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James J. Hill House 2013St. Paul, #1 on this list · Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 3.0
Minnesota rankings · History

Most historic towns in Minnesota

St. Paul ranks first on history among Minnesota’s 273 towns of 2,500+; 36 of the 273 grade A− or better on history nationally.

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. How grades work

#1

St. Paul

Ramsey County · 306,684 people
A+

History grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #259 of 271 in MN

#2

Winona

Winona County · 26,530 people
A+

History grade, better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #230 of 271 in MN

#3

Wabasha

Wabasha County · 2,599 people
A+

History grade, better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #178 of 271 in MN

All 273 towns

History grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 26 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.

273 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.

#TownGradeOverall
1St. PaulRamsey County · 306,684 peopleA+better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #259 of 271
2WinonaWinona County · 26,530 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #230 of 271
3WabashaWabasha County · 2,599 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #178 of 271
4StillwaterWashington County · 19,354 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #67 of 271
5Little FallsMorrison County · 9,277 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #264 of 271
6MinneapolisHennepin County · 430,324 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #262 of 271
7VirginiaSt. Louis County · 8,187 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #244 of 271
8DuluthSt. Louis County · 88,330 peopleAbetter than 86% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #253 of 271
9FairmontMartin County · 10,099 peopleA−better than 85% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #233 of 271
10Cannon FallsGoodhue County · 4,209 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #128 of 271
11ElySt. Louis County · 3,231 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #116 of 271
12MontgomeryLe Sueur County · 3,539 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #15 of 271
13Two HarborsLake County · 3,443 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #137 of 271
14Red WingGoodhue County · 16,805 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #254 of 271
15New UlmBrown County · 13,863 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #78 of 271
16PipestonePipestone County · 4,100 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #166 of 271
17CaledoniaHouston County · 2,768 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #4 of 271
18BayportWashington County · 3,721 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #25 of 271
19EvelethSt. Louis County · 3,381 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #242 of 271
20JacksonJackson County · 3,305 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #76 of 271
21Falcon HeightsRamsey County · 5,071 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #62 of 271
22Albert LeaFreeborn County · 18,217 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #246 of 271
23HibbingSt. Louis County · 15,823 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #121 of 271
24White TownshipSt. Louis County · 3,088 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #219 of 271
25CrookstonPolk County · 7,375 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #240 of 271
26Sleepy EyeBrown County · 3,461 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #105 of 271
27LuverneRock County · 4,984 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #32 of 271
28GlenwoodPope County · 2,631 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #135 of 271
29Blue EarthFaribault County · 3,165 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #169 of 271
30Sauk CentreStearns County · 4,663 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #221 of 271
31SandstonePine County · 2,543 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #267 of 271
32ChisholmSt. Louis County · 4,625 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #237 of 271
33WasecaWaseca County · 9,035 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #213 of 271
34StaplesTodd County · 3,074 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #212 of 271
35FaribaultRice County · 25,040 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #268 of 271
36Long PrairieTodd County · 3,830 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #224 of 271
37CloquetCarlton County · 12,399 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #228 of 271
38St. CharlesWinona County · 4,090 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #29 of 271
39ChatfieldFillmore County · 3,018 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #1 of 271
40AnokaAnoka County · 18,169 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #163 of 271
41MankatoBlue Earth County · 46,529 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #239 of 271
42St. PeterNicollet County · 12,275 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #124 of 271
43MontevideoChippewa County · 5,335 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #111 of 271
44Fergus FallsOtter Tail County · 14,246 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #208 of 271
45Le SueurLe Sueur County · 4,210 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #90 of 271
46BrainerdCrow Wing County · 14,428 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #238 of 271
47NorthfieldRice County · 21,992 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #102 of 271
48OwatonnaSteele County · 26,633 peopleB+better than 70% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #177 of 271
49Le CenterLe Sueur County · 2,524 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #36 of 271
50Lake CityWabasha County · 5,306 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #45 of 271
51WadenaWadena County · 4,341 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #255 of 271
52Redwood FallsRedwood County · 5,040 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #216 of 271
53PrincetonMille Lacs County · 5,480 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #151 of 271
54WillmarKandiyohi County · 22,001 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #256 of 271
55BensonSwift County · 3,444 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #232 of 271
56LitchfieldMeeker County · 6,528 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #176 of 271
57Pelican RapidsOtter Tail County · 2,608 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #126 of 271
58MorrisStevens County · 5,150 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #38 of 271
59AlexandriaDouglas County · 15,045 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #144 of 271
60JordanScott County · 6,988 peopleB+better than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #66 of 271
61Detroit LakesBecker County · 10,019 peopleBbetter than 65% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #243 of 271
62EdinaHennepin County · 54,356 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #79 of 271
