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2 <br />BUFFALO <br />MONTICELLO <br />BECKER <br />PRINCETON CAMBRIDGE <br />NORTHBRANCH <br />FOREST LAKEANOKA <br />ROGERS <br />MAPLE GROVE <br />ELK RIVER <br />MINNEAPOLIS <br />ST. PAUL <br />ST CLOUD <br />ELK RIVER THROUGH THE YEARS <br />The RegionA Trading Hub <br />Like many present day river cities, Elk River originated as a hub for <br />fishing and trading. The earliest human activity saw the Ojibwa <br />and Dakota people using the land for hunting, fishing, and <br />traveling along the Mississippi. Early European settlers eventually <br />set up trade posts along the Mississippi and Elk River, and the <br />Red River Trail, leveraging the confluence of each for travel and <br />commerce. Over time, trading turned to farming, which eventually <br />gave way to industry. Rail arrived in Elk River in the 1870’s, and <br />with it came a shift of the economic center of the city to “Lower <br />Town”, the current historic downtown area. <br />Shortly after World War II, regional and state-wide paved <br />roadways were introduced to the city. Highway 10, originally <br />called the Jefferson Highway, was constructed in its current <br />location along the northern edge of the downtown core. A few <br />years later, Highway 169 was introduced. Even in its early days <br />the highway saw major weekend backups extending miles out of <br />town. <br />ENERGY CITY <br />Even before Elk River was established as a city in 1974, energy <br />production played a major role in the regional economy. The first <br />rural nuclear power station went online in the area in 1960, and <br />subsequent energy innovations and sector growth help the city <br />achieve the unofficial title of “energy city” in the late 1990’s. <br />Elk River is just outside the official Twin Cities Metropolitan <br />Region, however it relies on surrounding communities for much <br />of its daily retail and dining needs. Located 30 miles from <br />Downtown Minneapolis, Elk River is on the northern edge of the <br />regions developed areas. Because of this, the City has adopted <br />a tagline of “where the city and country flow together. Both of <br />the city’s major highways, Hwy 10 and Hwy 169, provide direct <br />access from Minneapolis and St. Paul, north to regional centers of <br />commerce and recreation in greater Minnesota. <br />1943 1957 1991 2004 2004 <br />CITY AND COUNTRY FLOW TOGETHER <br />Elk River continues to embrace the converging of city and <br />country within its borders. With near proximity to both St. Cloud <br />and the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro, Elk River is never more than <br />a short journey away from city amenities. It also offers plenty of <br />wide open country land for those seeking respite from city-living. <br />With something for everyone, and anchored by the Mississippi <br />and Elk Rivers, the city truly reflects the moniker of “Where City <br />and Country Flow Together”. <br />Page 72 of 157