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Anoka County 2019 Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan 35 grew to over one thousand with laborers and engineers working on the dam. The dam was built by the Mississippi Power Company and was operating by 1914. Northern States Power Company ran the dam until 1969. The Hennepin County Park Board acquired property and it serves as Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park today. With the dam, Anoka Township took on a new name - Coon Creek Rapids that over the years was shortened to Coon Rapids. In July 1948, an election was held in an attempt to incorporate the Township of Anoka as a village. The idea was initially defeated but eventually passed successfully in October of 1952. In keeping with the progressive nature of the community, the voters went to the polls in November of 1957 and changed the form of village government to the Council/Manager plan. Two years later, in June of 1959, the Village of Coon Rapids became the City of Coon Rapids. The city is predominantly a residential community, with some commercial shopping districts and light industry. It is accessible by three major highways and two rail lines. City of East Bethel The City of East Bethel is a rural community that is known as the Northern Gateway to the Twin Cities. The city is located at the northern edge of Anoka County and the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area at Latitude 45.33 N and Longitude 93.21 W, with an elevation of 902 feet. The north side of the city is bordered by Athens Township in Isanti County. On its remaining three sides, it is surrounded by other Anoka County Communities. Linwood Township and a small portion of the City of Columbus border it on the east. The City of Ham Lake borders it on the south. On the west it is bordered by the cities of Oak Grove, St. Francis, and Bethel. East Bethel is approximately 25 miles directly north of the City of Minneapolis. Geographically, the City of East Bethel is one of the largest cities in Minnesota encompassing approximately 48 square miles. The landscape of the community is a gentle undulating plain with vast acres of lakes, parks, open space, and wetlands. This natural environment is often noted as the most important feature and attraction to residents of the community. The City of East Bethel was originally home to the Chippewa Nation. Europeans first settled the area in the 1850s. Settlers originated primarily from Sweden, Norway, England, Ireland, and New Brunswick. Bethel Township was organized in 1858, the same year that Minnesota became a state. The township included all of what is now Linwood Township until 1871, when Linwood Township was organized. The unusually large size of the township originated with lobbying efforts of early Minnesota settlers. Early roads followed native trails or paths. Desiring a better and more direct route to the major market destination of Minneapolis, local residents of Bethel worked with the residents of other townships to the south to obtain a real road. Central Avenue was created in 1900-1901. It later became State Highway 65. This road was graded in 1923-24, blacktopped in 1931, widened in 1951, paved in 1952, and became a divided highway in 1969-70. East Bethel started the process to become a village on May 8, 1957. In a township election, voters approved the change to a village by 232 to 161, but four residents took the matter to court and the incorporation was declared invalid. The matter came before the 1956 Minnesota Legislature. Only one legislator voted against the bill to allow East Bethel to incorporate as a Village. East Bethel became a legal municipality by action of their Town Council on April 27, 1959. The population at the time was 1,286. Some of the most interesting history of East Bethel involves gangster activity. The Ma Barker gang lived in a house near Cedar Creek on Highway 65 for some time. They left Bethel