Esko is between Cloquet and Duluth at the junction of Interstate 35 and County Road 1 (Thomson Road). It is six miles east of Cloquet and 16 miles southwest of Duluth.
Most Esko residents are descendants of Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish immigrants who settled the area in the early 20th century. The nearby community of Thomson also has a large Scandinavian presence.[citation needed]
As of the 2020 census, Esko had a population of 2,082. The median age was 40.8 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.5 males age 18 and over.[5][6]
66.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 33.1% lived in rural areas.[7]
There were 721 households in Esko, of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 70.7% were married-couple households, 11.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 15.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[5]
There were 747 housing units, of which 3.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 0.0%.[5]
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.[8]
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.[8]
