ST. PAUL — Carver County is ranked as Minnesota’s healthiest county in a new report while Cass County is at the bottom of the list.

The 2013 County Health Rankings were released Wednesday by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Counties were ranked on such factors as smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and teen birth rates.

After Carver, Minnesota’s top five healthiest counties are Steele, Waseca, Dodge and Scott. Hennepin County is ranked No. 55 among Minnesota’s 87 counties while Ramsey County is 65th.

Minnesota Health Commissioner Dr. Ed Ehlinger points out that a concentration of northern Minnesota counties are ranked toward the bottom. Minnesota’s bottom five healthiest counties, in descending order, are Lake, Traverse, Mille Lacs, Mahnomen and Cass.