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3 <br /> 3 <br />Economic Development Authority <br />2018 Annual Report <br />Located at the convergence of two beautiful rivers and midway between Minneapolis and St. Cloud, we <br />are served by U.S. Highways 10 and 169 and Minnesota Highway 101 with easy access to Interstate 94. <br />The City of Elk River covers an area of 43 square miles with a population of 24,891 (2018). <br /> <br />We are a community who takes outdoor recreation seriously. We have over forty parks with a myriad of <br />opportunities from passive activities in our Bailey Point Nature Preserve and W.H. Houlton <br />Conservation Area or active play in four athletic complexes. Residents and visitors of all ages enjoy our <br />community parks with beaches, play structures, picnic pavilions and summer events like our rocking <br />Riverfront Concert Series, weekly farmers market, and downtown’s annual Elk RiverFest. Our <br />community is proud to consider themselves Powered by Nature, which is further reflected in our regionally <br />-renowned Hillside Mountain Bike Park and Woodland Trails Regional Park which includes summer <br />trails and winter cross country ski trails and a biathlon range. All of this is connected by 35 miles of <br />paved hiking and biking trails. <br /> <br />The Northstar Commuter Rail provides fast, reliable and convenient transportation to downtown <br />Minneapolis in a relaxing atmosphere with free WiFi to make your trip to/from work or a Twins <br />baseball game stress-free. <br /> <br />Elk River is served by ISD 728, the eighth-largest school district in Minnesota serving nearly 14,000 <br />students and over 50,000 lifelong learners. Elk River schools offer Science, Technology, Engineering <br />and Math (STEM) program for elementary and middle school students and our test scores exceed state <br />and national averages. <br /> <br />Post secondary education opportunities abound to meet learning needs with through Anoka Technical <br />College, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and St. Cloud State <br />University all within a short distance of Elk River. <br /> <br />Electric and water utilities are served by Elk River Municipal Utilities, a three-time recipient of the <br />American Public Power Association's prestigious Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation with <br />a 99.99% Average Service Availability Index. <br /> <br />We are home to over 50 manufacturing facilities, two Fortune 50 Data Centers, and a variety of retail <br />and service-oriented businesses. As a regional center, we are proud to have big-city amenities, services <br />and programs with the exceptional quality of life of a small hometown. <br />WHY ELK RIVER