Andover Coon Rapids 2011-2012 : Page 37

COON RAPIDS HISTORY, Cont. river. The actual construction did not start until 1912. Within one year, a small city had sprung up on the shores of the Mississippi River. Streets were laid out and roughly graded. The City’s population grew to over one thousand with laborers and engineers working on the dam, which was built by the Mississippi Power Company and was operating by 1914. Northern States Power Company ran the dam until 1969 when it was acquired by the Hennepin County Park Board. It serves as Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park today. With the coming of the dam, Anoka Township took on a new name -Coon Creek Rapids which over the years was shortened to Coon Rapids. In July 1948, an election was held in an attempt to incorporate the Township of Anoka as a village. The idea was initially defeated but succeeded in October of 1952. In keeping with the progressive nature of the community, the voters went to the polls in November of 1957 and changed the form of village government to the Council/ Manager plan. Two years later, in June of 1959, the Village of Coon Rapids became the City of Coon Rapids. Since 1959, the population has grown from 14,000 to over 63,500, making Coon Rapids the sixth largest metropolitan suburb. Main Street/CSAH 14 Reconstruction Celebrates Coon Rapids History When designing the Main Street project, the engineer looked at the City’s history and landscape for design clues and inspiration. By incorporating indigenous materials, colors and landscapes into the design solutions, they began to reflect and celebrate the City’s rich history and unique relationship to the region. Brick walls and bridge piers recall the local brick factory where bricks were once mined, fired and shipped all over the region. The custom roadway lights enforce the region’s flat prairie land form with strong horizontal sections holding “prairie style architecture” lamps that enrich the area with muted color and a design inspired from the landscape. Native trees, shrubs and perennials help to provide seasonal color and create a pattern in the landscape that unites the entire roadway. Art placed on the brick walls on both sides of Main Street east of the Highway 10 bridge to Round Lake Boulevard portrays persons and objects that were part of the area, each benefitting from the local natural resources. These include: Prairie -Acknowledges the rich, native prairies which once extended through the area; Teepee -the land along the Mississippi River was a premium hunting ground for Native Americans who lived in teepees covered with tanned animal hides; Voyageurs -Meaning ‘traveler,’ describes the French-Canadians who paddled the canoes of fur traders and explorers along the Mississippi River; Oxcart -Traveling along the Red River Trail extending through Coon Rapids, oxcarts carried goods and laid the foundation for commerce and transportation; Horse and Plow -Recognizes agriculture, one of the earliest European industries in the area. By placing trees and art in the landscape, the intention was to create interest and curiosity in the area and enhance the City’s history. GENERAL INFORMATION Statistics Incorporated as Village ...........................................1952 Incorporated as City ...............................................1959 Form of Government ...........................Council/Manager Population 1960 ................................................15,974 1980 ................................................35,826 1990 ................................................52,978 2000 ...............................................61,607 2010 ................................................61,476 Median Age 33.3 years Median Family Income ......................................$61,379 Median Sale Price of Single Family Homes (2011) ....................................$117,500 Land Area 23 square miles Number of Housing Units (2009 Estimate) ..................................................23,734 Average Daily Maximum Temperature ........................................................ 54.2º Average Daily Minimum Temperature ........................................................ 35.2º Average Precipitation (rain and snow) .................................................... 26.4” Average Snowfall ................................................... 46.9” The City Center is located at: 11155 Robinson Drive Coon Rapids, MN 55433-3761 763-755-2880 Education The entire City is located within Anoka-Hennepin School District #11. For information, call 763-506-1000 . Anoka-Ramsey Community College offers two-year liberal arts degrees that can transfer to four-year institutions; one-and two-year career programs; a wide variety of continuing education courses, and customized training for businesses. Call 763-433-1100 or visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu for details. Electrical Service Xcel Energy ( 1-800-895-4999 ) generally serves the area south of the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks and Thompson Heights 3rd and 4th Additions. Generally the area located north of the Burlington Northern tracks is served by Connexus Energy ( 763-323-2600 ). A few homes near the western City limits are serviced by the City of Anoka. Natural Gas Service The entire City ( 612-372-4664 ). is serviced by CenterPoint Energy Sewer/Water Service Provided by the City. New residents or those who have moved need to contact the Utility Division at 763-767-6438 to update their account. Sewer rate adjustments are available for seniors and the disabled. Community strength… for generations andovermn.gov • coonrapidsmn.gov • MyPrimeGuide.com 37

