Aitkin County Communities
This list includes many of Aitkin County's communities, including unorganized townships (an unorganized township is a township in name only, and does not have its own organized government). Unorganized townships are marked with an asterisk (*).
A printable pdf of Aitkin County townships, unincorporated townships, and communities can be found here . For information on organized townships, see the Townships page.
Arthyde |
Arthyde was established by land donated by Guy Thomson, Arthur and Clyde Hutchins. It took on the name of the brothers Arthur and Clyde. The post office was established July 16, 1909 with the first train coming through. Stores and people soon followed. The Arthyde Stone House is the sole standing structure in the unincorporated platted community of Arthyde. This one and half story bungaloid style residence is almost completely constructed of field stone. It is one of the Historic Places on the National Register. Click here to read more about the stone house. |
Attica |
The Attica post office was established a short distance North of Wealthwood on Lone Lake June 15, 1889. Stephen Northrup was the first postmaster. Anna Clearly was the Attica postmistress from June 22, 1891 to the discontinuance June 30, 1911 with the mail going to Aitkin |
Bain * |
William Bain homesteaded 160 acres, developing a farm and the plat of Bain. The post office was established February 1, 1911 serving the area. A school, homes and businesses were built, but the October 11, 1918 forest fire burned the entire town, except the school and the Charles Megarry house. The town was rebuilt and prospered for many years. The township dissolved in 1939 and became part of Unorganized Territory of Northwest Aitkin. Bain, a settlement in Bain Township, section 26, had a post office, 1911-44. Bain Township was incorporated July 18, 1911, unincorporated June 10, 1939. Click here to read a detailed history of Bain with photographs. This 49-page document was created by Barb (Megarry) Monnier for the Bain Reunion held on June 14, 2005. Barb also contributed another document, which contains maps of Bain and a family tree of the Bain family. |
Balsam |
The Balsam post office was established January 5, 1905 and was discontinued September 15, 1937 with the mail going to Tamarack. The first postmaster was Thomas Hamel. |
Bennettville |
On May 21, 1898, a third post office was established in the northern area of Hazelton Township because of an increase in population. It was called Bennettville named for the first post master, Ashal Bennett. The post office was in his residence. When highway 35 was redone to become highway 169, the store and post office were moved by Charles Kibbey to the current intersection of highway 169 and county road 11. The Bennettville post office was discontinued October 30, 1937 with the mail going to Aitkin. |
Billings |
Billings post office was established on March 23, 1896 and discontinued May 15, 1903. It was renamed Cedar Lake and continued until Apri129, 1916 with the mail going to Aitkin. |
Bloemendal |
L.R.C. Bloemendal homesteaded land west of Giese. A post office was needed between McGrath and Finlayson so the Blomendals volunteered their home for a post office. It was established March 19, 1901 and continued until December 31, 1914 when the mail went to McGrath. |
Boot Lake |
The Boot Lake post office was established April 13, 1914. Edgar E. Raveill was the first postmaster. Until that time mail came to and from Libby. Themail was carried by rural carriers. The post office was discontinued June 30, 1935 with the mail going to Jacobson. |
Boston |
The Boston post office was established July 3, 1899. It was changed to Seavey February 18, 1904. Hans Hanson was the first postmaster. The Seavey post office began February 19, 1904 and was discontinued November 15, 1938 with the mail going to McGrath. Thor Anderson was the first postmaster. |
Cayo |
The Cayo post office was established December 17, 1918 and was named after Percy A. Cayo who was a fourth district Aitkin County Commissioner June 4, 1929 to January 1, 1933. Percy moved to Tamarack to start an enterprise so the post office closed May 31, 1920 with the mail going to Tamarack. |
Cutler |
Cutler was named for Cutler J. Hazelton, a county commissioner. It was the second post office opened in Hazelton Township. It was established October 7, 1894. Edgar S. Hazelton was the first postmaster. The Cutler post office was discontinued October 30, 1924 with the mail going to Bennettville. |
Darina |
Darina was on the Soo Line Railroad. It is an unrecorded plat. It did not have a post office but was a place where the train would stop to pick up milk and passengers. There was a water tower there at one time. |
Davidson * |
Davidson Township, named for A.D. Davidson is the site of the Rice River National Wildlife Refuge and one of the nation's premier bird watching areas. It was incorporated May 24, 1904, unincorporated December 4, 1951. |
Doris |