63Thief River FallsPennington County · 8,799 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #182 of 271
64South St. PaulDakota County · 20,532 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #206 of 271
65St. CloudStearns County · 72,647 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #269 of 271
66ProctorSt. Louis County · 3,054 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #113 of 271
67CarverCarver County · 7,198 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #40 of 271
68MelroseStearns County · 3,888 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #118 of 271
69AftonWashington County · 2,960 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #162 of 271
70St. JamesWatonwan County · 4,863 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #196 of 271
71New Market TownshipScott County · 3,574 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #164 of 271
72North MankatoNicollet County · 14,165 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #98 of 271
73MoraKanabec County · 3,763 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #192 of 271
74Thomson TownshipCarlton County · 5,624 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #81 of 271
75ScandiaWashington County · 3,979 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #152 of 271
76HastingsDakota County · 22,563 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #69 of 271
77CokatoWright County · 2,793 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #49 of 271
78ZumbrotaGoodhue County · 4,072 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #12 of 271
79Cambridge TownshipIsanti County · 2,592 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #200 of 271
80Granite FallsYellow Medicine County · 2,691 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #193 of 271
81AustinMower County · 26,689 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #250 of 271
82BreckenridgeWilkin County · 3,323 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #205 of 271
83Moose LakeCarlton County · 2,948 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #258 of 271
84MilacaMille Lacs County · 3,041 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #189 of 271
85WorthingtonNobles County · 13,979 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #266 of 271
86HopkinsHennepin County · 19,523 peopleBbetter than 58% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #198 of 271
87RochesterOlmsted County · 124,292 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #188 of 271
88New PragueScott County · 8,238 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #7 of 271
89Rush CityChisago County · 3,300 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #220 of 271
90Monticello TownshipWright County · 3,374 peopleBbetter than 57% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #52 of 271
91May TownshipWashington County · 2,638 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #149 of 271
92RoseauRoseau County · 2,685 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #195 of 271
93Bradford TownshipIsanti County · 3,549 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #215 of 271
94Collegeville TownshipStearns County · 3,262 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #257 of 271
95BloomingtonHennepin County · 89,034 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #225 of 271
96BemidjiBeltrami County · 15,770 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #270 of 271
97St. JosephStearns County · 6,846 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #210 of 271
98PerhamOtter Tail County · 3,746 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #202 of 271
99Pine IslandGoodhue County · 3,911 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #114 of 271
100WindomCottonwood County · 4,817 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #173 of 271
101MinnetristaHennepin County · 9,458 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #35 of 271
102KassonDodge County · 7,350 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #22 of 271
103Oak Park HeightsWashington County · 4,625 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #165 of 271
104MarshallLyon County · 14,171 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #184 of 271
105BarnesvilleClay County · 2,767 peopleB−better than 52% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #2 of 271
106GlencoeMcLeod County · 5,632 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #179 of 271
107RobbinsdaleHennepin County · 14,030 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #241 of 271
108Cold SpringStearns County · 4,329 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #223 of 271
109OronoHennepin County · 8,301 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #56 of 271
110Park RapidsHubbard County · 4,447 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #265 of 271
111Franklin TownshipWright County · 2,939 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #130 of 271
112Belle PlaineScott County · 7,632 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #129 of 271
113East Grand ForksPolk County · 8,906 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #148 of 271
114White Bear LakeRamsey County · 23,392 peopleB−better than 48% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #122 of 271
115FridleyAnoka County · 30,829 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #251 of 271
116International FallsKoochiching County · 5,481 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #207 of 271
117LindstromChisago County · 5,039 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #53 of 271
118MoorheadClay County · 46,533 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #249 of 271
119OsseoHennepin County · 2,534 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #191 of 271
120St. AugustaStearns County · 3,799 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #187 of 271
121HutchinsonMcLeod County · 14,655 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #147 of 271
122AnnandaleWright County · 3,801 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #17 of 271
123RockfordWright County · 4,827 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #46 of 271
124ChaskaCarver County · 30,513 peopleC+better than 44% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #33 of 271
125Chisago Lake TownshipChisago County · 4,958 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #103 of 271
126WaconiaCarver County · 14,113 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #31 of 271
127DelanoWright County · 7,788 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #16 of 271
128St. Louis ParkHennepin County · 50,027 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #180 of 271
129West St. PaulDakota County · 21,950 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #217 of 271
130Sauk RapidsBenton County · 13,768 peopleC+better than 42% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #175 of 271
131Corinna TownshipWright County · 2,596 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #134 of 271
132Pine CityPine County · 3,820 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #252 of 271
133La CrescentHouston County · 5,261 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #71 of 271
