Chisago Lakes Area
Welcome to the Chisago Lakes
area, five historical
communities united by a strong
school district with a tradition
of excellence. Each community
offers both a unique history and
a contemporary charm all its
own.
Early Swedish
immigrants were drawn to this
area by the beautiful St. Croix
River, rolling hills, many
lakes, wooded areas and pastoral
fields.
Today, the
Chisago Lakes area is a vibrant
corridor to year-round
recreation with a charming
family atmosphere. Just 35
miles from the bustling cities
of Minneapolis & St. Paul, the
Chisago Lakes area is the
growing home to the new
immigrants seeking a great place
to live, work, play and get
involved in the community and
schools.
Chisago County is
growing, from a population of
30,500 in 1990 to more than
41,000 today. And, like the
county, the Chisago Lakes School
District is growing as well.
The 165
square-mile district is home to
nearly 3,600 Pre-K through 12
students and their families.
There are three elementary
schools, one middle school, and
one high school. The district is
proud of its tradition of
excellence in academics, fine
arts, community education and
extracurricular activities.
Chisago
City
Chisago City, known as the
sister city to Algutsboda,
Sweden. Chisago City was home
to Swedish author, Vilhelm
Moberg. During the summer of
1948 he explored and researched
the Lakes Area by bicycle. That
exploration and research shaped
his most famous novels
portraying the migration of
Swedish peasants to the area in
the late 1800s. The City has
dedicated a park and statue in
his honor.
Lindstrom
Lindstrom, the largest city in
the Chisago Lakes area, known as
the sister city to Tingsryd,
Sweden. The fictitious
characters from Vilhelm Mobergs
novels, Karl Oskar and his wife,
Kristina are central to the
city’s celebrations. A statue
of them stands in Lindstrom to
symbolize the Swedish peasants
who settled here.
Center
City
Center City, known as the sister
city to Hassela, Sweden. This
city is the oldest continuously
settled Swedish community in
Minnesota. Located here is the
Chisago Lakes Lutheran Church.
Chisago Lakes Lutheran is the
first Swedish settled church in
the area, portions of the movie
“Grumpy Old Men” was filmed
here. The church as well as 18
homes along Summit Avenue are
listed as a National Historic
District.
Shafer
Shafer, known as the sister city
to Nobbele, Sweden. Shafer is a
farming community and was once a
potato hub. Shafer is a city in
transition from rural to urban,
and was noted as Minnesota’s
fifth fastest growing city in
1990. Throughout the year,
events are held in a “town
square” kind of atmosphere.
Taylors
Falls
Taylors Falls, home to the third
elementary in the district.
Taylor Falls, has no sister city
in Sweden, but has so much
more. The beautiful St. Croix,
nationally designated as a wild
and scenic river, has drawn
visitors to Taylors Falls for
over 150 years. The Angel Hill
District, features the Folsom
house, built in 1855. The
United Methodist Church built in
1861, and the Oldest Schoolhouse
in the state built in 1852.
Taylors falls has
two interstate parks, Minnesota
and Wisconsin as well as the
Wild River state park. Although
“downtown” Taylors Falls is
barely two blocks long, it
offers coffee shops, antique
shops, variety shops and places
to eat, including a ’50 era
drive-in, complete with carhops
in poodle skirts.
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