Coon Rapids General Information

Statistics Incorporated as Village ...........................................1952 Incorporated as City ...............................................1959 Form of Government ...........................Council/Manager Population 1960 ................................................15,974 1980 ................................................35,826 1990 ................................................52,978 2000 ...............................................61,607 2010 ................................................61,476 Median Age 33.3 years Median Family Income ......................................$61,379 Median Sale Price of Single Family Homes (2011) ....................................$117,500 Land Area 23 square miles Number of Housing Units (2009 Estimate) ..................................................23,734 Average Daily Maximum Temperature ........................................................ 54.2º Average Daily Minimum Temperature ........................................................ 35.2º Average Precipitation (rain and snow) .................................................... 26.4” Average Snowfall ................................................... 46.9” The City Center is located at: 11155 Robinson Drive Coon Rapids, MN 55433-3761 763-755-2880 Education The entire City is located within Anoka-Hennepin School District #11. For information, call 763-506-1000. Anoka-Ramsey Community College offers two-year liberal arts degrees that can transfer to four-year institutions; oneand two-year career programs; a wide variety of continuing education courses, and customized training for businesses. Call 763-433-1100 or visit www.AnokaRamsey.edu for details. Electrical Service Xcel Energy (1-800-895-4999) generally serves the area south of the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks and Thompson Heights 3rd and 4th Additions. Generally the area located north of the Burlington Northern tracks is served by Connexus Energy (763-323-2600). A few homes near the western City limits are serviced by the City of Anoka. Natural Gas Service The entire City is serviced by CenterPoint Energy (612-372-4664). Sewer/Water Service Provided by the City. New residents or those who have moved need to contact the Utility Division at 763-767-6438 to update their account. Sewer rate adjustments are available for seniors and the disabled. Cable Television Provided by City franchise and operated by Comcast. Universal PEG service is free of charge for customers wishing to receive only the Public, Educational and Government channels. Call 651-222-3333. Home Improvement Loan Program The City, in cooperation with the Coon Rapids Mortgage Assistance Foundation, has contracted with CCE Financial Resources to administer a loan program for homeowners to maintain, remodel, and improve their home. Loans up to $30,000 are available, with interest and payment schedule dependent upon income. Call 612-335-5884 or visit www.mncee.org to learn more about the program. Recreational Programs Through cooperation with County, State, School District, and many sport-specific youth associations, the City provides a total recreational environment. Visit www.coonrapidsmn.gov for information. Rent Assistance The Housing Assistance Division issues vouchers and performs re-certification eligibility of low and moderate income residents currently receiving Section 8 rent assistance living or moving into the City of Coon Rapids. For information on affordable housing, call the Metro Information Line at 651-602-1880 or access the website, www.housinglink.org. Civic Center Facilities The Civic Center has a large banquet/meeting room with seating for 225, kitchen facilities, garden area, training room, and two conference rooms available for rental. Call the Facilities Coordinator at 763-767-6522 for more information or visit www.coonrapidsmn.gov. Official Newspaper The City’s official newspaper is the Coon Rapids Herald, which is published every Friday. Call 763-421-4444. Coon Rapids Website/E-Mail The City of Coon Rapids’ website provides convenient information on a variety of topics. Users can access employment opportunities, Council agendas, City Code, public notices, current events and announcements, history and statistics, recreation and park information, specific departments, and many other helpful categories. City Council and Planning Commission meetings may be viewed online. Citizens may contact the City via e-mail to ask a question or submit a concern. E-mails are directed to one mailbox and distributed to the appropriate staff person for a response. Citizens may also sign up for e-bulletins to automatically receive Council updates, construction and development reports, employment opportunities, and public safety information.

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