134MontroseWright County · 3,986 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #100 of 271
135FarmingtonDakota County · 25,425 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #37 of 271
136CorcoranHennepin County · 9,269 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #44 of 271
137New BrightonRamsey County · 22,159 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #73 of 271
138Grand RapidsItasca County · 11,181 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #211 of 271
139ColumbusAnoka County · 4,356 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #158 of 271
140PaynesvilleStearns County · 2,591 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #27 of 271
141MaplewoodRamsey County · 40,717 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #236 of 271
142WayzataHennepin County · 4,344 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #59 of 271
143Dodge CenterDodge County · 2,951 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #8 of 271
144MonticelloWright County · 15,670 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #63 of 271
145Cascade TownshipOlmsted County · 2,810 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #183 of 271
146White Bear TownshipRamsey County · 10,399 peopleC+better than 37% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #68 of 271
147CambridgeIsanti County · 11,090 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #197 of 271
148FoleyBenton County · 2,650 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #171 of 271
149DilworthClay County · 4,823 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #209 of 271
150Rice LakeSt. Louis County · 4,169 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #214 of 271
151PlainviewWabasha County · 3,482 peopleC+better than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #5 of 271
152RogersHennepin County · 15,606 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #95 of 271
153NowthenAnoka County · 4,630 peopleCbetter than 35% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #55 of 271
154ShakopeeScott County · 49,366 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #150 of 271
155Eden PrairieHennepin County · 63,075 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #54 of 271
156St. MichaelWright County · 22,498 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #26 of 271
157Golden ValleyHennepin County · 21,325 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #155 of 271
158RichfieldHennepin County · 36,593 peopleCbetter than 34% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #203 of 271
159BeckerSherburne County · 5,425 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #39 of 271
160AlbanyStearns County · 2,873 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #14 of 271
161Marion TownshipOlmsted County · 4,111 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #157 of 271
162Elk RiverSherburne County · 27,896 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #48 of 271
163RosevilleRamsey County · 35,663 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #218 of 271
164MinnetonkaHennepin County · 53,969 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #75 of 271
165Mendota HeightsDakota County · 11,475 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #109 of 271
166WatertownCarver County · 4,789 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #21 of 271
167EaganDakota County · 67,109 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #108 of 271
168VictoriaCarver County · 12,447 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #20 of 271
169Norwood Young AmericaCarver County · 3,777 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #120 of 271
170MahtomediWashington County · 8,189 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #51 of 271
171HanoverWright County · 4,392 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #101 of 271
172Cottage GroveWashington County · 43,604 peopleCbetter than 30% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #50 of 271
T173Columbia HeightsAnoka County · 22,482 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #260 of 271
T173Silver Creek TownshipWright County · 2,620 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #85 of 271
175St. FrancisAnoka County · 8,635 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #110 of 271
176Ham LakeAnoka County · 17,104 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #83 of 271
177WoodburyWashington County · 81,558 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #92 of 271
178ChamplinHennepin County · 23,125 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #91 of 271
179MoundHennepin County · 9,064 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #18 of 271
180Sylvan TownshipCass County · 3,030 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #136 of 271
181AndoverAnoka County · 33,874 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #112 of 271
182ChanhassenCarver County · 25,748 peopleCbetter than 28% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #72 of 271
183DeephavenHennepin County · 3,794 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 271
184IndependenceHennepin County · 3,763 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #61 of 271
185BurnsvilleDakota County · 65,244 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #234 of 271
186Inver Grove HeightsDakota County · 36,873 peopleCbetter than 26% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #89 of 271
187Linwood TownshipAnoka County · 5,403 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #170 of 271
T188Chisago CityChisago County · 5,955 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #140 of 271
T188Mountain IronSt. Louis County · 2,835 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #99 of 271
190BuffaloWright County · 16,878 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #64 of 271
191LakevilleDakota County · 79,270 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #30 of 271
192NewportWashington County · 5,525 peopleC−better than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #185 of 271
T193North St. PaulRamsey County · 12,780 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #227 of 271
T193Waite ParkStearns County · 8,450 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #271 of 271
T195Bemidji TownshipBeltrami County · 4,031 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #229 of 271
T195Forest LakeWashington County · 20,952 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #168 of 271
197Grand Lake TownshipSt. Louis County · 2,705 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #247 of 271
198StewartvilleOlmsted County · 6,850 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #57 of 271
T199Credit River5,644 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
T199Orrock TownshipSherburne County · 3,698 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #141 of 271
201Alexandria TownshipDouglas County · 3,114 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #87 of 271
202Northern TownshipBeltrami County · 3,701 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #248 of 271
203CrystalHennepin County · 22,239 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #201 of 271
