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• • • Anoka County Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan As early as 1850, fur traders began to settle on the Rum River in the area now known as Ramsey. As more settlers came into the area, this thriving community was given the name Anoka. The name originated from the Indian language, meaning "on both sides." In 1856, Sherburne County was detached from Benton County. That territory, lying east of Sherburne County and west of the Rum River, was also detached to become a part of Ramsey County. By an act of the legislature, Anoka County was formed from Ramsey County on May 23, 1857. The original eight townships included: Anoka, Watertown (Ramsey), Round Lake (Andover), Bethel, Columbus, St. Francis, Oak Grove and Centerville. The original boundaries of Anoka County were the same as today except for a small portion of the southeastern tip of the county along the Mississippi River at the south. This strip was a tiny county created from Ramsey County the same day Anoka County was created. This tiny county was given the name of Manomin and occupied only about one -third of a congressional township. It functioned as an organized county until abolished and attached to Anoka County by constitutional amendment November 2, 1869. As an organized township of Anoka County, Manomin kept this name until it was changed to Fridley in 1879. Anoka County, located minutes from the Twin Cities on the banks of the great Mississippi River, is one of the fastest growing counties in Minnesota. Here you'll find a unique blend of urban amenities in a friendly, small town atmosphere where neighbors still know each other. With award- winning schools, two major hospitals, world -class recreational facilities, and two post - secondary educational institutions, it's easy to see why so many people are choosing to live and work in Anoka County. In addition to the Mississippi and Rum Rivers, there are 125 lakes and 20 county or regional parks in Anoka County. Anoka County, the fourth most populous county in Minnesota, is part of the Twin Cities Metropolitan region. City of Andover Andover is located 20 miles north of Minneapolis at Latitude 45.23 N and Longitude -93.36 W, has a land area of 34.1 square miles at an elevation of 891 feet. Andover was first organized in 1857 as "Round Lake Township." In 1860 the name was changed to "Grow Township" in honor of Senator Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania. At that time, the population was 330 and included the geographical area we know today as Ham Lake. Ham Lake was considered a part of Grow Township until 1871, In 1972, the Grow Township Board of Supervisors recognized that the town was growing at a rapid rate and felt a village form of government would provide better services to the community. The Board supervisors voted in favor of proceeding with the incorporation process. A new name for the "Andover Village" was chosen because the name Andover had historical interest. The historical interest and name, we believe, came from the Andover "train myth." The myth states that a train tipped over in a swamp, and an eyewitness, relaying the incident, said it "went over and over," thereby naming the city "Andover." However, research reveals that the name Andover first appeared in an article dated March 14, 1899 in the Anoka County Union Newspaper - before train tracks were ever built in the city. The article stated that the Eastern Minnesota line of the Great Northern Railway was in the process of constructing railroad tracks from the Coon Creek Cut -off to the North. The railway announced that new railroad stations with mathematical precision were to be located five miles apart from each other. The new stations