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• • • Anoka County Multi - Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan When the Federal Government surveyed the area in 1847, it found a well - traveled road running through Anoka County. The road was laid out in 1835 for military use and may be the oldest road in this part of the country. In 1843, trade was established from St. Paul to Pembina in the Red River Valley by Norman W. Kittson and the road then became part of the famous Red River Ox Cart Trail. The trail closely followed the present East River Road /Coon Rapids Boulevard alignment. Agriculture was the first industry in the Coon Creek area, with farms ranging in size from 90 to 600 acres. In 1881, Dr. D. C. Dunham organized the first brickyard, which was located near the old City Hall site and was known as the Anoka Pressed Brick and Terra Cotta Company. It represented the first non - agricultural industry in Coon Rapids, A legacy left by that brick industry is still visible today and is known as the "Clay Hole." In the summer of 1898, the Great Northern Development Company proposed to build a dam below the Coon Creek Rapids with a power generating plant on the east side of the river. The actual construction did not start until 1912. Within one year, a small city had sprung up on the shores of the Mississippi River. Streets were laid out and roughly graded. The City's population 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 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 Tight 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 lsanti 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