Guide to Marcell, Minnesota

Marcell (township)

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2000-2010 Change

Actual

Percent

Population

274

353

309

394

467

+73

+18.53

Land Area (sq. mile)

49.50

52.28

47.91

47.9

0.00

Density (persons per sq. mile)

5.54

6.75

6.45

8.23

9.75

+1.52

+18.53

Housing Units

259

430

499

567

653

+86

+15.17

Households

133

138

179

218

+39

+21.79

Persons Per Household

2.65

2.24

2.18

2.14

-0.04

-1.83

Marcell is an unincorporated community in Marcell Township, Itasca County, Minnesota. Minnesota State Highways 38 and 286 are two of the main routes in the community. According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 57.2 square miles (148.1 km²), of which, 47.9 square miles (124.1 km²) of it is land and 9.3 square miles (24.0 km²) of it (16.21%) is water. The elevation is 1,355 ft (413 m) above sea level.

As of the census of 2000, there were 394 people, 179 households, and 132 families residing in the township. The population density was 8.2 people per square mile (3.2/km²). There were 567 housing units at an average density of 11.8/sq mi (4.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.98% White, 0.51% African American, 0.25% Native American, and 0.25% from two or more races.

There were 179 households out of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.53.

In the township the population was spread out with 14.0% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 40.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $39,167, and the median income for a family was $41,719. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $30,625 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,010. About 9.2% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Marcell area was first surveyed in 1870. Lumbermen like T. B. Walker took up land in the late 1870s and early 1880s. John Lundeen from Wisconsin filed for homestead in 1899 and was the first settler to offer a final proof of his claim. He and his wife Katie moved to an area near Marcell on Big Turtle Lake in 1901, where he built a store, a home, a restaurant and a sawmill intended to service homesteaders and people working for the Itasca Lumber Company. By the end of 1901, the railroad had completed a railroad spur to the lake and put two steamboats into Big Turtle to load logs.

In 1902, Katie Lundeen applied for a Post Office to be named Turtle Lake. The postal authorities said there were too many Turtle Lake post offices in Northern Minnesota, so she submitted her application with the name Marcell, a name honoring Andrew Marcell, the first conductor on the Minneapolis and Rainy River Railroad, more commonly known as the "Gut and Liver". In 1905 a petition was presented to the Itasca County Board of Commissioners to establish the township of Big Turtle Lake, and the first election was held in 1906. The first supervisors of the township board were Oscar Harbin, John Sundloff, and Matt Zimmer. Albert Jaynes was elected treasurer, and John Lundeen was elected town clerk. One of the first orders of business was to change the name of the township from Big Turtle to Marcell.

The town of Marcell at the Big Turtle Lake location did not remain there long. Lundeen's store, post office, and warehouse burned in 1910. The Deer River News reported a loss of $4,000, a considerable amount at that time. "Old Marcell" was no more. Today none of the old buildings remain.

Being an astute businessman, John Lundeen decided to rebuild in the area where the present community of Marcell now exists. There had been plans to extend the Minneapolis and Rainy River Railroad from Alder to the Canadian border, serving the towns along the way, and this would have put Lundeen's new store in an advantageous spot.

In 1914, Marcell built its first school, which was replaced by a larger school building in 1936. In 1957 the school district closed its many rural elementary schools, and elementary students now attend school at North Elementary School near Talmoon, and high school students are bussed into Deer River.

The railroad ceased running into Marcell in 1933, and was followed by the construction of Highway 38 which supplied a direct route to Grand Rapids and Bigfork. This opened up the area to tourism and many resorts came into being and flourished. Camp Idlewood, started in 1912 by Walter and Rose Stickler, was one of the better known operations and had a wide following. There were 33 guest cottages with rates of $12 per day per person for room and board.

Another noteworthy resort in the Marcell area is Arcadia Park. Located on the west side of Big Turtle Lake, Arcadia has one of the most spectacular views in all of Northern Minnesota. Started in 1922 as a community of individual homes and cabins, Arcadia soon had a main lodge and cabins to rent.

Electricity came to Marcell in after World War II in 1945, and the area flourished.

Visit The Marcell Photo Gallery for more recent and historic area photos

Chippewa National Forest 49554 State Highway 38 Marcell, MN 56657 Phone: (218) 832-3161
Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway Celebrate our northern hospitality, hometown pride and the treasures of our natural heritage. Minnesota, midway between America's east and west coast, is the home to 12,000 lakes. It is filled with beautiful country and all the pleasures of the four seasons. The Edge of the Wilderness is the rustic slice of this great state, with more than 1,000 lakes and one mighty river nearby, all in landscapes of remarkable natural beauty. There are still more trees than people here -- offering you classic northwoods seclusion.
Scenic State Park
Suomi Hills A primitive & non-motorized area set aside within the Chippewa National Forest. It has 21 miles of trails and numerous small lakes. Sort of a miniature version of the boundary waters canoe area. Suomi Hills has gorgeous fall colors and good grouse hunting!