204CohassetItasca County · 2,728 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #235 of 271
205Wakefield TownshipStearns County · 2,829 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #194 of 271
206WyomingChisago County · 8,121 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #41 of 271
207LonsdaleRice County · 5,117 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #19 of 271
208Cedar Lake TownshipScott County · 3,080 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #115 of 271
209Eagle LakeBlue Earth County · 3,357 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #167 of 271
210Harris TownshipItasca County · 3,364 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #226 of 271
211ShorewoodHennepin County · 7,620 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #47 of 271
212St. AnthonyHennepin County · 9,989 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #125 of 271
213StacyChisago County · 4,367 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #104 of 271
214St. Paul ParkWashington County · 5,396 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #77 of 271
215Palmer TownshipSherburne County · 2,633 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #222 of 271
216New London TownshipKandiyohi County · 2,965 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #34 of 271
217North BranchChisago County · 12,398 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #146 of 271
218IsantiIsanti County · 7,714 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #70 of 271
219Little CanadaRamsey County · 10,567 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #145 of 271
220GrantWashington County · 3,954 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #86 of 271
221North OaksRamsey County · 5,283 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #138 of 271
222La Grand TownshipDouglas County · 4,309 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #131 of 271
T223Oak GroveAnoka County · 9,476 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #181 of 271
T223Rockford TownshipWright County · 3,474 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #107 of 271
T223Watab TownshipBenton County · 3,478 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #172 of 271
226Pokegama TownshipPine County · 2,884 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #263 of 271
227Brooklyn ParkHennepin County · 83,543 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #199 of 271
T228Lake ElmoWashington County · 14,376 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #117 of 271
T228RosemountDakota County · 31,881 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #13 of 271
230MayerCarver County · 2,563 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #97 of 271
231OakdaleWashington County · 30,588 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #186 of 271
232GreenfieldHennepin County · 2,962 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #142 of 271
233Mounds ViewRamsey County · 12,786 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #88 of 271
234Brooklyn CenterHennepin County · 31,846 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #261 of 271
T235CentervilleAnoka County · 3,978 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #10 of 271
T235Livonia TownshipSherburne County · 6,436 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #65 of 271
T235ShoreviewRamsey County · 26,906 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #42 of 271
T238ByronOlmsted County · 6,740 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #9 of 271
T238DaytonHennepin County · 11,402 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #80 of 271
240OtsegoWright County · 24,525 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #82 of 271
241HugoWashington County · 17,167 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #127 of 271
242PlymouthHennepin County · 78,942 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #23 of 271
243Elko New MarketScott County · 5,300 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #93 of 271
244Coon RapidsAnoka County · 64,193 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #174 of 271
245Spring Lake TownshipScott County · 3,498 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #154 of 271
T246Prior LakeScott County · 28,140 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #74 of 271
T246SavageScott County · 32,970 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #133 of 271
248Brockway TownshipStearns County · 3,016 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #123 of 271
249Breezy PointCrow Wing County · 2,771 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #132 of 271
250Maple GroveHennepin County · 73,893 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #161 of 271
251Vadnais HeightsRamsey County · 13,052 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #94 of 271
T252Blue Hill TownshipSherburne County · 2,625 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #159 of 271
T252Lino LakesAnoka County · 23,220 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #96 of 271
T254Apple ValleyDakota County · 55,248 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #143 of 271
T254BlaineAnoka County · 76,603 peopleDbetter than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #156 of 271
256Big LakeSherburne County · 12,929 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #43 of 271
257ZimmermanSherburne County · 6,904 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #119 of 271
258Empire3,063 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·No overall grade
259HermantownSt. Louis County · 10,110 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #190 of 271
260West Lakeland TownshipWashington County · 3,931 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #60 of 271
261RamseyAnoka County · 29,624 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #84 of 271
262Big Lake TownshipSherburne County · 8,283 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #106 of 271
263LexingtonAnoka County · 3,081 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #139 of 271
264Arden HillsRamsey County · 9,583 peopleDbetter than 9% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #28 of 271
265Spring Lake ParkAnoka County · 7,127 peopleDbetter than 8% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #204 of 271
266GoodviewWinona County · 4,122 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #58 of 271
267East BethelAnoka County · 12,605 peopleDbetter than 7% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #160 of 271
268SartellStearns County · 19,918 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #153 of 271
269New HopeHennepin County · 20,807 peopleDbetter than 5% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #231 of 271
270AlbertvilleWright County · 8,544 peopleD−better than 4% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #6 of 271
271BaxterCrow Wing County · 9,217 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #245 of 271
272MedinaHennepin County · 7,460 peopleD−better than 3% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #11 of 271
273Circle PinesAnoka County · 4,967 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall A+ · #24 of 271
Not ranked

