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Pine County, Minnesota

68 topographic sheets cover 32 settlements here, and 22 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

22 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Minnesota within the United States
Pine County within Minnesota

What the record shows

  • 281 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 22 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 17 buildings, 3 districts, 1 object and 1 structure.
  • 4 of the 22 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 32 populated places in this county; 32 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

22

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
Bethlehem Lutheran Churchbuilding198080002103
Cloverton Schoolbuilding198080002104
District No. 74 Schoolbuilding199292000820
John Doboszenski Farmsteadbuilding198080002105
Hinckley Fire Relief Housebuilding198080002112
Hinckley State Line Markerobject200202000935
Louis Hultgren House and Sand Pitbuilding198080002108
Kettle River Bridgestructure199898000687
Kettle River Sandstone Company Quarrydistrict199191000877
Peter P. Kilstofte Farmsteadbuilding198080002109
Minneapolis Trust Company Commercial Buildingbuilding198080002113
Northern Pacific Depotbuilding198080002107
Northern Pacific Depotbuilding197373000992
Northwest Company Postbuilding197272000679
John A. Oldenburg Housebuilding197878001556
Partridge Township Hallbuilding198080002110
Red Clover Land Company Demonstration Farmbuilding198080002106
Sandstone Schoolbuilding197979001251
Arnold Schwyzer Summer House and Farmsteadbuilding198080002114
St. Croix Recreational Demonstration Areadistrict199796001594
St. Croix Recreational Demonstration Areadistrict199797001261
Willow River Rutabaga Warehouse and Processing Plantbuilding199090000935

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

2,191 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 2,191 of them, burning about 14,265 acres. 26 started naturally and 369 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning820
Arson/incendiarism369
Equipment and vehicle use322
Missing data/not specified/undetermined291
Railroad operations and maintenance145
Recreation and ceremony97
Smoking75
Natural26
Fireworks12
Misuse of fire by a minor12
Other causes11
Power generation/transmission/distribution11

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
18 October 2000Debris and open burning1,350 acresSaint Croix National Scenic RiverST CROIX
3 April 2004Railroad operations and maintenance835 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resources107 COMPLEX
3 April 2004Railroad operations and maintenance358 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resources107 COMPLEX
3 April 2004Railroad operations and maintenance298 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resources107 COMPLEX
1 April 2000Debris and open burning275 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 April 2004Arson/incendiarism250 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
3 April 2004Railroad operations and maintenance244 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resources107 COMPLEX
21 May 1995Arson/incendiarism216 acresMinnesota Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

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

Storms, 1956 to 2025

60 of 373 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 373 reports for this county, causing 1 death, 3 injuries and about $1,122,300 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail189
Thunderstorm Wind147
Flash Flood19
Tornado13
Flood2
Lightning2
Heavy Rain1

