6.7. SR 04-08-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�.r f Elk River City Administrator Open until filled Review of resumes—August 3, 201 1 Community A vibrant community and historic river town, the City of Elk River is home to nearly 23,000 people and the county seat for Sherburne County. Located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk Rivers, it covers 44- square miles making it one of Minnesota's largest land-based cities. The City of Elk River has grown rapidly over the last decade, increasing its population by nearly 40 percent. Its population is projected to be 35,000 at full build-out. Urban services are currently available to about one-third of the land in the city. Elk River's convenient accessibility to the Minneapolis-Saint Paul and St. Cloud metropolitan areas is a significant factor contributing to the city's dramatic growth. Major transportation routes serving Elk River include Interstate 94, US Highways 10 and 169, and State Highway 101. In addition, the Elk River station on the new Northstar Commuter Rail continues to have one of the largest ridership numbers along the rail line that runs from Minneapolis to Big Lake. Officially designated as Energy City by the Minnesota Environmental Initiative in 1997, Elk River is recognized nationally and around the world for demonstration projects that advance renewable and energy- efficient technologies. History Zebulon Pike passed through the area on his 1805 exploration of the upper Mississippi River and named the Elk River after the herds of animals he saw. The area was not settled by Europeans until David Faribault built a trading post near the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi Rivers in 1846. The site was a good location for trading not just because of the rivers, but also because of the proximity of the Red River Trail. In 1851, Ard Godfrey, a native of Orono, Maine, saw the potential of the Elk River's water power and built a dam and a sawmill. The dam operated until 1912 when it was destroyed by an ice storm. A hydropower plant electric plant was constructed in 1915, creating the present day configuration of Lake Orono. The village of Elk River incorporated in 1880 and did not become a statutory city until 1974. Consolidation with Elk River Township occurred four years later giving the city its current boundaries.