8.0. SR 10-13-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

In the late 1930's, work began to reroute the Jefferson Highway, now as US Trunk Highway #10. Heading east to west, Old Highway 10 followed the same route it does now until it reached 4th Street by the Dairy Queen. It then followed 4th Street to Main Street and crossed the Elk River at the dam bridge. This work was postpone due to World War II and was not completed until 1948. Jackson Avenue north of Highwayl 0 used to be the location of US Trunk Highway 169. The former intersection of Highways 10 and 169 was the only one in the city with a stoplight. On major travel weekends the traffic would back up towards Anoka as far as the weigh station. Work on bypassing Elk River with Highway 169 began in 1961. In 1968, work began on the new route for Highway 101 between Elk River and Rogers. Prior to this new route, Highway 101 snaked through the countryside and had many sharp turns. The construction of Interstate 94 through Rogers and the recent upgrading of Highway 101 to four lanes will increase Elk River's growth rate. In 1978, the Village of Elk River and the Township of Elk River consolidated to create the City of Elk River. The result was one of the largest land based cities in the state at 44 squar.e miles. The City of Elk River had a mild building boom in the late 1960's/early 1970's. The city's population growth then slowed until the mid-1980's, when it exploded. The City of Elk River now has a population of over 17,000 people. Once again, transportation is dictating where commercial growth takes place as new businesses spring up along the Highway 169 corridor. Besides transportation, energy has always played a major role in shaping Elk River. The first rural nuclear power plant in the United States went on line in 1960 at the current Great River Energy site in Elk River and the city was nicknamed "Atomic City". Intended only as a demonstration site the power plant was shut down and dismantled after several years of successful operation. The Great River Energy power plant was converted to burn refuse derived fuel in the late 1980's. This innovative source of energy being located in Elk River was one of the factors that help the city receive the designation of "Energy City" from the Minnesota Environmental Initiative in October of 1997. As such, the city will be the geographical focal point for the energy industry to demonstrate renewable energy and energy efficient technologies that are on the cutting edge of science. The distinction of Energy City is unique in the world to Elk River. Elk River is the fastest growing community in the fastest growing county per capita in the state. It will be a challenge in the future to preserve Elk River's small town atmosphere and its unique heritage.