Maple Lake is in Wright County, Minnesota. Minnesota Highway 55 serves as the chief route through the city. A portion of the city is situated along the shore of the body of water for which the city was named. Lake Mary and Ramsey Lake are nearby. Along Highway 55, Maple Lake is southeast of Annandale and northwest of Buffalo. Other nearby localities include Albion Center, French Lake, and Silver Creek. Minneapolis is about fifty miles southeast. Early maps of the county show a number of villages, including one labeled “Geneva,” which was located on the northwestern shore of Maple Lake. Settlers came to farm but, in 1857, C.H. Hackett surveyed a plat and named it Geneva. The city never materialized however, because of the 1857 depression. Irish immigrants came to the area in the late 1850s and early 1860s, including Patrick O’Loughlin, who was credited with establishing the village, but it was his son-in-law, James Madigan, who platted Maple Lake in 1886. John Roehrenback opened a dry goods and grocery store on a street that became known as Easy Street, which is now the location of the Maple Lake city hall building. The expansion of the Soo Line Railroad through the city and the opening of a grain elevator in 1889 spurred population growth. Maple Lake was incorporated in 1890. The 1890s brought several new businesses, and the town became a center for wood products. During the 1950s and 1960s, a shift in the town’s economic base took place, as agriculture gave way to manufacturing and service employment, and the town’s population began to become migratory. The city’s population declined during the 1920s and 1930s, but increased considerably in the 1940s and has not experienced a population decline since. Maple Lake Township was organized in 1858, and continues to be a separate political entity, just outside of the city. Topics related to either the city or township are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
Comprised of kindergarten boys, and those in grades one through five, or up to eleven years of age, in Maple Lake, Minnesota, Pack 219 is in the Crow River District of the Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America youth organization. General information about scouting, the Cub Scouts, and the Boy Scouts is offered.
http://www.cspack219.scoutlander.com/
The Maple Lake, Minnesota congregation is a member church of the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, and part of the Augustana District of LCMC. The church’s pastor and staff are introduced, and a photo gallery, church calendar, and worship schedule are posted to the site.
http://www.holycrossmaplelake.org/
Maple Lake is in central Minnesota, and named for the lake upon whose shored it rests. The official city web site offers a history and profile of the community, city maps, and a business directory, as well as administrative contacts, office hours, council agendas and minutes, and public notices and announcements.
http://www.ci.maple-lake.mn.us/
Maple Lake Chamber of Commerce
Made up of business owners, managers and others, the purpose of the non-profit business membership organization is to act as an advocate for business, promote business networking, and provide other benefits to its members. Chamber meeting schedules, minutes, and a directory of members is put forth.
http://www.maplelakechamber.com/
The independent library in Maple Lake, Minnesota is run by volunteers and operates solely from donations. One of only two such libraries in Minnesota, a description of the facilities and its programs is put forth, including its hours of operation, a calendar of fundraisers and other events, and volunteer opportunities.
http://www.maplelakelibrary.com/
Independent School District #0881 serves the Maple Lake, Minnesota community, offering a PK-12th grade curriculum through an elementary school and a high school, both of which are highlighted here, including schedules, staff contacts, district policies, and employment opportunities.
http://www.maplelake.k12.mn.us/
Situated in north-central Wright County, east of the City of Maple Lake and west of the City of Buffalo, the township is mostly residential and agricultural in nature. The official township web site offers a profile of the area, election information, meeting schedules, ordinances, and legal notices.
http://www.maplelaketownship.com/
Organized in the 1860s, the congregation meets at its facilities on Oak Avenue North in Maple Grove, Minnesota. A timeline of the history of the church is given, along with a photo gallery, schedules, an introduction to its leadership, staff contacts and office hours, and an overview of its PK-8th grade school.
http://www.churchofsttimothy.org/
Open every day but Sunday, year-round, the costume shop offers rental costumes to fit every adult, as well as offering face paints, special effects makeup, eyelashes, feather boas, masks, fishnet tights, and accessories. Directions to the store in Maple Lake, Minnesota is given, with rental information and contacts.
http://thecostumeshoppe.us/
The weekly newspaper is published in Maple Lake, Minnesota. Offering local and regional news, sports and community reports, legal notices, editorials, and local events, full access to the online edition requires a subscription, while subscribers to the print edition may have free access to the web edition.
http://www.maplelakemessenger.com/
