Sauk Rapids

Sauk Rapids is located in Central Minnesota, along the shores of the mississippi one mile from Saint Cloud. A thriving and prosperous community with over 10,000 residents and still growing.

http://www.ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us/  is the official web site for the city.

 The first home was built by W.H. Wood, in 1851, it was a large mansion. Soon after the mansion was complete the workers turned into settlers. The town was named Sauk Rapids after the rapids just below the mouth of the Sauk River. Then growth began, a general store was built, then a hotel, and a jail.  Sauk Rapids become the Benton County seat until 1856,when it was moved to Watab for 3 years. The "Sauk Rapids Frontiersman" was the first Minnesota news paper outside of St Paul. It started in 1854. In 1876 the first bridge was built, but then destroyed later in 1876. It was rebuilt in 1879. A new bridge is currently being constructed. A flour mill was erected in 1875, then destroyed in 1886. In 1874 Sauk Rapids was the end of the line for the railroad. All the settlers from as far away as the upper Red River Valley brought their produce here to ship it. A six-horse stage coach made bi-weekly trips between St. Cloud and Crow Wing. The first school was built in 1886. Until 1886 Sauk Rapids was one of the most important cities in Minnesota. It stood a good chance of becoming the state capital, but on April 14th at approximately 4:00 PM a cyclone struck the town. Everything in the path of the tornado was demolished. It swept through St Cloud then through the heart of the Sauk Rapids, wiping out all the stores. In Sauk Rapids alone, forty-four were killed and several hundred wounded with a lot of material destruction too. This event was a great set-back for the City, today you can see that Sauk Rapids has recovered and thrived. Sauk Rapids is full of life having ample opportunity for everyone.