small town

Paynesville, Minnesota is a town with a population of 2,432 in southwestern Stearns County. The town was named after Edwin E. Payne and was platted in 1857. The town consisted of 3 individual settlements known as North Town, Old Town and Jim Town.

Eden Valley is a small town located in both Stearns and Meeker counties in Central Minnesota. The town's population is 1,027 as of the 2020 census. It can be found along the intersection of Highway 55 and Highway 22.

WJON's small town series brings us to Big Lake. Big Lake is a city of 11,686 located in Sherburne County along Highway 10 just east of Becker and west of Elk River. Big Lake was originally called Humboldt until 1867. It features two prominent lakes with Big Lake and Mitchell Lake in the city limits.

Milaca is a small town located in central Minnesota in Mille Lacs County along Highways 169 and 23. Milaca has a population of 3,021 and is also along the Rum River. Milaca is the county seat in Mille Lacs County. To help tell the story of Milaca I was joined by Tom Sauer of the Milaca Museum and Milaca Mayor Dave Dillan.

Clearwater is a town in northwestern Wright County with a population of 1,922. It can be accessed on Interstate 94 and Highway 24. The town is 12 miles southeast of St. Cloud, 16 miles northwest of Monticello and 16 miles north of Annandale.

Maple Lake is hosting their Grande Day St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday, March 15, 2025. The Grande Day Parade is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m.

South Haven is a small town located in northwestern Wright County along Highway 55 between Kimball and Annandale. The town has a population of 187 and was platted in 1888. South Haven is in southside township and is 2 miles south of Fairhaven which likely contributed to the name of the town.

Each small town in Minnesota has a story and this is the story of Fairhaven. Fairhaven is a town south of St. Augusta on County Road 7 in the southeastern portion of Stearns County. As of the most recent census they have a population of 358 people.

Popple Creek is small community in Mayhew Lake Township in Benton County located along County Roads 3 and 4. Popple Creek was never incorporated but was settled in the 1890s.

The town of Lake Henry is located in western Stearns County just north of Paynesville. It has a population of 103 and is located along Highway 4. To tell the story of Lake Henry I was joined by longtime Lake Henry residents Jim and Sue Brick.