Anoka, Minnesota
19 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1902 and the latest in 1991. It stands in Anoka City. It lies in ZIP code area 55303. It stands on Rum River. The Survey maps it on the Anoka quadrangle. 17,921 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 879 feet above sea level.
On record in Anoka
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 10 records
Anoka Post Officelisted 1979
Anoka-Champlin Mississippi River Bridgelisted 1979
Colonial Hall and Masonic Lodge No. 30listed 1979
District No. 28 Schoollisted 1979
Jackson Hotellisted 1978
Kline Sanatariumlisted 1979
Shaw-Hammons Houselisted 1979
Heman L. Ticknor Houselisted 1979
Windego Park Auditorium/Open Air Theaterlisted 1980
Woodbury Houselisted 1979
Population over time
2 figuresAnoka grew from 17,142 to 17,921 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 17,142 | |
| 2020 | 17,921 | +779 (+5%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
11 surveys from 19 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1902 USGS Anoka quadrangle1:62500, 4 printings
- 1953 USGS Stillwater quadrangle1:250000
- 1955 USGS Anoka quadrangle1:24000
- 1955 USGS Anoka quadrangle1:62500
- 1955 USGS Stillwater quadrangle1:250000
- 1958 USGS Stillwater quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1965 USGS Stillwater quadrangle1:250000
- 1967 USGS Anoka quadrangle1:24000, 4 printings
- 1975 USGS Stillwater quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1985 USGS Anoka quadrangle1:100000
- 1991 USGS Anoka quadrangle1:100000
In the county-history sources
35,570 words on this townshipWith the Colors from Anoka County, published 1919 names this settlement in its chapter on Anoka City. These are the passages that mention it, exactly as the scans read.
Captain Arthur L. Reed, Company "A" of Anoka, was directed to call his company for active duty and to get eight light trucks somewhere. He secured ten, had a local garage opened, filled up the machines with gas and oil, and, in an hour and a half was on the way to Moose Lake. The trip was indeed a strenuous one. The night was cold, the roads were rough and the air was so saturated with fog and smoke that cars were not visible ten or fifteen feet apart. The company traveled all night and well into the next morning, arriving at Moose Lake in time to be, by several hours, the first motor unit in the state to reach the scene of the disaster. Untiring press agents of other units have sought to claim the credit for having been first on the scene of disaster and have gained a great deal of publicity for their organizations. However, the above are the facts presented for the information of those who prefer the facts.
Passage source: With the Colors from Anoka County, published 1919.
The generous people of Anoka could be depended upon not to overlook this opportunity to aid the suft'ering refugees. Mayor Berry requested George D. Hilliard to take up a collection. He did so and the money was sent to Governor Burnquist for relief work. Anoka was again the first on the job in this matter, and a Duluth paper found its way into the fire district and told the people there that Anoka had extended the hand of sympathy with more than a thousand dollars for them. If the givers of this money could have been at the little Village of Automba a few days after, where every sign of human habitation had been destroyed, and heard some of the refugees who had lost their all, thank an Anoka officer of the Home Guard for what they had just read about Anoka's generositj^ they would have felt well repaid for their kindly impulse.
Passage source: With the Colors from Anoka County, published 1919.
At this time there were forty-eight Junior Red Cross auxiliaries in Anoka County. They were busy making an allotment of three hundred property ba^'s for soldiers in hospitals. Miss Anna Brezler was the county chairman for this energetic organization.
Passage source: With the Colors from Anoka County, published 1919.
Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.
Read the whole chapter on Anoka City - it names this place 69 more 69 times.
Fires near this place
49 since 1998Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 49 fires within 5 miles of Anoka between 1998 and 2019, burning about 670 acres in total. None started naturally. 15 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Arson/incendiarism | 15 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 13 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 7 |
| Debris and open burning | 5 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 4 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 3 |
| Fireworks | 1 |
| Smoking | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 July 2006 | Debris and open burning | 2.5 acres | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 June 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 7 May 2018 | Recreation and ceremony | 10 acres | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 31 May 2009 | Arson/incendiarism | 77 acres | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 May 2004 | Arson/incendiarism | 20 acres | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 May 2000 | Arson/incendiarism | 2.0 acres | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 May 1999 | Railroad operations and maintenance | 1.0 acres | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 3 May 1999 | Railroad operations and maintenance | 11 acres | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
2 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Anoka: 1 occurrence, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Limestone, General, Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anoka County Marl Beds No 2 | Limestone, General | Occurrence | ||
| Anoka Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
Storms near this place
33 since 1995Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Anoka in 33 storm reports between 1995 and 2024: 18 hail, 14 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2006 | Hail | Anoka | $20,000,000 | Numerous car windows were smashed out, along with damaged building roofs. One State Farm claims adjuster said she processed "58 claims in 45 minutes". An Anoka County Sheriff said three city vehicles were put out of commission. As reported by the Pioneer Press newspaper. All vehicles parked on the top level of the government center ramp were damaged. There was one unofficial report of 3.0 inch hail at 1255 CST near Sunny Acres Park in Anoka. Damage total includes all storm reports from August 24 in Anoka County. |
| August 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | $60,000 | Multiple roofs damaged. Polebarn destroyed. |
| July 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | $50,000 | Several trees were blown down between Anoka, Coon Rapids, Andover and Blaine. In addition to the trees, several power lines and street signs were damaged. There were also reports of minor tree damage around Lino Lakes, Fridley, Oak Grove and Lexington. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | $10,000 | A railroad gate crossing was damaged on Main Street, east of Anoka, Minnesota. |
| August 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | A storm survey was performed and drone video from the Sheriff's Office was viewed to determine that this part of Anoka was hit by a downburst. Over 100 trees were broken or uprooted, some of which fell on houses, sheds, and vehicles. |
| August 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | Report via social media of multiple large trees uprooted in the Cutter's Grove area near Hwy 10. |
| May 2012 | Heavy Rain | Anoka | - | A local observer measured 3.00 inches in the last 24 hours. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | A large tree was blown down near Round Lake Blvd, and 143rd Street in Andover. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | A few large 12-18 foot diameter trees were toppled on the west side of the city. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | A 12 inch diameter tree limb was blown down north of Anoka, Minnesota. |
| May 2008 | Hail | Anoka | - | Coon Rapids Blvd. and Main St. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | Four inch diameter branches severed. |
| July 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | A cottonwood tree was felled onto a ride at the fairgrounds. The time was estimated. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | Trees blown down. Estimated windspeed. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | Thousands of trees uprooted and power poles blown down . Headstones blown over in cemetary. Roof ripped off apartment building. Estimated windspeed. |
| May 2022 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| August 2019 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| August 2019 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| July 2019 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| July 2019 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| August 2013 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| May 2011 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| May 2008 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| September 2007 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| July 2005 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| September 2005 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| September 2002 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| May 2001 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| July 2000 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| July 1999 | Hail | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| August 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | no account filed |
| August 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Anoka | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson Heights | 2.8 miles | 20 | |
| Thompson Riverview Terrace | 4.0 miles | 20 | |
| Ramsey | 5.5 miles | 16 | |
| Coon Creek | 5.6 miles | 20 | |
| Andover | 5.6 miles | 20 | |
| Northdale | 5.8 miles | 20 | |
| Constance | 6.7 miles | 16 | |
| Oak Park | 6.8 miles | 20 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Anoka | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q567530 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 639396. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
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.










