Highway 371 NW PO Box 41 Backus, MN 65435	(218) 947-4243
Bethlehem Lutheran Church	2185 State Highway 64 SW Backus, MN 56435-2407	(218) 947-3350
Emmanuel Lutheran Church	603 State Highway 371 NW Backus, MN 56435	(218) 947-4182
Lakeside Baptist Church	125 Church Lane Backus, MN 56435	(218) 947-4955
9:00 am   Sunday School 10:15 am Morning Worship 6:00 am   Patch the Pirate Club 6:00 am   Evening Service
Mildred Bible Chapel	3466 14th Street SW Backus, MN 56435-2236	(218) 587-2562
10:50 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service 6:30 PM Sunday Evening Worship Service (Nursery available for all services)

Ada Pine Beach Resort	621 12th Avenue NW Backus, MN 56435-2283	(218) 587-2494
Bayside Cabins & Bike Rental	206 Rosalind Avenue W Backus, MN 56435-2198	(218) 947-3344
North Central Minnesota's family vacation, biking and fishing resort in the heart of Lake Country. We set out to make BaySide a special place in the sun for you. A retreat based upon the slower-paced activities and leisurely days that you knew in your childhood. A place where you can get back in touch with yourself, your family and your friends. A place and a time you'll remember and want to come back to again and again. Your place in the quiet of the Minnesota northwoods.
Idle-A-While Resort	2263 E Long Lake Drive NW Backus, MN 56435-2116	(218) 682-2483
Mountain View Resort	590 Wood Street N Backus, MN 56435-2194	(218) 947-3233
In addition to fishing, Mountain View Resort features several outdoor activities: Basketball, Bicycles, Sandbox, Swingset, Campfires, Horseshoes, Badminton, Grills, Paddleboat and Canoe. Four RV sites on the grounds of Mountain View Resort. Each site includes water, sewer, and electrical hookups. Besides our hospitality, you and your family or friends will enjoy fishing, boating and the beautiful view of Pine Mountain Lake.
Pine Mountain Resort	398 Pine Mountain Lake Rd NW Backus, MN 56435-2080	(218) 947-4047
Portage Camp Resort	1122 W Big Portage Lake Dr NW Backus, MN 56435-3038	(218) 947-4400
Sandy Pines Resort	2731 Raven Lane NW Backus, MN 56435-3034	(218) 947-4467
Tuck-a-Way Resort & Campground	70 Lake Hattie Dr NW Backus, MN 56435	(218) 587-4725
Located on beautiful Lake Hattie amidst the towering Norway pines, with wilderness trails and lakeshore for you to explore. Enjoy great fishing, hiking, a day at the beach or simply relaxing. During the winter you can do a little ice fishing, snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling or some cross-country skiing over the 1,800 acres surrounding the resort. Additional notes: We have 2 non-smoking cabins and 10 seasonal campsites.

Ruttgers Pine Mountain Camping Resort	5068 State Highway 87 SW Backus, MN 56435-2207	(218) 947-4099
Located on the southern shore of beautiful Pine Mountain Lake, Ruttgers Pine Mountain Camping Resort caters to your camping, RVing and resorting needs. Begun in 1898 by Joseph and Josephine Ruttger in Deerwood MN, Ruttger family resorts have had a longstanding tradition of clean, friendly surroundings and most of all the famous Ruttger hospitality. Under the proprietorship of William Ruttger, fourth generation resorter, experience what Ruttger hospitality is all about!!

Aerial photo is courtesy of the Minnesota DNR - Click map to zoom or enlarge

Topographic map is courtesy of the Minnesota DNR - click map to zoom or enlarge

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