Small Town Series

Melrose is a town of 3,598 people in western Stearns County along Interstate 94 and Highway 52. The town was named after Melrose, Scotland because the early settlers were Scottish.

South Haven is a small town located in northwestern Wright County along Highway 55 between Kimball and Annandale. The town has a population of 187 and was platted in 1888. South Haven is in southside township and is 2 miles south of Fairhaven which likely contributed to the name of the town.

Cold Spring still has a small town feel and a strong sense of pride despite its growth over the years. Cold Spring is a city in Central Minnesota with a population of 4,025 located southwest of St. Cloud in Stearns County.

Bowlus is a town of 279 people that was settled in the early 1900s, platted in 1907 and became incorporated in 1910. Bowlus has had an operating post office since 1907, a lumberyard, meat market, hair salon, restaurant, gas station, liquor store, boutique, fire department, park with bike trail going through it, Legion, and Catholic Church.

St. Anna is a small town tucked between St. Anna, Holdingford and Albany in Central Minnesota. The town is unincorporated and located along County Roads 9 and 154 in Stearns County.

Popple Creek is small community in Mayhew Lake Township in Benton County located along County Roads 3 and 4. Popple Creek was never incorporated but was settled in the 1890s. To help tell the story about Popple Creek I was joined by Benton County Historical Society Executive Director Mary Ostby and longtime Popple Creek area resident Lancy Studanski.

Popple Creek is an unincorporated community in Mayhew Lake Township in Benton County located along County Roads 3 and 4 near St. Cloud and Gilman.

WJON's small town series brings us to Duelm in St. George township in Benton County. Duelm is an unincorporated community located along Duelm Road near 110th Avenue. Stoney Brook flows through the community.

Richmond is a town of 1,420 people but the town wasn't always known as Richmond. This is the story of Richmond in Central Minnesota located southwest of St. Cloud along Highway 23.

In1856 in Central Minnesota a fort was built north of what is now the town of Kimball. That fort and settlement was called Maine Prairie. In 1886 the railroad went through a location south of Maine Prairie where present day Kimball is now located.

Foley is a town of 2,603 people located where Highways 23 and 25 intersect in Benton County. Mary Ostby is the Executive Director of the Benton County Historical Society. She and Mayor Elect Jack Brosh joined me on WJON to talk about Foley.

St. Martin is a town in Central Stearns County along county roads 12 and 195. The town has a population of 343. St. Martin was planned in 1866 and has been an incorporated city since 1891.