1 town without a history grade

Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.

Quick answers

Questions people ask

What is the most historic town in Minnesota?

St. Paul (Ramsey County) ranks first on history among 273 towns, with an A+; Winona and Wabasha follow.

How are these towns ranked?

The History grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the town’s founding era, homes built before 1940 (Census ACS) and its National Register places. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.

Why isn’t my town on this list?

The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a history grade (273 in Minnesota). 1 town of 2,500+ lack the figures and is listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Minnesota page.

Go deeper

More Minnesota lists

Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.

All Minnesota rankings →
Best places to live271 towns · #1 ChatfieldBest small towns167 towns · #1 ChatfieldMost affordable towns273 towns · #1 White TownshipSafest towns166 towns · #1 Caledonia and Chatfield and MontevideoTowns with the best schools274 towns · #1 Plymouth and WayzataHealthiest towns271 towns · #1 DeephavenBest towns for jobs & income273 towns · #1 IndependenceMost walkable towns273 towns · #1 MinneapolisTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk274 towns · #1 ElyBest towns for the outdoors274 towns · #1 VictoriaTowns with the most civic life271 towns · #1 BarnesvilleTowns with the least snow271 towns · #1 Lake CityDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns271 towns · #1 Grand Lake TownshipDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters270 towns · #1 La CrescentDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers270 towns · #1 MarshallDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers270 towns · #1 Two HarborsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes273 towns · #1 North OaksDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes271 towns · #1 EvelethDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns270 towns · #1 DaytonDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries18 towns · #1 ElyDescribed, no letters
Other states

Most historic towns in other states

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