The Dorris post office was established January 2, 1896 and was discontinued April 30, 1912 with the mail going to Aitkin. The first postmaster was Charles D. Wilkonson. |
East Lake |
East Lake was the name given to the area that was settled in the early 1900' s. A sawmill and stores were built in the community. Anthony Spico1a petitioned for a post office in 1910. The Soo Line Railroad came through in the fall of the same year bringing the mail by train. Rural routes were established and were in effect until October of 1953 when the mail was distributed out of McGregor. |
Elmwood |
Elmwood was about a mile south of the Village of McGrath. The post office was established March 7, 1903 and discontinued March 29, 1908 and the name changed to McGrath. |
Erick |
The Erick post office was established September 12, 1900 and was discontinued November 14, 1944 with mail going to Valpariso. The first postmaster was Magnus Erickson. |
Esquagamah * |
Esquagamah, last in a series of three lakes, means "the last lake" in the Chippewa language. The post office was established July 25, 1900 and discontinued March 15, 1910 with the mail going to Waldeck. The first postmaster was Francis W. Smith. This township was incorporated July 12, 1909, unincorporated June 2, 1942. |
Fleming Lake |
Olaf Pearson petitioned the U.S. government for mail to come from Kimberly twice a week. The post office was in the home of Olaf Pearson with Olaf being the first postmaster in July of 10, 1909. This continued for nearly twenty years with the mail coming by rural route from Aitkin. In 1930 the Fleming Lake rural route was established with Charles A. Peysar as the first contract driver, with many contract drivers to follow. |
Giese |
Giese is a small community in the southeast comer of Aitkin County named for George Giese, who owned a store there. A fourth class post office was established October 4, 1918 and continued until November 1953. Today the mail comes out of Finlayson. |
Glen |
Glen community is located in Malmo township around the area of the intersection of Highway 47 and County Road 12. Today is has many more businesses than in the 1900's. The Glen post office was established in 1899 and operated in the Glen Store until April of 1954 when the mail came by rural route carrier from Aitkin. |
Glory |
Erick O. Swanson began a small store in the early 1900's, when it out grew his kitchen. He was asked to petition for a post office. Names were sent to the federal government but turned down. "Glory" was suggested from Glory, Glory Hallelujah. Glory was approved and the post office was established in August of 1900 and continued until April of 1913. The comer has been referred to as Hallelujah. |
Grayling |
Grayling was a settlement about half-way between McGregor and Tamarack. Grayling was sometimes known as Sandy River Crossing. The community had several stores and a hotel. The post office was established in January of 1897 and discontinued in 1929 resulting in the mail coming out of Tamarack. |
Hassman |
Hassman community is the area where highway 169 and 210 junction northeast of the city of Aitkin. In 1911 land was platted out with streets, avenues and alleys as the village of Hassman, but the town never developed. The Russell Chute family had the plat vacated in 1945 and used it for farmland. The post office was established on March 30, 1914 and discontinued on April 30th, 1915 with the mail coming on rural route from Aitkin. |
Haugen |
The Haugen post office was in Rice River Township. It was established December 23, 1904. Andrew E. Haugen was the first postmaster. It was discontinued May 15, 1905 with the mail going to Ronald in Beaver Township. |
Haypoint |
The Haypoint post office was established July 25, 1900 in the home ofO. O. McAninch. Mr. McAninch was the first post master and his son Ira was the first mail carrier, carrying the mail on foot to and from the Waldeck Ranch and the post office. The post office was discontinued May 15, 1919 with the mail going to Swatara. |
Hebron * |
Hebron Township was named for the ancient Palestinian city and region. It was incorporated May 26, 1903. The Hebron post office was established august 7, 1911 with Marget Geisdorf as the first post mistress. It was discontinued January 15, 1913 with the mail going to Bain. It was reestablished April 15, 1915 and discontinued August 31, 1917 with the mail going to Bain. |
Hickory |
The Hickory post office was in Farm Island Township. It was established February 19, 1884. It was discontinued November 30, 1886. It was re-established April S, 1888 and discontinued May 31, 1906. George Thompson was the first postmaster. The Hickory post office is said to be the fourth post office to open in the county. |
Jacobson |
Jacobson is a community with many names. It was known as Mississippi Landing, Mississippi Junction, Hiawatha and Mississippi. It was also plated as Bridge Park. Once a thriving community on the river and rail lines with many stores, taverns, schools and churches. Paul Jacobson started the local post office on December 21, 1901. It was later taken over by Robert Greenwood but the Jacobson name stuck with the community. |
