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Koochiching County, Minnesota

85 topographic sheets cover 42 settlements here, and 10 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

10 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Minnesota within the United States
Koochiching County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 337 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 10 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 7 buildings, 2 districts and 1 site.
  • 3 of the 10 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 42 populated places in this county; 42 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

10

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Alexander Baker School and E.W. Backus Junior High Schoolbuilding200404000538
Finstad's Auto Marine Shopbuilding198383000906
Gold Mine Sitesdistrict197777000155
Koochiching County Courthousebuilding197777000749
Little American Minesite197575000226
Ernest C. Oberholtzer Rainy Lake Islands Historic Districtdistrict200000000570
Ranier Community Buildingbuilding2018100002502
Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Churchbuilding198383000908
Francis White Homesteadbuilding198383000909
Williams Township Schoolbuilding2018100002503

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

626 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 626 of them, burning about 2,774 acres. 36 started naturally and 101 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning277
Arson/incendiarism101
Missing data/not specified/undetermined72
Equipment and vehicle use69
Natural36
Recreation and ceremony35
Smoking14
Railroad operations and maintenance11
Misuse of fire by a minor6
Other causes4
Power generation/transmission/distribution1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. Four of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
23 April 1998Arson/incendiarism201 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
8 October 2003Debris and open burning180 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 September 2006Debris and open burning152 acresMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesCLEMENTSON FIRE
7 May 1992Arson/incendiarism106 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
5 May 1992Arson/incendiarism97 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
8 April 2003Debris and open burning75 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
2 May 2015Arson/incendiarism70 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
23 April 2009Debris and open burning68 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2025