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 2013LightningSturgeon Lake1 killedThe Pine County Sheriff reported that a male was struck by lightning about 4 miles east-southeast of Sturgeon Lake, MN on Alder Loop in a development called Hogan's Acres. The individual passed away from his injuries after being taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake, MN. The investigation showed that the 53 year old male victim was standing in a large puddle of water near a tree when the tree and victim were struck by lightning.
June 2010Tornado (EF2)Rock Creek2 hurt, $283,000The severe storm that produced the tornado tracked northeast along the Saint Croix River Valley on the Minnesota-Wisconsin state border. Although the tornado crossed through mostly recreational land, residents between Rush City and Rock Creek in MN, as well as Grantsburg to Yellow Lake in WI were impacted. The maximum path width was a quarter mile, or 400 yards, with an average path width of 400 to 600 ft. The tornado exited Pine County at around 1955 CST, continuing on in Burnett County, WI, where it lifted at 2001 CST, about 3.5 miles northwest of Grantsburg, WI. The total path length was about 6.5 miles. ||The worst of the damage occurred in far southeast Pine County and was evidence of a strong EF2 tornado with estimated winds of 110-135 mph. This rating was based on the total destruction of a strapped down mobile home and the extensive uprooting/snapping of trees where the tornado crossed Minnesota State Highway 70. Two people in a mobile home were injured. Multiple homes sustained significant damage.
April 1986Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
July 2011Thunderstorm WindPine City$500,000Numerous trees were blown down across Pine City and to the east. The Markville area and St. Croix State Park were hit the hardest. In Markville most trees were blown down, eleven homes received minor damage, two homes were rendered unlivable, and a a pole barn was destroyed. In a large portion of St. Croix State Park there was 75 to 100 percent tree damage. There were no visitors at the park at the time due to a state government shutdown.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindSturgeon Lake$200,000There was major wind damage at Sturgeon Lake. At least four homes were heavily damaged. One garage was blown down the street. Numerous trees were uprooted.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindPokegama$25,000Several large trees were down with one landing on a camper and another that was 16 to 18 inches in diameter that fell onto a house causing significant damage to the roof on the north side of Pokegama Lake.
July 1986Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1970Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 2011Thunderstorm WindCloverdale$20,000The second story of a house was rotated. There was also damage to an outbuilding roof and many large trees were blown down.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindCloverdale$15,000A 28 foot camper was lifted off its foundation and destroyed. Many trees were also snapped due to the strong winds.
August 1995Thunderstorm WindSand Lake$10,000Thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and power lines. Cars, barns, and homes were damaged by falling trees.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBruno$5,000Photos were received showing numerous large trees uprooted and causing damage to outbuildings.
August 2020LightningBeroun$5,000Lightning struck a trailer home causing damage to the home.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindPokegama$2,000Power lines were blown down in the Grasston area.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindPine City$2,000Trees were blown down in Grasston Township.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindPine City$2,000Power lines were blown down.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindHinckley$2,000Power lines were blown down.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindPine City$500A tree was blown down on State Highway 70 near the intersection of Pine County Road 1.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindPine City$500A large tree was blown down at the intersection of Knob Road and Rolling Hills Road.
June 1968Tornado (F0)not stated$250no account filed
June 1994Tornado (F0)Hinckley$50A tornado touched down briefly downing several trees.
July 2025HailFinlayson-Hail was mainly dime to quarter size with the largest hail stones being 1.5 inches in diameter.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindGroningen-Several 18 to 20 inch in diameter aspen trees down. About half of them had roots showing and the other half were broken some place half way or lower on the trunk. There were a few trees that had about the top third or higher of the trunk broken off. All of the damage limbs or trunks were on the north side of the tree base.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindRock Creek-A tree six to eight inches in diameter fell during the storm and crushed a canvas tent.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindPine City-Tree branches four to six inches in diameter were down and the power was flickering off and on.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindPine City-Multiple trees were reported down in the Pine City area.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindHinckley-Wind damage and downed trees at the Holiday gas station in Hinckley. This was near the start of the tornado.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindHinckley-Trees were down just north of Hinckley on I-35.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindSandstone-A photo was received showing numerous uprooted trees and several downed power lines.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindHinckley-Widespread trees and power lines down in Hinckley.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBeroun-Multiple trees were reported down near Beroun.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindSturgeon Lake-A photo was received showing tipped over metal patio chairs and table.
May 2022Tornado (EF1)Hinckley-Damage sustained to a fast food restaurant in Hinckley, including broken windows, a damaged rooftop HVAC unit, and evidence of metal flashing damage, is believed to be the beginning of a tornado that then tracked across Interstate 35 in a north-northwest direction, crossing the railroad tracks near 7th St NE. The majority of the damage was trees uprooted with several snapped along the way. Aerial imagery provided by the Pine County Sheriffs Department shows fairly weak but convergent tree fall between I-35 and near Highway 61 and Owl Drive between a distinct intensification where the treefall becomes much more extensive and a metal roof section was lifted off a local business. The tornado then tracked across Highway 61 and traversed north causing mainly tree damage with at least one home losing some roof shingles. The end of the tornado path is estimated due to the track moving into a much less wooded wetland area. NWS Duluth sincerely appreciates the drone imagery provided by the Pine County Sheriffs Office to aid in the assessment of this storm damage. Peak winds were estimated to be 95 mph.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindGroningen-A 15 inch diameter tree was snapped about halfway up.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindBeroun-A large tree was down across Blueberry Island road and needed to be removed by the county public works department.
July 2022Tornado (EF1)Nickerson-A tornado was confirmed via both a radar tornadic debris signature and a comparison of satellite imagery before and after the storm. The rating was estimated by satellite observed damage to trees along the path. The maximum winds were estimated to be 100 mph.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindFinlayson-A cluster of trees were snapped at the base along with a spruce tree being uprooted.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindFinlayson-A couple of large spruce trees were downed.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindAskov-A portion of Interstate 35 was blocked by a large downed tree.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindCloverdale-A portion of Minnesota Highway 38 was blocked by a downed tree.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindPine City Muni Arpt-Several large trees were downed onto cars.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindRock Creek-A large aspen tree was downed across a road.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindSturgeon Lake-A few trees were downed near the Moose Lake Golf Course during the storm.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindSturgeon Lake-A few trees were down by the Moose Lake Golf Club on Sand Lake.
August 2020HailPokegama-Large hail led to several broken windows, damaged siding on a home and shredded a garden at a home in addition to other assorted damage on the property.
August 2020HailPokegama-The size of the hail was measured from damage to a vehicle. That hailstones were likely larger as hail was found two and a half hours after the storm.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindPine City-A tree limb 8 to 12 inches in diameter was downed across a driveway.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindFinlayson-Multiple trees were downed in Finlayson by the storm. The trees were mostly dead birch and tamarack, but a few live popple trees were uprooted as well.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindSandstone-Several 3 to 5 inch diameter trees were broken by the storm.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindSandstone-A ten inch diameter tree was broken by the storm.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindSturgeon Lake-Multiple trees were down in Sturgeon Lake.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindKerrick-A tree fell onto a cabin with lots of additional tree damage around the property as well.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindGroningen-Part of a metal roof was peeled off a house by the strong winds with additional damage to a barn near the intersection of Groningen Road and Fox Road.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindGroningen-A tree was blown down and blocking a driveway.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindRutledge-Trees were falling along Minnesota 61 as the spotter was driving between Willow River and Rutledge.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindDuquette-A tree was downed onto a power line.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindRock Creek-A 14-inch tree fell due to the winds and damaged a garage, vehicle and a light pole.
July 2019HailWest Rock-Crops were flattened by the large hail.
July 2019HailRock Creek-Hail stones punched through a steel garage roof and sheetrock ceiling and damaged a vehicle.
July 2019HailRock Creek-Golf ball to tennis ball-sized hail broke windows on the north side of a home.

Mines and quarries

7 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 7 workings inside this county. 3 still produce and 4 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction4
Peat1
Silica1
Uranium1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Holtgren Sand PitSilicaPast Producer
Pine County Peat DepositsPeatPast Producer
Uranium ProspectUraniumOccurrence
Hopkins Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Rock Creek Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Sikkink Pit and MillSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Simmons PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

32

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.