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History · Crow River

Crow River’s history is
mostly unwritten

The public archives hold no old photos of Crow River. The rest are in attics, shoeboxes and the historical society. Help start the collection.

0old images & papers
0recent photos

The story so far

from Wikipedia & the U.S. Census

Crow River is an unincorporated community in Union Grove Township, Meeker County, Minnesota, United States, near Grove City. The community is located along 520th Avenue near 343rd Street. Meeker County Roads 3 and 25 are also in the immediate area. The Middle Fork of the Crow River flows nearby. At one time, Crow River included a post office, blacksmith, creamery, feed mill, garage, and the Crow River Store which was in operation from 1902 to 1965.

Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 327 to 320 (-2%). Half of its homes were built before 1981.

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Crow River yet — the old photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Intro from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Population and housing: U.S. Census Bureau.

Be one of the first

Start Crow River’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Crow River’s history is told.

0 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Famous people from Crow RiverWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Crow River.Meet them →
By decade

Crow River, decade by decade

Before
2000
No old photos in the archives yetWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
📷 Add from your album
National Register of Historic Places

Nothing in Crow River is on the National Register yet

That’s true of most small towns. It doesn’t mean Crow River has no history, only that no one has written up a nomination. The closest listed place is Christopher Borgerding House in Belgrade, 3.2 miles away.

Crow River and the nearest listed places

Dashed line = Crow River. Tap a dot.
Christopher Borgerding HouseSibley State Park CCC/Rustic Style Historic DistrictUrjans Iverson HouseJohn M. Spicer Summer House and FarmChurch of St. BonifaceChurch of the Sacred Heart (Catholic)

Closest to Crow River

Christopher Borgerding HouseBelgrade · Colonial Revival · Built 19043.2miSibley State Park CCC/Rustic Style Historic DistrictLake Andrew · District10.9miUrjans Iverson HouseGilchrist · Building15.4miJohn M. Spicer Summer House and FarmGreen Lake · Building15.5miChurch of St. BonifaceMelrose · Building16.2mi

How a place gets listed

1Talk to the stateEvery nomination goes through the State Historic Preservation Office. Owners, towns and historical societies can start one.
2Try a local or state list firstMany states keep their own register with a shorter form, a common first step for old barns, halls and schoolhouses.
3Write it upA nomination covers the history, photos and a map. Christopher Borgerding House’s page links to a real one.
Know an old place in Crow River?A mill, a schoolhouse, a cellar hole, a church: add a photo of it to Crow River’s story, or a memory of it.
📷 Add a photo of an old place
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places · photos from Wikimedia Commons

Then & now

When neighbors add old photos, retakes from the same spot appear here side by side.

Stories next door

nearby towns’ history
📜 Belgrade📜 Lake Henry📜 Regal📜 Lake George
The coffee’s on

Where to, neighbor?

You’re in Crow River, MNStearns CountyView boundary

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/15 · 2025-01-01
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