Knife River, Minnesota

Knife River is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Minnesota, United States; located on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Knife River, Minnesota
Knife River is located in Minnesota
Knife River
Knife River
Location in Minnesota
Knife River is located in the United States
Knife River
Knife River
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 46°56′58″N 91°46′45″W / 46.94944°N 91.77917°W / 46.94944; -91.77917
CountryUnited States
StateMinnesota
CountyLake
Area
 • Total
0.69 sq mi (1.79 km2)
 • Land0.67 sq mi (1.73 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation
600 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
212
 • Density318.32/sq mi (122.83/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
55609
Area code218
GNIS feature ID646206[2]

The community is located between Duluth and Two Harbors on the North Shore Scenic Drive (County 61), at the mouth of the Knife River, from which it gets its name.

Knife River is located 8 miles southwest of the city of Two Harbors. The boundary line between Lake and Saint Louis counties is nearby.

Knife River is located within Lake No. 2 Unorganized Territory of Lake County.

History

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The community of Knife River was originally established in 1856 as Buchanan, located on the west side of the Knife River.[3] A separate community of Mellie, located on the east side of the river was platted in 1899 following the building of the Alger–Smith Lumber Company's railroad in 1898; Mellie changed its name to Knife River in 1903. The two communities incorporated themselves as the village of Knife River on October 2, 1909; but since have returned to being an unincorporated community.

The SS Benjamin Noble foundered off Knife River in April 1914, with the loss of all hands.[4][5]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1910491
2020212
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "Knife River, Minnesota". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 478.
  4. ^ "Mystery ship found". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  5. ^ "Benjamin Noble (shipwreck)". National Park Service. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  6. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Archived from the original on May 7, 2015.