Becker is a town with a population of 4,877 located 46 miles northwest of Minneapolis and 19 miles southeast of St. Cloud along Highway 10. Becker is home to the Sherburne County Generating Station (Sherco) which accounts for 77% of the city's tax base.
Dassel is a town of 1,472 located in eastern Meeker County along Highways 15 and 12. Dassel was plotted in 1869 and named for railroad official Bernard Dassel.
Big Lake is a city of 11,686 located in Sherburne County along Highway 10 just east of Becker and west of Elk River. Big Lake was originally called Humboldt until 1867. It features two prominent lakes with Big Lake and Mitchell Lake in the city limits.
Waite Park is a town of 8,341 people located adjacent to St. Cloud in Central Minnesota. Waite Park was named for Henry Chester Waite who was a farm owner and State Representative. A post office was established in Waite Park in 1897.
Annandale has been dubbed "the Heart of the Lakes" because they have 26 lakes within a 10-mile radius. The community has a population of 3,228 and is located along highways 24 and 55 in Wright County in Central Minnesota.