Twin Cities Metro:
Blaine, MN
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This Community profile is sponsored
by Blaine Area Specialists:

Ray Singhal	Judy Van de Walker
Carol Pech

Blaine was first settled in 1862 by an Irish Immigrant named Phillip Laddy (near the current location of Laddie Lake.) Green Chambers, a former slave from Kentucky, became the town's first permanent resident in 1865. In 1877, the town split off from Anoka. Moses Ripley, the fist elected Chairman of the town supervisors, offered the name of Blaine for the town in honor of James G. Blaine, a senator and three-time presidential candidate from Maine, Ripley's home state. By the year 1880, Blaine’s population had reached 128.

Due to the area's sandy soil and abundant wetlands, Blaine was a prime hunting area and not suited to large farms. It's growth was slow until after WWII when it became attractive for affordable suburban housing. Blaine’s population went from 1,694 in 1950 to 20,640 in 1970. Within the last 20 years, excellent highway access to both Minneapolis and St. Paul has helped housing development in all price ranges. By 1997, the population was over 44,000 people. In recent years, the addition of two major sports venues, the national soccer complex and the TPC golf course, has further broadened Blaine's appeal.

The City of Blaine is located in the Twin Cities north metro suburban area. It is about a 15-25 minute drive time from either city center and surrounded by the cities of Spring Lake Park, Moundsview, Lino Lakes, Ham Lake, Andover, and Coon Rapids. Major Highways passing through Blaine include; US Rt.10, MN Hwy.65, MN Hwy.242, and I35W.

Many businesses have been atrracted to to Blaine, such as Aveda Corporation and Dayton Rogers Manufacturing.

Parks & Recreation

City Parks

Blaine has four city parks for residents and visitors. Aquatore Park has 23 acres, including three softball fields and several picnic shelters. With a recently added playground, this park is a great family destination located just northwest of city hall.

Lochness Park covers 90 acres, including a small lake that is stocked yearly with Northern Pike and Bass by the DNR. After hiking on its many trails, relax with family under the picnic shelter or just enjoy the view from Lochness' Hill. The new fishing dock allows you to go after the fish without hauling a lot of gear!

The Blaine Baseball Complex has three baseball diamonds of varying sizes. The lighted football area allows the facility to be used in the evening. From the Baseball Complex, hop on the 2-mile Northwest bikeway and tour Oak Creek Park, Northwood Park, and Jaycee Park.

Soccer players will find fourteen full-size soccer fields and two smaller fields on the 40 acres of the Blaine Soccer Complex! Located on the northern edge of the Anoka County-Blaine airport, this has become the host site of the USA Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament for 12 years along with the National Sports Center.

Ice skating is available at the Fogerty Ice House, a small outdoor hockey complex at Happy Acres Park(in winter), and at the National Sports Center Schwan's Super Rink. There are summer hockey and skating schools and programs.

County Parks

Bunker Hills Regional Park offers areas for horseback riding, golf, archery, camping, picnicking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and a water park. This area is a short drive from Blaine, located in Coon Rapids on Foley Boulevard and Highway 242.

Coon Rapids Regional Park Dam is a place to hike, bike, cross-country ski, picnic, or fish in its 581 acres.

Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park offers modern campgrounds with 39 RV sites with hoook-ups and 40 sites for camping. This park also incorporates Chomonix Golf Course and Wargo Nature Center, as well as a boat launch on Centerville Lake.

Sports and Leisure

The National Sports Center is an Olympic-class training facility located in Blaine. This 132-acre facility incorporates an outdoor 12,000-seat stadium for track and field events, an indoor sports arena, an outdoor 5,000-seat velodrome, 43 regulation size soccer fields, and a 170-bed dormitory with food service and meeting facilities.

The PGA has located a Tournament Players' Club in Blaine. The facilities include a full-service clubhouse, fine dining and a challengin 18-hol golf course.

School Information

Anoka-Hennepin District #11 is the 3rd-largest school district in Minnesota. More than 39,000 students K-12 attend 2 kindergarten centers, 27 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 4 high schools, and 2 alternative secondary schools. The district has been recognized nationally at Andover and McKinley with Minnesota School of Excellence Awards. After elementary, students have many options ranging from basic courses to advance placement or college courses as electives.

Centennial District #12 contains four elementary schools, a junior high, and a senior high. Each school has computer labs, as well as Industrial Technology courses available to secondary school students.

Four elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school service Spring Lake Park, much of Blaine, and part of Fridly through Spring Lake Park #16. With many electives in math and the sciences, District 16's high school students receive some of the highest math and chemistry scores in the state.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College provides learning for all students working toward their associate's degrees. Students are prepared for business and health care careers, as well as many others here. The college is known for its RN nursing program and computer-aided design(CAD) courses. With an average class size of 30-35, students are able to receive instruction on whatever level they need.

Anoka-Hennepin Technical College offers a place for people to prepare for a wide range of careers. Courses range from architectural to health care to automo

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Links

City of Blaine
Anoka-Hennepin District #11
Centennial District #12
Spring Lake Park #16
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Anoka-Hennepin Technical College

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