Schuler Plumbing is Proud to Offer Residential and Commercial Plumbing Services to the City of Elk River.
Elk River MN Community Profile
Schuler Plumbing LLC is proud to offer its plumbing services to the good people of Elk River MN. We thought you might like to know a bit more about this remarkable and vibrant community.
History
Elk River is located in Sherburne County, Minnesota approximately 34 miles northwest of Minneapolis. It is situated at the meeting of the Mississippi and Elk Rivers. The city has been dubbed as the “Energy City” since 1997 when the Minnesota Environmental initiative selected it from 30 other cities vying for the title.
River Power
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 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 (known as Upper Town) was created.
In the latter half of the 19th century, agriculture replaced lumber as the base of Elk River’s economy. Grist mills and a starch factory, which took advantage of the potato fields to the west, were built.
The Orono-Elk River area continued to grow until by 1860 it had reached a population of 723 people. These early settlers typically came from New England. Elk River’s population continued to grow following a slow period caused by the civil war. The majority of people moving to Elk River by that time were from Northern Europe.
By 1870, Elk River swelled to a population of 2,050 and became the county seat in 1872. Around this same time, the railroads replaced the rivers as the main focus of transportation and the Lower Town (the present day historic downtown area) replaced Upper Town as the focus of commerce.
The Orono Dam was destroyed by an ice storm in 1912, but hydropower gave a new incentive to dam the Elk River in 1915. This new dam created the four lobes of Lake Orono as we know it today. In 1916, the Village of Elk River received electricity for the first time. The entire township of Elk River would not get electricity until after World War II.
In 1974, the village of Elk River changed to the City of Elk River by 1978 the township was consolidated with the city to establish one unit known as the City of Elk River today.
Energy City
Energy plays a major role in the life of Elk River residents. The first rural nuclear powered plant went online in 1960 as Great River Energy’s (GRE) site in Elk River. By the 1980s, the plant was converted to burn refuse-derived fuel. This innovative method helped the city to become popularly known today as “Energy City.” By the 1990s, Elk River and Sherburne County were considered as two of the fastest growing corridors in the state and in the country. This population growth and the area’s high commuter rate factored into the ultimate approval and implementation of the Northstar Commuter Rail service from Minneapolis to Big Lake, which began service on November 16, 2009.
Demographics
| Statistic | Elk River | Minnesota | National |
| Population | 23,346 | 5,383,661 | 314,107,084 |
| Population density (sq mi) | 552 | 67 | 91 |
| Median age | 35.7 | 37.6 | 37.4 |
| Male/Female ratio | 1.0:1 | 1.0:1 | 1.0:1 |
| Married (15yrs & older) | 65% | 58% | 55% |
| Speak English | 95% | 89% | 79% |
| Speak Spanish | 1% | 4% | 13% |
- The average age in Elk River is 5% lower than Minnesota
- 04% of the population is Caucasian
- 11% of the population is African-American
- 70% of the population is Asian
Cost of Living
| Index | Elk River | Minnesota | National |
| Cost of living index | 106 | 103 | 100 |
| Index | Elk River | Minnesota | National |
| Goods & Services index | 110 | 107 | 100 |
| Groceries index | 105 | 107 | 100 |
| Health care index | 103 | 108 | 100 |
| Housing index | 110 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation index | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities index | 93 | 87 | 100 |
Fast Facts:
- The cost of living in Elk River is 4% higher than the Minnesota average.
- The cost of living in Elk River is 6% higher than the national average.
- The cost of housing in Elk River is 10% higher than the national average.
Schools
Elk River is served by three 9th to 12th high schools, Elk River High School, Ivan Sand Community School and Spectrum High School, and two middle schools, Salk Middle School and Vanden Berge Middle School, both of which serve 6th to 8th grades. Lincoln Elementary, Parker Elementary, Meadowvale Elementary and Twin Lakes Elementary serve kindergarten to 5th grade. Elk River is also served by a private school. Paid for mostly by parishioners, St. Andrew’s Catholic School currently teaches Kindergarten through 5th Grade. Elk River is home to Spectrum High School, a charter school. The main building serves 7-12th grade, with a separate 6th grade campus.
Private Schools
- Solid Rock Christian Academy
- Spectrum High School
- Andrew’s Catholic School
Places of Worship
Here is a list of churches in the city:
- Abiding Savior Lutheran Church
- Burns Evangelical Free Church
- Central Lutheran Church
- Cornerstone Baptist Church
- Elk River United Methodist Church
- Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
- Emmanuel Lutheran Church
- Gateway Church
- Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
- Living Waters Church
- Lord of Glory Lutheran Church
- River of Life
- Saint John Lutheran Church
- Twin Lakes Christian
- Alliance Community Church
Businesses
The top 3 industries in Elk River, MN are retail & wholesale trade, health care, and travel, hospitality & tourism, while permanent jobs are the most searched for type of job. The companies offering the most jobs in Elk River, MN are Care.com, Allina Health, and McDonald’s.
Some of the top employers in the city include:
- Great River Energy
- Sportech Inc.
- Tescom Corporation
- E & O Tool and Plastics
- Cretex Inc.
- Acromix Machinery
- Faribault Foods Beverage Inc.
- Gentra Systems Inc
- Plaisted Co
Restaurants & Nightlife
McCoy’s Pub – this is a wonderful downtown place to enjoy great food and drinks. Has a casual vibe and very friendly atmosphere. Nice place to relax and have a good conversation over a couple of beers.
Boondox – one of the best places to get hamburgers in the city. They offer you what size you want the burger to be and how you would prefer it to be done. Great prices on food and a nice beer selection. Tuesday nights are Bingo so be ready for some fun and excitement with the locals.
The Caddyshack Bar & Grille – Offers super tasty food and delicious drinks. Try out their salads, sandwiches, burgers and appetizers. Must try – Juicy Lucy.
Fun Things to Experience in Elk River Minnesota
There are a number of fun activities to engage in Elk River. Aside from having a small town appeal, its proximity to the Twin Cities and St. Cloud makes Elk River a truly vibrant community. The city has two golf courses, Pinewood Golf Course, a municipal nine-hole course and the Elk River Country Club, an 18-hole course. The Elk River arena offers skating to kids and adults. There is also the Spring and Fall Arts and Crafts Fair, an arena walking track and lots of amenities for seniors too.
There are 44 parks totaling 800 acres of land that residents and visitors can enjoy.
Elk River MN is a truly great place. If you’d like to know more about our plumbing services or water heater repair services here in Elk River, give us a call. We can’t wait to meet you.
