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 Twin Cities Metro: Forest Lake Area ©copyright '98, '99 by www.mnrealty.com |
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Twin Cities Metro: Forest Lake Area ©copyright '98, '99 by www.mnrealty.com |
 Rick Schilling |
 Dan Schultz |
 Team Dewall |
 Jim Hermes |
Forest Lake was founded in 1855 by Louis Scheil, A German immigrant. Other pioneers followed and built schools and shops. The railroad brought even more settlers, and eventually Forest Lake caught the attention of "summer visitors." With plenty of hotels, resorts and related businesses, in addition to the attraction of the lakes, Forest Lake became known as a resort town.
Present day Forest Lake offer residents plenty of progressive, modern features such as outstanding medical services, new business developments and a strong sense of community. Residents reap the benefits of living in a community with plenty of small town charm and big city conveniences.
The gazebo at Lakeside Memorial Park was constructed in 1997 by the Forest Lake Parkboard, and "Friends of the Park." The gazebo is used for arts, cultural and family events
The lake is a large natural attraction, and is the setting for fishing, ice fishing, swimming, boat races, sailing and water skiing. Forest Lake is a sports lover's delight, with several park facilities offering ice skating rinks, tennis courts, hiking and jogging trails and more.
District 831 serves an area of over 240 square miles including the communities of Forest Lake, Scandia, Wyoming, Lino Lakes, Columbus Townships, Linwood Township, and parts of Marine on St. Croix, Hugo, Stacy, Ham Lake and Bethel. Almost 8000 K through 12 students are enrolled in the district's seven elementary schools, two junior highs, senior high and alternative learning center.
The city of Wyoming takes its name from the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, home of the first settlers that came to present day Wyoming, MN in 1855. Wyoming was incorporated as a village in 1902 and became a city in 1974.
The development of the railroads was a key part in the initial growth of Wyoming. When the I-35 freeway was constructed, Wyoming was propelled into a boom period during the 1960s and '70s. It became a bedroom community for commuters who worked in the Twin Cities, and the industrial park along the freeway also flourished. This growth has continued steadily ever since.
Wyoming is also served by District 831. As one of the area's largest employers, District 831 employs over 1,000 people, including administrators, teachers, clerical staff, aides, custodians, cooks, bus drivers, mechanics and other personnel. Of the approximately 500 teachers on staff, 57 percent have earned masters degrees.
The town of Hugo was founded by mostly French Canadian settlers who were drawn to the area after the arrival of the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad (later the Northern Pacific). Today, Hugo offers a convenient commute to the Twin Cities via 35. The city is working to preserve open space despite the recent housing boom, and half of the area remains agricultural. Students in Hugo are served by the Stillwater, White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi and Forest Lake school districts.
Also known as "Little Sweden," Lindstrom is a picturesque, idyllic small town. The area that now makes up the town was originally settled by Swedish immigrants, who found that the woods and water reminded them of their native land.
The small-town flavor of Lindstrom is evident on its main street, which consists of small, local store fronts and restaurants. Located just a short drive north from the Twin Cities, Lindstrom offers a haven from the fast paced metro area.
Located just north of Forest Lake on highway 8 is the small town of Chisago City. The charming main street offers everything from antique stores to restaurants and pubs. Just off the main street you'll find residential neighborhoods offering quiet streets, some homes have spectacular lake views.
Vilhelm Moberg was one of the foremost Swedish authors of the 20th century. His most famous characters, Karl and Kristina, were representative of the over 1.2 million Swedish emigrants that landed on Minnesota's shores between 1846 and 1930. During the summer of 1948 he stayed in Chisago City and explored this area by bicycle. That research helped shape his most famous work, the trilogy of "The Emigrants," "Unto a Good Land," and "The Last Letter Home." In Sweden, thanks to Moberg's literary works, the Chisago Lakes Area is probably the best know area of the United States.
