Local Elk River Real Estate Information

Elk River is a town in Sherburne County, Minnesota. The town is located 34 miles northwest of Minneapolis. At the time of the 2010 National Census, its population was listed as 22,974. Elk River is the county seat of Sherburne County. Elk River is the boundary between the wood lands and the wild prairie, and was also the site of famous battles between the Dakota and Ojibwa tribes which took place in the late 18th century. The town was first settled in the early 19th century, and named by early explorer Zebulon Pike after the Elk River, which lies adjacent. Elk River real estate contains many older homes which survive from the rustic frontier days of the bygone Minnesota Territory. Many of these homes have retained an astonishing amount of their resale value, at a rate which exceeds not only the state, but the national, average.

Lying so closely to the Elk River, the town is subject to a huge influx of tourists during the spring and summer months. These temporary residents arrive during the height of the tourist season in search of opportunities to indulge in outdoor recreational past times such as swimming, hiking, camping, hunting, water skiing, and kayaking. Elk River real estate contains many properties for temporary lease or rental which are directed toward the needs of these tourists. The town of Elk River benefits enormously in other ways by its proximity to the river from which it draws its name. The hydroelectric dam that lies across the river generates electricity which powers the entire town, as well as providing power to other towns in the region.

In recent years, Elk River real estate has also benefited from an influx of affluent residents who have migrated to the town from the greater Twin Cities metro area. These new citizens have brought with them a stimulus to the town’s per capita, as well as an increased corporate and industrial presence. The real estate market in Elk River has also recently began the construction of a large number of home and apartment properties which are targeted toward the needs of middle class working families who have migrated to the area in search of steady employment.