Townapedia
Carlton Courthouse 002
Carlton Courthouse 002 · Elkman, CC BY-SA 3.0

Esko, Minnesota

Esko is a community of 1,813 people in Carlton County, Minnesota.

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Population1,813 -11.2% since 2019
Elevation226 ft 69 m
Land area4.9 sq mi
ZIP code55733
Nearest airportDuluth International Airport (DLH) 12 mi

Why visit Esko

Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 1 park or trail, 1 place to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.

Highlights include Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and Carlton County Courthouse.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 78°F; January lows average 2°F, and about 71 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Esko

Esko is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Thomson Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,082.

From the Wikipedia article Esko, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do1

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College

School · 4.0 mi

Tribal land-grant community college in Cloquet, Minnesota, U.S.

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Museums and landmarks3

Carlton County Courthouse

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi

County courthouse in Carlton, United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Palkie Grist Mill

Monument and historic site · 0.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds1

Northridge Park

Park

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Restaurants and cafes1

Eskomo Pies

Restaurant · Pizza · 0.5 mi

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History

Esko was settled by immigrants between the 1870s and early 1900s. Most of the settlers were Finnish and their culture is reflected in the community's traditions. In 1919, a small store was built at the corner of what is now Thomson Road and Highway 61 by a man named Alex Esko. It became known as "Esko's Corner". The Lincoln School was built nearby in 1920 and residents began to move into the area. The name was shortened to "Esko" in 1935.

The book Esko's Corner, published by the Esko Historical Society, gives a detailed account of Esko's history. The Historical Society also runs a small museum in the heart of the community.

From the History section of Esko, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship1

Schools, colleges and libraries15

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Map of Esko

22 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

0°20°40°60°80°January: 1.0 in of rainFebruary: 1.0 in of rainMarch: 1.4 in of rainApril: 2.4 in of rainMay: 3.5 in of rainJune: 4.8 in of rainJuly: 4.3 in of rainAugust: 4.2 in of rainSeptember: 3.6 in of rainOctober: 3.3 in of rainNovember: 1.8 in of rainDecember: 1.5 in of rainJanuary: 18°FFebruary: 24°FMarch: 37°FApril: 50°FMay: 64°FJune: 74°FJuly: 78°FAugust: 76°FSeptember: 67°FOctober: 52°FNovember: 35°FDecember: 23°FJanuary: 2°FFebruary: 5°FMarch: 16°FApril: 28°FMay: 38°FJune: 48°FJuly: 54°FAugust: 53°FSeptember: 46°FOctober: 34°FNovember: 22°FDecember: 9°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan18°F2°F1.0 in13.5 in
Feb24°F5°F1.0 in13.5 in
Mar37°F16°F1.4 in10.3 in
Apr50°F28°F2.4 in6.4 in
May64°F38°F3.5 in0.3 in
Jun74°F48°F4.8 in0.0 in
Jul78°F54°F4.3 in0.0 in
Aug76°F53°F4.2 in0.0 in
Sep67°F46°F3.6 in0.0 in
Oct52°F34°F3.3 in1.8 in
Nov35°F22°F1.8 in9.6 in
Dec23°F9°F1.5 in15.9 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Cloquet Hcn (7 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$109,063median household income
$318,800median home value
$1,215median monthly rent
46.8median age
52.4%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
86.9%of homes are owner-occupied
15.5 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1822%18 to 3412%35 to 6448%65 and over19%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Carlton County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.

  • 2023-07-19: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
  • 2020-04-07: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2018-09-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
  • 2012-07-06: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2005-09-13: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Duluth International Airport (DLH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.

  • Scanlon 3 mi west, about 4 min by car
  • Carlton 5 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
  • Cloquet 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
  • Wrenshall 6 mi south, about 10 min by car
  • Proctor 7 mi east, about 11 min by car
  • Hermantown 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
  • Oliver 10 mi southeast, about 16 min by car
  • Duluth 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
  • Superior 14 mi east, about 22 min by car
  • Hibbing 55 mi northwest, about 1 h 30 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.