Coon Rapids

History

Crocket Ribble and Jacob Cretsinger, residents of Carrollton (the county seat of Carroll County at the time), decided to try their hand in real estate. They purchased land along the Middle Raccoon River, built a saw and grist mill and went into business in 1864. Between the impact of the Civil War and later national panics, frontier settlement slowed down. However, the partners were able to establish a post office, named Coon Rapids; it soon became a stop for stagecoach service to Sioux City. Returning civil war veterans, William Minnich and his brother-in-law, Michael Shettler, saw potential in the hamlet. After purchasing land, they submitted a plat for the village of Coon Rapids and built what would become a store-hotel and home for the Shettler family. Minnich maintained his farm in adjoining Guthrie County. Between 1870 and 1880, the hamlet grew as former farmers became merchants and tradesmen and newcomers came to the area. In addition to the Mill, the town had several general stores offering an array of goods, a hardware store, implement dealer and the all-important real estate agent. When the Chicago, St Paul and Milwaukee started to build a rail line about a half mile southwest of the hamlet, they established a rough and tumble camp for their workers, many of whom were accompanied by their families. The railroad project provided jobs and good money for local boys and newcomers, from which an economic boom began. Between 1880 and 1886, merchants in the village of Coon Rapids moved their buildings into what the railroad had platted as a town. Main street slowly became lined with business houses and homes and the area between the old and new towns slowly was transformed into a residential area. The town nearly doubled in population and the new commercial center…

Geography

Coon Rapids is located along the Middle Raccoon River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  603
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  444
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  426
• Killdeer

  Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  324
• Ring-necked Pheasant

  Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  304
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  276
• Blue-winged Teal

  Spatula discors (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  273
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  269

Largest nearby schools

• CR-B Elementary School
  Elementary · Coon Rapids · 226 students · 17.4:1 ratio
• Coon Rapids-Bayard 6-12 Attendance Center
  High · Coon Rapids · 210 students · 12.4:1 ratio