Elk River, Minnesota

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Elk River, Minnesota
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Main St. & Jackson St., Elk River


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Elk River, Minnesota


mapsize1 =
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Minnesota
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sherburne

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 113.5
area_land_km2 = 110.5
area_water_km2 = 3.0
area_total_sq_mi = 43.8
area_land_sq_mi = 42.7
area_water_sq_mi = 1.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 16447
population_density_km2 = 148.9
population_density_sq_mi = 385.5

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 273
elevation_ft = 896
latd = 45 |latm = 19 |lats = 2 |latNS = N
longd = 93 |longm = 34 |longs = 52 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 55330
area_code = 763
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 27-18674GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0643266GR|3
website = [http://www.ci.elk-river.mn.us/ www.ci.elk-river.mn.us]
footnotes =

Elk River is a city in Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States, about 34 miles northwest of Minneapolis. It is situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Elk Rivers. The population was 16,447 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sherburne CountyGR|6. Elk River's population exceeded 20,000 as of 2005 [http://www.city-data.com/city/Elk-River-Minnesota.html Elk River, Minnesota (MN) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders ] ] .

U.S. Routes 10 and 169 and Minnesota State Highway 101 are three of the main arterial routes in the city.

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 areas was not settled by Europeans until David Faribault built a trading post near the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi Rivers in 1846. [City of Elk River - History [http://www.ci.elk-river.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7B68AF9151-8E24-4925-8A7B-B06C8DE874CA%7D] ] The post was later sold to Pierre Bottineau. 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 water power of the Elk River and built a dam and a sawmill. His dam created the first lobe of Lake Orono (called the Mill Pond), which extended from the present day dam to Orono Cemetery Point. In 1855 the area by the dam was platted and the town of Orono (know as Upper Town) was created.

In the last 18 years, the population of the city had increased from just over 11,000 in 1990 to over 20,000 today. The city council has planned for a city with about 35,000 in the next 20-30 years.

Downtown Revitalization Project

The Elk River city council finalized their plans for several major construction projects in 2005, two of which will be known as The Bluffs of Elk River and Jackson Place. The stated goals of the Downtown Revitalization Project are to enhance downtown Elk River's role as a residential, commercial and retail area, as well as to revitalize commercial interest in the downtown area. [http://www.ci.elk-river.mn.us/vertical/Sites/%7B18493844-E9A7-4BC5-BA1B-5149BB77ECC4%7D/uploads/%7BA37587C7-142E-4679-BBC6-1E410136EBC3%7D.PDF] Construction was completed in 2007. [ [http://www.metroplains.com/portfolio/list/state:MN MetroPlains :: Portfolio :: Property List ] ]

Recently, work on the River's Edge Commons Park located within the downtown section of Elk River has been completed, and to celebrate the park's opening the park played host to various local musicians and bands. [http://www.ci.elk-river.mn.us/vertical/Sites/%7B18493844-E9A7-4BC5-BA1B-5149BB77ECC4%7D/uploads/%7B425903A5-7F94-4C1F-842E-166DE8E1BF3F%7D.PDF]

Transportation

The city of Elk River is a busy city when it comes to traffic, particularly on weekends in the summer and fall as vacationers and hunters head north to their cabins.

U.S. Highway 10 and U.S. Highway 169 have their northwest juncture in Elk River, with the two highways concurrent for 12 miles until Anoka to the southeast. U.S. 10 continues northwesterly toward St. Cloud, and U.S. 169 continues due north toward Mille Lacs Lake from Elk River.

Minnesota Highway 101 has its northern terminus at the U.S. 10 / U.S. 169 split in Elk River, and is a major route connecting these highways with Interstate Highway 94, seven miles to the south.

Many residents of Elk River commute to the Twin Cities daily for work. For commuters who do not wish to make the 40-mile drive, a coach bus service called the NorthStar Commuter Coach runs from Elk River to Minneapolis during the morning rush hours and back in the evening. The coach also stops in Coon Rapids. Fares for the NorthStar Coach are $4.50 each direction between Elk River and Minneapolis and $2.75 between Coon Rapids and Minneapolis. Elk River will have one of the first six stations of the Northstar Corridor commuter rail line connecting the northwest suburbs and downtown Minneapolis; the line is set for completion in 2009.Paul Levy, [http://www.startribune.com/local/north/12389261.html Northstar set to roll, but how far?] , "Star Tribune", December 11, 2007.]

For travel within the city, there is an on-demand bus service available called 'RiverRider.'

Education

Elk River is served by two 9^th to 12^th high schools, Elk River High School and Spectrum High School, and two middle schools, Salk Middle School and VandenBerge Middle School, both of which serve 6^th to 8^th grades. [http://www.elkriver.k12.mn.us/schools/schools.html Elk River Area School District 728: Schools ] ] Lincoln Elementary, Parker Elementary, Meadowvale Elementary and Twin Lakes Elementary serve kindergarten to fifth grade.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.8 square miles (113.5 km²), of which, 42.7 square miles (110.5 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.0 km²) of it (2.67%) is water. The city's latitude and longitude are 45.313601° N and 93.5814° W.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 16,447 people, 5,664 households, and 4,400 families residing in the city. Recent estimates show the population at 21,329 as of 2005. The population density was 385.5 people per square mile (148.9/km²). There were 5,782 housing units at an average density of 135.5/sq mi (52.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.18% White, 0.44% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population. 39.0% were of German, 14.7% Norwegian, 7.7% Swedish and 6.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,664 households out of which 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $58,114, and the median income for a family was $65,471. Males had a median income of $43,230 versus $30,023 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,808. About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

The median house/condo value in 2005 was estimated to be $242,400 (67% increase from 2000).

Notable current and former residents

*Dan Hinote - Professional hockey player for the St. Louis Blues (NHL)
*Paul Martin - Professional hockey player for the New Jersey Devils (NHL)
*Joel Otto - Former Professional hockey player for the Calgary Flames And Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
*Tristan King - Professional hockey player for the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

References

External links

* [http://www.ci.elk-river.mn.us/ City of Elk River]
* [http://www.elkriverchamber.org/ Elk River Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/ohkf/ Minnesota Historical Society: Oliver H. Kelley Farm]
* [http://www.friendsofthekelleyfarm.org/ Friends of the Kelley Farm]
* [http://elkriver.k12.mn.us/ Elk River Area School District]
* [http://www.ci.elk-river.mn.us/vertical/Sites/%7B18493844-E9A7-4BC5-BA1B-5149BB77ECC4%7D/uploads/%7BA37587C7-142E-4679-BBC6-1E410136EBC3%7D.PDF Downtown Revitalization Project PDF]