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Situated just south of the center, near the eastern border of Minnesota, the City of Shafer is in Chisago County.

US Highway 8 (Lake Boulevard) runs along the southern border of the city and serves as the main route to and from Shafer.

Bloom Lake is just a couple of mile south of the southwestern border of the city. Franconia Township abuts the eastern portion of the city, and the unincorporated community of Franconia is about three miles east of Shafer, while Taylors Falls, Interstate State Park, and the Saint Croix River are a couple of miles east-northeast of there. Center City is four miles west, and Palmdale is about seven miles to the north.

Shafer was settled largely by Swedish immigrants in the mid-1800s, and originally bore the name of Taylors Falls, which was changed to Shafer in 1873. It was named for Jacob Shafer, who cut hay there as early as 1847. Shafer was a transient who had disappeared from the area by 1849. The settlement was formally founded in 1881, and a post office was opened there that same year. It was incorporated as a village in 1922 and became a village when the Minnesota legislature elevated all of the state's villages to cities in 1975.

Early industries were hay, ginseng, and potatoes. When a rail line was constructed from Taylors Falls to the Twin Cities, Shafer became a thriving little town in the early 1900s, boasting car dealerships, a creamery, feed mill, general store, taverns, and cafes.

Its population grew slowly between 1950 and 1990, decreased slightly between 1990 and 2000, but grew by more than 200% between 2000 and 2010.

This is a guide to Shafer, Minnesota, so websites listed in this category should be related to Shafer. Appropriate topics for this category include sites representing the local government or any other governmental bodies located in Shafer, as well as local churches, schools, museums, businesses, organizations, or individuals.

 

 

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