This is a guide to the city of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, the county seat of Pennington County.
The Thief River, for which the city is named, is a tributary of the Red Lake River. It flows south, entering the Red Lake River in the northwestern segment of the city. The Red Lake River flows generally westward, entering Thief River Falls at its eastern border, flowing northwest to its confluence with the Thief River, and then turns south-southwest, winding through the center of the city, exiting at its southern border. Until a dam was constructed, there was a falls at the confluence of the two rivers. This represented the limit for which the Red Lake River could be navigated.
Before white settlers came, there was an Ojibwe village near the confluence of the two rivers. The Ojibwe named their village Negiddahmitigwayyung (where the two rivers meet).
The Thief River received its name as a translation of the Ojibwe name for the river, which had been given that name because a group of Sioux renegades had concealed themselves in secret places along the river, supporting themselves through theft.
In 1863, the Moose Dung Indian Reservation was established along the western banks of the Thief River, at its confluence with the Red Lake River, but this reservation was dissolved in 1904.
Before that time, in 1889, the site was divided into three villages, including the Ojibwe village. White settlers on the southeast part of the current city formed a village called Red Lake Rapids, while those on the west bank named their village Thief River Falls, although the Thief River ended north of where the village was platted.
Thief River Falls was settled around a lumber mill in the 1880s, platted as a village in 1887, and became a city in 1896 when it incorporated the former village of Thief River Falls. A post office operated there for a short time in 1884, and was reestablished in 1891 when the Rockstad post office moved there.
At one time, Thief River Falls was the terminus for the Great Northern and Soo Line railroads. Because of the rich soil left by the ancient glacial Lake Agassiz, Thief River Falls became a center for shipping wheat.
By 1903, the city had an electric light plant supplied by its dam on the Red Lake River. It had a water-powered grist mill, four grain elevators, a large lumber mill, eight churches, two elementary schools, and a high school, a volunteer fire department, and several stores and other businesses. Its population was about 3,000.
Today, Thief River Falls has a population approaching 9,000. The city and surrounding area have been home to several industries, including manufacturers of snowmobiles, farm machinery, and various electronics equipment. Arctic Cat, a major manufacturer of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, is headquartered in Thief River Falls, as is Digi-Key, the fourth-largest electronic parts distributor in the country.
The river and railroad still helps to sustain the city's economy through shipping and tourism. The Canadian Pacific Railway and the Minnesota Northern Railroad are currently active in Thief River Falls.
The main routes through the city are US Highway 59 and Minnesota State Highways 1 and 32. The unincorporated community of Dakota Junction is about three miles north of Thief River Falls, and the city of Saint Hilaire is about seven miles south.
The focus of this guide is on the city of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Websites representing the municipal government or Pennington County are suitable for this category, as are those of any churches or other places of worship, schools or colleges, businesses, organizations, or individuals within the city.
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Recommended Resources
Featuring go-karts, mini-golf, and an arcade, the travel stop also includes seventy-five RV campsites, an RV wash facility, 24-hour gas station, deli, travel plaza, and convenience store. Its location, a description of the facilities, services, and the amenities available for RV campers are put forth, along with several photographs, announcements, and contacts. A map shows the location of the facilities.
http://fallsstaynplaytrf.com/
Serving families in the Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls, and Oklee areas of northwestern Minnesota, the funeral home offers pre-planning services, traditional funerals, memorial services, graveside services, military services, monuments and markers, cremation options, tribute videos, and collaboration with other area funeral homes. Its location, office hours, contacts, and obituaries are included.
http://www.johnsonfuneralservice.com/
Grower-owned, the turkey processing facility is located in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, specializing in whole body turkeys packed in private and packer labels for the retail and distributor markets, and also producing a line of bone-in-breast, tray-pack parts, and bulk commodity parts, individually gift-boxed turkeys, free-range turkeys, and antibiotic-free turkeys, sold across the United States and in several foreign countries.
http://www.northernprideinc.com/
Northland Community & Technical College
Part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, NCTC is a community college with campuses in Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks, Minnesota. Its program accreditations, college history, policies and procedures, statistics, and employment opportunities are featured, along with its admissions policies and schedules, fees, financial aid programs, and alumni resources.
http://www.northlandcollege.edu/
The official county website offers online tax payments, information search, GIS mapping, weather forecasts, and announcements. Contacts for county departments and services are posted, commissioners are introduced, and meeting agendas, minutes, and other documents are available, including a district map. Employment opportunities are published to the site, and a private area for employees is included.
http://co.pennington.mn.us/
Saint Bernard’s Catholic School
Enrolling students in PK-5th grade, the Catholic school is located one block west of US Highway 59, just off 1st Street, on Knight Avenue North in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. A map shows the location of the school, its faculty and staff are introduced, and its enrollment policies, a parent-student handbook, school supply list, tuition information, and school calendar are included, and a tuition assistance form may be downloaded.
http://www.stbernardsschooltrf.org/
Thief River Falls Area Food Shelf
Based in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, the non-profit organization works to provide for people in need within Pennington County and the surrounding counties. Its services and policies are outlined, and its food shelf statistics are published. Volunteer opportunities and special events are highlighted, including its food needs, grow-a-row policies, and online contributions. Its board is introduced, and annual reports are posted to the site.
https://www.trffoodshelf.org/
Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is a non-profit membership organization for businesses and other organizations in the Thief River Falls, Minnesota community. Its board of directors, staff, and committees are acknowledged, and the benefits of membership are set forth, with information about starting a business in the Thief River Falls area, a photo gallery, and a business directory. A calendar of events and a profile of the community are included.
http://www.trfchamber.com/
Reporting on the news from Thief River Falls and northwestern Minnesota. Included are local news reports, photographs and articles from the police blotter, reports of local sex offenders and legal issues regarding sex offenses, legal notices and announcements, and obituaries. New items may be submitted for consideration of inclusion, contact information is provided, and a contact form is included.
https://www.thiefriverfallsnews.com/
Thief River Falls Public Schools
Enrolling students in grades K-12 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, the public school district operates its District Service Center, Challenger Elementary School, Franklin Middle School, and Lincoln High School, as well as the Northwest Area Learning Center, each of which are highlighted here, along with a policy manual, academic calendar, and directory of staff, school board members, and the superintendent.
https://www.trf.k12.mn.us/
Thief River Falls Times & Northern Watch
Founded in 1911, the Thief River Falls Times is a weekly news publication which publishes the Northern Watch on Saturdays. Local news and sports stories are published to the site, along with a calendar of events, legal notices, obituaries, weather forecasts and reports, and circulars. Other resources include a photo gallery, contacts, subscription, and advertising information, and a business directory.
https://trftimes.com/
The official municipal website presents a profile and history of the city, announcements, a community calendar, an introduction to the mayor and city council, meeting agendas, minutes, and meeting video, the city code, staff directory, and appointed boards and commissions. Contacts and information about city departments are put forth, along with city services, newsletter, and employment opportunities.
https://www.citytrf.net/
The family owned and operated precision CNC plant has been in operation since 2006. Situated in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, the company’s services, properties, and capabilities are highlighted on its site, with several photos of small and medium-sized parts, knobs, dials, and goose and duck calls produced by the company. Its location, office hours, and contacts are posted to the site.
http://www.vtekmachine.com/