CITIES Baxter One of the fastest growing towns over the past 30 years in Crow Wing County, Baxter reached a population of 7,610 at the 2010 census. Baxter owes its existence partly to the 1920s operation of a former large tie-treating plant, owned by Northern Pacific Railroad. Farming was also an important early industry. Baxter was incorporated on May 25, 1939. The town is named after Luther Baxter, an attorney for the railroad who served in the Minnesota Legislature and as a colonel in the Civil War. Tourism and various service industries have become Baxter’s biggest employers, and numerous housing subdivisions have been developed in the wooded area west of Minnesota Highway 371, which passes through the town. Owing to the amount of unused land in the area, commercial development along the highway itself has also increased in recent years, though it has tended to conform to the pattern of urban sprawl. Brainerd The county seat and largest city in Crow Wing County, Brainerd’s population was 13,592 as of the 2010 census. Brainerd straddles the Mississippi River several miles upstream from its confluence with the Crow Wing River, having been founded as a site for a railroad crossing above said confluence. Brainerd is the principal city of the Brainerd Micropolitan Area, which featured a combined population of 91,067 in 2010. The Brainerd area serves as a major tourist destination for Minnesota, and Baxter is a regional retail center. The city is also known for the Brainerd International Raceway, which hosts races frequently throughout the year and has a national drag racing meet annually in August. Due to the many lakes in the area, Brainerd had become a popular summertime destination for those owning cabins in the area or spending time at the many resorts. Breezy Point The city of Breezy Point, with a population of 2,346 in 2010, is best known for being the home to a resort of the same name on land acquired in 1921 by millionaire publicist Wilfred Hamilton Fawcett, owner of Fawcett Publications, and creator of the famous Whiz Bang Magazine. His personal home, Fawcett House, is on rental to the public.
With the resort community growing as a result of Fawcett’s actions, a village was incorporated in 1939 with the name of Pelican Lakes. It was renamed to Breezy Point in 1969. Crosby Crosby, with a population of 2,386 in 2010, is adjacent to its twin city of Ironton. It is one of the cities in the Cuyuna Iron Range. Crosby was a town that was built for the sole purpose of mining. It was named for George H. Crosby, a businessperson in the mining industry. Crosby was the location of the worst mining disaster in Minnesota, the Milford Mine disaster. On Feb. 5, 1924, a new tunnel was blasted too close to nearby Foley Lake, and water rushed in, killing 41 miners. In 1957, Air Force major Dr. David G. Simons climbed to nearly 102,000 feet above the earth as part of Project Manhigh. The flight, which was launched from the 400-footdeep Portsmouth Mine Pit Lake in Crosby, helped the country take its fledgling steps into space exploration. Crosslake Crosslake, with a population of 2,141 in 2010, is located 30 miles north of Brainerd surrounded by the main routes of several county roads. The city, located on the shores
14 | Crow Wing County Residential Resource Guide
of Cross Lake and the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, was originally a logging community. Crosslake was incorporated in 1959. In 1972, nearby North Cross Lake was absorbed into the city of Crosslake. The community greatly expands during the summer tourism months, and has become popular statewide for its large St. Patrick’s Day parades each March. Cuyuna The city lies within its namesake, the Cuyuna Iron Range, which is a line of iron-bearing hills in central Minnesota. Cuyuna, with a population of 332 in 2010, was one of the mining towns along the range, part of a list including Crosby, Ironton, Trommald, and Manganese. The Cuyuna Range saw its heyday in the first half of the 20th century before mining on the range ceased in 1984. The local economy is now dependent upon tourism from mountain bikers. Cuyuna has been declared to have the best trail systems in Minnesota as of 2014. Cuyuna, which was incorporated in 1910, and the iron ore range on which it is situated, were named by and for Cuyler Adams, and for his dog, Una, who accompanied him in many lone prospecting trips. Cuyler Adams was a prospector, discoverer, and then mine owner of the Cuyuna Range. Cuyuna was platted in November 1908. Deerwood The city, with a population was 532 in 2010, was platted in February of 1892. Deerwood was incorporated in October 1909. Deerwood, which was named for the abundant deer in the nearby woods, is located on the eastern edge of Crow Wing County. The post office at Deerwood was established in 1882. Emily The city, which a population of 813 in 2010, is located on the northeastern edge of Crow Wing County. State Highway 6 and Crow Wing County Road 1 are the main routes in the community. The city of Emily was named for the nearby Emily Lake. It was platted in November 1905. It was incorporated in March 1957. The post office at Emily began in 1900. Fifty Lakes The city, with a population of 387 in 2010, was incorporated in May 1949. The Fifty Lakes Post Office began in 1926. County Road 1 runs east and west through the city while County Road 3 runs north and south.
