Crookston Economic Development Authority

Greater Hutchinson Economic Development
Contact: Karie Kirschbaum
510 Country Road 71
Crookston, MN 56716
Phone: 218-280-3049
www.crookstonheda.com

History

Crookston, Minnesota, has a rich history and a variety of attractions that highlight its cultural and natural heritage. The area’s history traces back to the early inhabitants, the Sioux and Ojibwa Indians, with significant change beginning in 1862 when the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad announced plans to extend to the Canadian border, prompting waves of immigration. Non-Indian settlement took hold around 1872, leading to the area’s incorporation in 1879 as “Queen City,” later renamed Crookston in honor of Colonel William Crooks, the railroad’s chief engineer. The city’s early growth was bolstered by the railroad, lumber, and agriculture industries.

Economy

The economy of Crookston is based primarily on agriculture. Crookston is located in the Red River Valley of the North Basin, one of the world’s richest agricultural areas. The major crops grown are sugar beets, potatoes, small grains and sunflowers. Some farmers are also planting vegetable crops, such as carrots.

The early economic foundation of the area was based on fur and lumber trade but quickly changed to farming. Starting as a trail point near a river crossing for the squeaky Red River fur carts, the young town soon became a center for sodbusters. For 20 years it was also a major timber center. Since World War II Crookston has profited from the development of large agricultural products processing plants and related industries. Today, agriculture is the key to the city’s economy. Among its outstanding industrial enterprises are the largest plant for edible sunflower seed processing in the United States and one of the biggest plants for sugar beet processing in the world.

New industries include a firm working with wind energy and a metal fabrication plant. The newest firm is New Flyer Industries, a bus manufacturing firm, which moved to Crookston from Grand Forks.

Major employers include American Crystal Sugar Co., Riverview Hospital, Crookston Public Schools, the City of Crookston, the University of Minnesota, including the institution and the Northwest Research and Outreach Center, New Flyer, Tri-Valley Opportunity, Dee, Inc., SunOpta, and Crookston Welding and Machine.

Industrial Park – Open for Business!

2024 MN Northern Railroad was awarded a grant to build in the Crookston Industrial Park: Minnesota Northern Railroad Company (Crookston): $1.56 million to develop land for a new industrial park and innovation center, including the installation of 2,478 feet of track and site preparation for an initial spur; a turnout from the track to the site; bin storage; and a crossing to the spur.

The property is adjacent to US Highway 75, which runs north-south from the Canadian border to Dallas, Texas. Near the property is US Highway 2, which runs east-west from Everett, Washington, to Michigan, where it connects to Canadian roads before re-entering the US in New York and continuing east through Maine.

Available Acres: 70
Topography: The land is flat, with an elevation of 878 ft
Zoning: Industrial-Heavy, Industrial, Industrial-Light
Within City Limits: Yes

Attractions

Crookston’s location provides opportunities for hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing, and other outdoor activities. The community also has abundant recreational facilities, including a regulation nine-hole golf course, a three-sheet indoor ice arena, an outdoor athletic complex with multiple softball diamonds and tennis courts.

Crookston has an outstanding city park system, including an indoor community swimming pool. And downtown boasts Widman’s Candy Shop, voted the best candy store in Minnesota; the Grand Theater, which just may be the longest continually operating movie theater in the U.S.; as well as other unique stores.

Crookston is home to the Polk County Historical Museum, which has an outstanding collection, including several old buildings and railroad equipment. It’s located just off U.S. Highway 2 on the eastern edge of Crookston.

Crookston and the surrounding area is a burgeoning location for bird watching, and it lies along the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail. Just east of Crookston is a prime spot to view the booming grounds of the greater prairie chicken.

Each August, Crookston hosts its annual Ox Cart Days, which calls attention to the Red River ox carts that once traveled through the region en route from Fort Garry (Winnipeg) to St. Paul.

Other attractions include the Crookston Community Theatre, horse shows, rodeo, and Civic Music League concert series.

Nearby is the Old Crossing Treaty State Historical Site near Huot, Minn. Beneath a large tree, a treaty was signed between the Chippewa and the federal government by which much of northwestern Minnesota and a portion of northeastern North Dakota was purchased and opened for settlement.