Jewett * |
Jewett Township, named for D.M. Jewett, pioneer farmer, is part of the Solana State Forest. It was incorporated October 24, 1902, unincorporated December 27, 1937. The Jewett post office was established October 30, 1905. It was discontinued February 15, 1909 with the mail going to Malmo. The first postmaster was Erick H. Dahlen. The post office had been in homes. The Quass and Dresell homes were two of them. |
Kimberly |
The Kimberly post office was established September 12, 1879. It served many communities around Kimberly. The first postmaster was John W. Jones. The last postmaster was Vernon Lundeen. It was discontinued January 4, 1974 with mail coming by rural route from Aitkin. |
Lawler |
The Lawler post office was established December 8, 1909 and went to a rural branch of McGregor August 1, 1964. It was discontinued April 22, 1966 with the mail going to McGregor. The first postmaster was Carl S. Borg. |
Lemay * |
The name is taken from an early settler, Frank Lemay. This township was incorporated April 17, 1912, unincorporated December 6, 1932. |
Libby |
Libby village and township received it name from early fur trader Mark Libby. The Libby post office began in July of 1891 with the first postmaster being William L. Wakefield. Mail service discontinued in October of 1953 with rural route mail coming out from McGregor. |
Longfellow |
The Longfellow post office was established August 20, 1903 and discontinued January 29, 1909 changing the name to White Pine. The first postmaster was Ray L. Thomson. |
Malmo |
Malmo is named after a Swedish seaport by Freeman E. Krech, the Aitkin postmaster at the time. The post office was established May 23, 1889 and changed to a rural branch out of Aitkin July 31, 1954. The first postmaster was Benjamin D. Shriner. The post office was in the Malmo general store that had different owners throughout the years. The rural branch was discontinued July 12, 1958 with a rural route coming out of Aitkin. |
Millward |
The Millward post office was established March 15, 1898 and the name changed to Arthyde July 15, 1909. The first postmaster was Charles Millward. |
Nichols |
An early settler, Austin R. Nichols had his name perpetuated for an area west of Mille Lacs Lake. He is said to have had the first summer resort called "Nichols Place" on Mille Lacs Lake. The Nichols post office began February 19, 1884 and was discontinued December 31, 1926 with the mail going to Bennettville. |
Ostlund |
Ostlund is the community in Seavey township named after Olaf Ostlund. The post office was established June 8, 1901. John Johnson was the first postmaster. The post office was housed in a small building on the Ostlund property. In 1907 it was relocated to the Olsson-Severin homestead. It was discontinued October 1, 1917 with mail going to Redtop. |
Pine Knoll |
The Christopher Welton's were the first settlers in Pine Knoll. In the early years there was a post office in the Welton home. It was established by the government August 6, 1900. It was discontinued October 30, 1915 with mail going to Aitkin. The first postmaster was George A. Bailey. |
Pliny |
The Pliny post office was established April 23, 1903 and was discontinued April 30, 1908 with mail going to Longfellow. The first postmaster was Joseph I. Stephens. |
Portage |
The Portage post office was established December 12, 1889 and discontinued June 15, 1903 with mail going to Libby. It was reestablished August 8, 1903 and discontinued June 30, 1911 with mail going to Palisade. The first postmaster was Patrick Sanders. |
Quadna * |
Quadna's name was shortened from the Indian name Piquadinaw. Today, many sections are in the Hill River State forest and the Moose Willow Wildlife Management Area. It was incorporated May 21, 1907, unincorporated July 8, 1933. |
Rabey |
Rabey got its start with the Western Railway Company coming in 1908. There were many spurs outside of Rabey, namely, Pierceville, Washburn, Seaver, Brauer and Martin. The first post office at Rabey was established March 21, 1913 and was discontinued August 15, 1941 with the mail going to Jacobson. The first postmaster was Vane R. Walker. |
Redtop |
The plat of Red Top was approved and ordered filed August 6, 1908 by the Aitkin County Board of Commissioners. It is located in Section 29, Idun Township. The post office was established April 8, 1909 and was in various businesses until it was discontinued March 15, 1954 with the mail going to Isle. |
Rice River |
The Rice River post office was established February 19, 1908 and discontinued December 15, 1911 with the mail going to Aitkin. It was situated in Section 36, Morrison Township. Thomas Ermatinger was the first postmaster. |
Ronald |
The Ronald post office was established September 17, 1894 in Beaver Township. It was discontinued October 30, 1926 with mail going to Arthyde. The first postmaster was Henrick M. Ruonalo. |
Rossburg |
