Max

History

Before 1906, rumors were circulating that the Soo Line would lay track close to Elbow Lake, north of Garrison, to obtain water for their steam engines. On this prospect, enterprising businessmen swiftly began staking claims in anticipation of purchasing prime real estate in a new town. A haphazard shack-building boom ensued on the surrounding ambling prairies. On August 8, 1906, a surveyor named J.G. Sheldrick filed a certificate to plat what would become the Max townsite on a grid. The Soo Line came from the south and would have east and west branches at a junction to be named "Junction" or "Junction City". However, people started calling it Max's Post Office, after Max Freitag, eldest son of Paul Freitag. Paul Freitag was a local farmer and the first postmaster. Max asked people he met at the junction if they were coming to "his" post office to pick up their mail. The name, truncated to simply Max, stuck (in habit, if not officially). When the town was later moved two miles west to the present townsite, the name was changed officially to Max. The Central Light and Power Company installed street lights in January 1918. In 1947, Max decided to fully incorporate, with affairs managed by an elected mayor, and aldermanic council of four. In the early 1950s, the town obtained a new telephone system, updated fire equipment, waterworks, water mains and a sewerage system.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• MAX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · Max · 82 students · 8.2:1 ratio
• MAX HIGH SCHOOL
  High · Max · 73 students · 10.4:1 ratio