COMMUNITIES unincorporated

Belle River

Belle River is 11 miles northeast of Alexandria. Riverdale Township, named for the Long Prairie River, was established in 1870. The name was changed to Belle River Township. St. Nicholas Catholic Church was built in 1871, and a small settlement developed west of the church that became known as Belle River. The church burned in 1915, but in 1916, a new church was completed, serving as the center of the community to this day.

Holmes City

Holmes City is about seven miles southwest of Alexandria. The first settler in the area may have been a trapper/trader named Lewis, who had an Indian trading station in Moe Township. In 1858, three men purchased the trading post and moved it to the current site of Holmes City. Holmes City Township was established in 1866 and named after one of the men, Thomas Holmes of Pennsylvania. It was the third township formed in the county.

Leaf Valley

Leaf Valley lies 15 miles northwest of Alexandria in Leaf Valley Township. The township was established in 1867. The name refers to its location just south of the Leaf Hills, also called the Leaf Mountains, in nearby Otter Tail County. The village formed at a crossroads and at one time included a town hall, general store, feed mill and a large co-op creamery.

Melby

Melby is 25 miles northwest of Alexandria in Lund Township. The first settlement was known as Melby Station and was located on either side of the Great Northern Railroad track and by 1889 was a flourishing community. Due to the dangers of the curving terrain and dangerous railroad crossings, the express office later moved just under a mile west. The businesses and residents soon followed, and Melby formed at that location.

Rose City

Rose City is 18 miles northeast of Alexandria in Spruce Hill Township. The township was organized in 1875. The community was named after the Rose Creamery, but there are conflicting stories as to how the creamery was named. Some say it was for families in the area with similar names. Others believe it was for the wild roses that grew in the area. At one time, the settlement had several businesses, but the population never did take off.

Spruce Center

Spruce Center is 15 miles northeast of Alexandria in Spruce Hill Township. In 1869, a man named Gordon built a dam on Spruce Creek and started a saw mill. Spruce Hill Village quickly grew around it, and by the mid-1880s, it was booming. Later, the Merickel Brothers built a larger dam and mill nearby and started Spruce Center. Spruce Hill Township was organized in 1875. Years later, the Spruce Hill dam went out. It was never replaced, and that village slowly died. Today, it is an historic county park.