Rossburg, located five miles east of Aitkin, was the result of the Northem Pacific Railroad movement west. The post office was located in the Louis Digiovanni store. It was later relocated to the Anderson store. It was established April 16, 1901 and discontinued October 15, 1937 with a rural route out of Aitkin. The first postmaster was Luigi Digiovanni. |
Ruth * |
Ruth Township was named in honor of Ruth Phillips, the first white child born in the township. Nearly all is state tax-forfeited land and is a hunter's haven. It was incorporated April 26, 1921. |
Sheshebee |
The Sheshebee post office was established June 7, 1918. It was discontinued October 14, 1933 with mail going to McGregor. The first postmaster was Frank S. Smith. |
Shovel |
The Shovel Lake post office was established October 27, 1910 and discontinued January 21, 1952. Mail was sent to Swatara. The first postmaster was Roscoe Reynolds. Shovel Lake was an important railroad shipping point in the early logging industry. It was incorporated July 17, 1912, unincorporated May 4, 1943. |
Solana |
Solana is the result of the Soo Line Railroad becoming a wood landing point for trains to by pass at White Pine. Settlers came and a post office was established May 9, 1910. Katherine Clewett was the first postmistress. It was discontinued November 30, 1938 with mail going to Arthyde. |
Swatara |
In 1903, Jim Boyd made an application to the US Postal Department to establish a post office named Boydville at Boyd's Ranch. When the application came back approved, the name Swatara was inserted and Boydville crossed out. Jim Boyd ran the post office from September 14, 1903 until June 30, 1908. It was discontinued until February 15, 1911 when it was re-established with A.A. Heath as postmaster. In recent years, the mail comes to Hill City and then by route to Swatara where the mail is placed in outside locked boxes. |
Thor |
Thor is in Lee Township. The post office was established September 29, 1904 and discontinued March 15, 1937 with a rural route out of Aitkin. The first postmaster was Jonas Frederickson. The first mail was carried to Thor from Kimberly. |
Tripp |
The Tripp post office was established April 23, 1895 and changed to Seavey April 9, 1896. The first postmaster was William L. Moss. |
Tronnes |
The town of Tronnes was located in the NE quarter of the NE quarter of Section 20 in Pliny Township. Peter and Grace Anderson came to the area about 1900 where they built their home. A post office was established in their home September 9, 1901. Mail went to Seavey May 14, 1910. Nothing remains of Tronnes. |
Ude |
Ude is in Jevne township in See 33 along the Northern Pacific Railroad. The post office was started in 1904 and discontinued in 1907. Ude was then changed to Landsford. The Landsford post office closed November 30, 1925 with mail coming to McGregor. There was a Methodist Church at Lansford that was moved to Fleming Township where it still stands. |
Valentine |
There is very little information of Valentine. The post office was established February 16, 1901 and discontinued April 30, 1902. Arthur L. Wilbur was the first postmaster. Mail went to Kimberly when Valentine closed. |
Verdon |
Verdon Township and post office got its name from Verdon Wells, son of Emery B. Wells. The post office was established April 16, 1901. The first postmaster was Emery B. Wells. The first site was Section 22 on the west side of the Mississippi River. On July 29, 1932 it was moved to Section 14 on the east side of the Mississippi River. It was discontinued June 19, 1935 with the mail going to Jacobson. |
Veteransville |
Disabled veterans who moved into White pine in 1922 were able to purchase 80 acres to farm. Most were not farmers so they left but they had named their area Veteransville. The post office was established November 13, 1922 and it was discontinued March 15, 1927 with the mail going to Arthyde. |
Waukenabo |
The name Waukenabo is derived from a Native American word used by the Chippewa for a broth made of moss or milt when their people were faced with starvation. The Waukenabo post office was established August 21, 1902 and discontinued on October 14, 1916 when the mail came from Bain. |
Waldeck |
The Waldeck post office, formerly Seavey, was established March 3, 1898. Grace Waldeck was the first postmistress. The Waldeck post office was moved to the Isadora and Maria Chute home. It was in one comer of a room that was "off limits" to everyone except Miss Louise who was the postmistress. Rural delivery began and the Waldeck post office closed. |
White Pine |
White Pine was a James McGrath plan for a 3 mile spur track from Solana on the Soo Line to the proposed site on the Snake River. The White Pine post office was established January 30, 1909 and discontinued October 15, 1921 with the mail going to Arthyde. The first postmaster was Alexander S. McPhee. |
Willow River |
The Willow River post office was established July 23, 1874 and was discontinued July 12, 1880. The first postmaster was Charles R. Smith. |