Koochiching County, Minnesota: History
About 10,000 years ago almost 90% of Koochiching County was covered by Lake Agassiz. When it receded it left low areas of decayed vegetation (muskeg); as a result, three-quarters of northern Koochiching are underlain with 2 to 50 feet of peat.
The name "Koochiching" comes from either the Ojibwe word Gojijiing or Cree Kocicīhk (recorded in some documents as "Ouchichiq"), both meaning 'at the place of inlets', referring to the neighboring Rainy Lake and River. Reverend J.A. Gilfillan recorded their meaning, "according to some, Neighbor lake, according to others a lake somewhere", possibly referring to the neighboring Rainy Lake and to Lake Couchiching located in southern Ontario. Early French inhabitants gave the names Lac à la Pluie ('Rainy Lake') and Rivière à la Pluie ('Rainy River') to the nearby bodies of water because of the mist-like rain present at the falls of Rainy River and then to the settlement that became known as International Falls.
This area was among the last in Minnesota to be settled. European settlers in Koochiching County started coming in the late 1800s. Some of the last lands were ceded from the Chippewa in a 1904 Land Act. Homesteads were being proven primarily in the 1900-1910 decade. Settlers were lumberjacks and farmers and many other trades, they "suffered through isolation, illness, harsh weather, and poverty... They built schools, churches, and fought for good roads".
The county is one of the youngest in the state, having been created in 1906 after separating from Itasca County.