Anoka

Anoka Municipal Water Report Info

The Rum and Mississippi rivers were crucial to Anoka's establishment. Father Lewis Hennepin first explored this area in 1680, with permanent settlers arriving in 1844. Before the 1800s, this territory was Dakota land, later contested by the Ojibwa who pushed the Dakota westward across the Mississippi. The area eventually became neutral ground between these tribes.

The name "Anoka" blends two Native American terms: the Dakota "A-NO-KA-TAN-HAN" (meaning "on both sides of the river") and the Ojibwa "ON-O-KAY" (meaning "working waters"). Joseph Belanger established the first settlement, building a log cabin on the Rum River's east bank near its mouth. Initially a trading post for Native American commerce, it later housed early settlers.

Logging operations began in the late 1840s, with timber floated down the Rum River to the Mississippi for processing at St. Anthony's sawmill. The first dam on the Rum River was constructed in 1853, with sawmill operations beginning in 1854. Other wood-processing facilities quickly developed along the riverbanks, utilizing water power. Milling remained Anoka's primary industry for two decades.

After the sawmill industry declined around 1885, a Board of Trade formed to attract new businesses. In 1886, a potato starch factory was built north of the dam on the Rum River's west side. Before the Red River Valley's development, Anoka served as a potato production hub. The Anoka Shoe Factory also operated during this period, employing 80 workers and producing 800 pairs daily.

The state legislature approved construction of a state hospital in Anoka in 1898, now known as the Anoka-Metro Regional Treatment Center. A ferry established in 1856 connected Anoka with Champlin across the Mississippi, operating for 28 years before being replaced by a steel bridge in 1884. The bridge featured a hand-cranked turntable that created channels for river traffic.

Anoka's development faced significant setbacks from fires during its early years. Five major fires between 1855 and 1884 impeded growth, with the worst destroying 86 downtown buildings from the Rum River to Third Avenue in 1884. The area was eventually rebuilt. In 1939, tragedy struck again when a tornado swept through the east side, destroying homes, a church, and the armory, claiming three lives. The community rebuilt once more.

Anoka is believed to be the first U.S. city to organize a community Halloween celebration. In early 1920, local merchants and residents collaborated to prevent Halloween pranks by hosting a large celebration with free candy and entertainment. Since October 1920, the celebration has continued annually (except for two years during WWII). Anoka proudly calls itself the "Halloween Capital of the World" and hosts numerous October activities including football games, costume contests, block parties, the Grey Ghost 5k run, and parades.