Elk River (Minnesota)

Sherburne County

27-18674

Elk River is a city and the administrative center ( county seat ) of Sherburne County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. In 2010 there lived 22 974 inhabitants.

Geography

Elk River is located at 45 ° 19'2 " north latitude and 93 ° 34'52 " west longitude. The river of the same name, Elk River flows into the Mississippi River. At a distance of around 50 kilometers to the center of Minneapolis located in a south-easterly direction. The Interstate 94 highway runs about ten kilometers south-west past the town.

History

In 1805, Zebulon Pike saw large herds of elk (Cervus canadensis ) (English: " Elk " ) in the area and called place and river therefore " Elk River". 1846, a small trade hub ( Trading Post ) was established and the city grew slowly. Already in 1851 the potential of hydropower in the rivers has been recognized, and there was a small dam in nearby Orono and built a sawmill. End of the 19th century agriculture largely replaced the forestry and grain mills were now being built. Around the year 1872 served around the newly created railway line the existing transport routes on the rivers. The Orono Dam was destroyed by an ice storm in 1912, but in 1915 a new, larger dam was put into operation, which was used to generate electricity and Elk River supplied with electricity. More fired with oil or gas power plants followed.

1964, the nuclear power plant operating in Elk River. In the 1970s, the reactor was torn down and the power plant modified so that today only waste ( refuse- derived fuel ) to be burned from the area. Due to the variety of different processes for energy the city is referred to by the nickname " Energy City " or the words " Powered By Nature ".

Elk River steadily growing because of its proximity to the city of Minneapolis, its industry and its attractive location at 44 parks.

Demographic data

In 2010, a population of 22 947 individuals was determined, which represents an increase of 39.7 % over 2000. The average age of residents in 2010 was 34.9 years, which was significantly below the average for the state of Minnesota, which was 43.1 years.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Joel Otto, born 1961, former American ice hockey player
• Nate Prosser, born 1986, American ice hockey player