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History · Big Lake

Half of Big Lake’s homes were built after 1975

Most of Big Lake was built recently: 7% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1975. Below: maps from 1954 on.

0on the National Register
7%homes built before 1940
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What stands out about Big Lake’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Big Lake are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Big Lake’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Big Lake’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story so far

Big Lake, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Big Lake yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Big Lake is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Perch Lake Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, United States. Its population was 443 as of the 2010 census. Carlton County Road 25 (Mission Road) and County 7 (Cary Road) are two of the main routes in the community. State Highway 210 (MN 210) and the community of Sawyer are both nearby. Big Lake is located 10 miles west of Cloquet.

Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 443 to 464 (+5%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

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On the map

Big Lake on the map, 1954 to 1969

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Big Lake. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Big Lake on the 1954 USGS mapBig Lake on the 1969 USGS map1954Sawyer sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Big Lake.

Famous people

Famous people close to Big Lake

Nobody well known was born in Big Lake itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Jessica LangeAmerican actress · b. 1949
Barbara PaytonAmerican actress · b. 1927
Karson KuhlmanAmerican ice hockey player · b. 1995
D
Derek PlanteAmerican ice hockey player · b. 1971
C
Corey MillenAmerican ice hockey player · b. 1964
Clarence LarsonScientist · b. 1909

Questions about Big Lake’s history

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.