The 1870 United States census listed 53 occupants of the Kanabec County area.

However, an influx of settlers into its southern areas occurred in the early 1870s, and by 1876 an official county building was needed.

Only one court term was held at Brunswick; in the 1882 general election, a nearly-unanimous vote designated Mora as the county seat.

The old courthouse building was sold to a local farmer, who moved it to his property to use as a home.

[6] The Snake River flows south-southeasterly through the central part of the county, fed by Groundhouse River (flowing northeasterly from the county's SW corner) and Red Creek and Mud Creek.

The county terrain consists of partly-wooded rolling hills, etched by drainages.

[7] The terrain slopes to the south and east, with its highest point near the NW corner, at 1,309 ft (399 m) ASL.