Lake Name

Size
(acres)

Lake info

Lake Map

Rec Map

Topo Map

Big Ole

179

Bill's

n/a

Bluewater

364

Caribou

240

Dead Horse

Grave

500

Irma

n/a

Jack The Horse

383

Johnson

305

Little Dead Horse

Little Ranier

Little Turtle

484

North Star

1059

Pughole

152

Ranier

Smith

155

Spider

1349

Trout

1753

Turtle

2052

Wabana

2215

Wolf

n/a

Arcadia Lodge 52001 County Road 284 Bigfork, MN 56628 Phone: (218) 832-3852 Toll Free: (888) 832-3852 Web: www.arcadialodge.com Located on the shores of Big Turtle Lake, Arcadia Lodge is located in northeastern Minnesota, 30 miles north of Grand Rapids, just off the Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic Byway. It is completely surrounded by the Chippewa National Forest. Sparkling clear blue waters, the call of the loon, a soaring eagle and the tranquility of a new born fawn are all part of the true northwoods getaway that our guests experience.
Big Timber Resort 47011 State Highway 38 Marcell, MN 56657 Phone: (218) 832-3735 Toll Free: (888) 832-3735 Web: www.bigtimberresort.com Big Timber Resort on North Star Lake offers 7 modern lakefront housekeeping cabins with 2 or 3 bedrooms. The resort features 450' of shallow sand beach and a fantastic children's playground.
Camp Jack the Horse PO Box 7-B Marcell, MN 56657 Phone: (218) 832-3421 Web: www.campjackresort.com Camp Jack-The-Horse Resort offers 5 modern housekeeping cabins on Jack The Horse Lake with either 2 or 3 bedrooms. The lake is surrounded by mostly undeveloped federal land, and Camp Jack The Horse is the only resort on the lake. The resort specializes in providing a peaceful, relaxing retreat from everyday noise and disturbances.
Cedar Point Resort 38268 Cedar Point Road Marcell, MN 56657 Phone: (218) 832-3808 Toll Free: (800) 450-6613 Web: www.cedarptresort.com "A Hidden Beauty", Cedar Point is in the Chippewa National Forest located on the Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic byway. Just 28 miles north of Grand Rapids, Minnesota and 3 miles from the town of Marcell. Our guests are always commenting on our well shaded, lake level grounds. You will find plenty to do whether it be hiking, fishing, pontooning, or visiting the local towns of Marcell or Grand Rapids.
Fox Lake Resort 32158 County Road 45 Marcell, MN 56657 Phone: (218) 755-9816 Our 79 acres, surrounded by state and undeveloped private land, ensures a quiet getaway. We are the only resort on Fox Lake. We have many wonderful activities for our guests! Our crisp, warm summer days allow for many hours of boating, canoeing, FISHING, or just taking a walk down our quiet lane. At Fox Lake you can enjoy Minnesota's beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Hillcrest Resort 41786 Turtle Lake Road Bigfork, MN 56628 Phone: (218) 832-3831 Hillcrest Resort on Hatch and Turtle Lakes offers 7 modern housekeeping cabins with two or three bedrooms. The lodge has comfortable guest rooms, available year round for "Bed and Breakfast." Lodge open year around, restaurant, gift shop, game room, playground, beach and much more. Great Large & Smallmouth Bass, Northern, Walleye, Crappie and Bluegill Fishing.
Kokomo Resort 48301 State Highway 38 Marcell, MN 56657 Phone: (218) 832-3774 If you are looking for a great family vacation, with excellent fishing, lots of activities, and a very nice spacious vacation cabins while remaining in a quiet, relaxing north woods setting, look no further. We provide all this and more on 28 beautiful acres! We are nestled in with some of the largest pine trees in the heart of the Chippewa National Forest right off of one of the most scenic roads in the state, the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway 38.
North Star Lake Resort PO Box 128 Marcell, MN 56657 Phone: (218) 832-3131 North Star Lake Resort welcomes you to your vacation home away from home. Relax amidst the beauty and solitude of Minnesota's great Northwoods. Located next to the Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic Byway, we are inside the 400,000- acre Chippewa National Forest. There are more than 1,200 lakes within a 50-mile radius!
Spider Shores Resort 43637 Spider Shores Road Marcell, MN 56657-2113 Phone: (218) 326-2031 The resort is located at the north end of beautiful Spider Lake, surrounded by the beautiful Chippewa National Forest. Spider Lake has many miles of undeveloped shoreline with many bays and points. The lake is nearly 4 miles long and offers fishermen numerous opportunities to catch walleye, muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, crappie, bluegill and sunfish.

Marcell, Minnesota Community Guide