60 of 269 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 269 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 5 injuries and about $5,762,030 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail147
Thunderstorm Wind104
Tornado6
Lightning5
Flood5
Flash Flood2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 1993Tornado (F0)to 4 E2 killed, $50,000A tornado touched down to the southwest of a trailer home near the town of Littlefork. The tornado lifted the mobile home and deposited it about 0.25 mile to the northeast. Two people were killed and the mobile home was destroyed. Damage was estimated at $20,000. (M51M, F46M)
September 1973Tornado (F2)not stated5 hurt, $250,000no account filed
May 1998HailInternational Falls$3,000,000no account filed
July 2022FloodInternational Falls$2,400,000Above normal snowfall for the 2021-2022 season was observed across northern portions of Koochiching and St. Louis counties and much of that remained on the ground into April. Heavy rainfall then fell on top of that above normal snowpack at the end of April and sent abnormally high amounts of runoff into the Rainy River Basin leading to rises on Rainy Lake. International Falls experienced their wettest April on record, helping to set the stage for the flooding. By June 15th, the level of Rainy Lake reached 1113.2 feet which was 22 inches above the 2014 peak level and 2.5 inches above the all-time record set in 1950. Having crested and setting a new all-time high, the lake level fell over the remainder of the month to 1112.4 feet (13 inches above 2014 peak and slightly below the 1950 record) by the start of July. The high lake levels led to extensive damage to properties adjacent to the water along with damage to docks and other infrastructure. Lake levels would continue to fall into July and the Flood Warning was canceled on July 11th. Levels on Rainy Lake remained above normal at this time, but were receding and the threat for additional flooding had ended. State and Federal disasters were declared for the event with millions of dollars in infrastructure damage and property loss.
July 2014FloodSouth Intl Falls$28,000FEMA calculated that the county was eligible for $28,000 in assistance for debris cleanup and to repair public docks, roads, ditches, shoulders and bridges.
August 1998LightningInternational Falls$25,000no account filed
July 2008Thunderstorm WindRay$5,000A roof was damaged along Highway 217 near mile post 17.
July 2014Thunderstorm Wind(Inl)Intl Falls Arpt$2,000More than 200 trees were blown down at a country club. Parts of the roof from the outdoor deck by the clubhouse ended up on the number 18 tee.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindInternational Falls$1,000A carport and woodshed were blown down and destroyed.
September 2005LightningLittle Fork$1,000Lightning struck the television antenna on top of a home on County Road 29 and follwed a cable line down into the ceiling of the basement where it began to smolder. Damage was isolated to the basement.
July 1981Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
July 2025Thunderstorm Wind(Inl)Intl Falls Arpt-A gust of 78 mph was recorded by the KINL International Falls Airport ASOS station.
August 2023HailRay-Hail was mostly dime-sized but a few hailstones were quarter-sized.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindInternational Falls-A large pine tree was down in International Falls.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-Trees were reported down near US Highway 71 and State Highway 65.
May 2022FloodInternational Falls-Above normal snowfall for the 2021-2022 season was observed across northern portions of Koochiching and St. Louis counties and much of that remained on the ground into April. Heavy rainfall then fell on top of that above normal snowpack at the end of April and sent abnormally high amounts of runoff into the Rainy River Basin leading to rises on Namakan Lake and Kabetogama Lake. International Falls experienced their wettest April on record, helping to set the stage for the flooding. By the end of May, the level of Rainy Lake reached 1112.4 feet which was 12 inches above the 2014 peak level and 7 inches below the all-time record set in 1950. The high lake levels led to extensive damage to properties adjacent to the water along with damage to docks and other infrastructure. Lake levels would continue to rise into June.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindInternational Falls-Numerous trees and powerlines were downed by the winds.
July 2022Thunderstorm Wind(Inl)Intl Falls Arpt-Three birch trees snapped in half during the storm.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindIndus-An eighteen inch diameter poplar tree was blown over and blocking a road. There were also several other poplar trees with tops blown off that measured six to eight inches in diameter.
June 2022FloodInternational Falls-Above normal snowfall for the 2021-2022 season was observed across northern portions of Koochiching and St. Louis counties and much of that remained on the ground into April. Heavy rainfall then fell on top of that above normal snowpack at the end of April and sent abnormally high amounts of runoff into the Rainy River Basin leading to rises on Rainy Lake. International Falls experienced their wettest April on record, helping to set the stage for the flooding. By June 15th, the level of Rainy Lake reached 1113.2 feet which was 22 inches above the 2014 peak level and 2.5 inches above the all-time record set in 1950. Having crested and setting a new all-time high, the lake level fell over the remainder of the month to 1112.4 feet (13 inches above 2014 peak and slightly below the 1950 record) by the start of July. The high lake levels led to extensive damage to properties adjacent to the water along with damage to docks and other infrastructure. Lake levels would continue to fall into July.
July 2021Thunderstorm Wind(Inl)Intl Falls Arpt-A tree was reported down on a power line along County Road 2 near the International Falls Airport.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindRainy Lake-A photo was received via social media of a large tree down on a power line near the Island View Lodge.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindSilverdale-Five pine and aspen trees about 2 feet in diameter were knocked down due to straight line winds.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindBirchdale-The gust was recorded by the MnDOT Road Weather Station MN026 at Birchdale MN-11 Mile Post 157.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-Trees were down along Highway 65 near Littlefork with some of the trees taking down power lines as well.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-Bleachers were damaged at the fairgrounds and a tree was down on a power line in Littlefork.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindBig Falls-A few trees were blown down along State Highway 6.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindGrand Falls-Strong winds toppled a flagpole, took the tops off of a few large trees and brought down numerous branches. Pea size hail was also observed.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindRidge-Multiple trees were downed by the thunderstorm winds.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindCraigville-Multiple trees were blown down.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindBig Falls-Two trees were blown down across the road.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindGrand Falls-A few trees were blown down onto power lines.
August 2018Thunderstorm Wind(Inl)Intl Falls Arpt-Numerous large trees were uprooted and snapped in International Falls leading to multiple power outages.
June 2016HailNakoda-Most of the hail stones were 1.75 inches in diameter, but there were several up 2 inches in diameter.
June 2016HailIsland View-The report was from a Voyageurs National Park Ranger.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindInternational Falls-There were trees down across town. Crews were dispatched to clear trees after 6 am.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindGrand Falls-There were a few trees blown down on County Road 31 and Highway 6 in Big Falls.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-Several trees were blown down.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindPelland-A roof of a house was blown off near Pelland Junction.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindBirchdale-Trees were blown down across County Road 86.
June 2014FloodClementson-Very high to historic water levels on Rainy Lake and the Rainy River during the middle and late part of June threatened, damaged, and destroyed property along the shoreline. Some roads were closed to the river flooding, including stretches of Highway 11 in northern Koochiching County.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindLaurel-The winds knocked out the power.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindSilverdale-Trees were blown down.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-The winds knocked out the power.
July 2014Thunderstorm WindSilverdale-Trees were blown down.
July 2013HailInternational Falls-A thunderstorm dropped mostly pea sized hail, but there were a few nickel and dime sized hailstones.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindSouth Intl Falls-Power lines were blown down near the intersection of Route 53 and County Road 332.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindEricsburg-Some tree limbs were blown down and one tree was blown down over Highway 217.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindMizpah-Tree branches were blown down.
July 2010Flash FloodInternational Falls-Water was covering U.S. Highway 53 just south of International Falls.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindPinetop-A roof was blown off a pole barn.
May 2010HailBig Falls-The hail fell for ten minutes.
August 2010HailLittle Fork-The hail fell for 10 minutes, with U.S. Highway 71 completely covered. Very strong wind gusts accompanied the hail.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-Shingles were blown off the roof of a house.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-Several large trees were blown down.
July 2008HailLittle Fork-The hail was completely covering the ground.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-An 18-inch spruce tree was snapped and a 30-inch oak tree was blown down. Several other trees were blown down.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-Peak wind gust was reported at the Littlefork RAWS Station.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindLittle Fork-Twelve inch diameter trees were blown down across 2nd Street in Littlefork, along with damage to garages in town.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindInternational Falls-The strong thudnerstorm winds blew down trees and caused damage to private homes.

Mines and quarries

21 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 21 workings inside this county. 15 still produce and 6 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction14
Gold5
Sulfur-Pyrite1
Peat1
Stone, Crushed/Broken1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Koochiching County Peat BogsPeatOccurrence
Little America MineGold, Sulfur-PyritePast Producer1893, 1894
Ranier QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Bushyhead Island ProspectGoldUnknownGold
Grassy Island ProspectGoldUnknownGold
Indus ProspectGoldUnknownGold, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite
Lyle MineGoldOccurrenceGold
Boise Cascade PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
County Pit No 1Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
County Pit No 2Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Gemmell Ridge PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Happyland PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Happyland Pit No 2Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Happyland Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
International Falls PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Kolinski Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Little Fork PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Oveson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Peterson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ranier Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ranier Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

42

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.