Learn Crookston
Crookston is an innovative city with many opportunities for growth. With a population around 7000, Crookston is the perfect place to start a business and start a life
Crookston is located in the Red River Valley, one of the world's richest agricultural areas, and its economy is based on agriculture. The area's rich mineral deposits, left behind by the receding glacial Lake Agassiz, make it ideal for growing crops like sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, barley, and sunflowers.
Crookston, Minnesota, has a rich history and a variety of attractions that highlight its cultural and natural heritage. The area's history traces back to the early inhabitants, the Sioux and Ojibwa Indians, with significant change beginning in 1862 when the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad announced plans to extend to the Canadian border, prompting waves of immigration. Non-Indian settlement took hold around 1872, leading to the area’s incorporation in 1879 as "Queen City," later renamed Crookston in honor of Colonel William Crooks, the railroad's chief engineer. The city's early growth was bolstered by the railroad, lumber, and agriculture industries. Today, Crookston offers numerous attractions, including the Polk County Museum, which houses the world's largest ox cart, and the historic Grand Theatre, once the country’s longest continuously running theater. The Red Lake River provides opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, enhancing the community's outdoor offerings. The University of Minnesota campus in Crookston, featuring an agricultural research station, further underscores the region's farming heritage. Other community amenities include a swimming pool, a multi-use sports center, and a newly renovated public library. Additionally, the Polk County Historical Society, located on US Highway 2, showcases the area’s history through a collection of antique tools, farm machinery, and fire-fighting trucks. Crookston City Hall, part of the downtown historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984, adds to the city’s charm. Each August, the community comes together to celebrate Ox Cart Days, a popular week-long event that reflects Crookston's vibrant heritage.
"Crookston is the biggest small town there is in America with 7,700 people. It's a town that has the essentials but with choices. Crookston has a Walmart but it also has a Hugo's. It has a Taco John's but also a Subway. Crookston is in this great limbo of being between a town and a city. But that's what makes it a wonderful place to be. The people here will welcome anybody with open arms. Every single person here has the best manners and will always be open to having a conversation with a complete stranger. I notice these little things versus other places in Minnesota I visit frequently. The secondary school experience that Crookston has to offer is second to none. The community is very active and the town comes to life during its town fair. It's a peaceful town with rarely any news of dangerous events. I wouldn't change anything about this town because where it's at right now is perfect."
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"Very a great town to be in if you love the small town atmosphere. Everyone is super friendly and always willing to help. You have everything you need in town and if you wish Grand Forks is just 30 minutes away."
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"I like the school I'm attending in Crookston. This town has the atmosphere of a small town but also can be looked at as a bigger town with the college. The people are very friendly and are willing to help in anyway possible."