The city of Saint Francis, Minnesota is largely in northwestern Anoka County, with small portion extending into Isanti County.
The city is elongated, about twelve miles long and two miles wide.
The Rum River winds through the eastern region of the city, and Seelye Brook passes through further to the west. Saint Francis includes several small lakes and ponds, particularly in the less populated western region of the city.
Parks are situated mostly along, or in the area of the river. These include Degardner Park, Deer Creek 1st Park, Deer Creek 2nd Park, Dellwood River Park, Edgewild Park, Hidden Ponds Park, Highland Woods Park, Royal Oaks Park, Smith Lake Park, Rum River North County Park, Rum River Woods Park, Saint Francis Community Park, Stonehouse Park, Woodbury Park, and a small portion of Wickstrom Forest Park A portion of Ponds Golf Course is also in Saint Francis.
Saint Francis is abutted by the cities of Bethel, East Bethel, Elk River, Oak Grove, and Nowthen. Zimmerman and the unincorporated community of Crown are nearby, and Minneapolis is about thirty-five miles to the south.
Minnesota State Highway 47 is the main route through the city.
The area was settled around 1855, when Dwight Woodbury bought a large tract of land to build a dam to support a grist mill and saw mill. That same year, he built the first home in the region, which later served as a hotel. George Armsby and E. Fowler settled the region around the same time. In 1856, J.P. Austin and W.P. Clark came with their families.
Organized in 1857, St. Francis was named for an earlier name for the river, which had been named the Saint Francis River by Father Louis Hennepin in 1680. Prior to its incorporation as a village. Saint Francis was known as Old Jonathan, Saint Jonathan, and Otona.
Woodbury built a larger mill in the 1880s, known as the Saint Francis Flour Milling Company. John Quist, who came in 1874, was the miller. The mill burned in 1933, and the dam was also destroyed.
Other early businesses include a blacksmith shop owned by Silas W. Clements and Bud Sawyer, a drug store operated by Goodridge and Jennings, and a meat market established by Martin and Andrew Mitchell. H.T. Miller came to manufacture wagons and sleighs in 1875, and Pelutiar McClure opened a general store in 1879. Blanchette's Sample Room Beer Parlour opened for business in the early 1890s. It later became an ice cream parlour.
The first doctor to open a practice in Saint Francis was Dr. Marshall.
Before a bridge was built over the dam in 1864, the Saint Francis Ferry operated on a cable. When the bridge was destroyed in a flood, a new dam was built in 1880, and the bridge was moved slightly north of the dam.
In the 1890s, a starch factory and a canning factory were established, although the canning factory was open for only about four years.
The first schools in the community were held in homes but, by 1880, there were two organized school districts serving village students in grades K-8, while those attending high school did so in Anoka or other neighboring cities. In 1911, the school districts consolidated. A new school was built in 1914.
Saint Francis was incorporated as a city in 1962.
Recommended Resources
First Baptist Church of St. Francis
Originally organized as Oak Grove Baptist Church in 1864, the independent Baptist congregation assumed its current name when it moved its building to Saint Francis in 1893. Its purpose, commitment, core values, and doctrine are outlined, along with a history of the church, organizational structure, administrative contacts, and office hours. Its ministries to various age groups, and other programs, weekly schedules, and a calendar of events are included.
http://www.fbcsaintfrancis.com/
Post 622 is a member organization or club of the American Legion, a war veterans organization. Meeting at its facilities on Bridge Street NW in Saint Francis, Minnesota, the club operates a bar and lounge. Club hours, an overview of the facilities, a menu, and its charitable gambling activities are highlighted, along with a district and post calendar. Its location, hours, officers, and sponsors are acknowledged.
http://www.legionpost622.org/
Featuring several bowling lanes, lounge, family restaurant, a live DJ, karaoke, and other forms of entertainment, such as darts, volleyball, horseshoes, and pool. Patriot Lanes can be found on Bridge Street NW in Saint Francis, Minnesota. Its hours of operation, Happy Hour schedules, menu, and special offers, as well as league information, open play, and online registration, announcements, and contacts.
https://www.patriotlanesbarandgrill.com/
Saint Francis Area Chamber of Commerce
Made up of businesses in the Saint Francis, Minnesota area, the Chamber offers networking opportunities, seminars, and business referrals, as well as participating in various community events and activities. It site offers an introduction to the Saint Francis community, its Pioneer Days celebration, and a member directory, as well as news and events, office hours, and contacts. Promotional items may be purchased online.
https://www.stfrancischamber.org/
Saint Francis Fastpitch Association
Offering opportunities for Saint Francis, Minnesota girls to learn and to compete in fast pitch softball, the SFFA is a volunteer organization. Its facilities, organizational structure, board meeting schedules, and needs are highlighted, along with registration costs and schedules, age-specific team information, clinics, playing fields, batting cage schedules, and a player-parent code of conduct are included.
https://www.sffastpitch.org/
The official municipal website for the city includes a schedule of city council meetings, agendas, and minutes, as well as its parks and recreational programs and facilities, its wildlife management areas, and online bill pay. A directory of administrative and departmental personnel is put forth, and a guide to local schools, businesses, and municipal services is put forth, along with its code of ordinances, business license data, and projects.
https://www.stfrancismn.org/
Headquartered in Saint Francis, Minnesota, the PK-12th-grade public school district serves Saint Francis, as well as the communities of Athens Township, Andover, Bethel, East Bethel, Linwood Township, Nowthen, Oak Grove, and Stanford Township. Its school campuses are highlighted, with locations and schedules, as well as district departments, a list of school board members, and district meetings.
https://www.stfrancis.k12.mn.us/
Founded in 1976, SFCS was begun by First Baptist Church, and is a member of the Minnesota Association of Christian Schools and the American Association of Christian Schools. Offering a K-12th grade curriculum that includes reading, math, English, history, science, and Bible, with art, music, choir, physical education, and dramatic products for elementary and high school students, with ACT prep courses, journalism, CPR training, and other programs introduced in high school.
http://www.sfcspatriots.org/
Trinity Lutheran Church and School
Affiliated with the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, the congregation began in the early 1960s. A history of the Saint Francis, Minnesota church is presented, including its buildings, with an overview of its beliefs, an introduction to its pastor and associate pastor, administrative contacts, office hours, and announcements. Weekly schedules and a calendar of upcoming activities and events are included.
http://www.trinitysf.org/
