8.0. SR 10-13-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Orono-Elk River area continued to grow until it reached a population of 723 in 1860. The Civil War slowed this growth, but it exploded afterward. By 1870 the population had swelled to 2,050. The early settlers coming to Elk River were typically from New England. The trend after 1870 was toward settlers from Northern Europe. Around this same time, the recently completed railroads began to compete with the rivers as the main focus of transportation and Lower Town (the present historic business district of Elk River) became the focus of commerce. By the mid-1870's, Lower Town had approximately 18 businesses along State Street, a two block stretch paralleling the north side of the tracks in the approximate location of today's Railroad Drive. Lower Town suffered a series of fires during the 1880's and 1890's, including a major fire in 1898. In an attempt to avoid future fires, the "Brick Block" was built. This is the area between present day US Trunk Highway 10 and Main Street on the west side of Jackson Avenue. With the Brick Block, what is now considered the historic downtown area of Elk River became the center of commerce In the 1890's, another ethnic group moved to Elk River Township. The Hungarians settled in the area north of the Village of Elk River near what is now US Trunk Highway 169 giving it the unusual distinction of being the only documented Hungarian farming community in the United States. The Mill Pond dam was destroyed in an ice storm in 1912. By this time agriculture had replaced lumber as the basis of Elk River's economy. However, hydropower gave a new incentive to dam the Elk River. A new dam was completed late in the year 1915, which created the four lobes of Lake Orono as we know it today. In early 1916, the Village of Elk River received electricity for the first time. However, it would not be until after World War II that the entire Township of Elk River would receive electricity. The Red River Trail crossing the Elk River in the location of the dam became the Jefferson Highway in the early 1920's. The Sherbume County Star News (now the Elk River Star News) reported that on Labor Day in 1920, more than 4,000 cars passed over a newly constructed bridge next to the dam. Being a major route between the Twin Cities and the lake country to the north and west, the Jefferson Highway was one of the first paved highways in the state. Charles Babcock, a native son of Elk River and also the first Commissioner of Highways for the state, implemented a visionary plan to "get Minnesota out of the mud". His plan was to build a network of paved roads throughout the state to improve transportation and consequently the state's economy. His plan became a model for the rest of the nation. The military road to Fort Ripley stayed north of the Elk River until it crossed it at a rapids near Big Lake Township. Also in general vicinity of this crossing, a man named A. W. Jesperson did massive amounts ofrerouting of the Elk River in the mid 1920's. His vision was to create a recreational resort area and he platted the Camp Cozy Additions. Cement pillars and other works can still be seen amongst the many backwaters of the Elk River that resulted from Mr. Jesperson's work.